SVX ecu upgrade
Discussion
hi guys,can anybody out there recommend a person/garage/company that would be able to either programme a new ecu or upgrade the one I have,please.My SVX is a 92 3.3L n/a flat 6.I bought an ecu ugrade from the US years ago(nothing here)taking it from 220hp to 270hp,by also changing the AFM and injectors.The car was auto but as its a trackday car also the gbox went,it now has a P1 hybred maual in it.Did 2 different rolling roads,both came up with aroud 205hp.So now looking to get my bhp back.I know it isnt going to be cheap,but anybody got any recommendations,oh,have a usb OBD lead,but no computer training.cheers
I can't remember if it's yourself or someone else that i've had various email correspondence with but there are currently only two solutions for the SVX....
Either the USA solution or there is a solution in the UK but it requires some electronics technical knowledge/soldering iron skill, and if you're not very savvy that way you may have to opt for the USA solution providers who will give you a chip to install, ready programmed for your setup. It's not ideal because without lots of logging and data to work from it's just a generic solution that will have varied results.
I'll advise you what i've advised before....
In order to make these cars mappable you need to go the extra mile and spend some proper money on it.
Cars like this need to be rewired with either a standalone after market ECU and loom, an after market ECU that will just plug in to your existing loom (which there isn't one i don't think), or you buy yourself a donor loom and ECU from something like a modern day legacy and modify the loom/rewire the car to make stuff work.
Alternatively you could go the Megasquirt route. Good DIY way to go and it doesn't matter what the car is, Megasquirt covers most of the bases and as your car isn't turbo charged so it's even easier to set up but again you need some savvy/knowledge/skills to make it happen DIY.
I've played around with a few Megasquirt ECU cars and i personally don't like the ECU's but they are very popular with kit car builders. Latest version Megasquirt are very sophisticated ECU's and will handle Turbo's, different types of injectors, wideband lambda's, all manner of sensors, run MAFless etc....
You have options but they will all cost time and money and inolve a fair bit of head scratching.
ETA: Your lost power is going to stay lost until you get to the bottom of where it's gone and how. Sounds like something engine internal i.e. compression loss due to worn rings or something of this ilk. Could be vacuum leaks, buggered (tech term) spark plugs etc etc... Power doesn't just disappear like that, there has to be some cause.
Either the USA solution or there is a solution in the UK but it requires some electronics technical knowledge/soldering iron skill, and if you're not very savvy that way you may have to opt for the USA solution providers who will give you a chip to install, ready programmed for your setup. It's not ideal because without lots of logging and data to work from it's just a generic solution that will have varied results.
I'll advise you what i've advised before....
In order to make these cars mappable you need to go the extra mile and spend some proper money on it.
Cars like this need to be rewired with either a standalone after market ECU and loom, an after market ECU that will just plug in to your existing loom (which there isn't one i don't think), or you buy yourself a donor loom and ECU from something like a modern day legacy and modify the loom/rewire the car to make stuff work.
Alternatively you could go the Megasquirt route. Good DIY way to go and it doesn't matter what the car is, Megasquirt covers most of the bases and as your car isn't turbo charged so it's even easier to set up but again you need some savvy/knowledge/skills to make it happen DIY.
I've played around with a few Megasquirt ECU cars and i personally don't like the ECU's but they are very popular with kit car builders. Latest version Megasquirt are very sophisticated ECU's and will handle Turbo's, different types of injectors, wideband lambda's, all manner of sensors, run MAFless etc....
You have options but they will all cost time and money and inolve a fair bit of head scratching.
ETA: Your lost power is going to stay lost until you get to the bottom of where it's gone and how. Sounds like something engine internal i.e. compression loss due to worn rings or something of this ilk. Could be vacuum leaks, buggered (tech term) spark plugs etc etc... Power doesn't just disappear like that, there has to be some cause.
Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 30th September 11:26
Going back to the USA and getting them to rechip the ECU doesn't answer the question of your lost horsepower. 50-60bhp is a lot of power to lose just like that.
Unless there is something wrong with your current ECU i suggest sending your ECU back to the USA is a waste of time and money when it's more likely you have an issue with the engine.
Common sense dictates you find and fix the issue first.
Unless there is something wrong with your current ECU i suggest sending your ECU back to the USA is a waste of time and money when it's more likely you have an issue with the engine.
Common sense dictates you find and fix the issue first.
Steve and the gang will look after you at Northampton Motorsport. They are very good at what they do.
If you have money to put into this they do a very good ECU manufactured by a company called OMEX. Very popular with kit car/caterham/westfield owners running Ford engines but the ECU will handle up to 12 cylinder motors i think.
When you walk into reception you'll see a big board on the left with a wiring loom, OMEX, ECU, and ancillaries laid out and connected showing you what is what. It wouldn't take a huge amount of work to wire one of those ECU's into your loom. Not cheap but very effective and mappable. Should you want to add a turbo later on some time the ECU will cater for that too.
Good luck at NM. I hope they get to the bottom of your power loss.
If you have money to put into this they do a very good ECU manufactured by a company called OMEX. Very popular with kit car/caterham/westfield owners running Ford engines but the ECU will handle up to 12 cylinder motors i think.
When you walk into reception you'll see a big board on the left with a wiring loom, OMEX, ECU, and ancillaries laid out and connected showing you what is what. It wouldn't take a huge amount of work to wire one of those ECU's into your loom. Not cheap but very effective and mappable. Should you want to add a turbo later on some time the ECU will cater for that too.
Good luck at NM. I hope they get to the bottom of your power loss.
Hello
I agree with ScoobieWRX, if the ECU can't be mapped then the best way to go would be a standalone ECU. A Megasquirt or an Emerald ECU http://www.emeraldm3d.com/ Emerald aren't too far away from you either
I agree with ScoobieWRX, if the ECU can't be mapped then the best way to go would be a standalone ECU. A Megasquirt or an Emerald ECU http://www.emeraldm3d.com/ Emerald aren't too far away from you either
markCSC said:
Just had another thought.
Could the car be in limp mode? As the car doesn't have an auto box (or auto box ecu) anymore could the engine ECU be looking for a signal from the auto box ECU which, obviously it can't find and dropping in to limp mode???
Just a thought.
Great thought!! Thats very possible if the ECU hasn't had those DTC's switched off hence the loss of power. Could the car be in limp mode? As the car doesn't have an auto box (or auto box ecu) anymore could the engine ECU be looking for a signal from the auto box ECU which, obviously it can't find and dropping in to limp mode???
Just a thought.
On newage Impreza if the NPS on the gearbox is faulty or disconnected it can play havoc with STi AVCS and easily lose you 20-30bhp.
Baring in mind the USA would have supplied the chipped ECU specifically for an auto it may well be it either needs to be switched off within the ECU, or the TCU (Transmission Control Unit) needs disconnecting if it isn't already and leftover loom fixing with a trusty old resistor mod if that is the way forward.
Usually Subaru electrical/electronics uses something like a 3.3K value resistor for mods like airbag/drivers seat sensor, rear lambda sensor, EGT removal etc...
250 ponies then sounds pretty unrealistic. You could maybe add another c.10-15bhp and an OK amount of torque with different calibration but not 30bhp, as you say without extensive head mods, or maybe adding a turbo.
The engine is old, no doubt has seen a fair bit of mileage, and may well have lost 15-20+ bhp over the years hence why it's been dynoed at around 205, but it's meant to be chipped so if that's all it's doing after chipping he may well have some internal engine issues or it's a lot more worn than the OP thinks it is.
The engine is old, no doubt has seen a fair bit of mileage, and may well have lost 15-20+ bhp over the years hence why it's been dynoed at around 205, but it's meant to be chipped so if that's all it's doing after chipping he may well have some internal engine issues or it's a lot more worn than the OP thinks it is.
hi guys,Have a few answers,Engine has done just over under 55,000kms from new.Been to emerald in January and Dave ran it and 204hp,but wasnt interested in tuning.The car has been code read,codes are clear(Other than the check engine light staying on because of the ecu upgrade) and is not In any sort of limp mode.Car at Northants Motorsport and have done engine tests,eg compression,injector tests and they dont think I have issues wih it.Unfortunately their dont have a 4wd rolling road,so ive asked them what it will cost to hire one so we can progress.If silly money will start again.Thought of Andy Forrest,but he is in Scotland and Im Cambridge and dont have deep pockets with holes in them.
cleverdick said:
hi guys,Have a few answers,Engine has done just over under 55,000kms from new.Been to emerald in January and Dave ran it and 204hp,but wasnt interested in tuning.The car has been code read,codes are clear(Other than the check engine light staying on because of the ecu upgrade) and is not In any sort of limp mode.Car at Northants Motorsport and have done engine tests,eg compression,injector tests and they dont think I have issues wih it.Unfortunately their dont have a 4wd rolling road,so ive asked them what it will cost to hire one so we can progress.If silly money will start again.Thought of Andy Forrest,but he is in Scotland and Im Cambridge and dont have deep pockets with holes in them.
Is that not the original engine?Have a chat with Andy at ESL http://www.enduringsolutions.com/
One of his ECU's might to run/read the SVX engine. He's near Cambridge too.
One of his ECU's might to run/read the SVX engine. He's near Cambridge too.
The SVX ECU is about half the size of an early Impreza ECU but it does have a four connector I/O and looks similar.
There is another solution for this so you can flash to and read from the prom but it's very DIY and needs some knowledge to create the cable and interface but all the instructions, links and everything else technical there.
There is no easy solution for the SVX and i'm not going to say absolutely no but i imagine neither ESL nor Andy F are going to be able to help or may not want to.
An aftermarket ECU, lots of time rewiring, deep pockets and plenty of time and patience may be the only way forward on this to facilitate proper remapping.
There is another solution for this so you can flash to and read from the prom but it's very DIY and needs some knowledge to create the cable and interface but all the instructions, links and everything else technical there.
There is no easy solution for the SVX and i'm not going to say absolutely no but i imagine neither ESL nor Andy F are going to be able to help or may not want to.
An aftermarket ECU, lots of time rewiring, deep pockets and plenty of time and patience may be the only way forward on this to facilitate proper remapping.
Gassing Station | Subaru | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff