Modified/Piggyback ECU?

JahjaMan · Post by **JahjaMan** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:52 pm

uh, just wondering which one's the best option

i really dont have a clue what im on about with ECU's, so could anyone advice me on which one's more suitable (type and brand), cost and availibility?

im looking at haltech piggyback, but as i said, dunno what the diff is between that and modified chips

Liquidity · Post by **Liquidity** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:59 pm

chips are almost always full of crap, or only good for people who havent done any modification.

The "one resistor" magic tricks, just lean out your whole mix. Not cool.

There are "Sports chips" etc, that can extract more performance from a stock vehicle (plenty for audi's for example). However the moment you modify that vehicle, (ie, add an exhaust) then the "set" chip's profile probably wont suit you anymore.

Consider also, most of these "chips" are roughly the same price as a piggyback ecu. Albeit, easier to install, less time spent tuning etc.

Depends on whats available, and what mods you have done/may do in the future. Piggybacks themselves of course have limitations, beyond which a full ecu would be the best/only option.

So, whats in mind?

Hobbsie · Post by **Hobbsie** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 11:17 pm

you won't need more than a air fuel controller or something unless youre gonna do some major engine modification

khunjeng · Post by **khunjeng** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:27 am

chips, ecus and piggybacks can all be programmed or re-mapped to suit your application. Most of them do the same so just ask your tuner what he knows and get that as its all in the tune.

As for your FTO an SAFC will probably be enough for your most common mods.

I have done new maps for my stock chips, piggy backs and full ecu replacemetns and all have ben used for different applications and different cars.

Liquidity · Post by **Liquidity** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 1:11 am

not all chips. I'd be wary about that.
Some of them also *Can only* be reprogramed...with their own, exclusive, seperate "This price will make your ass bleed" controller.

JahjaMan · Post by **JahjaMan** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 9:44 am

woah woah.. new word there.. what's SAFC?
hehe is there any reading i can do before i ask anymore noob questions?

first of all, wats the difference between installing chips, modified ecu's and piggybacks, and which ones are able to be tuned to specific needs?

RedlineGX · Post by **RedlineGX** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:20 am

Unless you are turbocharging or doing some serious N/A mods you wont really need to do much with your ECU. Dont bother with a chip could as well get a fully programmeable.

I have an emanage blue in my t/charged car and thats all i need. Wont set you back too much and fairly easy to program. Allows you to adjust timing, ignition and injection, run an extra injector or two and upgrade your injector size. Programeable with a laptop using Windows.

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:42 am

JahjaMan wrote:woah woah.. new word there.. what's SAFC?
hehe is there any reading i can do before i ask anymore noob questions?

first of all, wats the difference between installing chips, modified ecu's and piggybacks, and which ones are able to be tuned to specific needs?

Heres a link for SAFC. http://www.apexi-usa.com/product_electr ... &pageNum=1

Installing chips or Chip replacement are basically add or replace another microprocessor onto your ECU. Usually they are pre-program, which mean "one size fits all" 80% of these type of products aren't re-prgramable. E.G Mines VX ROM

Modifield ECU or Flash Upgrade is when someone tap into your current ECU program and alter the setting of fuel/air ratio and ignition. These are generally re-programable. E.G Powerchip, ECUTEK

Piggybacks are those that have an external unit which tap into your ECU, the beauty of this are, you can either re-program the basic funtion of the ECU via a laptop computer (which you need all the right equipments) or a simple adjust system monitor like the SAFC. Some allow you to extend the capability of the unit as well, which mean you can get extra harness and have more control of things like injectors, boost control..etc. E.G Unichip, Greddy eManage, Apexi SAFC

Full Stand Alone ECU replacement, the name/title explain itself, its a fully programmable ECU replacement and like Redline mention, you really need some serious modifications to have something like this. You also need a professional who is really know what they doing as i've seen more damage had been done to a car then benifit in the wrong hands before. E.G Haltech, Motech, Microtech, Apexi Power FC

RedlineGX · Post by **RedlineGX** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 3:53 pm

Yeah another problem with standalones is that unless you really know what you're doing you almost always end up loosing a few of the small things the standard computer had. Ok for a race car but not usually convenient for a rally driver. Mitsubihi actually make some of the best standard ecus in the japanese market, possibly one of the reasons there are less available plug-and-play options than other cars like honda/toyota etc. since the difference in usually not worth the price.

khunjeng · Post by **khunjeng** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:27 pm

Liquidity wrote:not all chips. I'd be wary about that.
Some of them also *Can only* be reprogramed...with their own, exclusive, seperate "This price will make your ass bleed" controller.

Read what I wrote and get what your tuner knows and can tune as thats whats most important.

an emanage or SAFC will be fine for your fto...however I needed to replace my emanage with a PowerFC once I got over the 250rwkw range in my car - your not going over that mark in a hurry with new zorst and cai.

Liquidity · Post by **Liquidity** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:58 pm

over 250kw? wow. What have you done to it?
In other offtopic news. Youtube and fto's. Damn, but theres some sweet sounding cars there

Hobbsie · Post by **Hobbsie** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 7:11 pm

Liquidity wrote:over 250kw? wow. What have you done to it?
In other offtopic news. Youtube and fto's. Damn, but theres some sweet sounding cars there

250kw on his rb25 lol not the fto

JahjaMan · Post by **JahjaMan** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:04 pm

umm.. alright
i sorta get them now

what about the haltech interceptor unit that RPW sells for about 1k?

hmm i prob wouldnt need it though eh?
i was just thinking about it cause they recommended an air fuel regulator if u install their extractors.

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 10:50 pm

I think you mean Fuel pressure regulator. If you going to get one, you will need some sort of device to adjust your air/fuel ratio too. Like the SAFC you ask before, its the cheapest adjustable air/fuel device.

khunjeng · Post by **khunjeng** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:35 pm

JahjaMan wrote:umm.. alright
i sorta get them now

what about the haltech interceptor unit that RPW sells for about 1k?

hmm i prob wouldnt need it though eh?
i was just thinking about it cause they recommended an air fuel regulator if u install their extractors.

listen mate

what mods have u done?
whats mods are u planning?

regardless the SAFC or emanage will be your best bet..for a high flow cat, muffler and new intake pipe +safc u can probably get to about 110+ rwkw up from about 90-95 from stock.

JahjaMan · Post by **JahjaMan** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:55 am

wow, the Apexi SAFC looks nice

i googled it just to find an approximate price
around the $550 mark?

do i get this alongside the fuel pressure regulator?

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:04 pm

JahjaMan wrote:wow, the Apexi SAFC looks nice

i googled it just to find an approximate price
around the $550 mark?

do i get this alongside the fuel pressure regulator?

fto338 wrote:I think you mean Fuel pressure regulator. If you going to get one, you will need some sort of device to adjust your air/fuel ratio too. Like the SAFC you ask before, its the cheapest adjustable air/fuel device.

JahjaMan · Post by **JahjaMan** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:30 pm

im guessing thats a yes =)
haha was just double checking.
thanks for the help!

Nacho · Post by **Nacho** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:22 pm

I think you should consider upgrading:

exhaust
extractors
cold air intake
throttle body
fuel pressure regulator

...before even contemplating the ecu upgrade. Without these things you'll probably look at a 2kW gain and won't be worth your money to tune it.

khunjeng · Post by **khunjeng** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:38 pm

Nacho wrote:I think you should consider upgrading:

exhaust
extractors
cold air intake
throttle body
fuel pressure regulator

...before even contemplating the ecu upgrade. Without these things you'll probably look at a 2kW gain and won't be worth your money to tune it.

I agree with Nacho...don't bother until u have done the exhaust and the intake at a minimum.