MK1b ecu

[King Stromba]

Is it true you cant remap this? So im guessing you need a new ecu or a pigy back chip of somekind to do a rolling road set up?

Does the Fensport piggy back 'chip' work? They claim 8bhp. Seems a bit optomistic to me.

[kevin..in]

you need to speak to JMR_AW11

[Lauren]

Don't bother with superchips, waste of time.

A unichop would allow mapping on a rolling road.

Though Jeremy's (JMR AW11) has developed software/hardware to tap into the stock ecu and allow mapping of it to a much finer degree than a unichop.

You could stick your car on a rolling road, though there isn't much you can alter tbh.

The MR2 is the same as any car in that the stock ECU is sealed, so you either use something additional (ie piggyback ecu) or go standalone ie Motec.

[JMR_AW11]

TBH there isn't much to be gained from remapping an otherwise stock mk1 MR2.

The best gains will be had if you combine remapping with other engine mods.

However, the way I made my ECU remappable was as follows:

Removed the main 40 pin microchip containing program code and maps from the ECU.

Extracted the program code and maps from this chip. (they are held in internal masked ROM)

Designed a circuit board that supports this code and maps and then plumbed it into the ECU to replace the original micro chip.

(Actually, the hardest part was reading through the code and working out how the program code flowed and which maps did what)

I did this over two years ago for my mk1b. It now allows full control over the factory mapping and the rev limiter and TVIS. Earlier this year I made a snazzy version that allows real time remapping with the engine running with a real time map display on a laptop. Perfect for a rolling road session!

[kevin..in]

so jeremy are you going to make this mod available to us thicko's! I desparately need remapping to cope with my non tvis ae92 engine as I cant seem to locate the correct ecu and harness

[luthor1]

J,

um, how can we obtain one of these from you? Can you knock them up for cash? ...or contributions?

Andy

[JMR_AW11]

I do intend to make these available but I am working on the software side of things to make the product as easy to use as possible.

I'm adding all kinds of features like a report writer (which displays all the maps after the mapping session and highlights the changes and can be printed out)

Also a 3D viewer so the main maps can be viewed in 3d during remapping.

Also adding memories to allow quick map swaps.

I'm making the laptop control as idiot proof as possible and I'm having to write all the help files as well.

I'm also longterm testing a mk1a version now. (tested a mk1b version in my car for the last 6 months) The ECU addin board design was finished back in the Spring, it's just the support software that seems to be taking forever... hopefully it will be worth the wait!

[luthor1]

Cool, so I can switch between 2 maps based on which petrol station I am at and which fuel I can get hold of?

hehe cool!

Dash mounted switch!

[dex]

I'm making the laptop control as idiot proof as possible

I believed everything up until here

But seriously, it sounds fantastic and it’s excellent work. Any idea of costs for one of these?

[JMR_AW11]

I'm making the laptop control as idiot proof as possible

I believed everything up until here

But seriously, it sounds fantastic and it’s excellent work. Any idea of costs for one of these?

Getting it totally idiotproof is an impossible task as you imply! There are so many maps to play with and so many thresholds (TVIS, rev limiter etc) that I have decided to break the mapping up into sections. I'm going mostly for point and click and select from a range (eg for the rev limiter) this prevents the user from doing something daft like entering G^&* instead of 7800 for the upper rev limiter.

Also there will be no rows of pop down menus or sub menus to get lost in.

Just lots of big coloured buttons set out in a logical sequence. Each button gets locked out as you go along to make it harder to do anything daft.

Very much along the lines of 'early learning' PC software. No offence to anyone but this kind of interface is the best if you only use it occasionally.
An engine tuner will want an easy to use intuitive display.

Haven't worked out a price yet, but I plan to make it competitive with other products like the Unichip. Does anyone know how much a basic Unichip costs? (with wiring adaptors etc)

[LimeyMk1]

I think the Unichips around £400 for the bare unit.

Quick question Jeremy, does the UK ECU have an input for a lambda sensor? I know the Yankee and JDM ones do. If so is it possible to 'reactivate' the function in your reprogrammed ECU's? It would add a useful tool for tuning a modified engine.

[JMR_AW11]

I think the Unichips around £400 for the bare unit.

Quick question Jeremy, does the UK ECU have an input for a lambda sensor? I know the Yankee and JDM ones do. If so is it possible to 'reactivate' the function in your reprogrammed ECU's? It would add a useful tool for tuning a modified engine.

Thanks for the info on the Unichip.

There is an input on at least one of the mk1 ECUs which is labelled for an O2 sensor. However, on this mk1 ECUs this input has been hijacked and used for the manual mixture screw. i.e. the mixture screw sets this voltage and controls the slow running mixture.

I described how the mixture screw code operates in a recent mag article for the mk1 club. It doesn't just operate at idle, in fact it has some effect right up to 3600rpm during urban style driving. If you replaced the mixture screw with an O2 sensor with a similar voltage charateristic you could (in theory) enhance and alter the mixture screw map to 'calibrate' the O2 sensor to continually strive for a target mixture during urban driving.

The mixture screw code is pretty crude though. Probably not a patch on a proper closed loop system. In other words, I believe the closed loop code has been ripped out and replaced with the simpler UK code for the mixture screw.

[luthor1]

J,

have you got a date (in your mind) as to when this system will be available? ...or when can we get hold of it? I am itching to go for upgraded ECU, this offers a perfect solution and I would like to hold off going elsewhere.

If you are an enthusiast, is there a risk of constantly upgrading/modifying/perfecting it to the point where it is never likely to be available? (please take that the way I mean it, ie *not* as a dig!!)


Andy

[JMR_AW11]

J,

have you got a date (in your mind) as to when this system will be available? ...or when can we get hold of it? I am itching to go for upgraded ECU, this offers a perfect solution and I would like to hold off going elsewhere.

If you are an enthusiast, is there a risk of constantly upgrading/modifying/perfecting it to the point where it is never likely to be available? (please take that the way I mean it, ie *not* as a dig!!)


Andy

I'm afraid I can't give a date.

I do enjoy adding more features to the ECU and I'm trying to make it easy to use and understand. I've had a lot of fun developing this ECU and I want to get everything right. You are correct about the constant tweaking and never finishing though! I will have to stop soon.
I am now adding features and maps that probably no one will ever use but it is 'only' software to add them...

Like I said earlier the actual ECU add in board was designed and finished long ago and has remained unmodified. It's the laptop user interface that I'm still enhancing.

If you really want to mod your car soon I would suggest either a Unichip or an Omex system. Motec is probably 'too good/too expensive' in the case of the NA mk1 MR2 to consider unless you are looking at serious tuning. Don't bother with any ECU mods unless you are doing other mods as well.

My ECU will only be suitable for 'medium tuning' eg exhaust + cams + intake mods.

This is because there is no knock sensor function. (I could add one though )

If you want to get serious power from a 4AGE then forget cheaper ECUs and go for something like the Motec and fit a suitable knock sensor to the engine.

[luthor1]