ECM vs Stand alone

[Gsrfreo]

I'm in perth to and looking at ecu stuff as well. The guys I take my car to told me going the evo 7 ecu was th way to go. But it was going to cost heaps. There original pricing was a bit off, but they came back to $1700 fitted with afm injectors. But still would need to be tuned and that's $800 ish too.
I spoke to the young guy about ecmlink. He said he was trying to talk his boss into learning it and tuning them. That was a few months ago. Maybe if they get more people asking about it they will.

 

[BMGTZ]

what is to learn... It is simple.

Get basic set up and wideband.

install.....do some logs.

correct from logs using track log.

my thoughts are they wouldnt want you to kmow just how simple it really is.

 

[4piknup]

Burnzy said this (in 2012)
i can indeed flash the chips and socket the ecus but nowadays it's smarter to go with evo 5/6 ecu, and have all the dual maps, map switching, reflashability, CEL flash on knock ready to plug and play for $300, rather than ecmlink for like 450 + socketing costs etc. you would recoup most of that 300 from selling your stock ecu anyway.

 

[BMGTZ]

dual maps.....hmm. adjust suspension...hmm

set suspension and never touch again

 

[Gsrfreo]

I know I ask this before. But can you put like a evo 7 ecu into a gsr? Like you would a evo 2/3. I understand some wiring or something has to be changed, and the matching afm and injectors. Would it run ok without going being tuned? With the idea of getting it tuned at a later date.

 

[4piknup]

I have the cables here to get it cruising and idling and safe at wot.
You can put anything in anything. Im going evo9 ecu (but the plugs are pricey). Im not sure why burnzy says 5-6. But I think its because it only needs a few wires swapped over. I dont know about the 7-8 but there are threads about it. At any price, you need a wideband to monitor the tune so you can see how it runs.
If you use the matching afm and injectors, your idle and cruise should be fine. Remember that they selftune closed loop

 

[MDK87]

On that last point you mention Jack. I've only just started messing around with ECU tuning (TunerPro).
On the RB20DET there are both closed and open loop maps. For the 4G63T there is just one, open loop I'm guessing and closed loop fuel trims adjust from the open loop values for a given RPM. Is that how is works?
What is an octane table? Is it additional injection for transient throttle inputs??

To the OP, I've used ECMlink before and it is nice, user friendly. The only reason I went this way is I have multiple cars and I thought I could learn more doing it the hard way but it's not really working for me.. Haha I may end up just buying another ECMlink, it's good for 'simple' people like me.
Well worth the comparatively little cost for what it does and the nice interface/datalogger.

Aftermarket units are nice but I personally don't see the need to re-invent the wheel when we have such options as ECMlink available to us these days. Sure beats the old days of keydiver chips and interceptors. :lol:

 

[evo-gsr]

Burnzy said this (in 2012)
i can indeed flash the chips and socket the ecus but nowadays it's smarter to go with evo 5/6 ecu, and have all the dual maps, map switching, reflashability, CEL flash on knock ready to plug and play for $300, rather than ecmlink for like 450 + socketing costs etc. you would recoup most of that 300 from selling your stock ecu anyway.

which is exactly why I went with that option in mine..

 

[4piknup]

There is no closed loop map as it is just set at 14.7:1 the only reason this may be bad is if you wany to run max economy of 16:1 at cruise. I know this may open a heap of off topic stuff about burnt valves etc. And not really on topic. As you say, the trims adjust from the open loop table to 14.7:1
Octane table- there is high and low in fueling and spark. We are often told to just make them the same. But, im pretty sure that if your knock sensor fails or disconnect, then the ecu will run the low octane tables. There is plenty of talk that they are never used but I think thats why.
In the ecu with dual maps functionality, you can manually switch from the high and low tables. I dont know if this just means you disconnect the knock sensor???. I would assume not and the knock function is retained. Not real sure.

Ecmlink does have forum support. It is pretty good when they reply to you. But often they dont, but our questions have been answered 100s of times before, so the abswers are in the forum somewhere...

 

[evopwr]

It all comes down to cost and how much of your own time you are willing to put in.

ECM is designed for the DIYer who would do most of the work themselves (solder the chip on the ECU and do initial setup) then final tuning at the dyno. ECM is much simpler than any other aftermarket management so if the shop can't tune it - you're at the wrong place!
The ECM wiki page is full of all the info you could ever need.

ECM also has the awesome benefit of looking completely stock standard!

 

[evo-gsr]

Never seen or heard of anyone getting done for a non standard looking ECU ?
At least not in NSW anyway...

 

[CYBORG-X]

Ecm link beats most other set ups apart from going full haltech or link ect. Those tables can be manipulated really well, and alot of settings can be changed... the only problem i get pissed off with is the knock sensor... kinda has a mind of its own..

Non standard ecu must still meet emissions in nsw.

 

[4piknup]

Still needs a boost control for evo 1-3 to be good.

Should be close to running a flex sensor for e1-3 by now tho. But you have to be sd to free up a sensor.

 

[evo-gsr]

Sd is the best...no more shitty AFM. Especially if your using 4" intake to match 4" turbo snout..no necking down to accomodate the AFM !

 

[MDK87]

Ecm link beats most other set ups apart from going full haltech or link ect. Those tables can be manipulated really well, and alot of settings can be changed... the only problem i get pissed off with is the knock sensor... kinda has a mind of its own..

Non standard ecu must still meet emissions in nsw.

Is phantom knock still a big issue with these sensors?
I thought ECMlink incorporated a software based configurable knock signal filter to combat this?
I can't remember for sure, it has been years since playing with it but I thought it was there.

 

[4piknup]

Yea, I think you can set when the dash light flashes.
And I think, how hard it retards timing for each count of knock.
My setup is fine in regards knock. Seems to work no problems, but I dont have a rattly twin plate or anything.

Seeing as we are talking about stuff and stuff.
Im playing with a stupid harley and noticed it doesnt run a knock sensor.....strange.
It turns out they run a technology called ion sensing. The knock sensor is the plug gap. They run 80v or so across the plug gap before the spark and somehow it knows if it knocks. Before it knocks....its some tech from saab they aquired in a buy up a few years ago. Pretty cool, certainly worth googling

 

[GeoKez]

..........But it's a fucking Harley Jack.........

 

[4piknup]

Read the tech geo. Its pretty easy to pitch rocks at harleys. And im stupid enough to have 2 of them (and they are only 'half a harley' sportsters. But the tech is pretty awesome. If only someone would do it as a aftermarket add on.

Besides, I seem to recall you having some buckets of shit at your place from time to time to geo..... what was that thing you did a in frame engine rebuild on?

 

[4piknup]

Was it a x19 triumph or something.

 

[evo-gsr]

..........But it's a fucking Harley Jack.........

lol!