Unichip for MS-MX5

[MSPinVA]

Hey Miata guys. Jack from Unichip just informed us MSPers that he wants to develop a PnP chip for the Mazdaspeed MX5. He needs a car in the Portland area for development. This product is amazing, and although only a few have been ordered and installed, the gains are incredible.

Here is a link to the Protege thread - http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69091

This link is with catless exhaust and intake, with the Unichip from Corksport's website -
http://www.corksport.com/content/00/01/06/61/73/uploaded.files/chart.jpg

 

[rx7gslse]

Wish I was closer to portland to help ya out....

 

[MSPinVA]

Hey I'm not involved with Unichip in any way, I'm just relaying what the info in our forum to you guys It sounds like a fantastic product though and shows great promise for both Mazdaspeed products.

 

[Pitlab77]

so far chips dont work on miatas.

GIAC seems to have gotten something to work on the newer miatas with the VF supercharger kit. just a warning

 

[muohio]

so far chips dont work on miatas.

GIAC seems to have gotten something to work on the newer miatas with the VF supercharger kit. just a warning

The Unichip was the first "chip" to work on the MSP as well so there might be hope.

 

[rx7gslse]

How exactly does the "unichip" work anyway?

I just passed on that and am going for a Greddy E-manage system myself..

 

[pineapple]

How exactly does the "unichip" work anyway?

I just passed on that and am going for a Greddy E-manage system myself..

Rob@pineappleracing, to simplify it, the unichip takes the outputs the cpu is sending out and changes them to the reprograming. The inputs are also changed if necessary so the cpu stays happy. The unichip also improves the driveability by adding more "tuning points". Think of a grid map. The factory has say a 16 by 16 point grid, the unichip adds a bunch more tuning points between each of these grid points. The more points the smoother the car runs. We have seen mileage gains also. The ms protege could see +3mpg under the same driving. You will notice the back of your car cleaner with the unichip. The black is carbon from excess fuel. Rob

 

[muohio]

Rob@pineappleracing, to simplify it, the unichip takes the outputs the cpu is sending out and changes them to the reprograming. The inputs are also changed if necessary so the cpu stays happy. The unichip also improves the driveability by adding more "tuning points". Think of a grid map. The factory has say a 16 by 16 point grid, the unichip adds a bunch more tuning points between each of these grid points. The more points the smoother the car runs. We have seen mileage gains also. The ms protege could see +3mpg under the same driving. You will notice the back of your car cleaner with the unichip. The black is carbon from excess fuel. Rob

I have seen a good deal of improvement in my MSP after installing the Unichip last week. Since then I took a 600 mile round trip and about 200 additional miles around town and on the freeway. I would average around 340 miles for a tank of gas and now I'm getting closer to 400 miles. The car is also a lot smoother and has eliminate the hesitation and jerkiness that has been a problem for the MSP. The power is also amazing and fuel cut is gone for now.

 

[rx7gslse]

ok, so this "unichip" is a pre-programmed piggyback basically?

So what does this gain me over a standard piggyback computer (other than the fact it comes pre-tuned, at the expensie of allowing me to adjust things as I go lateron)

 

[thunder]

I have seen a good deal of improvement in my MSP after installing the Unichip last week. Since then I took a 600 mile round trip and about 200 additional miles around town and on the freeway. I would average around 340 miles for a tank of gas and now I'm getting closer to 400 miles. The car is also a lot smoother and has eliminate the hesitation and jerkiness that has been a problem for the MSP. The power is also amazing and fuel cut is gone for now.

I'm almost stock, I'm flashed and my MSP is quite smooth, very, very little jerking (depends on weather) and since I changed my midpipe I have a better gas milage too, very similar to your numbers....
Why Unichip/CorkSport doesn't publish a dyno sheet stock VS stock for REAL comparison? Or, if they must up the boost for whatever reason, then the comparison should be made with a boosted (MBC or EBC) car IMO!
Just my 875$...

 

[SonicRacer]

The Unichip unit for the MSP was originally prototyped on my car. I love the thing, it works great. I'm running 10-13psi (depending on where I'm at RPM wise) and plan on running 15psi after I get the 5th injector installed (and controlled by the Unichip).

However, you guys may want to get some specific info on this from Unichip. The last time I was out there (couple months ago) Jack told me the MSM and MSP have the SAME motor. I told him they didn't, but he didn't want to listen to me, and was expecting the MSP unit to be VERY close to working in the MSM. This is obviously not the case....

The Unichip is a piggy-back EMS. It changes fuel, timing, and boost maps to optimal settings and safety. In other words it's tuning.

I'll keep an eye on this tread, and answer any questions I can since I've dealt with these units and the company before.

 

[muohio]

I'm almost stock, I'm flashed and my MSP is quite smooth, very, very little jerking (depends on weather) and since I changed my midpipe I have a better gas milage too, very similar to your numbers....
Why Unichip/CorkSport doesn't publish a dyno sheet stock VS stock for REAL comparison? Or, if they must up the boost for whatever reason, then the comparison should be made with a boosted (MBC or EBC) car IMO!
Just my 875$...

If you think that the entire point of the Unichip was to increase the boost and give comparable hp to a boost controller, then you have totaly missed the point of the product.

 

[muohio]

The Unichip unit for the MSP was originally prototyped on my car. I love the thing, it works great. I'm running 10-13psi (depending on where I'm at RPM wise) and plan on running 15psi after I get the 5th injector installed (and controlled by the Unichip).

However, you guys may want to get some specific info on this from Unichip. The last time I was out there (couple months ago) Jack told me the MSM and MSP have the SAME motor. I told him they didn't, but he didn't want to listen to me, and was expecting the MSP unit to be VERY close to working in the MSM. This is obviously not the case....

The Unichip is a piggy-back EMS. It changes fuel, timing, and boost maps to optimal settings and safety. In other words it's tuning.

I'll keep an eye on this tread, and answer any questions I can since I've dealt with these units and the company before.

There was a big debate about whether there is a boost map or not with the Unichip. When a Unichip tuner gets ahold of my car, he can actually set some type of boost map based on rpms, timing, air/fuel ratio, etc? I just want clarification on the topic.

 

[SonicRacer]

There was a debate on what now? What are you wanting clarification on? (I am obviously not 100% up to date on Unichip and this message board).


(To the author- Just noticed your sig. Very creative, that movie was a trip as a kid and still is now )

 

[thunder]

If you think that the entire point of the Unichip was to increase the boost and give comparable hp to a boost controller, then you have totaly missed the point of the product.

Jeez!!! Did I say that??? You should read again my message!!! Let me try again: how can you prove that the unit is worthwhile when you actually increase the boost and then boast HP gains??? The only way to see/prove anything is to modify JUST one parameter and then compare. That's basic science, otherwise it's impossible to tell what from what AND THAT IS MY POINT! Capisci?

 

[SonicRacer]

how can you prove that the unit is worthwhile when you actually increase the boost and then boast HP gains??? The only way to see/prove anything is to modify JUST one parameter and then compare. That's basic science, otherwise it's impossible to tell what from what

Fine tuning engines electronically has been around for quite sometime. But it hasn't been affordable or easy for the average guy to do. This isn't new technologyt here, it's just more avilible to the public now.

Fine tuning engines electronically has been around for quite sometime. But it hasn't been affordable or easy for the average guy to do. This isn't new technology here, it's just more available to the public now.

When the first unit was set up to adjusting the mapping on my car they only added like 1 or 2psi and we gained 25hp. Most of that coming from fixing Mazda's extremely rich fuel mapping. I also picked up roughly 5mpg after doing this.

And it would not be safe to run the boost levels I run w/ out tuning it or addressing the fuel/timing in some way or another.

 

[muohio]

Jeez!!! Did I say that??? You should read again my message!!! Let me try again: how can you prove that the unit is worthwhile when you actually increase the boost and then boast HP gains??? The only way to see/prove anything is to modify JUST one parameter and then compare. That's basic science, otherwise it's impossible to tell what from what AND THAT IS MY POINT! Capisci?

Like I said, you are missing the entire point of the product. The hp gains was a product of increased boost yes, but that was not the overall goal of the product. It was to create a safe environment for running increased boost and adds the ability to tune for other add-ons. Anyone can run their car at 13psi with a boost controller, but the odds increase of engine failure. Unichip on the other hand tunes the car so that running higher boost is no longer a risk. I would rather spend the $900, increase my boost to 13psi with the stock turbo, add injectors and fuel pump, plus a fmic and exhaust. Wihtout that investment, the car can not take advantage of the injectors, increase air density, or even handle a blow-off valve without a lot of tricks. That's the point of any engine management.

 

[muohio]

There was a debate on what now? What are you wanting clarification on? (I am obviously not 100% up to date on Unichip and this message board).


(To the author- Just noticed your sig. Very creative, that movie was a trip as a kid and still is now )

There was a debate as to if the Unichip actually controls the amount of boost or if it just opens slowly in the begging causing a spike in boost and then tappers down to 10psi. A lot of people where getting different variations of boost throughout their rpm range. For example, some would not boost over 10psi and could only hold around 9psi. Others where doing exactly what was advertised where boost would go up to 13psi in the lower rpms and then go 10psi starting around 4k. I was just curious how detailed the boost mappings are or can be.

BTW, how's the 5th injector coming?

 

[thunder]

Like I said, you are missing the entire point of the product. The hp gains was a product of increased boost yes, but that was not the overall goal of the product. It was to create a safe environment for running increased boost and adds the ability to tune for other add-ons. Anyone can run their car at 13psi with a boost controller, but the odds increase of engine failure. Unichip on the other hand tunes the car so that running higher boost is no longer a risk. I would rather spend the $900, increase my boost to 13psi with the stock turbo, add injectors and fuel pump, plus a fmic and exhaust. Wihtout that investment, the car can not take advantage of the injectors, increase air density, or even handle a blow-off valve without a lot of tricks. That's the point of any engine management.

Whatever you say!..... You must be right since you sell the product! 8 psi is safe enough for the stock config. IMHO (the first dynos), but, again, I must be stupid! If Mazda put a fuel cut at 10 psi it's ok for sure (they would'n risk warranty issues that would make them lose tons of $$)
Import Racer (April issue) did their calculations they found that it was within the range of the injectors and the engine management to boost up to 9.6 psi (with just a more efficient SMIC, Intake, Exhaust and Flash) and they got 210WHP, their dyno chart looked good too. I'd rather miss the point like you say than miss $900!!

 

[SonicRacer]

Muohio sells those units....? I don't think so....

Cork Sport has the U.S. Market on the MSP Unichip. I'm not sure if that will be the same with the Miata one however.


Regardless of everything.... It's one bad-ace little unit.

FYI, I also heard there was a way to hook up a dual stage rev limit with the Unichip. So you can keep your RPM's in one spot (via button) for more consistant launches.