Haltech Elite Megathread

[NitroDann]

Probably need a wideband O2 as well. The Haltech one is awesome but it's not exactly cheap... another $400.

The haltech one is bullshit good, and yeah Id recommend one for closed loop trim when you are cruising and long term trim, but the car I have here ran gorgeously off the base map with no WB02. I ran a single wire to the ECU's options plug to feed it from the cars PLX and now it runs long term trim and short term trim and It also has 3 levels of engine protection based on how lean it goes and under what conditions, It wont ever see any of them but its nice to know that it will throw a code, turn on the CEL and give you a noticeable limp mode if it goes 13:1AFR at 10psi.

Is there any real reason to upgrade from a PS1000 to an Elite for a track only car?

Depends what you want out of your track car, do you want closed loop water pump and fan control that works really well? Do you want traction control stuff?

Are there any new features that are worth having, other than additional inputs / outputs, that would affect performance, reliability or engine safety / diagnostics out on the track?

Look frankly the PS1000 is a dinosaur of an ecu, which is mostly noticeable in terms of how the car behaves, but things like its excellent engine protection modes, coolant and air temp TABLES (as opposed to just 2d corrections), really good knock windowing etc

From what I've read on your posts, most of the benefits are in street drivability.

Thats all the end user is going to see, a car that behaves like stock, but the ecu has a tonne of features, download the software, plug in a basemap, go to the setup page and look at the hundreds of functions available.

Dann

[Juicy HiC]

I wasn't going to add anything to this thread but as it was spawned from my garage thread I figured I may as well.

For those that haven't read it, I've gone through all the standard bolt obs that one would add to the SE, then discovered that it was a bitch to drive.
So then I went for the chiptorque option.
It was definitely better but I still wasn't satisfied with it.
Every time I alike to people they said that I needed an aftermarket ECU but every review of the various ones available there was something they couldn't do or some issue with the way they interacted with the SE.
Then the Elite series was released. This seemed like the answer.
In the process I looked very closely at megasquirt especially as they started to develop the MSM specific version in the states.
The biggest reason why I didn't go that way was that there is zero support available here and for somebody like me who is very time poor, learning to do it yourself is not an option.
On top of which, and while it is the older ms2, I've seen the problems that can arise from not having the support.
I will add that some people will say they can or will help with the megasquirt here but definitively do not rely on that.
I am holding back until I get my car back from Dann, it's due to be tuned this weekend, so hopefully by the end of next week I'll get it. But here's what I will say for now...
I spoke with Dann at length. I spoke with Automotive Plus and I spoke with a garage here in Melbourne.
Auto plus where over the top and stupidly expensive but in sure the end result would have been great.
My dad had his NA6 turbo done by Dann. This wad in the end the clincher for me. I just could believe the results that Dan got out off it.
I won't say that this build hasn't been without problems and while I don't have my car back yet I am very confident that I'll be blown away with the end result.
Finally whether or not the Elite 1500 is the right ECU fire or cars I will say that given how they come from Haltech there's only one place I'd send my car to have it installed and tuned.

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[plohl]

Madjak, I spoke the the sales peeps at haltech when they released the ellites, I too was looking to up grade a ps1000. I was mainly curious about the data logging ability. Sales guy wasn't able to sell me an elite that day, the data logging to usb wasn't working yet, couldn't tell me if it was still limited to 10 channels and a bunch of other sh*t... anyway, if your ps1000 is working for you, it didn't really seem worth the swap.

Dann, thanks for starting the thread, it is good to hear something about them.

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[madjak]

I'm running an external logger now that gets all the Haltech CAN data and logs it to an SD card. I basically have 32MB of data logging now.

I've actually found the Ps1000 onboard logging to be very sufficient anyway. If you set up the logging with reasonable frequencies you get 20mins plus of data.... which is generally enough for most events.

The reason I am interested in the Elite, is my brother wants an ecu and was thinking about offloading the ps1000 to him and upgrading. I would assume the base tune can be transfered across.

[speed]

Thank you Dann for creating/developing an alternative for the SE crowd.

Just my quick spit re megasquirts.They're image may improve if you could actually phone a guy!

Apologies for what follows but i consider myself a general consumer and feel this is relevant when attempting to factor in cost, time, effort and support.

I have a MS. Personally I needed a basic understanding to get me to the autotune stage. Admittedly it had been more than a decade since playing with ecus, so the world and technology has changed a fair bit since.
Have lost count of the numerous manuals and documents I read to get things happening. Then once it is setup, you have the fun of finding a tuner willing to do it.

Can't help but feel that the entire process could have been a million times better any other way.
I just wanted to ask questions and get answers but instead had to learn how to build one.
Given the time, i believe that I could write a far better manual that most could understand. But that's the problem, who has the time!

You can have the best ecu in the world but if you can't support it locally in real time, put simply you will lose good will and ultimately business.

Would be good to see a Pepsi style challenge between the elite 1500 and a ms3pro on the same car, same day, similar time spent.

End rant.

[gslender]

I just wanted to ask questions and get answers but instead had to learn how to build one.
You can have the best ecu in the world but if you can't support it locally in real time, put simply you will lose good will and ultimately business.

That's why I think people are confused - you don't have to learn how to build one. You just plug in and start tuning with a base map designed to support the car that you bought it for (eg. http://www.megasquirtpnp.com/mspnpp_maps.php)

These are MS3 Pro models, not the older MS2 PNP or MS1 PNP units that required a lot of tinkering to get working - those of you complaining about their MegaSquirt experience, make sure you clarify exactly which model you are talking about. That would be no different to someone jumping on this thread saying their old Haltech PS1000 was hard to use and therefore they wouldn't recommend an Elite.

The MSPNP Pro costs $1,199.00 USD plus shipping... so about $1800 in AUD by the time you include taxes/shipping etc.

G

[greenMachine]

My views on ECU selection are on the record here, and Dann has ticked that box nicely. Good work Dann, and thanks for this thread.

[speed]

Apologies for going off topic.
I do actually like my ms2 and i respect the concept and implimentation of megasquirts DIY ECU's.

I have no doubts that a ms3pro is a fancy bit of kit but how cool is the haltech with being able to reprogram the inputs!

Tried and tested is a big deal for reassurance.

I think it's awesome that Dann has managed to get the haltech 1500 working with the SE.
Even more so, as haltech themselves didn't support the mx5.

It's also awesome that Dann can tune both haltech and MS, as not all tuners do.

The only real issue I see for the ms3pro, is finding a tuner.
Other than Dann, where do you get it tuned legally on a dyno?

We know it's not as easy as being able to call a guy. It's this level of reassurance that people want.

[gslender]

Two things. Ms3 supports being able to reprogram inputs and there are places that will help you dyno tune a megasquirt for fuel and spark. Yep, not many will help you fine tune the idle when AC is turned on, but same challenge with most other ECUs in that.


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[ManiacLachy]

BUMP

I was going to ask Dann a few questions, but I figured I might as well do it here, publicly, so that if anyone else has similar questions they can find the answers. And it will also serve as a refresher for anyone considering an ECU.

As Dann may (or may not) recall, I'm keen to fix my SE up with a decent ECU and at present the E1500 is forefront in my mind. Last year I asked and received a quote from Dann for an install at his shop in Newcastle and I found it quite reasonable. This would be the best option, but I'm finding it difficult to sort out a way to get the car down to Dann for the work as it's my daily and frankly adding travel costs and logistics would just be another reason for my other half to put the halt on the idea.

So the main question is, how confident are you Dann about sending out a "Plug and Play" package, as you've mentioned earlier in the thread, to be installed (either by a shop or owner), and then final tuned by a local tuner?

I realise that this would come down to the local tuner's ability, but provided they're familar with Haltech, are there any issues unique to SEs/MX-5s that could catch them out? Would you be available via phone if questions/issues arrise durring installation or tunning?

Is this plan workable, or would you discourage it?

I look forward to your frank and honest opinions and thoughts (as if there were any other way).

[Magpie]

ManiacLachy you can borrow my trailer

[ManiacLachy]

Two problems with that Mark. What would I tow it with? And what would I drive whlie Dann has my car? If I could solve the second question I could just drive down fly home and reverse. But also I would get a massive dose of the third degree if I sent my car out of town for 1-2 weeks (yeah, yeah, whipped - I know)

[Magpie]

Tell your other half the car was in an accident and the insurance companies recommended repairer is in Newcastle

Or find another MX5 similar to yours, tell the owner your issue and hopefully they will allow you to borrow theirs whilst yours is away

Or get enough people in the Brisbane area that needs Dann's services and invite him up, you can hire a hub dyno to tune the car. Looking at this (hiring a hub dyno) for a dodgy day provide the costs can be shared...

I would offer to tow it down but I think my other half would not be to agreeable and argue that I have gone a little too far this time literally...

[Lokiel]

Nah, tell your other half the car was stolen and found in Newcastle; a few parts were stripped so you needed them replaced before you can drive it back to Brissie.

[ManiacLachy]

If Dann tells us that he wouldn't trust anyone else not to get it wrong, or if he just highly advises that it be done with him, then I guess I'm going to have to work something out. But I might not be the only one wondering if the "plug and play" optoin is viable.