Deciding on ECU for 1G

[curt-s]

Ugh. So I'm stuck at a fairly crucial point in my continued quest to retain ownership of my 1g. At this point, it's deciding which ECU should I choose to breathe life back into it and act as its grey matter until the day I get rid of it.

I currently have a non-EPROM 1G M/T ECU (Canadian/Fed), caps replaced, seems to work fine unless it's the real reason why my front O2 just dies out randomly until I tap the gas.

I'm ready to make the plunge into dsmlink, but I'm just not sold on the idea of having my current ECU converted for two reasons: (1) if I or the ISC ends up blowing the ECU up, it's pretty much a total loss on the conversion, and (2) if I do need to sell in the future, the 1G ecu is less likely sell.

So as I see it, I have the following options

1) have current 1G ecu converted
2) get 1G eprom ecu and socket myself
3) get 2G non-eprom ecu converted, adapt wire harness, get 2g knock sensor
4) get 2G eprom ecu and socket myself, adapt wire harness, get 2g knock sensor

As it stands, option 1 is the cheapest because I already have the ECU and don't have to buy any additional components.

Option 2 will add another ~40 to the cost because the conversion fee would no longer be required, but buying another ECU would take up the slack

Option 3 adds considerable cost, likely about ~150-200 on top of #1. Again, if the ECU itself pops somewhere, the conversion could be lost.

Option 4 would just add the cost of the knock sensor to #2, so probably about $120 more than #1. Most appealing if I can get my hands on an eprom 2G ECU (non-blackbox as I see it)

Advantages of the 2G ECU as I've read so far:
-"better" 2g knock sensor (substantiated anywhere?)
-easier to resell
-based on updated components and processor, it should be faster as well, shouldn't it? does it perhaps log faster?
-more sensor inputs

I suppose what I'm asking is, is there any real tangible reason to desire and want to go to a 2G ECU, even if it's more cash? If I can justify, I'll be more inclined to do it, if I can find one that has a worthwhile price.

Stupid Canadian market, we have next to bupkiss up here for this sort of thing.

 

[Jon91TSi]

Ugh. So I'm stuck at a fairly crucial point in my continued quest to retain ownership of my 1g. At this point, it's deciding which ECU should I choose to breathe life back into it and act as its grey matter until the day I get rid of it.

I currently have a non-EPROM 1G M/T ECU (Canadian/Fed), caps replaced, seems to work fine unless it's the real reason why my front O2 just dies out randomly until I tap the gas.

I'm ready to make the plunge into dsmlink, but I'm just not sold on the idea of having my current ECU converted for two reasons: (1) if I or the ISC ends up blowing the ECU up, it's pretty much a total loss on the conversion, and (2) if I do need to sell in the future, the 1G ecu is less likely sell.

So as I see it, I have the following options

1) have current 1G ecu converted
2) get 1G eprom ecu and socket myself
3) get 2G non-eprom ecu converted, adapt wire harness, get 2g knock sensor
4) get 2G eprom ecu and socket myself, adapt wire harness, get 2g knock sensor

As it stands, option 1 is the cheapest because I already have the ECU and don't have to buy any additional components.

Option 2 will add another ~40 to the cost because the conversion fee would no longer be required, but buying another ECU would take up the slack

Option 3 adds considerable cost, likely about ~150-200 on top of #1. Again, if the ECU itself pops somewhere, the conversion could be lost.

Option 4 would just add the cost of the knock sensor to #2, so probably about $120 more than #1. Most appealing if I can get my hands on an eprom 2G ECU (non-blackbox as I see it)

Advantages of the 2G ECU as I've read so far:
-"better" 2g knock sensor (substantiated anywhere?)
-easier to resell
-based on updated components and processor, it should be faster as well, shouldn't it? does it perhaps log faster?
-more sensor inputs

I suppose what I'm asking is, is there any real tangible reason to desire and want to go to a 2G ECU, even if it's more cash? If I can justify, I'll be more inclined to do it, if I can find one that has a worthwhile price.

Stupid Canadian market, we have next to bupkiss up here for this sort of thing.

Or you could do the following for really cheap.

Evo8 ECU - $100
Evo8/9 Knock sensor - $75
Patch Harness - Free
Evo8 MAS - $60
Tactrix 1.3U cable - $120

$355 for a platform that is light years ahead of link, and about half the cost.

 

[curt-s]

I have to think Canadian with this. I would not have access to those kinds of prices up here.

 

[4Lurker4]

Or you could do the following for really cheap.

Evo8 ECU - $100
Evo8/9 Knock sensor - $75
Patch Harness - Free
Evo8 MAS - $60
Tactrix 1.3U cable - $120

$355 for a platform that is light years ahead of link, and about half the cost.

I've been looking into that one myself. Wouldn't the car also need to be OBD2 compliant at this point? Might be a simple fear of mine, but wouldn't mind knowing since it got brought up. My thoughts are geared on the emissions test with one installed.

Sorry for crowding on your thread sordid, personally, I'd got the evo route on the 1g, faster response, better platform (won't leak), easy to sell and cheaper. You also have the advantage of having more in house tuning available since it's common place in the Evo world. Not to mention that if you're happy with your current tune, you can sell the 120$ cable, buy a 10$ datalogging cable just to monitor via evoscan and you saved yourself another 100-120$ off original purchase.

 

[curt-s]

Something to look into, i'll agree. That is, if i can source parts for respectable prices up here.

The thing i like about ecmlink is the maturity of the product, support and community. Its a professional product, and for a first time tuner, i think it would be the best option for me not totally hosing everything ive built.

Im just trying to decide on which ecu for longevity and best option, so i think we'll stay away from the evo8 bit for now (but i'll still look toat t in me idle time). I think the 2g harness will be the toughest part to find

 

[Arthris]

ostrich 2.0 you would need a eeprom ecu of course. if the isc fails it useally takes out the driver's which you could just replace from a non eeprom ecu. the evo ecu can be flashed with a vagcom kkl cable for around 15 bucks shipped. if that's how you want to go. also a lancer ecu and various other Hyundai Ecu's can can flashed the same way. just make a patch harness. a lot more info can he had over at dsmecu.com where the flashing process with the vagcom cable has been done documented.

 

[Jon91TSi]

I've been looking into that one myself. Wouldn't the car also need to be OBD2 compliant at this point? Might be a simple fear of mine, but wouldn't mind knowing since it got brought up. My thoughts are geared on the emissions test with one installed.

Sorry for crowding on your thread sordid, personally, I'd got the evo route on the 1g, faster response, better platform (won't leak), easy to sell and cheaper. You also have the advantage of having more in house tuning available since it's common place in the Evo world. Not to mention that if you're happy with your current tune, you can sell the 120$ cable, buy a 10$ datalogging cable just to monitor via evoscan and you saved yourself another 100-120$ off original purchase.

Not for us in the states (Pensylvania at least). If the car was originally a an OBD1 car it's just a visual inspection for emissions. If it was originally an obd2 car with an Evo8 ECU conversion then everything would need to be working 100% correctly or it would fail. Doing the Evo8 ECU swap in a 1g essentially makes the car an OBD2 car.