Programmable ECU Vs Factory ECU

[Steve]

There are a couple of autronics dealers in perth - go see them. If they say the wolf is no good, ask them why, find out what the autronic has to offer that wolf doesnt.

Then go and see Steve, or you could do it the other way around.

That is a pretty big price difference, you would expect alot better funcionality.

[rob77]

Yeah... but as I have very little mechanical knowledge its all double dutch to me.

[Steve]

Well if they tell you it has a function and you dont understand what it is, ask them to explain -

or you could start a new thread "ECU's the good bad and ugly" get input from alot of people, ask lots of questions, then go and talk to 'em

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Hi Rob,

Yes Steve sells and tunes both Wolfs and Autronics, so can give you his opinion on both, but feel free to ask lots of people's opinions.

Wolf has launch control, which is different to traction control.

[Blackness]

... my question was already answered ..

[Al]

The current software version of my wolf is V4.51. I have heard that V4.53 has been released, but only improves the features for the tunner.

My tune did only cost $200, but as previously stated (and demonstrated on the graph) i am not 100% happy with it. Doen't get me wrong, the engine makes the power, and is tunned at a safe level. Maybe mine was a little cheaper as the tunner may have installed another car's tune, with similar mods, and then fine tunned it for my car, thus saving alot of time.

As yet i am not using temp. compensation or boost controller.

The car is booked to be serviced, retunned and above options to be installed.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

It can be done cheap, but I'd prefer to have them to do a good job first time, rather than stuff around.

[Al]

well i would of prefered that too .

But i gave them the car told them what i wanted, and when i got it back wasn't 100% happy. (95%, just minor things need to be done)

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Yeah, there always tend to be a few things, because a dyno doesn't reveal all. Aslong as the service afterwards is good, then that's what counts:D

[Sydneykid]

Hi guys, we get this sort of question all the time. People always ask how come the Wolf/Link/Microtech is $1.5K and the Motec/Autronic is $3K? Basically they all run the engine OK, are easily programmable and reliable in operation.

What the Motec/Autronic's offer is additional features such as 3 types of antilag, faster processing (32/64 bit), 2 types of launch control, 3 types of traction control, data logging, programmable auxiliary outputs for control of basically anything you want (eg; pit lane speed limit), free software upgrades, programmable auxiliary inputs for almost anything you want (eg; we use fuel pressure compensation), mutiple/staged injector firing (eg; we run short and long injector positions), closed loop tuning (plug a F&W lambda sensor in and go for a drive and they self tune).

If you are going to use those sorts of features, then the Motec/Autronic is the best level of ECU for you.

The advantage of Power FC's is of course the use of AFM's, there is simply no more accurate way to measure the airlow into an engine. MAP's are a compromise and simply not as accurate. Makes little difference to max power, but we find AFM control much easier to make the car "nice" to drive.

Hope that helps.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

Sydneykid,

I think with the new generation of ECU's that the gap between the cheaper end of the market (Wolf, Microtech etc) and the most expensive end (Motec, Autronic) have narrowed significantly.

The new plug'n'play wolf can do data logging, have programmable auxillary outputs, free firmware upgrades, programmable auxillary inputs, staged injectors and closed loop control.

Yes the SM2 and Motec have some additional features which may be worth considering for serious racers, but for most street-car applications I don't see then extra cost as justified.

I'm glad to see that all ECU manufacturers have lifted there game, and we now have a range of excellent ECU's to choose from.

[Sydneykid]

Hi GTS-t VSPEC, I'm with you, as I said "If you are going to use those sorts of features". We keep it simple, for road/race Skylines we use PFC's, for race only Skylines we use Motec's.

Dyno Dave can tune any ECU, but it makes it easy for us if we only need two types of software and only need to keep abreast of 2 development programs. My brain would start hurting if I had to follow 5 or 6 programs. Ken and Phil are working really hard on keeping some sort of gap between Motec and the lower end ECU's. As an example we find the new digital trigger system on the Motec M800 is a big advantage. The new NOS control is very effective, as is the stepper motor control. The telemetry also works much more reliably than previous versions.

I can't wait to try the new electronic throttle system, I am looking forward to being able to set up a hi power GTR engine such that half throttle always gives half power. Instead of the manual throttle where you get 10% power sometimes and 90% power other times, both at half throttle.

So yeh, I agree that the lower end ECU's are getting more sophisticated and better value for money every day, but there is a place for the top end units "if you can use the features".

Hope that adds to the discussion

[Edge]

I really appreciated these last few posts. Thanks.

The most interesting diferences being the 3 types antilag and 3 types traction control, auto tuning and availablilty of NOS control.

Am I right in assuming that a microtech could be specially programmed for one type of antilag, but not the traction control?

what is ?? multiple staged injector firing (long and short) what is this for? What does it do?