toddah

So is the AEM a dead horse in the RX-7 circles? I own one of the very expensive units and am getting very little encouragement from what I read here. I was getting ready to buy a EUGO unit and replace my Austrailian breadboard WB but I see very little interest here or on the AEM board for this combination. I am trying to figure out if I should just cut my losses and find another EMS or if it's worth my time to try and get this thing working. I own serial number 0001 and was going to send it back to AEM for a once over to correct any of the problems that have cropped up with it since its birth but I am getting no warm and cozy feelings about the unit as a whole.
Is ANYONE happy with the day to day operation of their RX-7 3rd gen using the AEM EMS ?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????
Not trying to sound negative just want some honest opinions...

Claudio RX-7

iTrader: (1)

I would do that, send your AEM 30-1800 Serial 0001 box to AEM, have the latest firmware put in it, and the techs put it on their test bench just to make sure, its always a good idea.

To give you some encouragement, the AEM has so many cool features in it that its just a wonderful ECU to have, it has a few draw backs, but nothing big, no dual map feature (only fuel and ignition table modification, through NOS parameters) but other than that you can definately have a good working car with it.

The recommendation you most likely need to follow is find a reputable and very knowledgeable tuner for both rotaries and AEM, so he can make the best of all the features and benefits.

Fd3BOOST

iTrader: (7)

PFSupercars tuned my car using the AEM with the current firmware. Ray Wilson did a great job with mine. Their shop website is in my signature if your interested. My dyno is down there too.
I don't think that many people in the 3rd gen scene have caught on with it but I think that is because people are scared to try something new. Sissys
I am no tuner but the software looks great even to a novice like myself. It can do a ton more stuff than any other plug and play. The virtual dash feature is money.

To answer your question yea I am happy with mine.

CCarlisi

I had an AEM EMS and couldn't get it to pickup the CAS signal. I changed the firmware and it crash midway through the process and was completely unresponsive from that point on. AEM sent me a new chip to install into the board. However, at that point I decided to call it a day and sent it back to the dealer I purchased it from.

I agree with what you said about the software -it is flexible and has a lot of features, but based on my experience with the ecu and their CDI I'm not going near anything with an AEM logo on it again.

FYI this is the company that created the AEM ecu http://www.gems.co.uk/ems/rallying.html

Fd3BOOST

iTrader: (7)

Bummer man. I have had nothing but good experiences with mine.

Hyperite

same here

Claudio RX-7

iTrader: (1)

Is that an FD or FC? did you get the Stat Sync'd to go ON?

ported13b

well i havent got a chance to try it on my fd mainly cause its not running right now but i have tried it on a honda or 2 and my buddies supra and tell u the truth i love cant wait to try it out and my friends love it too

Fd3BOOST

iTrader: (7)

He has a 3rd gen.

onefastrx7

Like Claudio said, send it back, have AEM test it, and you will be very happy. Just hav e it tuned professionally.
All people that complain from the AEM are either inexperienced novices that try to tune, or have issues with their engines, or go to shops that do not know anything about aem and rotary. Some of the early firmware boxes had issues, but everything is fixed by now.

If you want to sell it, I would by it from you in a heart beat. I saw a new RX7 AEM box on ebay in June 2005 for $700, and I regret not buying it back then. If I did , I would be running the AEM on my 13B, 20 B, and have the traction control working, wire 3 EGTs, etc. Try that with some other ECU ( except Motec maybe).

The AEM EMS has a FULLY calibratable table for o2 sensors. It can take any sensors - AEM, FJO, TechEdge, Innovate, etc.

point5chink

i really like mine, my only problem was finding a decent base map. The one that comes with it is just way way too rich, like not even ballpark. But after a few nights of tuning, the car is running great! Very fast, pulls hard to redline. It has so many advanced features though, its tough to know where to start sometimes. There are a few gotchas though, for instance the CAS and the TPS both might need to be adjusted or fixed. The TPS wires will most likely need to be switched around.

crispeed

Yeh.
AEM went off the factory manual like I did also many years ago with Haltech. Anyhow the manual wiring for the TPS is wrong. The easiest way would be to re-pin or cut and splice the the TPS wiring. The Factory manual have a lot of mistakes in it some of which have not even been corrected to this day. As for the CAS you got to make sure it's up to factory spec. A lot of FD's CAS are not up to spec. Some have little cracks and also due to the build/age of the motor you can have excessive ecentric shaft end play leading to timing errors. Sometimes it's neccessary to adjust the air gap of the sensors.
Which version of the software were you running?
I was told the FD 's box is version specific.

onefastrx7

Yes, that seems to be the only mistake that AEM did on the RX7 box. But they posted on their forum how to fix the issue.
And you are absolutely right that many times people blame the standalone for being a pos, but actually the problem lies in their car.
I would not put an AEM on a 150000 mile car ( any car) with old crispy harness, and sensors that are not up to spec.
Another example ( just recent) is thge AEM not being able to start the 300zx. Well, we all know that most factory ecus will run even with a bad cam sensor. Well, the aftermarket standalones will not.
We had a very clean Z in our shop, engine bay looked like new. Put an AEM on it, and the car would not start. Stat syncd would not go ON. I pulled the crank/cam sensor ( one unit on a 300zx) and it looked like brand new. Sure enough, I put an old beat up 300zx crank/cam sensor, and the car started right up, idled nicely etc. And car still ran on the stock sensor...

What do you mean "version specific". You can upgrade the firmware on any box, going back and forth in the versions.

Brent 94

iTrader: (1)

I've had mine for a long time with no ill affects, little bugs here and there but nothing Ray couldn't fix. It's a great EMS and i've always wanted to learn more about it because it has so many different features.

DCrosby

I went around and around with AEM, Jason Sibels tuned a box for me and it ran well, allthough he altered the boost pattern, from 12-8-12 back to 10-8-10 (Factory) which I was getting good power and response from the stock ecu on 12-8-12... Eh... oh well... that car died a horrible death

Then I bought another 50k mi car, put the ecu on the night before I drove it to AEM to get it looked at again, with the same mods I had on my other car... and boom engine goes on an onramp @ about 8 psi....

1 Rebuild later (1.5 Years Later) & Single Turbo, Steve Kahn Tunes the AEM and I barely make 309 and have supposed ignition breakup... I change from the CDI to the Twinpower, and without anything else I gain 8 hp.... oh ok, so the AEM CDI is garbage....

I go back lick my wounds buy a Twinpower, and Ignition Wires, the old ones were Magnacores... possibly suspect, and I change to colder plugs.... I go back to re-tune, and the apex seals are warped, due to excessive heat... .... 4 weeks later I blow 2 Apex seals, scar two housings, dented 1 Rotor, and I'm out.....

Anybody wants to buy AEM ECU and or FJO Wideband..... PM me....

hsitko

iTrader: (1)

Nothing personal against any of the people using the ems. But. I dont know what any of your backgrounds are. You might just not have a clue on how to tune a car. I'm not sure. But as far as i know, everyone that i talk to about ecu's for this car tell me to get the power fc....talk about a total joke of an ecu. The dyno that i get my cars tuned at wont even tune a car with the power fc.

DCrosby

That's why most people I talked to over the years, and myself will tell you:

"Go with the system, that you can get a tuner/support for"

Buying an "Ueber Box" and having nobody to make it Ueber... is a waste of time.... and with the fragile nature of our motors it's a necessity.

Tim Benton

iTrader: (1)

Not sure what you mean by a total joke of an ecu. Are you saying the PFC is a joke? More than likely the shop doesn't have a datalogic/FC edit set up, which means you have to enter things with the commander which can be tedious. The ecu itself isn't a joke though.

Tim

sevensix

iTrader: (1)

i was planning on getting either a pfc or aem ems... all this talk is making my head hurt

rexset

I have installed one in my car , I'm running at the moment 10PSI , it looks very impredictable in the air fuel ratios , but I tuned it with a great safe margin.
My car runs very fast and I have no complains , but I haven't get involve with the setup program in a perfect way jet.

My car is street porting , with big intercooler , 3mm aphex seals, etc, and it works perfect , less in the 4000 rpm range with medioum load.

is quit hard to start the car when is cool , but is is easy when is hot.

I think that is a great EMS but you have to get involve with the program. and the help file , don't help too much.

The people of the AEM don't know too much of the rotary cars , and in Japan hey don't know too much of the AEM , so if you have this EMS you ae by your own.

I think that is meaby more easy to tune the Aphexi power FC or the microtech , but I know that the AEM is the best EMS that you can buy for that price.

toddah

Anyone have a recomendation for a southern Wisconsin tuner who can do a good job with stock twins. I have replace the front cat with a DP but I want to install the AEM before venturing into the next pipe.
I think after the initial tuning is done I would have no issues with adjustments for mods but the first shot seems to be the make or break for this setup.
I have the silicone hose job behind me and the car runs great.
Chicago is about 2 hours away but I am kind of freaked about a 2 hour hiway drive after an initial tuning session.
I am not looking for a gazillion RWH but the ability to tune again makes my mouth water. I was around when dirt was young and we tuned cars with a screwdriver,timing light and a spark plug socket. After a stint with Motec on the Porsche SCCA Pro cars I want back in but I don't have an accessable DYNO to get the groundwork done.

DCrosby

I'd speak to Sean at A-Spec, personally he's in chicago, and even though he's 2 hours away, he's closer than anybody else.. and I'd pick his brain about what to use, that way you're not standing there holding a $1000+ paperweight if you get yourself in a pickel....

Another note, back when dirt was young, and carborators fun, forced induction was tricky, even back then, and a turbo rotary is no differen't if not worse, on the fine line between a gazillion HP and a busted apex seal...

Don't forget you never make as much HP as just before you blow the motor...

-DC

mjscott2

Apparently Tripoint has tuned several FD's recently with the AEM with good success.

I think that what others have said is true - you need a tuner who is familiar with the vehicle AND ECU.

Plenty of people have reliable power with the PowerFC, and it's easy to use. But, ease of use is a double-edged sword if you start messing around with maps and blow your seals.

My AEM arrives tomorrow, and once I get my motor put back together I'll let you know how it goes.

cheers,

Mike.

cooperf1

I'm happy with my AEM ECU and AEM UEGO.

The base map was total crap for me, but once i got it to start, the tuning process wasn't bad.

toddah

I just bought an AEM wideband unit and I have sent the EMS unit back to AEM for a once over and update. I will keep the thread going as I do the reintroduction to the car.

I have worked with Motec on Porsche 911-930-996 engines in both NA and Turbo forms but only on a bench Dyno from scratch. I am going to see if I can get this thing going from a scratch install to a stable street tune state in my shop.

Can someone point me to some info on the CAS issue?