Summary of Aftermarket ECUs / Controllers

[Crufty Dusty]

Originally Posted by Whisky_Tango

Does this means piggyback ECU will not have Maps as well?

A piggyback ECU will have its own maps. All it does is intercept the fuel, ignition and airflow sensor readings between the factory ECU and the sensors.

Originally Posted by Whisky_Tango

So generally, high resolution maps are for passenger car & race cars (not the hardcore or F1) and low resolution maps are for drag cars.

Low resolution maps are fine so long as you have control over the "problem areas" (i.e. able to specify which load/RPM sites need more resolution). However if you can't modify the map area, then obviously a higher number of load/RPM sites would be better.

Any other features or benefits of standalone ECU and hope u can share some of the reliable ones for OBD II system. Thanks

Standalones are meant to replace the factory ECU so they have no provision nor need to provide OBD data. After all, you can always retrieve the OBD data from the ECU using laptop. Some manufacturers even have hardware that shows engine data on the dash, or even steering wheel!

Having said that, there are some who use standalones as piggybacks i.e. handle only fuel and ignition, leaving all other functions like A/C, idle control, other auxiliary output to the factory ECU. In this manner, OBD data can be retained, but such a standalone is no different from a piggyback in terms of function.

[Crufty Dusty]

Disadvantages of standalone:

1) Complete control over engine requires installer to be very sure of whatever he's doing
2) No support for OBD or factory immobilizer

These 2 things alone are reason enough to dissuade a lot of people from considering standalones.

[Crufty Dusty]

Benefits of standalone:

Too many to list!

The possibilities are limited only by your creativity. e.g.

1) A high output 4WD rally car was consistently breaking its center differential when the driver lays down the power while cornering. The solution was to attach a steering wheel angle sensor and hook it up to the ECU. Diff disengages when steering angle exceeds programmed limit.

2) Switch operated speed limiter (good for enforcing pit speed limits or getting valet to park your car), boost control using head unit volume control (the louder the music, the higher the boost!)

3) Launch control, traction control, overrun boost (antilag), and lots more

[Whisky_Tango]

Originally Posted by Crufty Dusty

Disadvantages of standalone:

1) Complete control over engine requires installer to be very sure of whatever he's doing

Agree and its always subjective cos its the knowledge and experience of the tuner tat give results.

Originally Posted by Crufty Dusty

2) No support for OBD or factory immobilizer

These 2 things alone are reason enough to dissuade a lot of people from considering standalones.

If there is no support for OBD, what are the problems tat may arise?

Can a laptop diagnosed faults with standalone?

Immoblizer is an anti-theft feature, I think this disadvantage is not so critical cos the owner might trade it with power management.

[Crufty Dusty]

Originally Posted by Whisky_Tango

If there is no support for OBD, what are the problems tat may arise?

Certain governments like US and some EU countries require OBD compliance to pass their inspection tests. In Singapore no OBD compliance tests are required. And since you have total control over the engine, getting lambda 1 is not that difficult

Factory ECUs are usually updated by using handheld or portable scanners through the OBDII port.

Most standalone ECUs today are programmed using laptop, either in realtime or offline mode (i.e. changes made to a file and then uploaded to the ECU). Some ECUs can be programmed using handheld scanners as well although personally I think they are more of a gimmick than anything else. Imagine trying to view a map with 512 load/RPM sites using something that resembles a NETS POS device with limited screen space... you get the idea.

Currently the connections are made using OBDII port, RS232 or CAN, although initiatives are underway to remove physical connections e.g. using Bluetooth or IEEE 802.11.

Originally Posted by Whisky_Tango

Can a laptop diagnosed faults with standalone?

By and large, most ECUs will allow some sort of diagnostic facility. Some ECUs go so far as to show you which circuits are open or shorted, minimum and maximum voltage, ECU temperature, so on and so forth. Some even feature telemetry and remote logging, allowing the calibration specialist/data acquisition specialist to diagnose everything the ECU is seeing, in real time, from the pit.

[Whisky_Tango]

Gentlemen

Can I request all to pen down till the revised update is posted. Too much info liao... kekeke...

If anyone who has something to share at this moment, please save your draft and post it upon the 1st update.

Hope I can update it by end this week.

Thanks & Cheers!

[Leean]

HI ALL,

JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION. AFTER READING THRU ALL THE POST, CAN ANYONE ADVISE WHERE I CAN GET MY ECU UPGRADED OR INSTALLED? THANKS

[yendor]

BVO, J4C, Cartronic.... you name your choice.....

ha ha...

[Whisky_Tango]

BOV does OBIT (Piggyback ECU)

Juzz for Cars does HI-OP (Flash ECU)

Racetech does SUPERCHIPS (Flash ECU)

Cartronic does ??? (???)

Above workshops details can be found in our forum WORKSHOP LIST.

[Whisky_Tango]

Attached is the revised and updated doc since last discussed on this thread.

Please note the additions and revision are in Yellow color fonts.

Comments and feedbacks are again open to all.

Cheers!