Time for a computer. What do I do?
 

I know absolutly nothing about computers for fd's so i need a little help. I'm not trying to spend all that much on a computer I really just want the best bang for the buck i'll be changing computers next year. Do i NEED a stand alone and what is that? Can I just send off the stock computer to get reprogramed or what. I have other plans in store before switching to a top rate computer so will future mods cause a problem like removing air pump changing the radiator basically upgrades that are for better running of the engine. Here is a list of my mods to help with a decision in the type of computer or work that needs to be done.
bov , k&n cones , mild street port , smic , 3" dp/mp , exhaust , 3mm seals , complete fuel system. I plan to make my fd a complete race car for auto xing which means i will be changing to a stand alone next year but at this time i just want to get it running good i also want to be able to run 15# or more so i need a high / low boost switch so will that change anything. Rember I know jack abut computer systems so any help or comment is more than welcome.

There's a couple of ECU for sale now in the for sale section. For your mods I would recommend the Pettit ECU, their unlimited can handle up to 14.7psi with the stock injectors.

what about afc controllers and things of that nature if i decide to just get the computer reprogramed will I need things like that as well to run a higher boost.

Get the PowerFC ... period. Smoother and can handle any upgrades.

Agreed, get the pettit unlimited if your wanting something right away, with those mods you'd need it now just to be safe. If you have the money now for a Apexi PFC, get it and the commander. It can handle upgrades as you go and you can change injectors later on too if you need more fuel, without the hassle of extra injector controllers or fuel controllers. $500 will get you a Pettit unlimited which you atleast need now for the mods mentioned above. The PFC is $1500 with the commander.

Tim Benton

PFC with commander is $1100, not $1500. I think the Pettit unlimited is lacking on fuel .... but that is my opinion.

I was planning on getting the haltech instead of the pfc anyways!! But why should I not get the haltech instead of the pfc? I always thought haltech was better!! Does it even really matter?

With datalogit hardware/software interface the PowerFC is really coming around. The datalogit allows the PowerFC to have better datalogging than the Haltech now.

PFC is a simple....take out the old ecu, plug the PFC into the stock harness, and your running. Haltec is nice, BUT you do have to rewire the car for the haltec sensors, major pain in the ass for a newbie. Like Carson said, if you do have the money now, get the Apexi PFC, I was off on the price, but I did get mine at SR so I paid for the "maps" (little extra).
Carson, have you gotten another PFC yet and the datalogit? just curious.
Tim Benton

Yes I got another PowerFC and I'm using a friend's datalogit to get my single with 1680cc working correctly. I'm learning so much about how the PowerFC works by doing lots of datalogging. I'll share more when I'm sure about my results. I've talked with Chuck W. about some of my findings. I've also been working on converting Haltech maps to PowerFC. Oh well, more fun to come. :D

So if I do get the pfc how do I get it tuned or does the pfc automatically adj. itself enough so the motor doesn't blow or will it cost me every time i get a new part.

You tune with the FCcommander or datalogit. It is not too difficult and there is no auto-correct feature. With any ECU you should expect tuning time & cost-either someone else or dyno time. Dyno time is usually in the neighborhood of $100 per hour.

Check out the new AEM FMS that is comming out 6/15 thats goign to be plug and play and is supposed to be very versatile and accomadate any possible mods you could make