ECU recommendations?

Curly · Postby **Curly** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 4:56 pm

Well, it looks like I've fallen victim to the short nose crank issue in my imported NA.

So it's new engine time in the next few months...

I'm thinking that I'll go the 1.8 conversion at the moment (even though I am slightly tempted by an SR20 conversion), and probably go for an aftermarket ECU while I'm at it.

Now the workshop is recommending a Wolf3D, while my mates are mostly of the opinion that they're crap and I'll have huge problems with cold starts etc.

From what I've heard the actual ECU isn't that important, it is how well it is tuned that matters.

Any thoughts on the Wolf as compared to a Microtech? Any other options at about that price level?

Not planning on going turbo, but I could see some cams and a set of quads in my future sometime. How many revs can a stock BP bottom end take?

Russellb · Postby **Russellb** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:05 pm

YOU HAVE OPENED COWS you Know that

Computers Hmm well the big thing is will you do the install and basic tune (ie make it run good enough to get to dyno)?
for me I us Autronic it has a easy follow diagram and easy to use software. Plus I know how to uset it up
then there is the wolf the software is good not to hard to navigate
but it comes down to the person tuning and what they know
if you go to a 1.8 you will need to run a new harness for the fuel and Ign side
If you do go the Autronic route I can give you a map that works like a treat

zhenjie · Postby **zhenjie** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 11:24 pm

I just had my 5 installed and tuned with a Wolf3d V4. It definitely is experiencing issues with cold starts and a flat spot but we are hoping those will be resolved after a week of test driving.

Apart from those issues I'm very happy with the results. Before the ECU and intercooler my car dynoed 88kw atw and now it peaks at 120kw. Fuel economy has also improved significantly.

Insurgence · Postby **Insurgence** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 5:25 pm

zhenjie wrote:I just had my 5 installed and tuned with a Wolf3d V4. It definitely is experiencing issues with cold starts and a flat spot but we are hoping those will be resolved after a week of test driving.

Apart from those issues I'm very happy with the results. Before the ECU and intercooler my car dynoed 88kw atw and now it peaks at 120kw. Fuel economy has also improved significantly.

forgive my ignorance but you would have to have some sort of turbo to get that amount of power right?

Postby **Boyracer** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:23 pm

The Wolf I fitted worked very well...plug in so no need for re wire,as long as you set it up with TPS and Map there should not be a problem with cold start once it is tuned correctly.David at MX5mania is very good with the Wolf.

greenMachine · Postby **greenMachine** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:54 pm

Unless you know EXACTLY what you want, first find some one with MX5 experience as a first step (preferably a few

), talk to them about your plans (n/a mods, turbo etc), and then start to compare features, prices, etc.

Budget for dyno time/tuning too ...

Some people enjoy the challenge of DIY, but you don't have to look far on this board to see that can be pretty challenging/frustrating ...

For me, I am happy with my haltec E8 :mrgreen:

zhenjie · Postby **zhenjie** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:20 am

Insurgence wrote:
zhenjie wrote:I just had my 5 installed and tuned with a Wolf3d V4. It definitely is experiencing issues with cold starts and a flat spot but we are hoping those will be resolved after a week of test driving.

Apart from those issues I'm very happy with the results. Before the ECU and intercooler my car dynoed 88kw atw and now it peaks at 120kw. Fuel economy has also improved significantly.

forgive my ignorance but you would have to have some sort of turbo to get that amount of power right?

Yep, running the Greddy Turbo kit atm. Waiting for a variable TPS to eliminate some of the cold-start/idle issues.

Curly · Postby **Curly** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 2:38 pm

greenMachine wrote:Unless you know EXACTLY what you want, first find some one with MX5 experience as a first step (preferably a few ), talk to them about your plans (n/a mods, turbo etc), and then start to compare features, prices, etc.

Cheers.

I've been doing a fair bit of research, and the workshop in question deals mostly with mx5s (Wheelspin in Perth), so the Wolf should be fine. I was just after some other opinions because they've recommended Wolf, and the unanimous opinion from other mates was that they were crap...

Is it possible/worthwhile to run the 1.8 engine on the 1.6 computer somehow?

Lucky_Luke · Postby **Lucky_Luke** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 3:15 pm

The whole issue is dependant on what you want to do and how much you want to spend.

I too have a Wolf 3d V4 plugin and havent had any problems, its just starting to get cold now in adelaide (which is probably nowhere near as cold as some places in Aust.), but 2 to 4 deg is cold enough at 7am and i havent had any cold start or idling problems.

One of the main reasons i chose the wolf was the price/ ease of uninstallment if i get defected /and the guys i got to tune it prefered and specialised with the wolf, which has made for a good reliable tune so far.

Good luck with it.

glen73 · Postby **glen73** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 7:29 pm

Curly wrote:
Is it possible/worthwhile to run the 1.8 engine on the 1.6 computer somehow?

id just buy a second hand one (1.

from da wreckers till you make up ya mind

Roderic · Postby **Roderic** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 8:24 pm

Wolf 3D PnP is the go....V4 and make sure you have the firmware upgraded.

Biggest thing with ECU's no matter which brand is finding the right person to tune them.

If you want I might have a spare Stock NA6 and NA8 ECU's.

Regards
Roderic

CT · Postby CT » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:15 pm

A point of clarification for anyone considering an aftermarket ECU. My experience says the biggest drama is the setup of the ECU - not the tuning of the ECU. If you have followed the development of the Hydra for the MX5 in the USA you will see that all the things that affect living with the car, are setup based on not tuning based. Now, here's a broad generalisation, but, pretty much any tuning shop with a good air fuel ratio meter and a dyno can tune any ECU. Afterall, tuning is simply altering what is essentially an excel worksheet with two axis. Some now even use a third axis, motec just released a 4 axis map version - the principle is the same. Tweak the numbers until you get the correct AFR at each load point (this is a massive oversimplification but that what they are doing). The things that causes trouble for the MX5 are setup based such as closed loop alternator control and the ignition setup they use. That's why you need someone with MX5 experience. The tuning bit is virtually the same, regardless of the car.

Curly · Postby **Curly** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:19 pm

Cool, ok. Thanks for the advice.

The Pupat · Postby **The Pupat** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:55 pm

If you're happy for them to tune it and that's what they want to use. Stick with it.

I believe in finding a tuner you can trust who has a good track record of tuning cars (most importantly tuning reliable cars that don't blow up every 5 seconds), then sticking with what they are happy to tune.

An ECU is only as good as the bloke tuning it and the tune will make (or more importantly break) the motor.

Curly · Postby **Curly** » Tue Sep 19, 2006 1:57 pm

Wow - bit of an old thread...

My engine is still holding on - I'm still tossing up between various options. Once the front of the crank falls off, I'll have to actually decide.