3rd Generation Specific (1993-2002) 1993-2002 Discussion including performance modifications and Technical Support Sections.
Sponsored by:

Power fc or AEM EMS

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 11-12-03, 06:24 PM
  #1  
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary

Thread Starter
 
rotoboy661's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: kali
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Power fc or AEM EMS

which ones better to go with??????????? which ones easier to use????????? i cant make up my mind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! im goin krazy......
Old 11-12-03, 06:35 PM
  #2  
Potato Love

 
Larz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Normal, Illinois
Posts: 1,344
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
I asked a similar question. Never got a straight answer.
Old 11-12-03, 06:42 PM
  #3  
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary

Thread Starter
 
rotoboy661's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: kali
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i kno everybody tells me the pfc,but them ill hear the aem is btter. i just dont wanna make the wrong choice.
if ANYONE has any insight on this plzzzzz help out!!!!!!!! still
Old 11-12-03, 06:55 PM
  #4  
Embassador to SOY

 
SERIES7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Rotoboy, consider this.....you live in Palmdale Calif. which means that more than likely you will be going to Tri-point in Ventura for your dyno-tuning needs. Keeping in mind that they will tune/trouble shoot primarily with the PFS Purple, since they like it so much, you might want to consider that as well. If you take your car to XS Engineering, they love the PFC. Just food for thought.
Old 11-12-03, 07:01 PM
  #5  
Rebreaking things

 
CCarlisi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: 1 foot in Boston 1 in NJ
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Based on what I've heard, not first hand experience or research, the AEM is much more difficult to dial in. I believe a couple people have found that the "base map" is very lean and the seq turbo control system needs a lot of fine tuning. I've also heard that getting the car to start when the water temp is not in opreating range is problematic with the AEM.

I think most of not all of these issues could be resolved with the correct tuning/settings. Finding a shop that is well versed on the system is another issue.

In the end I think you have to ask yourself what you need. If you're not running a lot of boost you probably won't benefit that much from a map with more resolution than the PFC, more versitile fuel system control, aux outs ect.
Old 11-12-03, 07:07 PM
  #6  
Eats, Sleeps, Dreams Rotary

Thread Starter
 
rotoboy661's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: kali
Posts: 3,083
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
thanx bro ill take that into consideration. but **** man tri point charges alot for the whole aem unit plusss tuning, and dyno time, u would think that it should me cheaper , but i guess its all a plan to make profit from their loyal cusomers. but they are a highly respectable place, dont get me wrong< their just a lil pricie at times!!
Old 11-12-03, 07:09 PM
  #7  
Embassador to SOY

 
SERIES7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Los Angeles, CA.
Posts: 4,194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Pricey sometimes ='s reliable/fast

skimping = blown shiet
Old 11-12-03, 08:23 PM
  #8  
The one
iTrader: (5)
 
Jason's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Look at it this way. Every AEM I have sold, the customer has wanted to return it for the Power FC.

Jason
Old 11-12-03, 08:37 PM
  #9  
i love boost

 
ROTORHP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: St. Albert Alberta
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Really? Thank god I seen this thread then... was thinking of getting one. I heard the AEM was good on piston engines (little more forgiving)but I never heard about the Rotary... No wonder everyone is using the Power FC....
Old 11-12-03, 08:46 PM
  #10  
hambre y sueño

 
MaxRX7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: 80* >
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
AEM = rice
PFC = nice
Old 11-12-03, 10:23 PM
  #11  
Rotary Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)
 
potatochobit's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,464
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
AEM is a great product, but you really need to consider your budget. PFC has tons of maps that can be used with the datalogit. AEM is newer and not as wide spread, so plan on lots of dyno time which means lots of $$ unless your local shop is already using the AEM system.
Old 11-12-03, 10:25 PM
  #12  
Senior Member

 
inis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Posts: 577
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
AEM is hard to use. Bottom line. If you have someone to tune it, your are alot better off, but its still probably very unneccesary. The FC has been around forever and proven. And i dont think you will be running 9's anytime soon, so stick with what works.
Old 11-12-03, 10:26 PM
  #13  
No it's not Turbo'd

 
DCrosby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Originally posted by Jason
Look at it this way. Every AEM I have sold, the customer has wanted to return it for the Power FC.

Jason
I'm sorry Jason, you're wrong... I bought an AEM from you and I still have it and I never asked you if I can return it So if nothing else you have 1 Custumer who didn't want to return it

With the AEM you can do things like Nitrous and Water Injection according to whatever throttle position and Mass airflow values you want to align yourself to... that and no BS Datalogit and "Authorized" Tuners that rape you up the ***, is why I bought it and I have yet to sell it... I can't say I'm deleriously happy, yet I can't say I'm pissed, when It was tuned, it performed very well, for the 4 Weeks I had it working and theh wrecked my car...
Now I'm waiting for a rebuild because I was too impatient to wait for it to get tuned on my new car with the same mods... I figured how far can it be off !? -> Answer: FAR !!!!

So take a look at the features you'll use, e-mail AEM, go to their forums, talk to PFC people here in the PFC forum and make up your own mind, just cause everyone uses PFC doesn't mean there issn't room for improvement...

-DC

P.S. whatever you do do NOT rely on other people's maps, with the exact same mods they might have 20KMi more on their Injectors, and therefore yours might flow better or (Worse) Worse... since if they don't you lean out and blow your motor... ALWAYS Figure on Dyno Time... weather you get it for free or pay for it, D Y N O T I M E = Money Well Spent...

Last edited by DCrosby; 11-12-03 at 10:31 PM.
Old 11-12-03, 10:28 PM
  #14  
The one
iTrader: (5)
 
Jason's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Ok my bad, all but one

Jason
Old 11-12-03, 10:35 PM
  #15  
The Power of 1.3

 
911GT2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Shrewsbury, Massachusetts
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I had a similar issue when I bought mine, but ended up going the PFC route because of availability of tuners. The ECU is only as capable as the tuner, and there are many more capable tuners of the PFC than the relatively new AEM unit.
Old 11-13-03, 02:21 AM
  #16  
Belligerent Security

 
Fumanchu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Pulling you over
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sooner or later I will be going to AEM.

Last week I got done talking to Tri-Point about the unit. They pretty much have it all figured out. It took a bit of time to get it to work well with the stock sequentials.

But they are liking it and will probably start tuning with it exclusivly(sp?).

Right now, AEM isnt the best route, but in the future when tuners have more experience with it, I will get it.

Last edited by Fumanchu; 11-13-03 at 02:30 AM.
Old 11-14-03, 12:30 AM
  #17  
i love boost

 
ROTORHP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: St. Albert Alberta
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
HMMM...food for thought thats for sure...lots of valid points
Old 11-14-03, 05:58 PM
  #18  
Senior Member

iTrader: (1)
 
AJatx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 591
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's about your application. What do you want to do with your car and how far do you want to go?
Seriously, be realistic and determine if you want it to be a street car or a track car or both based on what you have now or the immediate future (don't space out and think about a 20B next year like I do after a few beers).

PFC will be a whole lot easier to pick up and understand. You may be able to pick up some tuning while you're at it. There is more PFC familiar tuners as well as support like the forum.
You're better off the PFC based on the questions you're asking.

I chose AEM because of the programmable options. I understand some basic tuning and how the software works (not all the details, but some). The AEM buyer probably is best fit by one who knows exactly what they want with their car and want the programmable aspect of the AEM (water inj, n2o control, etc). It is a powerful EMS, but do you need all of its capabilities? Most guys I know opted for the PFC for simplicity and support.

Like most products in the tech field, the more capable and programmable the product may be (like digital oscilloscopes), the more complex it is to operate/set-up or learn.

J
Old 11-14-03, 06:46 PM
  #19  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Godzilla-T78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,619
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
From my experience.. aem is great but on a fd it sucks because our sensors are so old you never get a decent reading for some reason.
Old 11-16-03, 10:37 PM
  #20  
i love boost

 
ROTORHP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: St. Albert Alberta
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not getting a decent reading from the sensers... technically, if you had misleading sensers you would get the readings givin to the whatever ecu(powerfc or aem) then it wouldn't run at it's best performance anyway.
Old 11-16-03, 10:39 PM
  #21  
Banned. I got OWNED!!!
 
Godzilla-T78's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 1,619
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
the aem is alot more sensitive though, if you are not getting perfect readings from the sensors it wont read at all almost. With the pfc its alot more leanient.
Old 11-16-03, 10:41 PM
  #22  
White is tight

 
fdeeznutz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by Jason
Look at it this way. Every AEM I have sold, the customer has wanted to return it for the Power FC.

Jason
I heard the same thing from a shop in Phoenix. Go with the PFC
Old 11-17-03, 11:29 PM
  #23  
i love boost

 
ROTORHP's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: St. Albert Alberta
Posts: 803
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally posted by Godzilla-T78
the aem is alot more sensitive though, if you are not getting perfect readings from the sensors it wont read at all almost. With the pfc its alot more leanient
Ahhh got ya...
Old 11-18-03, 06:10 AM
  #24  
Lives on the Forum

 
SleepR1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: IN
Posts: 6,131
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Apexi Power FC all the way
Old 11-18-03, 07:15 AM
  #25  
Senior Member
 
1FAST7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 533
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You should search this topic, i'm sure it has been posted here many times before. As for the PFC, its been very reliable for many people and its a great buy. I dont know too much about the AEM ECU, so you should search about it.

1FAST7


Quick Reply: Power fc or AEM EMS



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:04 PM.