Well since my adventure with an SAFC has failed i think im going to look into something else and i was just wondering if people run megasquirt ecus in their FC\'s and if so what the best version and anything extra that you might need to get it to work?
You\'ll want to find the thread over on rx7club by aaron cake - pretty much tells you what you need to get and how to set it all up too. I think there\'s also a link to it off his own web pages or vice versa:
http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=864215
I used Megasquirt on an n/a FC engine, but it wasn\'t in an FC, and I will be using it on my 12a at some stage.
Aaron Cake\'s guides are pretty good and useful, certainly a good place to start.
I ran my 13b on MS1 with the latest version of the \'extra\' firmware. It works fine and I drove it everyday for 6 months with no issues.
MS2 does have a number of refinements, such as better acceleration enrichment settings which really helps for smooth town driving, but it is a little harder to get your head round at the start.
Aarons base maps and base settings are a good start, though I found his starting fuel values excessive to the point of instant flooding and ended up with closer to half his cranking fuel values.
You basically just need the Megasquirt ECU and a wideband o2 sensor/gauge such as the Innovate LC-1.
Megasquirt suits those who like to get their hands dirty, those who enjoy working through the problems and gain the reward of complete control, be that in mapping, or whether you want to build the extra circuitry to use 2 step launch control, or switchable maps or electronic boost control or many of the other add ons available. If you want you can even go in and recode your own firmware adding new features.
On the other hand its never going to be as plug and play as something like an Apexi Power FC, but it is much cheaper.
I\'ll check out the aaron cake stuff, just trying to work out which version i need to go for so hopefully give me some insite :) Ive already got a wideband (picked up the MTX-L) as i was planning on using the Apexi neo but seeing as that isnt going to work i might aswell go down the megasquirt route as its a cheap(ish) option but also gives more control.. and as you said, getting my hands dirty :)
Well just finished having a good read of the aaron cake website, definately lots to take in but im liking the idea of the challenge!
The building of the megasquirt seems alright although he mentions about a circuit for an e-fan, is this needed or will it still run the stock fan?
Also on a similar subject, he mentions about needing the emissions equipment removed which im assuming is things like the thermal chamber, cats and air pump..again is this something that needs to be done?
Would there be anything else or setup wise i should look into to getting a megasquirt working on a UK model car?
The stock fan is the viscous type run off the engine, or it certainly is on EGIs not sure on Turbo II. You can leave it be or let megasquirt run an e-fan. Personally I\'d let Megasquirt run an e-fan for you.
Emissions stuff, basically Megasquirt isn\'t pre-programmed to control the various solenoids that control the air pump and EGR valve (on us models). You could make it work with a little thought, but you can get through an MOT without so not worth the hassle. The cats have no electronic control so they can stay without issue.
As I said earlier the only other thing I can think of is that the americans base maps often seem to come up very rich during starting for me.
Hmm ok then, i would probably go down an e-fan route in the future but wouldnt be straight away so id build up the efan stuff but would want the stock fan running for now.
So the emissions stuff is just removing all the air pump and EGR stuff which i have been reading about doing... i\'d like to change all the exhaust system out with new headers etc but as id be leaving the thermal chambers and cats in place, all im really loosing is the air feed into the cat, the car should still work fine with all that in place?
You can always just build the e fan circuity as and when you do the swap to e fan and leave it out for now.
If you\'re changing the exhaust out with new headers you\'d be removing the thermal reactor and therefore any use for the air pump anyway :)
I mean this in the nicest possible way, but from this thread and your questions about the workings of the stock fan I would take a little time to consider if megasquirt is really the right solution for you at this stage in time and whether a more \'plug and play\' ecu e.g. Apexi Power FC, would shallow the learning curve a little? Sorry if I\'ve got the wrong end of the stick, I\'ve just seen a few mx5 builds where people have gone for Megasquirt, then struggled to get to grips with the depth of knowledge required to make most use of it and ended up giving up on the project or with a car making much less power than it should and a simple piggy back ECU would have covered their needs.
Don\'t let me put you off though, as its a great feeling driving around knowing you build and mapped the ecu yourself and understanding everything it does properly, just takes some time! :)
Can I put another brand in the mix? Microtech is something you might want to consider-in fact there was one in the for sale section...
http://www.mazdarotaryclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69280&highlight=microtech
With a loom aswell!
Its fine :) I\'ve thought about the power FC but ive only really came across ones for the FC but if im right its just using the FD ecu with some harness and little mods... But then for the price it starts off pretty high
I\'m probably going about this in the wrong way but i was looking for an option to give a bit of tuning and to lean the car out a little so im not spending everything on petrol... i\'d then be looking at sorting the exhaust system out and putting an e-fan after..
Ideally if my AFC had worked with my car then i\'d be happy with that for the moment and i\'d be moving on to the next thing, I do know someone who has a megasquirt in his MX5 at the moment so i\'d pester him for a bit of help ;)
hi m8 ive got a working AFM that i took off my 1990 TII £30, but im not sure if it will fit your na fc? hope this helps.
Sadly dont thnk it\'d be that easy? i\'d imagine that the stock ecu would be expecting to see the 12v AFM with instead of a 5v...
Thanks anyway :) Just putting a list together of what im going to need to get to go down the megasquirt route and prices... im guessing ebay is probably my best place for replacing my exhaust system
If you run megasquirt surely you can just ditch the AFM and just run the inboard MAP sensor.
Indeed one of the main advantages to power gains on a stock system with Megasquirt is the removal of the AFM which frees up the intake tract, especially if n/a. :)
Yeah that\'s one of the reasons for looking into megasquirt, suppose the gains would be down to how you tune but I\'d be interested in seeing what gains people of got on their n/a\'s
Also... As my rx7 is basically an s4 that means I\'ve got a narrowband tps, should I be looking at doing something with that or will it not effect the megasquirt too much?
I made 160rwhp / 175 fly wheel hp out of an s4 EGI 6 port with just Megasquirt, TII coils and crank sensor, throttle body mods and exhaust. :)
I ran completely without a TPS for a while, it works fine just effects the throttle response slightly. Its most noticeable pootling about town. So to start with you can use the narrow band no problem and then swap it out at a later date if you need the full range.
Your friends with an mx5 Megasquirted will be rather helpful :P I had my MS on my mx5 first and whilst there are differences for the 13b ignition circuitry and the staged injectors, theres plenty of crossover information. :)