ECMlink ecmlink information on a 98 gsx

Brandonjffrs96 · Mar 19, 2020

id like to say im sorry in advance for asking a question thats definitely been asked many times before. this ecmlink stuff confuses the heck out of me but i think i have it understood for the most part now. so i have a 98 gsx which is a non eprom ecu if im not mistaken. its stock ecu. in order for link to work with my car id have to send my ecu in to get socketed, correct? because 98-99 were non eprom ecu's right? and you need a eprom ecu to run link, right? the ecmlink does NOT come with the socketed ecu if bought used? or some do? PLEASE HELP AND INFORM ME! again im an idiot when it comes to tuning in general let alone what it takes to actually be able to tune so im sorry for asking what is probably a stupid question to manly of you.

i have the opportunity to buy either of these. good option?

TSiAWD666 · Mar 19, 2020

The answers are here: https://www.ecmtuning.com/wiki/epromid

Brandonjffrs96 · Mar 19, 2020

TSiAWD666 said:
The answers are here: https://www.ecmtuning.com/wiki/epromid

so the one that i attached in the picture below will work perfect then yes? plug and play for my 98 gsx?

motomattx · Mar 19, 2020

Brandonjffrs96 said:
so the one that i attached in the picture below will work perfect then yes? plug and play for my 98 gsx?

It should work no problem, it will have to have a base tune put on it of course.

randman2011 · Mar 19, 2020

Both of the pictured ECUs will work, yes, but with a Tactrix cable you can tune the ECU that's already in your car. Beginning in the late 1997 calendar year Eclipses started getting flashable ECUs that can be tuned on their own or can be swapped for EVO 8 ECUs for even more functionality. At this point I've used all three (ECMLink V3, H8 flashable "black box" ECU, and EVO 8) and I don't really have a preference. ECMLink is by far the least computationally powerful of the three and the logging speed is much less than the other two, but that's not necessarily something that transfers over to real world benefits or issues. It's just a difference. On the other hand, the flashable units give you access to every table in the entire ROM so you can really do some serious customizing if you want, whereas ECMLink only gives you access to a select number of things so you can't change coil dwell, for example. If you're not doing anything crazy with your build then that won't matter either.

motomattx · Mar 19, 2020

randman2011 said:
Both of the pictured ECUs will work, yes, but with a Tactrix cable you can tune the ECU that's already in your car. Beginning in the late 1997 calendar year Eclipses started getting flashable ECUs that can be tuned on their own or can be swapped for EVO 8 ECUs for even more functionality. At this point I've used all three (ECMLink V3, H8 flashable "black box" ECU, and EVO 8) and I don't really have a preference. ECMLink is by far the least computationally powerful of the three and the logging speed is much less than the other two, but that's not necessarily something that transfers over to real world benefits or issues. It's just a difference. On the other hand, the flashable units give you access to every table in the entire ROM so you can really do some serious customizing if you want, whereas ECMLink only gives you access to a select number of things so you can't change coil dwell, for example. If you're not doing anything crazy with your build then that won't matter either.

This is all true.

Brandonjffrs96 · Mar 19, 2020

randman2011 said:
Both of the pictured ECUs will work, yes, but with a Tactrix cable you can tune the ECU that's already in your car. Beginning in the late 1997 calendar year Eclipses started getting flashable ECUs that can be tuned on their own or can be swapped for EVO 8 ECUs for even more functionality. At this point I've used all three (ECMLink V3, H8 flashable "black box" ECU, and EVO 8) and I don't really have a preference. ECMLink is by far the least computationally powerful of the three and the logging speed is much less than the other two, but that's not necessarily something that transfers over to real world benefits or issues. It's just a difference. On the other hand, the flashable units give you access to every table in the entire ROM so you can really do some serious customizing if you want, whereas ECMLink only gives you access to a select number of things so you can't change coil dwell, for example. If you're not doing anything crazy with your build then that won't matter either.

ive heard a lot of people going with the evo ecu and all youd have to do is change a couple pins. anyways my soon to be tuner suggested that i get ecmlink but what you are saying is if i buy the tactrix cable then my soon to be tuner would be able to tune my car correct? is this just as good as link? because i see those cables are going for under 100 bucks which is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a used link and especially a new link. i just read that i need the flashportt cable as whell to flash the ecu. are you familiar with this? im shooting for 600 all wheel hp if that changes anything.

motomattx · Mar 19, 2020

You would need the Tactrix 2.0 for the Dsm ecu, the cheaper one works on the Evo ecu, you also need to buy the Evoscan program to go with it, if your tuner is worth anything at all he should be able to use the flash based software.

Brandonjffrs96 · Mar 19, 2020

motomattx said:
You would need the Tactrix 2.0 for the Dsm ecu, the cheaper one works on the Evo ecu, you also need to buy the Evoscan program to go with it, if your tuner is worth anything at all he should be able to use the flash based software.

he seems like he knows his stuff. he has a pretty bad ass 2g talon somewhere in the 1k wheel hp range that he tunes with link. anyways these are all id need to tune the car yeah? and these would work for my overall build which is somewhere in the 600 wheel range? plug and play? and obvisouly ill need to download the ecuflash if im not mistaken.

https://stmtuned.com/products/tactrix-openport-2-0?variant=21584428728405&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwsMzzBRACEiwAx4lLG5Kf2ykfHPX7oW6LzhTTK0NFjmx86_qk30RAECuaD7GO-SNIfOTCJBoCFvoQAvD_BwE

https://tunertools.com/products/evoscan-logging-software

randman2011 · Mar 19, 2020

Tuners usually have a preferred tuning solution. They have a few that they know very well and they prefer to stick to just those. The way that you tune the two of them is no different, but it's worth checking what they know and are willing to tune. If you're not going to touch the tune at all, you're best served by going with whatever the tuner recommends.

Brandonjffrs96 · Mar 19, 2020

randman2011 said:
Tuners usually have a preferred tuning solution. They have a few that they know very well and they prefer to stick to just those. The way that you tune the two of them is no different, but it's worth checking what they know and are willing to tune. If you're not going to touch the tune at all, you're best served by going with whatever the tuner recommends.

I don’t plan on messing with the tune for the most part. Might change timing here and there when I’m on the strip but that’s if I’m comfortable tuning. What would you recommend? If the tactrix is similar to link and several hundred dollars cheaper then I’m definitely considering it. But knowing that a lot of people are very familiar with link and can teach me on that makes me want link instead.

motomattx · Mar 19, 2020

Brandonjffrs96 said:
he seems like he knows his stuff. he has a pretty bad ass 2g talon somewhere in the 1k wheel hp range that he tunes with link. anyways these are all id need to tune the car yeah? and these would work for my overall build which is somewhere in the 600 wheel range? plug and play? and obvisouly ill need to download the ecuflash if im not mistaken.

https://stmtuned.com/products/tactrix-openport-2-0?variant=21584428728405&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwsMzzBRACEiwAx4lLG5Kf2ykfHPX7oW6LzhTTK0NFjmx86_qk30RAECuaD7GO-SNIfOTCJBoCFvoQAvD_BwE

https://tunertools.com/products/evoscan-logging-software

Correct.

JPenny · Mar 20, 2020

Hey just my opinion but ecmlink is not that hard at all to understand if you take the time to research research research. Theres the wiki and tons of data on here. I would personally recommend if there is even the slightest chance you want to learn to tune your own car. Thank you for your time, Jason Penny

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ECMlink ecmlink information on a 98 gsx

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