Aftermarket ECU

[ArkosP5]

Ok, ... I'm new to the "tuner" scene, and really don't know much about engine management in general. So, ... can one of the tech gurus please explain to me what exactly an aftermarket ecu like a haltech or the tec2 (or tec3) can/cannot do in relation to what our stock mazda ecu can/cannot do?

Is there a general consensus as to which is better? (of the aftermarket ecus, not stock vs. aftermarket).

 

[70]

Basically, to answer your question, the stock ECU is something of a black box that is rather difficult to decipher.

A programmable ECU like the Electromotive piece (TEC 2 or now TEC 3) or the Haltech, is that you have control over everything from timing to fuel to boost (if needed) so on and so forth.

That is the basic idea though...

 

[Traveler]

The big difference is that YOU will be able to control everything instead of the Mazda ECU doing what it wants to. All the aftermarket ECU's allow you to completely adjust fuel and ignition maps to better match whatever setup you are using. The stock ECU basically is mapped for stock components, lousy gas and good emissions.

As far as the stock ECU being able to be remapped, M2 performance in Jersey was supposed to be working on that but we haven't seen an update for a while. The ECU can be reflashed but you have to find a Mazda dealer that will do it. It's against the law for them to alter an emission component (which the ECU is) and they won't reflash them. We are all waiting for someone in the aftermarket to come up with a way of reflashing them.

The main problem with going to a stand alone is that it will no longer be OBDII compliant in any way. If you sell the car you could be liable if it gets emissions tested and fails. Another major problem is that on our cars the instrumentation is all runs from the ECU and not the sensors. That means that if you go to a stand alone you will have to come up with a way to generate the proper signals to make your gauges work. It would be cheaper to rip the factory gauges out and make a custom face plate and put aftermarket gauges in it.

A 'piggyback' computer modifies the input signals from components or modifies the output to components. You can intercept the stock ECU output signals to the injectors for instance and output a signal that will either increase or decrease the injector pulsewidth which will make it run leaner or richer.

 

[MazdaSalesman]

So what out there will do that then? How do we reconfigure it with out f-ing up our instrumentation?

 

[ArkosP5]

Has anyone contacted AEM about their EMS?

 

[Traveler]

The options that I would consider are using piggybacks. I personally am going to try the Greddy E-manage. I'll be using the ignition harness and tuning the spark advance also.

The other main option is the Unichip. No one has it yet, but after talking to a local Unichip distributor and him talking to the tech rep at Unichip, they are sure they have one that will work on our cars. It will need to be installed and tuned by a Unichip dealer as it has to be set up on the dyno with a control unit that only the distributor will have.

Flying Miata is thinking about making a version of their Link EM system that will work on the Proteges also. Spoolin adapted a Turbo Link to work on his car. Custom harness and work though.

 

[ArkosP5]

What besides general engine management does the factory ecu do? Oh yeah, besides run the Gauges, ...

 

[spoolinmp3]

Besides running the gauges The stock ecu does alot. It maintains and controls airfuel mixtures via the injectors and controls the ignition system, ignition timing maps and fuel maps at idle, different increments of partial throttle and full throttle. It is basicaly the brain of the car and controls the motor and tells it what to do and when to do it in all different situations such as temprature variations, different fuel octanes and altitude.The ecu oversees alot of other things that I cannot remember thru different sensors and ohhh.........it controls the gauges

So if you get a full standalone ecu system you have to rip out the stock ecu and all its sensors and replace it with the sensors that the new ecu can read(most programmable ecu's are like this but not all like AEM). Then you have to tune it by adding in all the above mentioned variables (i.e. fuel maps) Not an easy task!

Thats why piggy back systems are popular now because you still have the base stock ecu but you can alter it and manipulate it while retaining all the conveniences of the stock ecu. Down side to the piggy's?? You will not get nearly as much power with a full stand alone system and you will have the limitations of the stock system.

Race cars use standalone systems for this reason.