"Innovate LM-1/LM-2 For Dummies" Questions

Long story short, I've never used a wideband 02 sensor on my Challenger. However I have a low-use LM-1 that I purchased second-hand, and a new LM-2 kit, both of which I purchased years ago.

What I recall from around the when I bought the two LMs is that the LM-1 was considered the more reliable unit, although the LM-2 (if you could get it working correctly) was more sophisticated and offered more in terms of data capture download features.

At one point the Innovate Motorsports web site had their own tech forums, but IIRC IM blew 'em all away when the LM-2 forum turned into a never-ending product bash-fest.

From what people here know / remember, I was hoping to get some answers to the following questions:

1. What was the latest firmware IM distributed for the LM-1?

2. What was the latest firmware IM distributed for the LM-2?

3. Were the variety of issues that seemed to plague the LM-2 ever worked out? If so, were there any specific "fixes" or guidelines to follow when using an LM-2 that improved reliability?

4. Does anyone recall seeing side-by-side tests of both models on the same engine and how consistent the readings were between the two?

I'm not sure what else to ask, but am hoping to be better prepared to start using a wideband 02 setup on my car w/ the new engine. Help! / Thanks! - Brad

Brad
I have a LM-2 and have never had any issues with it working. The only issue was that I could never get it to update, so I just quit trying.

Do you mean you weren't able to upgrade the firmware from what yours came with originally? Especially if you were encountering known issues, that would be a p!sser...

Yes, I wasn't able to update from the original firmware. luckily I've had no issues.

BTW, I'm not impressed with their customer support.

I run the LM-1 but don't do any downloading but it is set up to do so if needed...........

Brad - I don't know the answers to your questions but I have a LM-1 sitting in a box that I haven't used in more than 10 years. If you want to add it to your collection I'll send it to you.

Dom, isn't yours the LC1 with the gauge only?
Brad, I have one of the early LM1 units ( I had to return it once for fixing under the warrenty ) that I bought with the RPM added feature and later upgraded it to the LC1 to get two readings from both senders into the LM1 data storage so I could download any recorded data into my laptop later instead of trying to read it while driving
That work well for quite a while and then it didn't
I'm still not sure if it was my old IBM 98E laptop or the unit that quit working
Innovate stop supporting the LM1 units a long time ago I sold the Duster and all the Innovate parts are now sitting in the shop stack up on each other
I did learn a lot about carb. tuning and the functions of the different circuits on carbs.
All my use was with unleaded fuels, mostly before our stupid state started adding alcohol to all of our pump gasoline

I thought it was at first but iirc it's the LM-1..........

I have two LM1 units and one LM2. The “1”s have always been reliable. One of the “1”s is set up to use an NTK sensor, the other uses the Bosch. The “2” was given to me by a customer after upgrading his efi system to one that didn’t need an additional wideband control box. It worked good on his car while he needed it. I had the “2”outputting to his efi for wideband control. It worked without issue for 2 or 3 years.
When available, I would update my LM1s and never had an issue. The LM2 has never been updated, and as far as I know, still works fine (sitting in a drawer)

The LM1s have been used on my stuff (racecar, motorcycle, Diesel truck) and also on several customers cars as temporary test equipment.

The LM1 boxes are a bit sensitive to ground loop interference on the output side, the LC1 and LM2 both did away with that issue. If you are using an LM1 in an application that uses the output channels, I strongly recommend installing an op-amp between the LM1 and the input device (ecu, logger,etc)

Overall, I lke the Innovate stuff.

I have a LM-2 and have had good luck with it going to get the second o2 sensor so I can map both banks as opposed to just one the only thing that I have had issue with is finding new SD cards since everybody has gone to the SDHD cards, Lm-2 will not recognize the SDHD cards and they are a little tough to find in the local stores, but at least I now have enough SDHD cards to take about 400 million pictures.

I had an LM-2 and it worked pretty good. It aided me in some carb tuning for sure, especially drivability and cruise tunes. I sold it when I went with EFI and bought some LC-2s because they were less bulky and easier to tie into my EFI.

yeah, customer support is a little less than stellar, they must of hired the most aarogant people they could find to do customer relations, I kind of wondered how he found the time to answer my question's I really didn't think the questions were that stupid.

Back when they had the forum I posted a question and was immediately banned from the site. I can't recall what I asked, it was something about tablet interface or something of the like.