replacement ECU or piggyback solution ?

Hate

Hate

Hate

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
7,175
Location
Sussex
For my GT4, i've heard the 3S-GTE enjoys a good remap and once i've done my "sports cat" and full exhaust i'll look into getting her mapped.

I want the ECU to control my boost (remove the bleed valve) if possible too.

Now, a power FC + boost module + remap is likely to be the wrong side of a grand, but its the proper solution.

A piggyback (like a greddy e-manage) i know "fudges" the inputs to the ecu but has a similar effect - but its also going to be about £400 purchased, fitted and mapped.

now, i'm not interested past 300bhp (the intake, exhaust and boost controller will see me there) - so i'm wondering if the extra expense of the full unit is worth it.
 
Have you looked into the 'Megasquirt' ECU system, it's seems to be a very cheap alternative, it's a fully standalone ECU, or can also be used as a piggyback if you wish, and for the cheapest options you can buy it as a kit that you solder together, this comes in at around $250 (there are a couple of uk places selling them, not sure on the price though, only prices i could find were american)

Personally i'd say go with the standalone ECU, no real concrete reason just if you are doing a job you might as well do it properly :p

When it comes time to tune my car i'll be looking seriously at the Megasquirt system, or possibly even make my own as a final year project for uni :p
 
Just this very second recived my Emanage Ultimate through the post, i've done so much reading up on this unit its untrue, its come from Hong Kong and got it for £294 shipped, on top of that i've ordered a Boomslang harness so its a true plug and play install, its a great price offers fantastic control for little money.

I've also got a Wideband O2 sensor & controller (LC-1) sat next to me, that with a MAP sensor and i can use the EMU to Autotune my engine, this will get it running quite well, then its just fine tuning of the maps. :)
 
apparently the unichip is pretty decent on the ST205 as it can use the car's standard boost controller unit too :)

another question is that i usually run on a mix of optimax and regular super unleaded (if i get caught short).

would it be sensible to get the car mapped for the lowest grade of fuel i'm likely to use (in this case, generic 97 RON) or just get it mapped on optimax and avoid lower RON fuels.
 
I believe (IIRC) a friend of mine a few years ago had a Dastek Unichip put on his Saxo VTS, and the unit could adjust itself between the differeing fuel types.
Again IIRC he said he had it mapped on normal unleaded and then a bit later when he started using hig octane fuels he tried to get it remapped and the guys doing the map said there was no point as the unit will take care of the necessary adjustments itself.

Don't take this as gospel, I will get back to you on this later this evening once I have rung him and checked.
 
Hate said:
it'll be going on my celica gt4, so its forced induction too
Click to expand...

Unichip is good for these engines. Pretty cheap too. You need to look at other solutions once you start fitting bigger injectors though.
 
i know its famous last words, but I think the ECU map will be the last of the power upgrades.

then i'm going to buy the WRC bodykit and possibly fit a leather interior :)
 
For your mods I wouldn't go standalone. I'm go for an emange blue or ultimate. Unichip is ok and works, but the emanage is a better piggyback.

I've personally had experience with a unichip, emanage and powerfc on my rev2 mr2 turbo. The powerfc is the best but it is exspensive and only really comes into it's when you're supporting big power mods.
 
Vipernet said:
For your mods I wouldn't go standalone. I'm go for an emange blue or ultimate. Unichip is ok and works, but the emanage is a better piggyback.

I've personally had experience with a unichip, emanage and powerfc on my rev2 mr2 turbo. The powerfc is the best but it is exspensive and only really comes into it's when you're supporting big power mods.
Click to expand...

the unichip is bad on the ST185 (and rev2) block cause it uses an AFM i was lead to believe, it works much better on the MAF equipped block (which I have)
 
Hate said:
the unichip is bad on the ST185 (and rev2) block cause it uses an AFM i was lead to believe, it works much better on the MAF equipped block (which I have)
Click to expand...

MAP you mean?

AFM and MAF are the same
 
Hate said:
the unichip is bad on the ST185 (and rev2) block cause it uses an AFM i was lead to believe, it works much better on the MAF equipped block (which I have)
Click to expand...

No. Any sort of fueling piggyback is bad when a car has an air flow meter. As soon as the flap fully opens the voltage reading hits 5v and the injectors automatically go to 100%. The map sensor on a rev1 and 2 is just there for fuel cut and the rubbish little boost meter on the dash. On rev3+, st205s the map sensor is what mainly controls the fuel.
 
Vipernet said:
No. Any sort of fueling piggyback is bad when a car has an air flow meter. As soon as the flap fully opens the voltage reading hits 5v and the injectors automatically go to 100%. The map sensor on a rev1 and 2 is just there for fuel cut and therubbish little boost meter on the dash. On rev3+, st205s the map sensor is what controls the fuel.
Click to expand...

yeah, thats what i meant :)
 
SKILL said:
Have you looked into the 'Megasquirt' ECU system, it's seems to be a very cheap alternative, it's a fully standalone ECU, or can also be used as a piggyback if you wish, and for the cheapest options you can buy it as a kit that you solder together, this comes in at around $250 (there are a couple of uk places selling them, not sure on the price though, only prices i could find were american)

Personally i'd say go with the standalone ECU, no real concrete reason just if you are doing a job you might as well do it properly :p

When it comes time to tune my car i'll be looking seriously at the Megasquirt system, or possibly even make my own as a final year project for uni :p
Click to expand...

Once you include the required sensors and the time/money it takes to fettle it until it's running smoothly, it costs about as much as a decent standalone setup anyway.

If it were my car, and I were chasing big numbers I would certainly go standalone.

*n
 
£300 for the EMU
£144 for WB02
$60 for an O2 clamp (If you need one)
$30 for a MAP (If you need one)
$229 for a Harness (If you want to do a propper jpb)

If you map it yourself its well below the cost of a standalone ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom