What engine managment system you use? And why?

Please explain because I am trying to find out more about different ECUs that people are using out there.

I've been reading alot on PowerFC and recently been recommended by Zero R to get the microtech.

Please input your opinion and advise so I can have a nice set up =)

-AzEKnightz

 

PFC since 1999.
* * * * * * * * *
Uses the stock wiring and sensors.
Easy to install.
With only the Commander, minimal tuning can be done.
With the Datalogit and a wideband it is easy to tune, and more PFC functions can be accessed and tuned.
* * * * * * * * *

 

Use whatever your tuner recommends.

 

+1

Also consider what you want the system to do besides basic engine control. What are you looking to do with the car?

 

Check in with your tuner. You can buy the best standalone in the world, but if there isn't a tuner around that can set it up then it may as well be a rock.

Case in point, I jumped on a group buy for the Wolf 3D. My tuner has never seen it before and couldn't get it to work. I ended up having to get rid of it and getting something else. It cost a fair amount for me to learn this hard lesson.

 

First of all, thank you for everyone's advise and information.

Forgotten to mention, I will be tuning the car myself. Never tuned a car before, but am willing to learn. And I am very capable of learning =). This is because I am a BMW tech, got my smog license and 19 schilling passes (BMW certified) and some ASEs.

Not trying to brag here or anything, I am just looking forward for a good engine management which I can tune with a laptop and whatsoever.

Of course i know that, no matter how good the tuning unit can be. It is the tuner that counts.

Therefore if you can input your personal information regarding the tuning, how tuning can be done and other sources that can be easily access to between the PowerFC and the MicroTech would be greatly apprecaited.

I am doing all this because I am planning for this single conversion I am doing. And I am personally doing everything myself. I owned the FD, wanted to fix everything on the FD and willing to tune it myself. Will soon paint it also. Therefore anything would be gladly apprecaited.

Here is the link to my previous thread regarding my build/plan for the FD.
SINGLE CONVERSION

Thanks in advance.

-AzEKnightz

 

forgotten to mention what I am doing with the car. It will probably be a somewhat daily driving like 2-3 time per week. Weekend car and track once in a while. I know that I will have different maps for daily driving and a track map. So please input your thoughts guys.

-AzEKnightz

 

The ECU thing is like the rest says, what are u gonna use it for. But u already answerd that.

So the easyiest way is going the PFC route. It's a plug and play ecu with just a few wires that need to be cut, and some other thing i don't remember. Ive done it once :P But it has a limit in boost and HP

Then there is AEM wich is also a plug and play ecu for the stock harness. Alot more functions then the PFC and will support almost every thing u throw at it.

Then there is the standalon ECU systems wich will require u to build a new engine harness and use a diffrent ignition system. Wich will be abit more expensive.

I use a Autronic SM4 ECU with a Autronic 500R CDI ignition box, and 4 Crane Cams LX92 coils. This setup works great, and the Autronic has one of the best Autotune functions in the world. It's fast and easy to use, and will use any wideband in the world that gives either a 0-1v or 0-5v signal.

But if it's an easy rout u want to go, go for a Apexi Power FC with a HKS Twinpower for your ignition. Only thing is u will need to manualy tune it.

JT

 

You should really get some hands-on training for tuning. Since you have quite a few certifications, I think you realize how difficult it would have been to learn some of your skills without somebody there to teach you, or at least somebody there to help you out those few times you couldn't figure it out on your own. Tuning is this way. If you want to learn to tune, buy an EMS that has some type of local support, even it it is just one of your friends or fellow mechanics. Most EMS products are made in Australia, and you certainly do not want to limit yourself to a poor excuse for a manual and a long distance phone call for your tech support.

Also, you may want to ask around to see if somebody can show you how to tune with the gas analyzer since you have access to one.

Not necessarily. Most people use the same map, although it is better to have separate maps if you have a radical track map.

Here are the two manuals. If they make complete sense to you, then you are good to go. Otherwise, you will need some local support.
http://www.microtechefi.com/software/ltmanual.pdf
http://www.apexi-usa.com/pdf/product...tation/197.pdf

 

I am in the same position you were a year ago. I was doing a turbo upgrade on my 2nd gen and I decided I wanted to tune it myself, because I do not trust anyone here in NC. I narrowed it down to Haltech and Power FC. The Haltech has more features and allows you to ditch all the stock sensors and wiring if they are in bad shape, but you will spend a significant amount of time installing it compared to the PFC which plugs right in. The PFC has some idle control and closed loop control limitations, but there is a lot of information about how to tune it. If you have a car that isn't too heavily modified (stock primaries especially) then the basemap works decently.

I ended up buying the PFC and a Datalogit and teaching myself by joining Chuck's PFC yahoo group (which gets you his tuning notes), spending a lot of time analyzing datalogs, and asking a lot of questions (after doing my own research first). I am running 720/1680 on a T04S and the car drives pretty good, especially since it didn't even idle when I started on it 4 months ago. I had zero local help and I figured it out, and I'm not even a professional tech, just a broke college student.

I would say go PFC unless you have a friend who can help you with it. Stay away from AEM EMS, not necessarily because it is a bad unit, but because there is very little support for it online. It's not a good route for someone just starting.

 

This is what I said as well I mentioned "If I had to choose between PFC and something in the same price range, the microtech would be the way to go, but that you need to see what your tuner is most comfortable with." If I had money to spend the Autronic or motec would be the next choice. I think the microtech has a few things that edge it out over the PFC. We all have our preferences.

 

really? you like microtech over pfc? how come.. just curious.

i say AEM if you want to stay pnp.

i like haltech over all tho.

 

I'm using an E6X, but would opt for a higher end Haltech if I had to make the choice again

 

recently a friend just bought haltech and its pretty easy to use. I actually adjusted the idle and ignition for him without much help. Only from the manual that he provided. But I haven't really hear anyone or much people using haltech on the FD.

Mostly, i see people using PFC for the FD3. But that's just what I am seeing around.

Does the MicroTech also have the plug right in feature that I dont have to do any alterations of any kind?

I will response to other comments and advices given later, since I am on lunch and I need to get going =)

Thank you for all your advices. Keep it coming guys.

 

Haltech is much more common on the 2nd gen cars.

 

that, I know for sure =). The friend that I had was using a haltech and I used it. So yeah... More inputs please guys.

I am still trying to determine what is better.

My goal is to have 400-450hp and psi wise probably somewhere below 20psi.

I am basically rebuilding my own engine, doing all the work myself and tuning. Therefore something that doesnt require a lot of alernations ( a plug and play ) would be perfect so less work for me =)

That is why I am leaning towards the PowerFC as of now. But I want to hear more opinions on those who actually tried tuning their own vehicle and things of that sort.

Let me know guys.

-AzEKnightz

 

There's tons of people using the PFC. If you need help there are near experts on this forum to help you with your problems. For 400whp you don't really need all the extra goodies that come with many other standalones. The commander is really the finest feature about the PFC. Checking over your engine and minor adjustments to the map are made painless and quick. My vote is for the PFC (what I'm using).

 

I have a microtech LT10's, the reasons are, simplicity, comes with a new harness, and awesome microtech tuners that are not far away.

 

this is exactly why I am leaning towards PFC. With my goal, 400-450rwhp, this should make me fairly happy with tuning it myself. I probably will be heading towards the PFC since there are so many help on this forum that I've found.

 

[QUOTE......................
Then there is the standalon ECU systems wich will require u to build a new engine harness and use a diffrent ignition system. Wich will be abit more expensive.



JT[/QUOTE]

Dont exagerate ! most , if not all aftermarket manyfactures supply you with a harness , you decide if you want a flying lead or terminated one!

 

i use AEM. Base maps are way off for the FD unfortunately so it took me nearly a year to get it sorted out. After getting things like the fuel pump, air temp sensor, tps, fuell diff map, and switching to boost comp'd map, it is pretty easy to tune.

 

how about price wise? I mean for a PFC, there are vendors that are selling the refurbish one from Apexi for 650 with brand new controller. Where as for Microtech, the cheapest I've found on the net was for 1095 for LT8 and 1195 for LT10... which also throws me off and lead me towards the PFC

 

I've run the PFC and Microtech LTX8s. I was more of a fan of the Microtech. My tuner was familiar with both and I felt all in all the car ran better on the Microtech.

 

Electromotive tec3

 

can u be more elaborate on the "all in all" of microtech being better? How?

Was it easier to tune? or was it actually more friendly?

Let me know.

Thanks