Microtech opinions...

[FEM]

ahahah :P

[Astro Boy]

go to www.bmsc.com.au and ask them for their opinion. You're not going to get the street racing heresay BS you get here (and most forums), but good advice from people who will only say based on experience, and who have pushed their cars (and computers) to the limit...

FWIW... Based on opinions of people whom I highly regard, I would be going EMS.

[newman]

personally, i've done a lot of reading into microtechs (before i even saw this thread) and i think EMS simply are better. yes they do cost a little bit more but you get so much more for that little bit more if you know what i mean.

[Aaron]

Thanks Twiggy Certainly I have no arguement here, more trying to cut through a bit of what I've read/seen/heard with actual experiences others have had.

I had figured the Key/ON function was doing exactly what you describe, it's just odd in the way that it only works correctly from the key and not the circuit openeing relay end of things. But then again it's a BJ thing and they're not my thing

As I believe we all have said at various times the Microtechs of today are vastly vastly different to what they used to be, but the company still follows some things (outright power vs driveability for example) moreso. The newer hardware does rock, and their firmware is the limiting factor - has been for years - but they are always improving (as are the others)...

We all agree the Install/Tuner can have a huge bearing on the results... I think of Auto tune as a quick way to get mobile, and a tuner still needs to finish and LOCK the tune/targets. Then the ECU will be consistent in performance. I'm not talking about the continually adpative style of auto tune that can be erratic...

One thing that does concern me about your setup Twiggy (and this concerns me about a lot of cars running non-factory ECUs and even some with) is the lack of proper safe fuel pump control.

This is NOT a Microtech issue rather a "conceptual problem". You really DON'T want your fuel pump running from the moment the IGN key is turned to "ON" and having it keep running until the key is off. In the event of an accident when you may not be able to key-off and the engine stops/stalls you would still be pumping a lot of fuel up into the engine bay. If the fuel rail is busted we're talking about potentially putting the contents of your fuel tank into a hot engine bay in less than a minute. That could make a minor fire a bad one really fast! This can also be the case on-track when an engine sieze at speed may not give you the time to turn the key to ACC and not to LOCK remiving steering control...

Fuel pump control can be achieved by linking the fuel pump relay to an output that is triggered on when crank/cam rotation is detected, it may add a poofteenth of time to your cranking but is way safer in the worst case scenario.

My own expereince was putting about 1L of fuel onto the garage floor between turning the key to "ON" and punching into the immobiliser code and then starting the car. While there was no fire - and it shouldn't have had a fuel leak, it highlighted the danger to me and I changed the pump control to ensure it would only run with the engine turning over.

A. (I prefer to think of this as a great thread talking about the perceived flaws of Microtechs and some of the relities these days with their current gear!)

[twilightprotege]

Just to clarify this, microtech does have an inbuilt saftey feature for this.

When you key on (before start) microtech will prime the fuel rail for a period of 5 seconds

In the event of a stall, engine shut down, engine failure (which will throw lots of funny sensor readings the microtech wont know what to do with), the microtech is set up to cut power to the fuel pump relay and shut down the pump.

Fuel pump only runs under the following conditions: 1) during the prime cycle, 2) when the engine is cranking, 3) when the engine is running.

At all other times, it will stop the pump.

Obviously there are additional constraints – it wont stop the pump under soft cut or hard cut rev limit, because of the potential for a large drop in fuel pressure. But essentially at any point that it sees the engine has stopped for a reason other than what it is expecting (such as a home/ref error on the crank/cam angle sensors) it immediately stops pumping fuel – so it is safe as houses in that respect.

With regards to the J48 wiring issue – the “trigger” wire we were told to splice in the American instructions (provided to us by one of the guys who pioneered microtech on the FSDE) is not a garden variety ignition wire in the J48. Wiring according to the factory supplied microtech manual, and pulling igniton power from the barrel or after the main relay solved every single problem, but up until that point, the car exhibited the same behaviour as Gav’s did during his installation – strange wiring gremlins for sure – but we do chose to drive mazda’s after all.

[FEM]

new mob number twigs?

[twilightprotege]

that's the b3motorsports phone number

[FEM]

i see

[rodhog]

Originally Posted by twilightprotege

Rodhog:
There are very few ems’s that handle the “I” part of vvti. I know hondata takes care of the ivtec engines and that’s about it. However most if not all ems’s can handle the lift part of vvtli and vtec. Same goes for the Mazda VICS. My microtech controls my VICS. These systems are generally controlled by a solenoid, and the microtech is capable of operating these with an output triggering on either a specific RPM or MAP reading.


All:
There are a lot of misconceptions about microtechs and other ems’s on the market. But let’s be all honest with ourselves. Why do we want (in simpliest terms) from aftermarket ems’s? If you answer anything but *more power* you’re kidding yourself. For me it’s all about a power to cost ratio, and I’ll stick with microtech to fulfil my ratio requirements.

I agree totally, I was only going to put a microtech onto my wagon but I'm one for trying new things. So I figure why not. I know it has not VVT-I or need for such great abilities but it comes into my budget and I figure why not.
A bit like for me I didn't need to repair my roof but had the oportunity to get one and I boguht it and will fix it.

This software update sounds good but -

What I do know is your point on Tuning.

It took my tunner a long time to get my cold start idle smooth but they knew what they were doing and they did. In fact it's overall programing is excellent, it only has problem below 1500rpm where the factory ecu would hold up the revs. but I personally think it's better becuase for me it's more like oldschool carby driving. Hi load don't try and chock it. mind you I do have it rich on pourpose.

[BigMal]

Get a Haltech E6X. Couple of hundred dollars more than a microtech but does electronic boost control which saves you buying a $600 ebc.

[rodhog]

Originally Posted by BigMal

Get a Haltech E6X. Couple of hundred dollars more than a microtech but does electronic boost control which saves you buying a $600 ebc.

I know this is going to sound funny but

Every Single car I know of - that has either gone track of both cicuit and drag.

NONE of them use the inbuilt Boost controll functions.

One person has top range Autronic - has it - Runs a Profec 2

The other I'm not sure what it is but has control and Anti lag running the system - same EBC greedy Profect 2.

alot of tunner I've talk to say it just creates more hassles for no added outcome.

as for $600- I got my Eboost 2 for $400 and Profec 2 is about that.

[BigMal]

Originally Posted by rodhog

I know this is going to sound funny but
Every Single car I know of - that has either gone track of both cicuit and drag.

NONE of them use the inbuilt Boost controll functions.

Sorry I thought we were talking about a street car as per the original post.

Obviously if you are doing Track/Drag/Circuit being able to adjust creep for
different conditions is ideal and yes a ebc is better than whats available in
the Haltech. But for normal street the set and forget of the haltech with the
option of an up/down adjustment knob is all thats needed. Also being tuned
on the one screen by your tuner guy = less time and $$$ I wouldn't swap my
Haltech for a Microtech + EBC anyday.

So I am just adding my opinion into a opinion thread

[Clarky_BA]

have fun, have control, have a play. Megasquirt.

[rodhog]

Originally Posted by BigMal

Sorry I thought we were talking about a street car as per the original post.

Obviously if you are doing Track/Drag/Circuit being able to adjust creep for
different conditions is ideal and yes a ebc is better than whats available in
the Haltech. But for normal street the set and forget of the haltech with the
option of an up/down adjustment knob is all thats needed. Also being tuned
on the one screen by your tuner guy = less time and $$$ I wouldn't swap my
Haltech for a Microtech + EBC anyday.

So I am just adding my opinion into a opinion thread

but they are street cars. My Friends S2000 was on the cover of Fast fours and in Serious Performance 8. video. It's pure street car in some aspects. I just took off the rims two weeks ago - his stret rims ofr his track rims with street -semi slick rubber.
It's front skirt/body kit does nto get take off on the track he went off road and it got damaged.

Plus EBC is cheap. - Seriously, You spent XXXX amount on ECU yet you won't spend XXX amount on EBC? That is just my opinion. I've driven lots of Wrx's with unichips and there EBC control unit add on and they work fine. But my point still is, you spend this or that much. Why Not add the extra's.
It's like building top class motor having it all balanced, best internals - and then you add $2 Coles Branded OIL to lubricate it.

I don't change my boost settings - I have no need - I can but I don't. My EBC has one setting and that's it. Plus it does not cost me more to tune
Most EBC's the decent ones takes about 5mins to set up.
IT does it's job and the ECU does it's own.


Oh and please - Megasquirt LOL - they make me laugh. well only because. I've seen only 2 cars using it and both of them. Blew engines at Eastern creek, left fine - came back smokey.

One person comment on one owner claiming, It's great - the other, Not enough tunners in Sydeny / No one wants to touch it. I found funny but well I'm sure by now someone is doing it. I just have not seen anything decent using it. ( I mean $10K plus setups not your engine conversion type )
I guess if more racers use it here - it might take off more and have more tunners interested into it.
At the same time Tuners usually sell what they are comfortable With.

[323kid]

apexi power FC
not sure if they make em for 4cyl bpt/bpd cars tho

[bourbon]

nah they dont do the power fc for the astinas...i think the rx7 is it... the guys who done my rebuild are familia with megasquirt...which is good...youve just gotta goo looking to see whom does stuff

[FEM]

ahahhaha bourbon and his megasquirt ecu.. ahah good times