Best ECU?

[Grizzly]

Ok,

I am trying to find the Best all round Stand alone Ecu.

I relise there is a Few diffrent makes and types Motech,Haltech,Microtech,Tech 3 etc.

What i am looking for is best Programing, Speed, Quality (Build and fitting), Triple/Quad split ignition, Omp Driver and value for Money.

This is mainly for Intrest and for peoples Refrence you know pro's and Cons..

Chris

[Fish]

Depends on what model car you want to fit it to.

Going from an FD point of view, the current flavour of the month and for some time, has been the Apexi Power FC. This is almost a complete 'plug and play' ECU.

Plug it in, start it up and let it idle for 10-15 mins, and you have an ECU that can run very happily.

Motec is a lot more demanding on the install. You can only use either the M4 or the M800 ECU's. I am gutted as I have ab M48 that I wanted to use, and cant.

With these ECU's you have to tell it what to do with fuelling and ignition. It DOES NOT self learn. The only thing that it does better than most ECU's is control the boost.

I dont know about the Haltech, Microtech and Tech 3. The Aussie boys like the Haltech, the drag boys use it with good results.

But I will be looking at the Haltech within the next week, as I need to make up my mind between the Apexi and the Haltech.

Dan

[Grizzly]

The Power Fc is the Only one that is Limited to Model and Injector size. I also dont like the way it uses the stock Engine Loom (some cars looms are nearly ten years old now) it also does'nt give you room to Expand. Its just a plug and play Ecu that will be happy running 400-450 bhp.

I personaly run a Haltech E11 but its very new and i'm having some problems with it. I had to ship it from Austraila and there is'nt any back up hear even though Maps are quite easy to get hold of. The E6K is good but wont run a Triple with Split Ignition and does'nt have a Omp Driver.

After speeking to a mate of mine i'm now thinking of swaping to a Microtech/Motech but thats a few Months of.

The main thing i have to look for is Triple split Ignition, Omp driver and good back up then i'll be Happy.

Chris

[Fish]

I understood that you tell the Apexi what injectors you are running, and it works out the fuelling.

I think from what you are saying, you want to look at the M800 Motec.

Dan

[Grizzly]

I think there is a little more to seting one up than that, you have to tell all Ecu's the Injector size thats all part of the Base map. Power is all about who fine Tunes it for you and the Fuel system to Complement your mods.

Even though i think the Power Fc is THE best plug and play Ecu on the Market for the Seven, i would always go for a full Stand alone (Ecu,Loom,3Bar map, new water/Oil sencers etc) then every thing is new and fault free and your ECU is geting correct Information from them.

The thing is in the UK there is no big HP cars and so the likes of your Motech's and Haltech's are not required and the Power FC is more than enough to get your 400bhp.

Chris

[Glenn Butcher]

Hi Chris,

I think you and Dan know my standpoint on ECU's :)

MoTeC (www.motec.com.au) is the only way to go - if you can afford it!

Great thing with the MoTeC ECU is that you can run any type of injector (can be different OHMS etc.).


If you want any good technical information on it, post the questions up here and I'll get the guys in Oz to answer.

Phil Gooriah (on the Forum) has a big HP RX-7, and is running an M800. I'll send him this link, and try to get some feedback from him as he has been using his over the last few weeks (it is a new install) - and he is running a T51R KAI turbo set-up with a ported engine.

.ps What sort of problems are you having with the E11?

[Grizzly]

Glen,

I have just relised that you dont Buy an Ecu thats new to the Market let alone one thats been bought from the other side of the World. My E11 has gone back after a cuple of weeks or so of it giving random problems (saying sencers are not conected etc) it was origanaly diagnosed as a Programing fault, i was suplyed with new maps etc to no avail but now the guy i bought it off has sent me a Replacment. Unfortunatly i've lost faith, ok my 20b does'nt stand me that much but i'd hate to Damage it becouse my Ecu has Bugs.

looks like theres a Motech in the Pipe lines after all.

To be honist i'm a little gutted at the moment had a week of messing about big Phone bills.

Chris

P.S. I know i'm not going to like this but how much are Motech's and is the M800 the one for me!

[Grizzly]

Sounds like Mr Gooriah will be geting good Hp. Did he go for the RB T51 or the 360?

I did think about geting one but HKS use funny foot prints on them and they dont make a Triple manifold.

Chris.

[Grizzly]

Has anyone got any Experiance with Microtech's?

I hear they are very good, Alot of Au Drag guys seem to be using them like Pac's etc but i would love to get some first hand coments of somone who has fitted or own's one.

Chris

[HI RPM RX3]

i run a microtech mtx8 on my 13bt rx3 now, and i had an mt4 on my last bridgeport. have no complaints about either. they are a great computer, its a must though, as i suppose with all ecus, that they are tuned by a pro. i believe microtech is best for the money, though if i could afford it, motec is definitely ultimate.:D

[DEMOOD]

Motech's definatly the best,
HI RPM is right though tuning it right is every thing.

[SideShowBob]

Mines got a knightsports ecu, apparently a very good one, and was fitted with mods to ensure correct fueling etc, but car is running standard boost, so may have to wait for a full critique of the ECU until its being worked harder.

[Fish]

Sideshow, remember that these Jap ECU's are mapped to use 100RON fuel. Even our Optimax/Super plus with octane booster will NOT match this.

Just a warning, as I would hate to see a rotary die due to not having the correct fuelling.

Get it checked out on a rolling road. They have lambda sensors that can give these measurements.

Dan

[SideShowBob]

Cheers Dan, ill try sort out getting that done.

I suppose it would need a remap to allow it to run slightly lower octane then?

Could this cause hesitation in running by any chance? as I imagine the air fuel sensor may be detecting the lower ron, and retarding the ecu (or something like that, my technical knowledge isnt superb :rolleyes: )

[Fish]

Is there a way to remap these ECU's? I didnt think that they could, unless its just a case of changing some jumpers or something.

I have just spoken with Pectel about their ECU's.

The guy there said that they have setup an FD before on one of their systems (T6), but was going to dig up the information and get back to me.

Pectel is in the same money bracket as the M800, but the main difference is that they are based in the UK, so can offer a better backup than Motec and the like.

Let's wait and see what they come back with.

Dan

[g11ary]

Motec are also in the uk, based in Alderbury nr Oxford. With a full team on hand for back up.
Our biggest problem is not which ecu, but who knows how to set them up.:rollin

[Fish]

Gary, Geff at ReWorx would be the one to wire it up should I go the Motec route.

But you know me I like to be different. ;)

Price is about the same as the M800, which would be the one I go for, as the M800 is the one that will control the OMP.

Pectel told me that it wouldnt take that long to write the code to do this function. Motec are still working on it, with no clear release date for it.

Dan

Edited to add: I cant spell my own name. :D

[Grizzly]

I've just Bought a Microtech MTX12 so i'll let you know what there like.

From what i already know they are not the Quickest but are very well made and have very good software (there also less than half the price of a Motech M800).

Plus they run some of the Quickest cars in the World so we'll see

Chris

[Glenn Butcher]

Cheers Chris,

Please keep us posted - who did you end up getting it through? Pip or someone in Oz?

[Grizzly]

I'm geting a Microtech from Jon at RX Engineering if you know of him? They are very helpful and would recomend them.

I have spoken to lots of people in OZ who realy rate Microtech, i was originally put off them becouse they did'nt suport OMP's, but they are sorting this by puting the finishing touches to a omp Driver for the MTX12.

So with a bit of luck my EMS problems should be sorted out.

Chris

[Glenn Butcher]

Hi mate,

Great stuff.

My Bro. has a MTX8 on his Rotary Wagon http://www.mymazdarotary.com/mazda_rotary/rotary_wagon/rotary_wagon_photos/rotary_wagon_04.jpg

Had it tuned by www.pacperformance.com.au - it is a very nice bit of gear.

I also knew the owner of the company (Dominic) he installed one of his very first ECU's onto my RX-2 many years ago (he actually came around to my house to do it!).

I don't know Jon, but have read quite a few of his posts on the Oz Forum. I'll have to send him an email! :)

.ps Wondered where you had gone - hadn't seen you posting for a while! how is your car coming along? any pics?

[Grizzly]

Had a Headache, with all the EMS problems i must have damaged a seal so i've been playing. Triples are not as nice to work on as the twins.

Anyway with the new EMS i sould have it running and do a bit of showing.

Chris

[Grizzly]

(Showing my complete lack of pre RX7 knolage) Is the Pic of an RX2? Just to make me look dumb but i never see any pre RX7's in the Uk.

Chris

P.S. Jon's E-mail orders@microtechefi.com

[Glenn Butcher]

Hi mate,

No, it is a 1200cc (piston engined) Mazda van. Pretty rare - got all the goods though: 9 inch, Toyota 5 speed, TO4 etc.

Should be a 10 second car, but Steve lives over here now - so not much happens with it.

.ps Thanks for Jon's email.

[Grizzly]

Now that sounds like a good Trafic light car. LOL

Chris