What ECU do you use?

[BeRad]

i run a haltech, impressive ecu, but not for the beginner to learn on as ive found out, the mega squirt is the only ecu i know with the support from others to be able to embrace its potential, simple to use, addon features make it nice to be able to upgrade the ecu as you please, easy to use the features, next ecu for me would have to be an autronic though, very impressive ecu but without the motec pricetag

[Jasper]

I use an Autronic SM4, selected because of the sequential fuel and ignition, and for the additional outputs I need for boost control, nitrous and water injection. The knock control was another factor in my decision, but it turns out I was suckered, because the add-in module has been 'coming soon' for over a year now...

[STR8 2.8]

I voted factory ecu.
I guess because its one of the easiest options, avoiding tuning etc and looks good in the eyes of the law, plus i couldn't justify anything else on the crown just yet.
But if i was building a good car i'd stick with my instincts and go over the top with an m48 Motec or similar. i feel like if im going to spend all my money i might as well go all the way. it leaves me with good resale value too

[-==L=a=N=c=E==-]

Microtech LT8S

Came with the car, didn't have the choice. Never was a huge fan of microtechs until it was forced on me.

The only things i like about it, is its simplicity. idle map, load map and corrections to get the most part of it running right. The LT8S also has matrix tuning available.

The only thing i do hate about it, is lack of ISC and number of inputs/outputs. And also having to have the computer sent back for upgrades or change of viecle mods. If i was to get a microtech, it would have been the LT10S.

I hope to move away from the microtech down the track to something like a motec or haltech. But for now the microtech is doing its job nicely.

[ace]

The 18RGEU in my new RA28 is using a Link ECU, I'm not liking it very much at the moment. Mostly because i wouldn't have chosen it and a lot of the tuners i've talked to haven't heard of it or are scared to try and tune it (they've had bad experiences with it).
I might post again when i find out more about it.

[Hurricane]

May I ask why you think this is the best for the cost? I'm just curious as to what features make it seem this way.


Not a worry Some coming back for taking the time to contribute.

well i havnt run a wolf as of yet but i have hear that alot of people use then and that there not to hard to use and all of that, and i have seen them goin for around $800 brand new all the time

[thechuckster]

wow... i was expecting a lot more Haltechs ... interesting that Microtech is so popular given the variable reputation it collects.

Useful thread - both for owners and ECU (re)sellers.

cheers,
Charles.

[Art Racing]

Motec M48 now in the race car. Chosen because of its ability to use such a wide range of sensors and also because of the tunability, not just load tables etc but the ability for individual cylinder trims etc. Sequential injection was also a factor at the time, although the latest Microtechs and Haltechs etc now have that. Not such an issue for road cars.

JA

[Hurricane]

found this in my travels another review on aftermaket ECU

http://www.fordmods.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7314

[Hurricane]

stole this from the site above to make it easyer

1) EMS Stinger V4. approx cost $1250, extra loom/cables = included, Needs Bosch wideband sensor ~100.

Pro's: Cheap, Adjustable tables. Core software is as functional as any other ecu (inc Motec) + has 4cy sequential, WIDEBAND sensor compatable with no extra hardware required! Excellent Autotune facility will save $$$ tuning. Closed loop control and real time tuning. Limited boost control capbility, datalogging (with laptop), Small and lightweight. Simple NOS control. Basemap for falcons! (but is crude, will start car only)

Con's: Very limited input's, 4 outputs only, Few special features. Boost control and antilag is crude. Plug is not waterproof

2) EMS 8860. Approx cost $1650, extra loom/cables = about $100 - $300

Pro's: Real time tuning, Autotune feature with wide band lambda controler built in, 8 digital outputs, 4with PWM and steppermotor. Large number of inputs, good for motorsport. More advanced boost control. Internal Datalogging. Very large size of fuel and ignition table with more compensations ( battery comp, injector trims), tables are adjustable. Simple NOS control.
Basemap for falcons! (but is crude, will start car only)

Con's: Traction control still! not avaialble yet, Still few special features and crude input/output control (no 3D tables).

3) Haltech E6. Approx cost $1600, Extra loom/cables = about $100-$300

Pro's: Real time tuning. Large tuning tables. Many compensations. True Closed loop lambda control. Many special features. Good support and comprehensive user manual. Crude boost control but better antilag control. Onboard datalogging. Simple NOS control

Con's: Fixed RPM map points. Limited number of input's/outputs. Limited support for non-haltech sensors.

4) Haltech E11v2. Approx cost $2400, Extra loom/cables = about $100-$300

Pro's: As per E6. Including more 3D tables, Customiseable RPM/load points including auxillary tables, good (3D) boost control. Many inputs/outputs (8 analogue inputs, 6 digial inputs, 6 digial out) Even more compensations! More special features. Excellent NOS control. Automatic transmission control.

Con's: Windows software is buggy, No traction control as per Motec. Wideband is only available with extra module, no autotune at this price = bad.

5) MoTeC M4 Clubman. Approx cost $2000, Extra loom/cables = about $300-$800

Pro's: Customiseable RPM load points. MANY set-up parameters, able to read multiple sensors for load, true closed loop lambda. Massive number of accessories and excellent support. Many special functions for aux input/output including 3D tables. Excelent boost control Small, Light. Upgradeable

Con's: Expensicve for features. Limited fuel/ignition compensations. No datalogging. Limited inputs/outputs. No wide band lamda. Only DOS software. No antilag or NOS. Starting to get outdated by cheaper ECU's and M400-800 range.

6) MoTeC M4 Pro (upgrade from clubman) Approx cost $2500, Extra loom/cables = about $300-$800

Pro's: As for clubman with, Traction/launch control, Wide band lambda auto tune function, gearchange ignition cut. Excellent boost and antilag control. Larger fuel tables. Many compensations. Telemetry. In general all functions have many more setup parameters than other brands of ECU.

Con's: Accessories are expensive. DOS software. Still very limited inputs/outputs (2 digital in, 4 digital out, 2 analogue in)

7) MoTeC M400 - M600 - M800 Approx cost $2800 - $3800 Extra loom/cables = about $300-$800

Pro's: Just about everything! As per M4 PRO but need to spend $$$ to get upgrades. The ONLY ecu that will control electronic throttle, Dual VCT making it the only ecu for BA falcons. Also CAN bus and more accessories than you can poke a stick at. Excellent windows software. Can integrate with Motec Dash logger ($3000), trans controller and some factory systems.

Con's: Very expensive but no competitors at this level. $2800 still does not get you datalogging as standard! M400 is only really suitable for 4 cylinder engines.

8) Microtech LTX-12s. Approx Cost $1250, Additional Cables/ ignitors = $225 for falcon

Pro's: Cheap! Comes with base map for your car installed!, Small, Australian design/support, Has optional hand controller so not laptop needed ($150). Good accessories. Datalogging (laptop). Real time tuning.

Con's: Poor value compared with Stinger. Cannot edit maps while not connected to ECU (laptop or hand controller) only 256 mapping points. Only one aux digital out/in. Special features non existant. No boost control (as far as I can tell). Very Limited compensations (only air temp, coolent temp). No ISC control, or NOS control.

9)MS-II. Cost approx $250-$300, extra looms/cables - DIY

Pros: Very cheap, user definable RPM/MAP points, Alpha-N (throttle) or MAP tuning (uses volumetric efficency tuning method), wideband support, can be configured to use any temp sensor, laptop only datalogging, off-line auto-tuning, realtime tuning, 3 loadbands for wideband closed loop (requires seperate wideband controller), standard set of compensation tools (battery voltage comp, barometric comp, either at start-up or continuous, air temp, coolant temp). Dual table for fuel and spark. Can be user reprogramed and upgraded!

Cons: DIY construction takes time and is not suited to a lot of people, no sequential (2 stage banked), Most tuners will not know how to program. No warranty or official help (reliability??). No (real) traction control. No closed loop (narrowband). No special features (except fuel only revlimit) Very limited expansion outputs/ inputs availaible (ie not enough for PWM idle control and PWM boost control and fuel pump and thermofans). May not be compatable with all ignition systems.

10)Wolf 3D Version 4. Approx cost $1095 Extra for Cables ~$100 - $400

Pros: Fine resolution of 125RPM but RPM/load points are fixed. Many compensations however implementation is basic. Real time tuning. Has data logging. Hand controller can be used to program and be permenantly set-up in car. Support for many sensors, built in 21psi map sensor. Closed loop O2, Basic Boost control. Many accessories. Support for wide band O2 (seperate controller).

Cons: Inputs and outputs are limited (but there is a 'plus' version with more) however there are few special functions ie. no Aux table with PWM control, or antilag, Nos. Can only control 4 injectors sequentially (actually this is the case for all ECU's untill the EMS8860). Laptop kit cost extra (~$50). Hand controller is confusing and basic.

11) Autronic SMC2, SMC4: Approx cost $2400??

Pros: As per motec. Excellent tuning functions. Another ECU to control electronic throttle and VCT. Links in with autronic 4 gas analyser to determine VE table, allows accurate user tuning of A/F ratio without dyno (as long as engine config remains the same) - excellent for 'on track' tuning. Closed loop boost control! Good selection of inputs and outputs as per motec, generally cheaper if you include motec upgrade costs. A professional racing ecu.

Cons: Not as widely used as motec, less accessories. expense? Software not as polished.

[thechuckster]

Just to add some depth to (9) there is a 'extra' version (that i'm running) of Megasquirt (or MS-1) that has these features:
3 of 12x12 fuel tables (user-definable map & rpm points), 2 of 12x12 ign tables (user-definable advance & rpm points), closed/open loop PWM idle control (for 2 or 3 wire valves), 2 of 8x8 AFR tables, built/in map sensor, 4 user-definable outputs plus fan control, knock control (requires external h/ware), up to 6 spark outputs, supports dual O2 sensors, suports various WBO2 sensors (requires external h/ware), supports single & dual trigger wheels (requires external h/ware), sequential CoP to 6 cyl or waste-spark to 12 cyl (requires external h/ware), user-defined soft & hard fuel cuts, 2 stage shift lights, nitrous control (inc own 12x12 fuel table), FP control, traction control, launch control & flat-shift, closed/open loop boost control with 2 of 6x6 user-defined rpm & tps tables & overboost protection, water inj control, tacho out, ...

i'm using about 10% of the features...

more info here: http://megasquirt.sourceforge.net/extra/index.html
and here: http://www.msextra.com/index.php

[jonra23]

Putting together a Megasquirt with Coil on Plug.


Why? because, I want to learn a bit more
I like doing everything myself
I'm a tightarse

Potential downsides, am running a motor that hasn't seen much attention from enthusiasts so will be starting from scratch with base settings.

regards
jon

[JustCallMeOrlando]

Bumpity bump guys. More opinions are great, i'm just trying to keep it up on the first page until I have at least 100 responses.

Cheers,
Nathan

[Mos]

To challenge point 10 on the list - Autronic, to my knowledge, do not do electronic throttles.

The choice for the VVTi 1UZ at the moment is looking like the Autronic SM4.
Mains reasons are that it does dual VVTi, can do 8 injectors, should be able to do 8 independent coil-ignitor-on-plug's (with multiplexer, pending confirmation), and the tuner of choice is most confortable with that particular ECU...

Prior ECUs of choice were always factory. I never intended to do any serious modifications to any engine that I have used in a conversion, certainly not outside the capabilities of a stock ECU. I always wanted factory reliability and driveability, and they usually also ended up being the cheapest option.

The only option ever considered for the 2JZ was a PowerFC due to ease of installation and reversal, if required. The engine never ventured from factory spec, so the factory computer was never a considered a hurdle (at least not for me...).

An option considered for the 4AGE in the sprinter was the Megasquirt, which I have one of, but it never ended up being installed. The idea was mainly learning experience with the hope of a little bit more power. Other projects eventually shelved that idea.

Mos.

[1jzracing]

I have played with a few different ones lightly

there are 2 i stick with and always will

i used a wolf for quite some time and still do in my dayly driver. for the price it kicks the butt of all the other cheep ones (even haltech in my opinion) because it can be configored for ANY engine with any ignition any sensor and any crank trigger WITHOUT any extra parts or upgrades and has its own internal map, quick and easy.... well once you overcome being LOST in all its configorability!

neet features are ... the hand controller VERY USEFUL for little changes on the road or at the track and being able to store maps on a cartridge great for sharing ecu's from say race car and road car, or having avgas tune and street ulp tune etc etc

cons .... its still a budget ecu, slow to tune

if you want a REAL ecu the other one i use and voted for is Atronic.
its by far the best bang for buck there is. its only a bees dick away from a motec for its function power at a fraction the cost

im only using an smc but there is exilent controll and great set up configoration options
like definable load and rpm bands full 8cyl sequential injection, data logging with neet things like point corolation between a selected position on the data logged graph and the cells in the tables the ecu accessed at that point so tuning from data logging is easy. in general very quick and easy to tune

cons.. smc needs this and that done to set it up, reluctor interface, cdi ... etc etc bit lacking on aux functions and outputs too

sm4 looks like the bees knees

all the others you are spending more money for less in my opinion