Microtech Or Autronic???

[6_SPEED]

Ahh you've been looking at the infamous Ray Hall "Autronic.com" website which strangely enough does not represent the true feature set of the SM4... many of the features mentioned do not exist / have not been programmed yet.
Ask Rod / SAS about the features you plan to use before coughing up the $$$ for one as you may be disappointed to find that some of the features you plan to use don't exist.

Untrue, I have all that I said working in my car at the moment (I have an SM2, not an SM4)
SM4 does not have traction control yet

[Toobs]

Sorry I assumed since you had mentioned the SM4 that you also had it on your car.

Last I heard the SM4 did not (yet) have:
-Traction control
-Launch control
-Flat shift
And from memory the Autotune software had not been developed as yet.
Ask Rod for current info though... I decided against the Autronic some time ago and have not kept up to date with it's progress since.

[The Witzl]

Ray Hall's website is ghey (and might i also add, it is NOT the website of the Autronic makers)..... however, dont let that sway your decision at all, because in the long run, the Autronic will win hands down over a microtech for all the aforementioned reasons.

I chose the path of the SM4 as soon as i caught wind of it through SAS. Even though i wont be using a whole host of the extra features it is capable of providing, i will still be happy with the final result compared to if i had used a microtech.

... toobs, even if the SM4 is not yet capable of those particular features, the price of the unit against the features it does currently have far outweigh any competitors product IMO. If you really needed all the extra hooha features, buy the SM2 =)

[kingmick]

thats right, i have sm2 and the cdi for it and it has all the bells and wistles you could want, there not that expensive for the amount of things you can do with them! There are on three types of ECU's that i would use, Autronic,Motec and Factory.

[charged]

My nephews both run Autronic in their IPRA Rollas and they have not missed a beat, our engines where set up by Allan Engineering @ Mallala S.A, they have been fantastic to deal with also.

We had the old M8 Motec ?, on the Ke55 before and it wasnt to good, no where as many functions as the Autronic, its was a old Motec system and was fairly crude, compared to the Autronic.

[BeRad]

bit unfair haha going from microtech a good intermediate ecu to close to top of the range

haha either way , autronic for teh win

when i was looking into buyin a microtech or haltech , microtech had shit house suport, wanted me to do all the running around for the finer details so i went with the other...

[Toobs]

Ray Hall's website is ghey (and might i also add, it is NOT the website of the Autronic makers)..... however, dont let that sway your decision at all, because in the long run, the Autronic will win hands down over a microtech for all the aforementioned reasons.

I chose the path of the SM4 as soon as i caught wind of it through SAS. Even though i wont be using a whole host of the extra features it is capable of providing, i will still be happy with the final result compared to if i had used a microtech.

... toobs, even if the SM4 is not yet capable of those particular features, the price of the unit against the features it does currently have far outweigh any competitors product IMO. If you really needed all the extra hooha features, buy the SM2 =)

I wasn't trying to bag out Autronic... just trying to point out that Ray Halls website (www.autronic.com) is wrong.
The SMC and SM2 are both good options but personally I will be going for the M800... at least I "know" what they can do.
That and the Motec guys are at WSID for every big meeting and I can pester them and Sainty for info if required

[TheToyman75]

Sorry I assumed since you had mentioned the SM4 that you also had it on your car.

Last I heard the SM4 did not (yet) have:
-Traction control
-Launch control
-Flat shift
And from memory the Autotune software had not been developed as yet.
Ask Rod for current info though... I decided against the Autronic some time ago and have not kept up to date with it's progress since.

Toobs,

The SM4 does not claim to and has no intention of supporting Traction control, that is left to the SM2 alone, that being said I have no idea what Ray tells people.

Launch Control and flat shift should work just fine. Ray hall shits me to tears so I avoid his website. Last I checked the only major mis-information I noted was in relation to the SM4 and Knock Control. Knock Control is not currently available and I sure as hell wouldn't be holding my breath as it isn't even in pre-production yet. Mos is in the early stages of getting the TA22 ready for my SM4 now.

At the end of the day tho you have to not only get a good product but ensure you get a good dyno tuner, I have heard of cases where unnamed workshops have ripped out Autronic's and Motecs to fit Microtech's because they couldn't tune them . A dodgy tuner can ruin even the best of packages and to be fair even the best of tuners can only do so good a job at polishing a turd.

Honestly tho if Budget is your main concern then I would at least urge you to consider an Autronic SMC without Autotune. From Memory your looking at around $1700 for it which is a fraction more than your entry level ecu's with a hell of alot more features and flexibility. For myself tho its the SM4 all the way.

I should ad tho for an entry level ECU the Microtech is not a bad unit at all.

[chris davey]

what does my Autronic do for my MKIV Supra (640HP-2JZGTE) ?
idle control
thermo fan control
launch control
shift light
antilag

These are the things that can be used on a microtech if you want to.

I have no experience with Autronic but from all reports they seem to be great.

One thing I will add is that sometimes the ecu that is better on paper isn't as good in reality. This may not be the case with the autronic but something to think about.

I love the simplicity of my microtech. Has a fair few features. Don't really need any more than it has. Love the datalogging as well

In the end, it is up to you though

[Joshstix]

One thing I will add is that sometimes the ecu that is better on paper isn't as good in reality. This may not be the case with the autronic but something to think about.

This is a very good point. Take a look at what the guys in serious racing are using, since they aren't worrying much about getting bang for buck but best product outright. Example would be V8 Supercars, there aren't any running Microtec, Wolf or EMS, there's a hell of a lot running Autronic and Motec though.

Sure this isn't necessarily representative of what is best for street use but when the prices are so close as the SMC now is it seems like a bargain.

[1JZ.747]

in my honest opinion, i like the microtech better.

if this is going on a 1jz, which by your car i am assuming it is. the ltx12s with base tune for the 1jzgte is a good thing.

if you want pricing on the microtech let me know, i can save you a fair amunt on the retail price just ask chris.

i have driven both autronic powered and microtech powered cars tuned by in my opinion the best tuners for both types of ecu. i found the microtech nicer both on and off throttle, the microtech powered car gave better fuel economy and better cold start.

as has been said before, any ecu is only as good as its tuner.

you need to decide what you want from your ecu, ie what you want it to control, features etc, then make your decision.

as for power, both ecus have been proven to make good power.

im not totally on top of the autronic product but i believe you will also need to factor in the cost of a CDI ignition system to run a autronic which is a added cost compared to the microtech and you will most likely need aftermarket coils with that.

i do run a eboost on my car, as i believe its the best boost controller on the market and when your chasing results like i am i cant afford to have a average boost controller.

so do your research on what its going to cost you for the extras with the autronic and factor in the eboost to work with the microtech, as it has inbuilt ignitors and will run your factory coils if you want to run them.

again, pm me what your want in a microtech, ie 20 or 30 psi map sensor version, if you plan to go really big later on your can get a 45psi map sensor version like i have, also the microtech will control the N20, mine does this, if you want a hand set, microtech dash or laptop dongle and i will get you a price.

also factor in the cost of wiring the ecu in. Chris wired his in as did MR 1JZ without to many dramas saving them quite a pretty penny.


happy motoring which ever way you go.


Shane

[TheToyman75]

Shane,

Your right about peak power, even a carby will make the top number. Its everything between flat out and stopped that requires some skill and control.

The autronic won't need a CDI or aftermarket coils anymore than the microtech will ?? Big boost needs good spark but thats got nothing to do with which ECU you use. You may an aftermarket ignitor to use the Autronic.

The autonic range comes with a inbuilt 4 bar map sensor, no need to the extra expense of external map sensors

The autronic boost control is a dedicated CLOSED LOOP boost control. With the right boost solenoid its boost control is equal to the best available aftermarket units (Ie Eboost2, Blits SBC ID or Apexi AVCR) But you only need to buy a solenoid for around $130 instead of a complete boost controller for $700 od.

The Autronic SM4 has dedicated NOS control, The SMC can be used with NOS no worries but its not a dedicated controller like the SM4 (Neither is the microtech last I checked)

For wiring in any Autronic you can buy a "Plug & Pin Kit" and just re-terminate your factory loom for a much quicker install than a complete reloom.

I Have to stress that the Microtech product is a good thing just given the option I'd use an Autronic, expecially if you need boost control.

If you do decide to go with an Autronic on a Toyota engine keep in mind you will most likely need a different temp sender (about $12.00) and an aftermarket TPS ($80) and possibly a Reluctor interface for the ignition if you use the SMC (Not needed with the SM4)

Hope that helps.

[kingmick]

Rod, whats happening with the autronic Dash logger? heard anything from Richard on it? i forgot to ask him.

[Billzilla]

i have driven both autronic powered and microtech powered cars tuned by in my opinion the best tuners for both types of ecu. i found the microtech nicer both on and off throttle, the microtech powered car gave better fuel economy and better cold start.

The only reason that could be is that the Autronic hasn't been fine tuned in that areas yet. You can just keep adding load points as needed to refine it as much as you need.

[1JZ.747]

Hi Rod


back when i was choosing Ecus, i was told by my local Autronic man that i had to use a cdi do to the autronic being made to run a v8 or a 4 cyl, and having a 6 cyl ment i had to run waste spark and thus needed a CDI. has the newer versions eliminated this or was the guy i spoke ill informed?

does the Autronic boost control allow you to have the wastegate open at your determined amount so no wastegate creep happens like the e boost does and does it allow you to run varying boost limits depending on the gear your in etc? how advanced are these inbuilt controllers now?

i think the general consensus here is pick your tuner and go with the ecu they no best.