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GTR ECU: MoTeC or Autronic?

NXTIME

By NXTIME,
in Engines & Forced Induction

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NXTIME Grand Master

NXTIME

Posted
Posted

These ecu's may or may not have been covered before, but I'm not sure how relevant it would be for my application. Anyway, here goes:

I have narrowed down my two preferred ECU choices to Autronic and MoTeC. I would like constructive advice on which one would be best suited to my GTR by those who actually have experience with them. I don't want this to be an ECU war thread so those who wish to do that, please leave it for the numerous other threads that cater for that.

My R32 GTR has the following mods:

- top mount twin HKS turbo kit

- forged internals

- head work, valves etc

- HKS 280° cams, adj. cam gears etc

- custom plenum, Q45 throttle body, 2 x 6 injectors

- twin Bosch pumps, lift pump, surge tank

- Blitz drag spec cooler

- 3" dumps-->4" Exhaust

- 6 speed dog box

It will be street registered but will be only used as a race/weekend car. It used to have AFM's and a PFC when it left Japan. I would like to replace it with either an Autronic or a MoTeC. What would you recommend and what particular version of that ECU?

Also, what recommendations for the igniton side of things?

EDIT: Oh, and it is for 1/4 mile racing :)

Charlie.

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Sydneykid Grand Master

Sydneykid

Posted
Posted

Lets start off by saying that I am not claiming that the Motec is better than the Autronic, it is just that we have used more Motec recently and so can relate our real world experiences.

We run staged injectors, the M600 can turn them on and off individually. So we can run 6 smaller injectors up to a predermined rpm/load point, then switch them off and run 6 larger injectors from then on. Or we can run 6 then switch in another 6, thus running 12 injectors for higher rpm. Each single injector can be individually tuned via a F&W lambda sensor in each of the primary exhaust pipes.

We run the Motec CDI firing Mercury outboard coils (they are designed to run with CDI). Each single coil can be individually tuned.

The M600 is plugged into a Motec Dash with full data logging using the standard Motec harness.

We run anti lag and launch control with multi stage rev limiting and shift light indication on the Motec Dash. All are independantly adjustable. There are over 50 sensors on the car, logging everything from drive train strain to shock absorber deflection to coolant pressure.

From memory the all up cost of the Motec ECU, CDI, coils, Dash, Software, wiring harness, sensors and installtion was a little over $20K. The cost of fabricating the mounting hardware for the dash and the sensors not included.

Hope that helps:cheers:

NXTIME Grand Master

NXTIME

Posted
  • Author
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Thank you for the reply, SK. Excellent and informative as always. That sounds like a very comprehensive set up. However, I don't think that my budget will extend to 20K+, unfortunately.

Might have to consider a 'detuned' version of that set up. :)

Do you have any experience and thoughts on Autronic?

Charlie.

Sydneykid Grand Master

Sydneykid

Posted
Posted
Thank you for the reply, SK. Excellent and informative as always. That sounds like a very comprehensive set up. However, I don't think that my budget will extend to 20K+, unfortunately.

Might have to consider a 'detuned' version of that set up. :D

Do you have any experience and thoughts on Autronic?

Charlie.

Hi Charlie, we ran Autronic ECU's in the BMW SuperTourers with the Pi System 4 dash and datalogger. They were great, never had a problem with the ECU. Also used them in the V8Supercars until Motec became the "Control ECU". Never had an Autronic on an RB engine, but I can't see any reason why they wouldn't work perfectly.

When the Aussie dollar dropped, the Pi Systems got sooooo expensive, we moved to Motec Dash and loggers as a result. So it seemed logical to use the Motec ECU's at the same time, wiring harness and software interfaces. I got used to the Motec data interpretation so we stuck with it. Even with the dollar a lot stronger lately, the Motec Dask/logger is still cheaper than the Pi equivalents. If not we would probably still be using the Autronic ECU's.

The Autronic A/R interpretor and Lambda sensor are relatively inexpensive and work very well with the Autronic self tune software. Set up the aim tables and drive it around and it tunes very well. Only takes a few minutes on the dyno to get it spot on.

You will probably find the Autronic ECU and CDI units to be a bit cheaper than the Motec equivalents, maybe finding a good Autronic tuner is slightly more difficult though.

:)

Jetdat Veteran

Jetdat

Posted
Posted
now not havin delt with much of this but

im pretty sure that

autronic was founded by the fella that founded motec as in designed the computer in the first place so arent they the same ??

just slightlly different

you are correct in saying that autronics designer used to be partner/designer of motec until they went their separate ways...

the two systems are very similar in performance and price, although autronic is slightly cheaper. If you were in melb i could give you the name of a brilliant tuner who has been with autronic since first operation, in fact he introduced autronic to europe and pro racing in aus.

I would lean towards autronic for a street set up as i think its slightly better in performance at a cheaper price, and that i know of a good tuner.

Regardless of which system you choose, make sure you get a bloody good tuner!

KamikazeR33 Grand Master

KamikazeR33

Posted
Posted

i agree with clint

no point running somethin no one can tune, or else we would all run hks fcon v pro computers :P

find urself an excellent tuner and go with what they use

its amazing what some ppl can do with very little

Ustasa Enthusiast

Ustasa

Posted
Posted

Only reason I'd choose Motec over Autronic for this application would be the CAS interface. Motec have the software programmed to make it a mouse click choice when setting it all up. Autronic (to the best of my knowledge) do not have the Nissan 360 degree optical sensor programmed in and hence rely on hardware changes (trigger disk changed in CAS) to get it to work.

As for functionality and ease of tuning, Autronic IMHO is as good or better then Motec in all aspects ie. Closed/open loop tables, outputs. Plus the SM2 with a good after market CDI is a fair bit cheaper then your equivalent Motec install as Sydneykid pointed out.

GTS500 Community Regular

GTS500

Posted
Posted

All the autronics i have seen fitted to skylines over here(includingmy own) in WA have all been removed due to on going problems and lack of support from the autronics distributors, i would recommend the motec have never heard a bad word about it yet.

Also as the others have said find a tuner that you like and trust and use what they recommend.

DoughBoy Veteran

DoughBoy

Posted
Posted

What problems are you talking about? Could you be a bit more specific? Do "they" all suffer from the same issues? Is it hardware, installation or tuning related? Who do you rely on for support - I know Ray Hall can be a crusty bastige but there are other sources of aftermarket support on the Autronic...

NXTIME Grand Master

NXTIME

Posted
  • Author
Posted
All the autronics i have seen fitted to skylines over here(includingmy own) in WA have all been removed due to on going problems and lack of support from the autronics distributors, i would recommend the motec have never heard a bad word about it yet.

Also as the others have said find a tuner that you like and trust and use what they recommend.

What did you replace your Autronic ECU with? What ongoing problems did you have?

I have been recommended good tuners for both ecu's, so that isn't a problem at this stage.

Mesmer Enthusiast

Mesmer

Posted
Posted

Well i was runing an old autronic smc for years and it was fine.

The trigger disks in the CAS do need to be replaced and none of my ignition system is standard anymore but it ran excellent. (008 bosch modules & twin spark coils)

Now with the support & documentation it’s far and wide but it is there.

Also something i prefer over the motec is you dont have to pay for every little option you get on the ecu. If the ecu can do it you can enable it yourself and that is bliss for people like me that want to play around with it. Not that you really should unless you know what your doing but datalogging etc is nice.

The systems work fine if they are set up correctly but with an inexperienced installer/tuner could end in problems easily.

So if you never want to know its there or tune it yourself then go for something else but if you want all the nice little bells and whistles to play with then I would go for a sm2.

I would also like to hear more about these problems.

John

Jetdat Veteran

Jetdat

Posted
Posted
All the autronics i have seen fitted to skylines over here(includingmy own) in WA have all been removed due to on going problems and lack of support from the autronics distributors, i would recommend the motec have never heard a bad word about it yet.

Also as the others have said find a tuner that you like and trust and use what they recommend.

i would like to know what are these problems too...

and by the way any of these units up for sale?:rant:

gtrken Grand Master

gtrken

Posted
Posted
All the autronics i have seen fitted to skylines over here(includingmy own) in WA have all been removed due to on going problems and lack of support from the autronics distributors, i would recommend the motec have never heard a bad word about it yet.

Also as the others have said find a tuner that you like and trust and use what they recommend.

Danny , Danny , Danny...

Lets not go there hey:)

Not all the units have been removed and agreed that if you are chasing over 450rwhp then the optional CDI is a good thing. Don't forget Dougs Targa GTR runs perfect with 1 bar boost and 420rwhp.

As has been stated on numerous ocassions on other threads, Leewahs GTR seems to run fine with the Autronic and CDI and certainly puts down the numbers.

As has also been alluded to in this thread, setup and install by an experienced person has a lot to do with it:)

Cheers

Ken

RB26VL Enthusiast

RB26VL

Posted
Posted

hey guys

i got a autronics smc running my rb26 engine which is absolutely faultless and runs and starts perfect every single time, even 6 months after not runnin the engine after 1 crank it starts and idles like a kitten :rant:

i reccomend the autronics and i think u need to find a good tuner also which is the main factor in making it run correctly like a stock ecu controlled car :rant:

mine is tuned by GTRKen's business partner lumpy campbell and he does an awesome job of tuning and so far i have 350rwhp on 17psi (basic mods) and it still drives like a stock vehicle.

go hyperdrive for anyone in WA :headbang:

p.s. ive had no experience with motec to comment on that

cheers

Brad

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