s4play

ECU's and I guess controllers (powertrain mgmt systems) whatever they are called!

I assume I do not need a boost controller if I go with a new programable system Which is the way I think I want to go.


sOOOO after all this my q is what is the prefered brand of system? I will end up doing a DP, CB and CAI just looking for recomendations THANKS

black99

for a DP, CB and CAI you actually don't "need" a new ecu... but for any additional performance steps people say you do need one. If you are planning on just keeping your car mild and you have the money, then get a Apexi PFC. If you are going wild in future and got the money I would suggest Haltech.

If you are on a budget and don't want/need to tune your car in all the time then just get a re-dom ecu from M2 or Pettit..

s4play

I plan on going minorly crazy evetually, but will prob stick with bolt on mods. therefore something like the APexi sounds about right. thanks.

black99

I am sorry I should have told you a little more.

Yeah the Apexi PFC is a good unit, and with the Datalogit software that's out it should be even better and allow further tuning then what you can do with the hand controller. I don't know if the datalogit software is available yet to everyone but I know a couple of tuners have it. But with the mods listed above I think you should be fine tuning from the hand controller.

Haltech I consider to more of a system for a "wilder" car. It's not bolt-in like the PFC but it has a ton of tuning features.

But yeah if you are sticking to bolt on things for right now I would get the PFC.. In time there should be some people who know how to tune with the datalogit software really well.

s4play

I would like to have some flexibility how is the Peter Farrell controller. For the price difference you must get something. also can't find stats on the apexi PFC, like price, HP, etc.

black99

PFC you have to program your maps into, and some basic maps can be found here in our ECU forum. Bascially your mods are going to get you the increase in HP, the PFC or other computer is just going to let you run more mods, because it let's you increase boost but also let's you increase fuel, timing, etc so that you can do it safely. So I wouldn't count on just popping the Apexi PFC in giving you X amount of HP. www.i-m-racing.com explains a little about it and shows screen shots of the handheld controller and Jason at www.rx7store.net should have the best price on one.

The PFS PMS is an ok system, it is programmable like the PFC but also has a swith/dial for 3 different settings that I believe either Peter or PMS programs in. So it sorta comes with "base maps". If you go to www.pfsupercars.com you can read more about it. The only thing I don't like about his system is there are different software versions and you want to try and get a system with the newest version. Also there is little support out there for this system except for Peter himself.

s4play

thanks my s4 gained 65hp by adding a chip that upped the boost, timing fuel mapping etc! was trying to understand how the PFC helped.

Import Convert

is selling the PFC for $1100 with free shipping right now. Good deal IMO.

black99

Right, but see what I am saying is if you increase the boost with the PFC and you increase fuel, timing, etc, then you will see an increase in HP. If you simply program it for stock boost with your CB, DP, CAI, then I don't think you'll see a huge power difference over a stock ecu. Kinda saying until you increase the mods or really need more fuel, timing and can run more boost then you probably won't see a bunch of HP gain from the PFC itself. Sure you could program it to boost 12 psi instead of 10 psi and make a little more HP, but I don't think the difference will be that big.


You gained 65hp with a chip or RE-DOM ecu because they probably programmed that chip for more boost than what stock was. And programed it for more fuel, etc to compensate.

s4play

plus 330 ish with a key pad, how is that a good deal.

black99

his comes with the controller I believe..

s4play

$130 less than a brand spanking new one "a good deal"

s4play

[QUOTE]Originally posted by black99
[B]Right, but see what I am saying is if you increase the boost with the PFC and you increase fuel, timing, etc, then you will see an increase in HP. If you simply program it for stock boost with your CB, DP, CAI, then I don't think you'll see a huge power difference over a stock ecu. Kinda saying until you increase the mods or really need more fuel, timing and can run more boost then you probably won't see a bunch of HP gain from the PFC itself. Sure you could program it to boost 12 psi instead of 10 psi and make a little more HP, but I don't think the difference will be that big.

I am now confused and maybe it is because these cars are different with mods than my previous cars (95 m3 and 00 s4). the m3 was a bear to get significant HP gains out of NA engine.

The s4 was easy pop in a chip easy 65hp b/c of the explaination you gave.

fd dp's, CAI, CB plus no boost increase is gonna do what to power???

same set up and turn up boost = ??hp

how much boost is safe?

FavBandDMB

This should be posted in the ECU forum.

s4play

why should this be posted in the ecu area? Is that normal sorry as I am totally new here.

FavBandDMB

Yeah, no biggie. People that know a lot about ECU's will probably be able to answer your questions better if theyre in the ECU forum.

FavBandDMB

By the way, the APEXi PFC has to be dyno tuned, so HP figures will be different depending on your engine setup. Or so I heard.

s4play

was thinking haltech but the wiring scares me sooo looks like AEM is in the lead.

justin

When I was at the point of needing an ecu upgrade I had a lot of options but ended up going
with a pettit ecu stage one upgrade. Stock eng.,turbos,injectors all bolt on's and run 12.3s.
The reason I did not go to a stand alone unit at that time was twofold,I didn't trust myself fearing
I would try and extract every possible horsepower out of the motor and blow it by tinkering and I
also did not plan on going single turbo right away.I run 13.5 - 14 lbs. with my setup(at the strip only)
and have had no problems.With your setup unless your planning on a single turbo upgrade an upgraded ecu should serve you well.What do you really want or how fast do you want to go ??

s4play

dude 12.3's are fine!!!!! pettit ecu huh. already have a cb, getting dp soon and gonna do the cai asap. with those mods you are running low 12's

black99

[QUOTE]Originally posted by s4play
[B]What I meant was this...

dp, cai, cb with stock boost you will be gaining horsepower only from those parts, nothing from the ecu really...

dp, cb, cai with say 13 psi you will gain horsepower over the setup with stock boost, but even still the horsepower isn't coming from simply bolting on an ecu. And not everyones car with a PFC makes the same HP or even gains the same amount of horsepower, even with the same parts on two of the same cars. Everyone tunes differently. Some people better, some people worse.

You can't really ask the question, "how much HP will the PFC add to my HP figures" or "how much more HP will I have with the PFC?..."

It's better to ask "with a stock motor, cb, dp, cai, at let's say 13psi what kind of HP should I expect?"

Now I don't know with those figures but look around at some of the FD guys signatures in their posts and see what kind of HP/times they are getting with what mods.

As for how much psi the stock turbos can handle.. I personally wouldn't go over 15psi, but some people say that over 12 psi they aren't efficent anymore.