Thinking of ecu choices for the car
Which ecus allow DIY mapping
If I purchased an alcatek /motec ect would I be able to get the software to map it ,

 

What car?

 

Scooby , I wouldn't think it matters what car , it's the software availability I think would be the issue

 

I only ask because the classics can be mapped using ESL and the software is readily available. So yes, it does matter what car you have!

 

I probably haven't explained properly , I'm building a car ( a classic ra) and will be fitting an ecu , I'm currently planning on using newage hardware , but if an aftermarket ecu will come with software available to me so I can map it , I might consider going down that route

 

Would that make it a V1/2 or a V3/4? Someone on here was selling an Apexi power fc for the V3/4 which can be diy mapped. And like I said before, ESL is another option. I'll be fitting an ESL board in the coming weeks too, seems to be the most cost effective option.

If you're going down the new age hardware route, I'm sure someone else will come along and advise. I don't know much about the new age stuff as I own and play with a V4.

 

No mate it's not any version , it's being built from scratch ,a bare shell up , so it's gonna be whatever I make it
I do know a fair bit about new age hardware and I'm more familiar with it having done a fair amount of mapping on it lol
But if certain aftermarket ecus will come with the software available for me to map it I might consider that route

 

I think I got told ecuteck software can be downloaded unsure if this is true or not, if it has a lisence, keep the thread posted I'm interested to the outcome...

 

Ah right, is the ECU used engine dependant?

 

No that's certainly not true , I don't think you guys are understanding what I'm asking , I'm not asking what ecu will fit , I want to know what aftermarket ecus are mappable , if so is the software available to the public ( gratis )

 

I wasn't suggesting anything was just asking out of curiosity

 

No mate , you might be getting crossed wires , software for mapping newage ecus is readily available to download ( has been for a long while )
But not ecutek

 

I do understand what you mean but I don't understand why you are asking this, surely all aftermarket ECUs are mappable or else there wouldn't be any point in developing and producing them!

As for free mapping software, there's open-source mapping (free I believe) but I think it only applies to standard OBD2 ECU's.

 

I know they are mappable mate , but is the software available to the public

Lol I know all about open source mate , don't mean to come across as an ****

I'd check a few of my old posts before commenting on what I do or don't know lol

 

Just had a quick look around and see that motec have some base maps are available from there site , so I'm guessing it is DIY friendly
Can't find much about alcatek though

 

I was writing that post at the same time you wrote yours it seems, I didn't see yours until mine posted. I certainly wasn't commenting on what you do and don't know. I don't know a lot myself, I just read things and pass them on!

I doubt any of the aftermarket jobs would have free software. I bet they have it all locked down to the max as demand is still bound to be high! Why not go for the apexi stuff? I take it there's a new age version of the power fc???

 

I don't know much about those ECU's really other than the don't fit my car lol!

 

You don't need power fc for newage mate they are fully mappable DIY
I've mapped one to death

 

Syvecs - SW downloadable and free
AlcaTek - you need to buy some kind of license/gizmo then you can map it yourself (£100-£150 IIRC)
EcuTek - don't know
ESL - dont know
MoTec - software readily available and once you've paid the stupid money they want for a MoTeC don't think you need to pay more to map it yourself.

I would ask yourself what you'r trying to achieve, and choose the ECU that matches that.

 

At last someone who knows their stuff lol!!

 

For the record, ESL charge £150+vat for software and cable to connect or if you buy the software with the ECU board it's £75+vat but the board is £295+vat

 

Thanks mate , very comprehensive answer , just what I was looking for
Yes motec don't exactly come cheap ,
It all depends what I do come motor and running gear time
I'm gonna be looking for a donor for motor and bits
If it's a newage donor I'll swap motor and all the associated wiring ecu ect
If it's a classic I'll have to go after market ecu
The first is more work , the second means added cost of the ecu
So it all depends what decent doner car turns up

 

only trying to help

IMHO, don't see why anyone would bother with Motec; AlcaTek is brilliant for a road car, and does pretty well for more serious rally or track cars (quite a few out there) but (currently) has shortcomings when it comes to logging; Syvecs has hit the sweet spot for serious road cars that are tracked or used as weekend racers; ESL seems ace for classics that need a bit of a tweak; EcuTek (road) vehicles with some mods, but not needing track/competitive functionality.

I had EcuTek on mine, but was pushing it's abilities at 500bhp-ish with a MAF, and haven't looked back since I moved to Syvecs. I have spent many a happy hour tweaking idle, and closed loop lambda etc - most recently at the MOT test to get it to squeak through emissions by weakening the mixture until it passed

No experience of open source, so not dissing that

 

The gc8 rally cars used to use Pectel. And most were self mapped via downloaded software from the net.
All group N were aswell iirc, so similar features and parameters to the carberry rom.
Might be worh looking into.

 

As well as available software, make sure you can get hold of a technical manual if you intend to map it yourself. An example:

www.enduringsolutions.com/Manual.pdf

 

not strictly true

 

motec you have to buy the lead.. software is free though.

 

What !!! Buy a lead as well , you know I'm not gonna do that Simon
I'm Far to tight 😀

 

I wouldnt recommend doing so no.

ignoring ecu for a second if your building a light classic and want the most reliable and cheap and best performing engine setup then you want to install imho a newage sti 2litre engine with AVCS.. this limits the ecus down to syvecs and alcatek or newage setup..

tbh I think you may as well just put newage sti loom and ecu in it from the start.. unless getting very serious and going to do a custom loom?

 

Well I've stumbled upon the mega squirt thread
And that's something I've been interested in for a long time and it does interest me greatly
How much success the chap had, I don't know
Could be a road to nowhere but a great learning experience nonetheless
I imagine using m/s would rule out avcs