ECU Upgrade

[TUNGSTENGREYWIDOW]

I am looking to get an MP3 ecu because I heard it will give a P5 10whp. If this is true what year mp3 ecu do I need? I think it is the one from the 2001 mp3. Is this correct if not please tell me the proper year. I am going to buy one from Napa because I want to keep my p5 one just in case I have to go to the dealer.

 

[flat_black]

Yep, it's the 2001 MP3, the only year they made it... I didn't think you could get them from Napa, though? If you can, want to post the price? Just curious.

 

[Matthew]

yea i second that motion from napa...that would make life so easy for me instead of trying to find one forever.

 

[KYREDP5]

2001 was the only year. You can NOT get them from NAPA, the dealer or a junkyard is the only place to get one. And it 10 hp NOT 10 whp.

 

[Matthew]

damn i thought that would be too good to be true...iwish the dealer would just flash my ecu with mp3 specs

 

[jayka]

I asked dealer if they had one, but they didn't have any in stock and they don't recommend to swap ECU. I don't believe dealer.
How does it work anyways??

 

[TUNGSTENGREYWIDOW]

I thought that I could just order a new one and I know that Napa usually carries factory parts. I am still going to try and see if I can get one. Then I will get it dynoed so I can see what kind of gains you get.

 

[jayka]

If it increases more than 5 whp, I'll go for it.

 

[flat_black]

From what I gather, from the dealer, the ECU costs around 1500$ US. Not sure how much cheaper you'd get it for.

 

[twilightprotege]

get a haltech ecu (etc)....yes it costs more, but there is much much much more to be gained.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

there are certain parts in the intake manifolds of both cars (VICS / VTCS), one has them, one does not. If the ECUs are swapped, the lack/presence of these parts will cause a check engine light to come on - and yes, every dealer I talk to quotes me a $1000 - $1500 price tag. Not worth it for a mere 10 horses.

 

[ZiO]

It adds 10 hp... not 10whp... dont waste your money. Keep your P5 ECU. Besides, if you decide to turbo, you will need a P5 ECu since the MP3 timing is not right.

 

[MalkavianMP3]

Guys I wouldn't worry about reflashing your ecu or trying to find an MP3 ecu either. Starting in 2004 all automakers have to make their ecu's reprogramable(reflashing) by any shop using an aftermarket scanner(techII, snap-on, etc.). That means that if you can find a performance shop that has one of these, they should be able to reflash the ecu for you, or tune it to your specs. Automakers also have to make available a program to reprogram pre-2003 OBDII ecus.

 

[TUNGSTENGREYWIDOW]

Well 1500 is not worth 10hp besides I could not affored to do that now anyway I got busted street racing.

 

[melicha8]

I'm talking to my buddy at marin mazda subaru and he's trying to get my P5 ecu reflashed to MP3 specs with his "connections"

 

[Captain KRM P5]

if your ECU is running the MP3 software you will still throw a check engine light

 

[Little Beavis]

if your ECU is running the MP3 software you will still throw a check engine light

Are you sure? I thought there were a bunch of posts that said the opposite? I of course haven't tried it. . .have you? Just curious, man.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

the ECUs themselves are the same - it is the software and the fact that the car does not have the sensors/VICS/VTCS controllers in the intake manifold that the other car does. if you "flash" the ECU to run the MP3 software, your ECU will be looking for things it is not going to find and you will throw a CEL. Every person I have talked to who has done the swap has said that after a few days / a week of normal driving, the CEL comes on.

i was also told by my dealership that the Ford/Visteon ECU in the american proteges were NOT flashable like other cars - something to do with the closed loop/open loop BS.

 

[melicha8]

Captain let me correct you. MP3 is lacking the VICS(could be VTCS). Anyway it's one or the other. So if I put this in my car it won't be looking for it because it lacks the I/O software for that particular device. So if you put an MP3 ecu in a P5 it won't look for the particular control system because it never had the system integrated into it's software, so no CEL. If you put the P5 ecu into the mp3 it will look for that control system because it's integrated into the software, but since the device is not present on the car it will throw one. This is well documented. I guess the only way to do a clean install with completely working systems an no CEL in either would be to swap manifolds wiring harnesses and ecus.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

if this is the case then i stand corrected - i was told that it was the same way for both vehicles, swap vice versa