beagle_senior
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ECU Opinions
Hey Guys, I am currently looking at a few options to upgrade my ecu, and I am looking at the following: Autronic sm4 Electromotive TEC3 AEM EMS Link G4 Wolf V500 All have there pros and cons, but I am concerned as to availability of tuners here in Australia, if anyone has done any sort of research on these can you please help me make a descision as I can't seem to choose.. Regards Alex
post edited by beagle_senior - 2011/11/02 03:17:01
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MRTurbo
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/02 09:51:34
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Link G4 (plug-in) will fit into the 'stock' ECU case... ;)
and I have only heard very good things about the link.
1990 SW20 GT 3S-GTE Targa 2001 Honda CBR600F4i 
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chausta
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/02 10:12:07
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are these ecu plug and play? Or is the wiring fairly simple?
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MRTurbo
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/02 11:18:43
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The Link? Not 'plug & play' as such but pretty close to. Just need to remove the factory circuit board from the ECU casing and replace it.
They recommend taking it to a 'Link qualified installer' but I guess if you know a bit about car wiring etc, it wouldn't be that hard.
Tuning would be a different story though.
1990 SW20 GT 3S-GTE Targa 2001 Honda CBR600F4i
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ozhummer
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/02 12:31:57
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I went through an evaluation process and settled on the WOLF V4X .. reasons being price, functionality (these are specifically for 4 cyl) - ability to run sequential - able to read the OEM cam angle sensor, TPS - inbuilt MAP to 3 bar, excellent fuel map resolution and I/O capabilities.. Software is excellent too..
The area of ECU's really comes down to personal preference and what your plans are.. I wanted to replace the OEM ECU for my rebuild and could not see the point in going for 8 cyl capabilities, I also didn't need CAN as I am not running a dash from it.
The only drawback is this cannot be run in closed loop (I don't care about this) - and the interface requries serial (D9) which all new(ish) laptops do not support anymore.
It's easy to wire and configure and I have found Wolf tech support really good with high availability..
My 2c worth anyway ....
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dylmrt
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/02 13:00:20
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One thing to note about the wolf though, is that a lot of people who have run the seem to have struggled with cold start with it on a 3S.
Any reason you're not looking at an apex'i Power FC either?
Easy to tune, and cheap. only issue is its not a very flexible ECU, it won't be able to sense changes in the conditions and retains the same tune, so it really is only as good as your tuner.
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beagle_senior
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/02 18:10:49
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the problem i have with the apexi is that they are a pretty basic ecu by the sounds of it and i dont think it will be capable in doing what i will require.
Josh, in regards to the pnp link my harness has alrady been cut for the current ecu, so it wouldnt be as simple s plug and play for mine unfortunately.
In say that, i have no dramas in starting a wiring loom from scratch with a kit that comes with the ecus...
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MRTurbo
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/03 09:34:54
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Alex: The APFC is outdated and its biggest drawback is no direct knock control. The PFC does only display a knock value, but has no active knock control...it only takes one tank of **** fuel man, then its all over.
Maybe you should list exactly what you want out of it (ie. features etc), then narrow it down? You'd still probably have to get someone to wire it in though.
1990 SW20 GT 3S-GTE Targa 2001 Honda CBR600F4i
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dylmrt
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/03 09:55:50
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What exactly do you want from your ECU?
but there are 2 >300rwkw MR2s in NSW still run em, and countless more that are running more 250+rwkw on them (myself included) and they've been the ECU of choice for the past decade so there's some merit to them.
Correct, there's no direct knock control, but if u do find it knocking, its not difficult to manually change the timing/AFRs if you have the controller with it.
But that might not be what you're after.
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robk
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/03 14:28:58
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FWIW, it is not uncommon to see people with ECUs that are capable of knock control, but they haven't bothered to set it up, so it's still only displaying a value anyway.
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MRTurbo
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/03 15:41:14
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Alex, I've been doing some reading on E85 (as I know you plan to use this) and you'll need an ECU than can take readings from a Siemens Flex-fuel sensor in the tank. This will allow for variations in the Ethanol content instantaneously and optimise the tune accordingly. Link G4 plug-in can do this out of the box. The sensor outputs a digital signal, a frequency where between 50hz and 150hz = Ethanol percentage. The wave form is able to give both E% and Fuel temp (both of which the Link G4 can read) - You can buy the digital to analogue converter from Zeitronix, but it's an all-in-one unit that has the E% display. About $170USD, which isn't too bad. This will then output an ANALOGUE signal of 0-5V, which might bring some more ECU's into play.
This was shamelessly stolen from SAU and can the PFC do this?
post edited by MRTurbo - 2011/11/03 15:55:32
1990 SW20 GT 3S-GTE Targa 2001 Honda CBR600F4i
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MCT_MR2
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/03 20:01:42
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No, PFC cannot do this.
There is a catch 22 with the flex fuel sensors and running an aftermarket ecu in a flew fuel setup. The ECU has to have the ability to store and interpolate the maps.
You need to do multiple fuel tunes at various ethanol percentages, and know the ethanol percentage for each tank of fuel that you tune on. On top of this, you will need to run a wideband lambda sensor pernamently wired in to trim in a closed loop setup.
I doubt you will find a tuner that will do this cheaply. even if you did a corse setup 98/e60/e85 tunes and interpolation, your looking at a bit of money, especially when you add in the cost of the wideband sensor (which will have a limited lifespan been exposed to moisture on cold starts), flexfuel sensor plus making it fit and get wired in, then the ecu and 3 full tunes, it's quite an expensive exercise.
There was one guy on the SAU forums that was doing this with chequered tuning in melbourne to his ex midori racing r34 v spec nur. This guy has a lot of money, and time to play with, and is a perfectionist. They had been refining it over a number of months and were still not done.
Just some food for thought....
'88 MR2 4AGTE W/ EFR6258 224.6KW @ 20PSI more to come......
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the_random_hero
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/04 03:53:38
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Or you just buy E85 by the barrel - option if the car isn't a daily, would get rather expensive if it was.
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MRTurbo
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/04 09:39:00
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MCT_MR2
There was one guy on the SAU forums that was doing this with chequered tuning in melbourne to his ex midori racing r34 v spec nur. This guy has a lot of money, and time to play with, and is a perfectionist. They had been refining it over a number of months and were still not done.
Just some food for thought....
That was the thread/him actually. Yeah seemed like money was no object there. He just made it sound simple but I guess there was A LOT of work 'behind the scenes'. Alex, how deep are your pockets? lol
1990 SW20 GT 3S-GTE Targa 2001 Honda CBR600F4i
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beagle_senior
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Re:ECU Opinions
2011/11/04 19:16:11
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yeah i am starting to think that this isnt going to be possible for what i wanted, however in saying that i would still like to upgrade from the e6x that i am currently using to something a little newer...
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