DCrosby

Well, there seems to be a lot of confusion about the base maps of power fc and AEM and the abilities of the AEM. First off if you're looking for support, and have purchased the unit... RTFM it said to log onto..
http://www.aempower.com/bbs and start reading, there is a LOT of really great information out there. On top of that the manuals are great once you know what you're looking for.
If you don't know what you want to adjust, It's kind of like having Webster’s Dictionary when you can't spell.

My Sunday was not without frustration, although I didn't have high hopes, since it clearly stated that the calibration was for stock and not for modded vehicles, even then Stock is not Stock is not Stock, My 7 hails from Illinois, yet I purchased it in California. So the AEM seems very versatile, yet is useless unless you have plans on getting it Dyno tuned.

Back to my frustration, it had a LOT of difficulty starting, and after much frustration and tinkering with the Startup and Warm-up enrichment tables, which I know little about, I gave up and re-installed the stock ECU and took her for a little spin just to warm her up. Once I had the temp up and humming, I got back and installed the AEM once more and BINGO ! It started ....

Once started, it had some trouble idling properly, it would cough and sputter and 90% of the time catch itself, and recover but on the odd traffic light it sometimes would just die... so obviously something's off with the Idle... Something I'm looking into and hope to resolve. Other minor glitches included the AC being on all the time and me not having control of it. Which I quickly rectified, by going into the A/C menu and turning it off (Semi Permanently) Until I find out what I need to change. (This is why I said not all 7's are created equal) you'd think the A/C ON / OFF Switch would be Universal.. obviously not since I doubt AEM tuned their 7 with the AC on all the time...

And this was all done before any tuning was done, I will try and get it tuned next month and then I'll tell you how things are running.

One thing of note, my 7 sounded different... pardon the pun, tuned, the engine sounded smooth, and happy, maybe even perky.... also my exhaust tone seemed louder, I can only attribute this to the AEM. Weather this is a good sign or not, is to be seen...

Overall I'm very happy since I spent about the same as a Power FC with Datalogit, and I feel that I can control just about anything I want, which is very overwhelming, and cumbersome, but if you're not sure what MODS are in your future, and you don't want to be tied to a Apex'i tuning shop, this little gadget does the trick and then some... BTW Support on AEM's BBS is A++

Derek

vbcomputers

I had the same problem with the A/C. I had to send my unit back to them so they could replace a resisitor or something inside. They are aware of the problem and will fix it for you if you call them about it.

DCrosby

Okay, so can you turn of the AC from the ECU !?
And does the switch on the dash function normally !?

Also does your Check Engine Light work !? And If So, where is it wired into !?
Which LS... it sais it's supposed to be on LS10....

How are you doing with the AEM so far !?

Derek

vbcomputers

Yup, once I got it back, the A/C switch on the dash functions fine.

I had the same problem with startup too but when I upgraded to the .94 map all that was much better.

The only problem I have left to iron out is with the boost control but I just haven't had time to call them. I still have the stock twins and they're not spooling right. Feels like the secondary is not coming on line at all. I'm hoping this week to free up enough time to take care of it.

I think it's an awesome system because of the control you have with it but with that level of control comes complication and there is definately a learning curve with this thing.

mrfixxit7

I just bought the AEM along with a new rad,mid pipe, cat back, and down pipe, and had the turbos rebuilt by BNR after finaly getting the turbos back(7 weeks later) we put everything in and now it won't start with the AEM in. It starts fine with the stock ecu. So we pulled out and sent it back to AEM so they could take a look at it. Has anyones else had this problem? And did they fix it or did you figure out how to get it started? Why would you have to let it warm up and switch out ecu's.

vbcomputers

I had a lot of trouble with cold starting when I first got it. I had to run the stock ecu until it warmed up, then switch. With the .89 and .94 I was able to get it to start ok but it still isn't where I want it to be. It still takes a lot longer to crank then the stock ecu.
Please let me know how it goes when you get it back. I still can't get my turbos running right.

mrfixxit7

OK I will let know what happens when I get it back. They have had it for a couple days now and I haven't herd anything from them yet.

mrfixxit7

I got it back yesterday, they said that some of the jumpers where installed wrong. It does start, although it does crank longer than with the stock ecu, but we are tring to fix that and hopefuly we will be able to get it tuned in today as well. I will keep you guys posted.

vbcomputers

Let me know how yours works. I'm still getting nowhere with boost control.

mrfixxit7

just about got everything sort of figured out except for the boost. We called them yesterday and are waiting to hear back from them. Whe I got mine and look at the boost control paramiters they looked to be way off. Was your like this?

vbcomputers

I get 15lbs at 3000 but it drops off to 5psi by 5500. I tried to adjust every setting and was not able to get rid of the problem. I have called AEM dozens of times and they have not been able to figure it out either. I'm at a stand still. I've posted on every forum I could find related to the RX7 and nobody seems to have the answer.

mrfixxit7

after three days of troubleshooting we discovered the reason we couldn't control boost is because the setting for the base map is setup for a maf sensor that reads off the AEM two bar. So we called them they gave us the new settings so it will read off the mazda maf sensor. However now the fuel map is out of wack. It just sputteres when you try to accel. Hopefully AEM can give us a true rx-7 fuel map so we can try to get the boost and acceleration tuned in

vbcomputers

What settings did you change? I'm pretty sure I already checked that but it won't hurt to check again.

Richierich

I just installled mine, and it started right away, but it idled a little ruff. So I try and drive it, and I can't take it past 2000 rpm,it die's, and putters, and backfires.... I took it to a guy who has tuned hundreds of aem's for talons, honda's. supra's, and he has never seen anything like it. He tried every adjustment possible and it ran like it was only using one rotor. I installed my original computer, and it wouldn't start for a half an hour because it was so flooded....I'm getting no support at all....anyone want to buy a new aem for 1000?

vbcomputers

I hear ya Bro. I had the same problem but when I updated to version .94 it went away. I already bought a PFC as a backup. I'm still plugging away but if I don't get it working right soon, I'm just going to pop in the PFC and forget about it. PFC is pretuned and ready to roll. Gotta love it. AEM's support has gotten pretty shitty lately.

vbcomputers

I have yet to speak to 1 single person that has been able to get this running properly with the stock twins. Pretty amazing.

mrfixxit7

I have had the same problems, I downloaded the 94 updated map. I couldn't control my boost, after leaving messages for days I finally got ahold of someone in tech. support. After digging through the software we discovered that the map sensor is not set up for the mazda map it was set up for a AEM 2 bar or something. After getting that worked out now my fuel map is so screwed up that that I can't accell. If I don't get it figured out this week then I am going to go with the PFC. I have been trying to get this this worked out for over 3 weeks now and Aem isn't helping much. I just think that the product isn't developed enough and they rushed it onto the maket to soon. Who knows in a few years It might be a real "plug and play".

vbcomputers

Yup. Same probs here. They gave me a bunch of **** last time I spoke to them because I complained about the product and how it should have been shipped ready to go for a stock RX-7. That's pretty much how it was advertised. They said that it's not "Plug and Forget" but rather "Plug and Play". I find it quite interesting that they have taken on this attitude. The PFC comes ready to go. Sure anything is going to need some fine tuning but the AEM is a total mess. I've been trying for 6 months to get answers from them and have been slowly making progress but its like pulling teeth trying to get simple answers from them. I don't think the RX7 unit flew off the shelves as they had hoped. Maybe that's why they're just blowing us off. This thing looks awesome on paper but all these features don't do me much good if I can't figure out how to use them. 2 more days and I'll have my PFC. At the very least it will be nice to compare the 2.

mrfixxit7

ok hears the newest update, We downloaded the new updated 94 version base map. Then we changed the map sensor from the Aem 2 bar to the mazda and set the boost wage gate to zero and the car started ran well and we were able to control the boost. now we are basically fine tuning it. I have just about every bolt on mod out their on my car and the stock fuel map is running a little lean. so now we need to figure out how to richen it a little bit, and adjusting the turbos to about 12 psi. As far as the settings for the mazda map sensor I don't have them right now but you can call them and ask them about it and they should help you out. Once I get this thing done I will post the details when I have all the info in front of me. Also if anyone has basically the same mods I have I will email them the map that I am using on my car.

vbcomputers

I've got pretty much the same mods and also looking for the same boost. I would love to see another map. I can always fine tune the fuel to get it right for my setup. I couldn't find a Mazda option for the map senser. They told me to select Supra and said it was close enough. Here's my e-mail: vbcomputers@earthlink.net . I would be very appreciative if you could send me your map as soon as you feel comfortable with it. I'm very interested to see how it works on my car. I've been making progress playing with the wastegate settings but I'm still not there yet. They really could have saved us all a lot of trouble if they had set this up right to begin with. Anyway, I can't wait to check out that map. Thanks.

vbcomputers

I don't know if you've tried the automap feature yet on the fuel map but it's pretty cool. Go to Fuel, Automap Fuel Log, Log. Right click anywhere and choose initialize automapping, change whatever settings you want to change (there's a chart in the manual that gives sample settings), hit ok, right click again, and choose start auto mapping. Take it easy on it for a bit going through the gears, slowly get on it a little more here and there and you'll see it adjust your fuel map automatically until eventually you'll get to where you want to be.

mrfixxit7

hey thanks alot, we will try that. About the map sensor they gave me specific information to put in. I actually created a new map sensor setting and labeled it Mazda.
We have been running it on the dyno trying to keep the a/f ratio safe today we got it up to 10 psi of boost at about 6000rpm. Hopefully by Sat. it will be done. by the way what temp does your rad. fan come on. the stock setting from AEM is 80 degrees we went in and changed it to 93 because the thermostat doesn't fully open until 95 degrees. I will give you another update in a few days.

DCrosby

I'm getting some massive help from AEM and I expect to get my 7 back from the Dyno this afternoon fully working with the "Twins" I belive Aem will post the new basemap on their site but if not I'd be glad to share it with you guys.... BTW do not Automap unless you have wideband O2 properly attached and working... since the stock O2 is a Piece....

DC

mrfixxit7

I know about the O2 sensor. we have been working on it while it is on the dyno. How much boost are you putting out? how much did you have to mess with the fuel map? My email is Mrfixxit7@hotmail.com if you could send me what you have It would help alot. Thanks

DCrosby

I didn't mess with the fuel, supposedly it was mostly auto tuned with the wideband... talk to Jason at AEM to get any details on the mapping of the fuel tables...

I'm getting pretty close to the 10-8-10 pattern that the stock one puts out... Jason did tell me that he tuned the first turbo first making sure that it had sufficient fuel and then turned on the wastegate to switch at 4500 - 5000 rpm. He tried doing it eralier but said there wasn't enough exhaust flow for the first compressor to spin up properly.

DC