Power FC....bought & paid for :)

[KiwiMR2]

Well I have just paid for & ordered a power FC for my MR2. Wondering what Im in for now??

I understand Wildcard has one of these in his MR2, and also Akane, how have you guys found them?? i also gather there pretty much sweet to just plug in and go if Im not stupid with driving it on the base map, then I can organise a tune. Speedtech is probably the best option in Wellington yeah?? I should have it here in about 5 weeks. Will be intresting to see what sort of gains over my 196 kw's I'll be able to make with it.

Can't complain about the price either.....$1150.00 + whatever the OS bank transfer fee is

If anyone else has any good info with these in Type III 3sgte's I'd be intrested to hear about it

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[Akane]

Welcome to the club dude

I am still driving it hard on base map from AP Engineering.
Although I did give it a 10% fuel trim from 1000-3000rpm.

If you can afford the bling bling, you should really get the dataloggit.
The hand controller is only good for daily "WTF's going on with my engine" meter display and some basic as tuning.

I usually have it displaying 4 channel, with Inj cycle, boost, speed and knock.

There's no knock - timing retard as far as I know.
Yes close loop O2.

There's not much to know, it's a great ECU, plug and play. Better than getting that Link plus junk.

[KiwiMR2]

Did you notice much difference just pluging it in and going??

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[Akane]

Well... the stock ECU felt faster.

I feel that the PFC dumps heaps of fuel and dial up the timing heaps.

[atmosports]

To be honest Linkplus plugin & Power FC would be much the same & would come down to the tuner. Everyone knocks Link & says they are crap but we've run a 500hp+ 2.5L WRX on a Link for 5 years now without any hassles, The BIGGEST hassle with Link is the idiots & cowboys who fit them & have no idea what they are doing or TUNERS who aren't TUNERS which is the vast majority of people out there, you aren't a tuner without a dyno, anyone who says they can do a road tune as good as a dyno tune is pulling themselves very hard.

As for Power FC the only way to tune them properly is either with an Datalogit or else get Stoichi(thinks that's how you spell it) from ST Hi-TEC or else Matsahiro Tazoka who have the genuine Apexi software to do it. In saying this I'd go to one of the tuners who've had heaps of experience with the Datalogit & also preferably who has done some development work on it. My recommendation here would be Hi Tech Motorsport in Pukekohe as they probably do a Power-FC a week easy on all sorts of stuff & they seem to get good results.

As for a tune in Wellington, seriously I wouldn't recommend anyone but if you had to pick someone then I guess Andre @ Speedtech is probably the best of whats available, but seriously I know of an awful lot of cars that have come from Wellington to Auckland to get tuned or re-tuned.

[Al]

As for Power FC the only way to tune them properly is either with an Datalogit or else get Stoichi(thinks that's how you spell it) from ST Hi-TEC or else Matsahiro Tazoka who have the genuine Apexi software to do it

Also Eclipse in Christchurch. They tuned turbo tezzas car with the genuine Apexi software on the laptop. Not that it really matters for KiwiMR2

[KiwiMR2]

Im sure Andre has done a fair few PFC installs and tunes!!?? I'll have to give him a call and see. I might look into getting the Datalogit stuff as well.....anyone know roughly how much it is??

I must looka again but I was reading SOMEWHERE online last night about some software (NOT datalogit) that is avaible for download somewhere that works on a laptop BUT it needed a different hand controller than then one usually supplied

I'll take a look again tonight.

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[Akane]

http://www.fc-datalogit.co.nz/

I read the APEX'i Excel software does a good job tuning, keep us informed.

[KiwiMR2]

http://www.fc-datalogit.co.nz/

I read the APEX'i Excel software does a good job tuning, keep us informed.

It doesn't mention pricing

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[Akane]

Oh, they used to have it for $398USD? or was it $438 USD? something like that, couldn't remember.

We need more PFC members for 3S-GTE3 so we can all chip in for a datalogit.

I'm exempt from the chipping in coz I'm the one providing the laptop

[atmosports]

I'm pretty sure last time I asked Glenn/Steve @ Datalogit it was around US$450 or NZ$900 which would've been about last october when we sussed one out for one of our Oz mates for his workshop. I was lead to believe that any more sales in NZ would only be to workshops/tuners etc but could be wrong.

I have got a Datalogit or three & most of the common software, I think i've used the 3sgte one once & only for about 2 minutes so can't really comment on it. However I use the 4G63 & RX7 one most weeks & it's definately the shit, the Apexi Power Excel software is basically the same thing but it's usually in Japanese which I can't read. I've spent 3 days on the dyno straight with a Datalogit on a FD3 RX7 & still had plenty of things to play with. I got the majority of the mapping done in a day including warmup/cool down time which was mainly for the fuel as fuel temps went through the roof & at one stage the fuel was boiling in the tank. The other two days were basically spent on trims/compensation & chasing 1/4 of a HP here & there which you most probably wouldn't see unless you had a decent datalogging setup as well as a decent Dyno like a Dynapack.

I've done d-jetro's & d-jetro conversions where the airflow meter has been binned & a map sensor used. Used all sorts of injectors up to 2000cc/min & most of the common fuels including C16 but not yet methanol without any major hassles.

The only real hassle I've had with the datalogit was on a customers unit & the datalogit box wouldn't plug into the Power-FC, this was only due to a slight difference in the plugs which we fixed by using a sharp razor blade to remove the small plastic standoff in the middle of the plug. Apart from that I've used Datalogit basically since day1 & have never had any major hassles.

[Distrb]

Im sure Andre has done a fair few PFC installs and tunes!!??

Andy, Have a chat to Dean, (Mutsuraboshi on Rexnet - would be the easiest place to track him down) He recently had a Power FC installed and tuned by Andre. Might be a good place to ask questions...

[KiwiMR2]

Oh, they used to have it for $398USD? or was it $438 USD? something like that, couldn't remember

I'm pretty sure last time I asked Glenn/Steve @ Datalogit it was around US$450 or NZ$900 which would've been about last october when we sussed one out for one of our Oz mates for his workshop.

Almost as much as the unit itself!!

I have got a Datalogit or three & most of the common software, I think i've used the 3sgte one once & only for about 2 minutes so can't really comment on it. However I use the 4G63 & RX7 one most weeks & it's definately the sh*t, the Apexi Power Excel software is basically the same thing but it's usually in Japanese which I can't read. I've spent 3 days on the dyno straight with a Datalogit on a FD3 RX7 & still had plenty of things to play with. I got the majority of the mapping done in a day including warmup/cool down time which was mainly for the fuel as fuel temps went through the roof & at one stage the fuel was boiling in the tank. The other two days were basically spent on trims/compensation & chasing 1/4 of a HP here & there which you most probably wouldn't see unless you had a decent datalogging setup as well as a decent Dyno like a Dynapack.

I've done d-jetro's & d-jetro conversions where the airflow meter has been binned & a map sensor used. Used all sorts of injectors up to 2000cc/min & most of the common fuels including C16 but not yet methanol without any major hassles.

The only real hassle I've had with the datalogit was on a customers unit & the datalogit box wouldn't plug into the Power-FC, this was only due to a slight difference in the plugs which we fixed by using a sharp razor blade to remove the small plastic standoff in the middle of the plug. Apart from that I've used Datalogit basically since day1 & have never had any major hassles.

Intresting. What sort of things can you change & adjust using that software?? (Apart from the couple of things you listed)

Andy, Have a chat to Dean, (Mutsuraboshi on Rexnet - would be the easiest place to track him down) He recently had a Power FC installed and tuned by Andre. Might be a good place to ask questions...

Will do Chur

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[atmosports]

What you can change obviously depends on make/model of the car/Power FC. Obviously you've got full access to the 20x20 fuel/ignition maps & rotary you've trailing ignition & also a base fuel map. You can change the air flow meter scale voltages the common swaps are usually in a power FC anyway but with this you can setup for a airflow meter etc that isn't supported. You've got all sorts of compensations for temperature etc. You can also change the rpm/load points, though you are still limted to 20 x 20 so you have to expand the range between some to close the range between others. There is few options with regards to boost control. There is probably heaps more things I've forgotten but I don't have either the software or manual in front of me. If I had the time at the moment I'd tell you more/organise a demo but lack of time/dyno at present is the biggest hassle. Basically you can change all the things you can with the FC-Commander & probably more & the best thing from my point of view is it's all in english. You also have the map tracer etc & can datalog pretty much any input/output from the power fc. I haven't really played with the antilag,launch control,wideband side of things on the datalogit box as I've never needed them yet.

[KiwiMR2]

Well I plugged it in, car started fine so that was a good start

I did the learning thing for 10 mins, then went for a bit of a blat to get gas. My 1st impressions are it doesn't really feel any different......possibly a tad smoother but not a great change. I was a bit hesitant to give it death so started on the low boost setting on my Profec. That was fine for 2 mins so I had a go on the high setting (around 16 psi) and again it seemed to be fine (but I didn't quite floor it to the max) and I get no check engine lights at any point of my journey.

I ran out of light so i couldn't run the commander into the cabin (what is the best route for this??) so unless it stores your last run data Im not really sure what it was reading, I had a bit of a fiddle but need to sit down and read the instructions (having a look now).

So yeah. Anyway I also spoke to Andre at SpeedTech and he say's he can tune it no problem, reakons he has done quite a fair few already....they DON'T have Datalogit for my particular model however he doesn't foresee any issue's using the hand controller apart from it taking a bit longer. Looking at $600-$700 for a dyno tune.

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[KiwiMR2]

Learning thing?

Self learning idle adjustment.....run the car for 10 mins in which time the AC & rear window demister etc. are to be tunred on, then it stabilizes

Also be weary of the stock tune, IIRC it has a stupid amount of advance and fuel.

Yeah I read that, would i get an cel flash if I was getting to much of either??

Looks like theres 3 of us who are about ready to get our PFC's tuned so should be interesting times!

What price have you had?? Comparable to mine?

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[Wildcard]

Self learning idle adjustment.....run the car for 10 mins in which time the AC & rear window demister etc. are to be tunred on, then it stabilizes

Hmm - I hadn't heard that, is that in the manual somewhere?
There are idle up parameters that you set based on the accessories in the handcontroller also.....

Yeah I read that, would i get an cel flash if I was getting to much of either??

Yup, when things get hairy it should flash [knock levels above 60]. The knock vs rpm graph is useful. However I've been told that above ~5000rpm the knock readings arn't accurate due to too much inherrent engine noise - would love some clarrification of this.

What price have you had?? Comparable to mine?

I have a contact to tune for me but I believe Akane got prices in the $300-600 region.

[Akane]

I got quotes from $500 ~ $800
the cheaper ones are from the not so known tuenrs
the expensive ones are the ones with inhouse dynos and does a very tidy job.

I wanna install a FPR first, but i'm very worried about not making the 22nd deadline on time.

[KiwiMR2]

Hmm - I hadn't heard that, is that in the manual somewhere? There are idle up parameters that you set based on the accessories in the handcontroller also.....

Yep.....in the setup part

Yup, when things get hairy it should flash [knock levels above 60]. The knock vs rpm graph is useful. However I've been told that above ~5000rpm the knock readings arn't accurate due to too much inherrent engine noise - would love some clarrification of this.

Sweet.....so the fact I had none with my intial blat is promising. I was reading there are some peak & hold features in the controller.....is that true??

Sweet so my price is not crazy expensive then Andre has a good rep to so I'd feel a lot safer having him tune it.

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[Akane]

while in monitoring mode (not graphic)

up = show peak
down = hide peak
left = hold current readings (at the time you push the button)
right = reset peak.

the hold works in graphic mode.

I currently have:

Inj-D
Boost
Speed
Knock.

good to show the peak of those figures when you drive it hard.
Changing to different monitoring states will not reset the peaks
only way to reset peak is to turn off the car or push the right arrow.