Comparison of current generation aftermarket ECU's

[celicapain]

Hey Happy grease monkeys!

I haven't posted for a long time but first I want to thank all the members for the knowledge so freely exchanged on this site.
Previously I was doing a 1g/ra23 which i ended up finishing. its in the shed and i really want to do it all over again(but mega).
First though, I have to finish my current project which is a ae86 with a 3sgte.
All other headaches aside, my major dilemma is picking the right ecu.
After nights of research I think I have narrowed down my choice to a Haltech.
That aside, this is what I have picked up.

1. Every current aftermarket ECU sold at the time of writing is capable of outperforming anything produced more than ten years ago. They may have less outputs/data logging or other frippery but the core processors and amount of memory mean that all modern ecu's are capable of providing an excellent tune, providing they are tuned correctly and suitable for engine type.

2. All manufacturers use a similar marketing system for the way they grade their ecu's. four cylinder, six cylinder, eight cylinders+ and with each step up they add extra inputs/outputs and such. One irritating tendency manufacturers use is to only make Autotune/AFR target maps available on their mid or better models.


Microtech.
Microtech has continued to develop basic, easy to install ecu's. They don't give you much in the way of top end features and their software is still 2005 level. No Auto-tuning. No provision for electronic throttle control. No.......... just so many other things.
On the plus side... CHEAP! you can get a 4 cylinder set up, with coils and loom for $1.1K. That's stupid cheap.
Their hand controller is also an economical way of tweeking while driving without needing a laptop.
+ everyone in Australia is familiar with working with microtech and that's always nice.
As a side note, Microtech was the only manufacturer who was regularly burned by users on forums. The main problem seem's to be momentary ecu failure during use, in a wide variety of circumstances and engines. This may be why so many are floating around for sale.

P.s If your looking at a 4 cylinder install the LT9-C ships with a 45 psi map standard, which is a $150 upgrade options on its more expensive siblings


Adaptronic.
Interesting ECU's. I'm not going to buy one because the box is black and ugly.
Seriously capable hardware with huge flexibility. Their top line e1280's model allows you create your own logic trees allowing you to program your program's programming. Its all very metaphysical.
Its probably the best suited to a serious home tweeker-if you have tech skills and limited access to tuners in your area this could be the ticket for you.
The only functions its really missing are E throttle and CAN compatibility.

Motec. Awesome reputation. I can't even afford the second hand gear so I didn't bother researching too much. The only downside is the price.

Wolf. Solid ecu's. Don't seem to have any real weaknesses or strength. Fine tuning resolution, reasonable value.

Haltech. Amazing. Confusingly amazing. As far as I can tell they currently sell 7 (!) different standalone ecu's. If your engine has it they have something which will control it. Their most recent series of ecu's is waterproof, tough and very flexible. Good support and reasonable prices for their poverty pack models. Accessories and looms are poisonous though.

Megasquirt variants. like Adaptronics little brother, except less brains and more friends. Basic ECU's which justify their existence because of their economy and the fact that their is a map for just about every engine if you troll the web.

Autronic. great gear. Not quite as advanced as the haltech/motec stuff autronic compensates with excellent software and high level support. Which you pay for.


Anyway, if anybody has anything to add please comment.

After all my research ill probably get a elite 550 from Haltech. I'm tempted to step up to the 750 because I want a self tuning function. I have no idea whether this would justify the extra $500 it would cost. Maybe if it saved dyno time............

[trdee]

only thing i would say is i wouldnt write off the adaptronics because they are ugly lol. they have some very good features and are more versatile than haltechs which force you to use their sensors and whatnot (my bad this is not the case - see NME308's post below). also their new modular range do can and dbw and much much more. the haltechs are more straightforward to setup and they are supported by a lot more tuners also so i can understand why they appeal to a lot of people.

ive been running a select 440 ecu for 5 years and it has never given me a single issue. i wouldnt go anywhere near a wolf. nobody tunes them and they just dont have the wide support base you want for an ecu. microtechs are cheap and simple and every **** knows how to tune them, but they are about as refined as a carburettor. megasquirts are the most DIY you can get. bit too neck-beardy for me but again if you are very handy then they are good value. autronic are very good but they havent been updated in a long time. motec are the ultimate of course but overkill for the majority of street car owners

thats my take on things anyway

[NME308]

only thing i would say is i wouldnt write off the adaptronics because they are ugly lol.

^^This^^!

they have some very good features and are more versatile than haltechs which force you to use their sensors and whatnot

On my Haltech you can input a custom set of calibrations to suit pretty much any sensor you care to use. If you purchase the Haltech branded (expensive re-branded) sensor it has its own calibration file to select from the software.
I'll not spruke for Haltech except to say my top of the line Haltech is doing everything I need and I'm happy with it.

Cheers,
Jason

[trdee]

ah i thought they were locked down. disregard my comments on that front then

[Fantapants]

brand new adaptronic and full loom e440c cost me 900. there are maps everywhere for everything and the support is really great for the prices. i can pass on the details of the helpful gentleman who supplied me if you wish.

it misses out on the autotune. but few people really commit to that anyways and those who do dont mind paying the extra for the d model.

me i wasnt going to be kidding myself into using it and i have a fairly simple setup, 3sge on quads so was happy with the lower spec model.

[robk]

The new 'Modular' series of ECUs from Adaptronic are seriously impressive, and they have very attractive waterproof enclosures (unlike all the older Adaptronic models which were admittedly quite ugly, but very good ECUs nonetheless).
As trdee mentioned the Modular ECUs also have CAN and DBW support, among a huge list of other features, and heaps of IO.
I believe that the unlimited configurability of the Adaptronic e1280s ECU will also be incorporated into the Modular ECUs in the future.
The Modular ECUs aren't widely available yet because they're very new to the market, but give it a few more months and they should be ready for anyone to buy.

[celicapain]

I've always liked ugly things anyway.
I'm going to get a 440d set up for the 3sgte. Its awesome, easy and decent value. and I have standard loom somewhere...... It just reeks of win.(closed loop/bigger map range and heaps more I/O options.
I'm surprised by how hard it was to make up my mind about the right one for me, Thanks for people opinions.
I'm still very impressed by the Haltech gear, but its looks like I get everything I wanted out of the adaptronic for a price i'm happier with.

As an aside has anyone here used any of the AEM Gear?

[celicapain]

Holy shit-I just realized its my ten year anniversary on Toymods!

[celicapain]

And just to be irritating I have changed my mind again. Haltech Elite 750. Has all the functions that tempted me to go Adaptronic(closed loop/autotune), is 6 years more advanced and only 200 dollars more. This combined large number of haltech friendly tuners has made my choice for me.
I promise that if I change my mind again I will just STFU.

[DX20VT]

Are Link ECU's not that common in Australia?

Possibly were branded as Vipec at one stage?

99% of the people I know that run an Aftermarket ecu run a Link ECU's.

The new G4+ range are pretty capable ECU's.

Have only ever heard of one faulty one,
and that was in a GT40 we had and it was because the injector wiring melted on the dyno and shorted out frying the ecu,
so was not an actual ECU fault.

You can download the PClink software and have a play with how they all work for free from the website.

[trdee]

they arent all that common here although they are making a bit of a push with their new range

[knightrous]

MS3PRO brings the MegaSquirt out of the DIY neckbeard category and into the actual off the shelf with support (DIYAutoTune). TunerStudio software has stepped up it's game recently too making it easier to tune and manage the ecu.

[The Witzl]

This.

https://www.adaptronic.com.au/produc...0-modular-ecu/

.... is a seriously powerful bit of gear. I'll be running one on the Beams soon enough....

[love ke70]

The Haltech gear is not that bad if you buy it all in a kit. I got the elite 2500 or whatever it was, the new fancy ass thing and got a decent deal on the whole lot in a kit. Flex fuel sensor makes for awesome E85 power with the ability to fill up anywhere and drive where you like. Also safety margin for a bad batch of fuel etc etc.
I have been in touch with the tech department a few times now regarding setting up my setup and they have been nothing but helpful.
These days to me I will pay a premium to have something that just bloody works. I dont have time to piss about with programming my programs program, I dont think I should be better at that than the people developing the software...