NC2 ECU Tuning

as_1 · Postby **as_1** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:11 am

Anyone know of any place around Sydney that can tune NCs (NC2s)?
I'm asking because I want to change my headers, mid pipe and muffler, but in order to get the most out of them, I'd need to get a proper tune

I did (before I was a bit more informed) contact Powerchip and they said they will tune my car while getting an ECU reflash, but after many forum posts about the quality and reliability of this, I have decided against it

What options do I have?

Postby **NitroDann** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:27 am

Its not worth it with just an exhaust. Really.

But if you want a tune there is only ever one choice, full standalone. Unless you have an option like NisTune or HonData, which we dont.

Dann

as_1 · Postby **as_1** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 12:36 am

forgot to add CAI

you know anywhere it can be done?

Sailor · Postby **Sailor** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 9:38 am

No-one in Oz that has the crack for NC puter that I know of....and I've searched.
You can add a piggyback and get reasonable gains or try your luck with Dynotronics in USA who will use info you gather from a data logger like DashDyno
and retune your ECU to suit.
Be warned that I have had a few conversations with them and things go quiet when I ask for a contact for one of the people in Oz for whom they claim to have done this.

I have gone the Exede route and it's a long haul making minor adjustments to a map supplied by them to get AFR right and try to cure a stumble as the car drops back to idle after a blip. The car is NOT as easy to drive with power removed from the bottom end transferred to above 4500 requiring a few more revs to takeoff smoothly without stalling (Yes Dear I know I've "Done something")

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 2:57 pm

As someone who has had great success with a Microtech piggy back on an NA8A and then owned an NC1 that had CAi and catback, I reckon the best performance BFYB with an NC is to get a 4.1 diff from MX5 Plus. Totally transforms the performance, people who drove it were astounded(including the local Mazda service manager).I looked into ECU updates for the NC given my success with the NA but really couldn't find anything that was reasonably priced or really proved.

The good thing about an NC diff change is that the speedo picks up from the back wheels so you do not have to change anything to retain an accurate speedo reading.

Trust me do that first you will be amazed at the difference and it will not involve you in being the "trial' person with an ECU and if you really want to go down the ECU path later them you still can.

good luck,

Peter.

taminga16 · Postby **taminga16** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:19 pm

I am with Peter in so much as that if the engine needed more then Mazda would have done it but re gearing the drive and maintaining real ground contact is where the gains are to be made along with a muffler that breathes a little better, I cannot see anything else that might improve things unless you start to view the car as a hole into which you throw money.
Peter, I am so disapointed that you sold the NC before I got to drive it.
Cheers Greg.
P.S. These pearls of wisdom have not fallen out of the ether, when it comes to performance the only difference between motorcycles and cars is the extra two wheels.

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:54 pm

Greg, I am still in contact with the new owner of my NC and he is an enthusiast with a TVR Griffen and a Healey in his stable so I am sure that if you are interested (and he lives in Sunbury) something could be arranged.

Peter.

as_1 · Postby **as_1** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:10 pm

so in a nutshell you can't do any ECU tuning in Australia

kind of sucks... what are these sniper tunes and dp tunes that come up from time to time when I search on google? can't these be used in Aus?

Also 4.1 diff meaning final drive?

Postby **NitroDann** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 10:48 pm

You can, you go full standalone, but what you want you dont NEED an ecu.

Dann

Sailor · Postby **Sailor** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:59 pm

You can do ECU tuning according to Dynotronics who will send you an ECU with a basic performance tune based upon your specs which will allow you to then log data on the logger that they will loan you. They'll then tune your ECU and send it back to you...It's just that I've not been able to get an answer from them re a contact here who has had it done...though they say they have done a few.
I know of one ECU that was bricked using a US based tunend a replacement one from US would not run an Oz car so apparently there is a difference.
A stand alone is not an option for a road going car as there are none that has all the functions of the Mazda ECU and you will lose functions like immobiliser IIRC among other things.
I looked, I dropped the idea.
Chris Gough has gone the Exede route as well on one car that I know of and may be able to give you more information.
Have fun!

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:11 am

Of course you can.
So what, youll need an aftermarket immobilizer?

A megasquirt will do everything you need.

Honestly you wouldnt run it standalone, you would use a standalone as a piggyback, use it just for the ignition and fueling, and allow the factory ecu to run the abs/immobilizer/ESC etc.

Dann

pcmx5 · Postby **pcmx5** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:44 am

NitroDann wrote:Of course you can.
So what, youll need an aftermarket immobilizer?

A megasquirt will do everything you need.

Honestly you wouldnt run it standalone, you would use a standalone as a piggyback, use it just for the ignition and fueling, and allow the factory ecu to run the abs/immobilizer/ESC etc.

Dann

Dann, who do you know who has done it?For most of us it is comforting to have some some real evidence rather than the assertion it can be done!

With my NC the Cai, exhaust and diff ratio change gave it excellent performance and if I had kept it a header would have given it more.At the time no one could give any concrete egs of what further could be done with the ECU or any backup so on that basis I would go every route BUT the ECU ..

NC's have been around for a long time and there certainly doesn't seem to be lot of options re the ECU out there which seems to suggest to me that it is not that easy.

Peter.

Postby **NitroDann** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:56 am

Many many many many cars have used standalones as piggybacks. The NC has peak and hold injectors, coils with ignitors built in and a CAS just like any late model car.
Any proper ecu shop could fit up an ecu. The real question is why more NC owners dont do it (Id say I could guess pretty easily).

Dann

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:03 pm

as_1 wrote:...what are these sniper tunes and dp tunes that come up from time to time when I search on google? can't these be used in Aus?

Looks like they can, but it seems to be DIY:
http://mazdatune.com/miata-ecu-programming.asp

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda-Pe ... -0238.html

Yeah, 4.1 is diff, final drive, or crown wheel & pinion ratio.

timk · Postby **timk** » Thu Sep 08, 2011 12:12 pm

Sailor wrote:You can do ECU tuning according to Dynotronics who will send you an ECU with a basic performance tune based upon your specs which will allow you to then log data on the logger that they will loan you. They'll then tune your ECU and send it back to you...It's just that I've not been able to get an answer from them re a contact here who has had it done...though they say they have done a few.

Be careful with this... a member on here with a Cosworth supercharged NC sent his ECU to the states for a reflash and it got bricked due to differences!

Hopefully he will chime in!