Received my AFX ECU! My Review WITH Pics! *Not What I was Thinking*

[bo0st]

Alright so I received my AFX ECU today.

Let's go ahead and give it a review I thought for all the members here.

Ordered on 6/6/2013 and received on 7/2/2013 and installed 30 minutes later.

Now... the pics

First I wanted to show off how well he packaged the ECU, because, these things are knocked around left and right on FedEX trucks we all know that:

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And opening...

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So I found this note on it and read it...

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Turns out it arrived somewhat 'broken' but rest assured they said in nice cursive writing it would work.

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So time to try it for myself

Granted it's a 120F degrees in Phoenix, I have no power tools, I felt like hitting up my neighborhood Loopers performance center. They did the install in 3 minutes flat.

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3 minutes and a half hour charge later heh I don't mind every business needs to make their money.

I was just happy to have the ECU and see what gains I would get from my butt dyno.

So here was the Rev limitor BEFORE the AFX install:

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And sadly this was it AFTER:

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Yes, it was the same. I know the website says "he's no longer able to change the rev limitor" but I was hoping that was just some technicality he had to list for this 'bad ass highway ECU' that I spent $563.68 on.

It looks, acts, and feels like a 'regular ecu.'

All in all I'm a little disappointed, not sure what I paid for here.

Nothing feels different so far. Maybe later? Anyone else with a AFX ecu please chime in.

Just wanted to post this for everyone hear to see how long it takes and the whole process from opening the package to install for the money IMO.

Shipping: 1/5 (took forever, even with Fedex)

Price: 1/5 (Not sure what I paid for here, arrived some-what broken and no gains from my butt-dyno yet. I've read other posts and they said they "NOTICED IT INSTANTLY."

Overall: I wouldn't have bought this mod. My nitrous kit was cheaper and it gives me 75 horse. I don't feel anything with this ECU.

 

[redbud23]

Does anyone know why I cannot see the pictures?

 

[synthetek]

Are you running 93+ fuel like they recommend? I think you are supposed to drive it for a while so it can learn? have you done that?

 

[JusMX141]

My nitrous kit was cheaper and it gives me 75 horse.

Probably not...but it's nice to think positive.

On a related note- is this a tech thread or a part feedback article?

 

[bo0st]

Are you running 93+ fuel like they recommend? I think you are supposed to drive it for a while so it can learn? have you done that?

Yes I always run premium fuel. I drove it home from the shop and again to McDonalds. Not a 'lot of driving' but at least 5 miles.

Whats with all the posts where people saying it instantly gained 9whp and such? I'm starting to think it's howell or his buddies.

Does anyone know why I cannot see the pictures?

They are loading fine for me, anyone else having problems?

Probably not...but it's nice to think positive.

On a related note- is this a tech thread or a part feedback article?

Yeah probably not, 75 shot will still yield 65hp or so.

It's somewhat of a hybrid thread


Anyone else with a AFX ecu please chime in.

Pretty hard to mess up a plug and play ECU, I'm wondering if I got ripped.

Thanks!

 

[tstkl]

were you expecting the paint on your dash to physically change colors after an ECU install? I'm confused why both pictures are at idle.

 

[bo0st]

were you expecting the paint on your dash to physically change colors after an ECU install? I'm confused why both pictures are at idle.

People reported their rev limits changed instantly after.

Although it was noted on the site that "it's no longer possible" when I purchased it, I was hoping I'd get lucky.

It's still shifting the same. Acts the same. All in all, I think it's a stock 98 ECU. Maybe time will tell differently.

 

[LarryJoe]

But the pictures prove nothing of your rev limit. It's two shots of your dash at idle. I don't understand. Lol

 

[cola]

wait..are you saying because the red paint on your tach didnt move...your rev limit didnt increase?

 

[901gtsi]

Originally Posted by synthetek View Post
Are you running 93+ fuel like they recommend? I think you are supposed to drive it for a while so it can learn? have you done that?

Yes I always run premium fuel.


where do you find 93 octane in phoenix az?

 

[bo0st]

wait..are you saying because the red paint on your tach didnt move...your rev limit didnt increase?

That is reason #1 and reason #2 is, when I went go WOT, it shifted at the same time it normally did with the stock ECU. Hmm, I guess this is rocket science.

Sorry forgot to include 'that detail.'

But the pictures prove nothing of your rev limit. It's two shots of your dash at idle. I don't understand. Lol

Lol well I decided not to take a video while driving, safety first Look closer at the pics, two different pics. One I was doing 25mph on the way to the shop (pre-install ECU), and the other is 'just idle' doing 0MPH after install.

I did beat on it and guess what it's the same.

If you wanna come down and test drive it yourself and compare it to another 2g 420a with the same mods you'll tell me it feels the same.

Originally Posted by synthetek View Post
Are you running 93+ fuel like they recommend? I think you are supposed to drive it for a while so it can learn? have you done that?

Yes I always run premium fuel.


where do you find 93 octane in phoenix az?

Where did I say 93? I stated I ran premium fuel, not 93 octane specifically. this is hilarious how this is even brought up. Are we doing interrogations now?

Mercedes / Porsche / Audi / many cars that require 'Premium' run the 91, that is our Premium in Arizona and a couple other state's.

Please respond if you 'have the ecu' and not just are some guy reading a forum and saw what some other guy said. I think that's a reasonable request.

Okay any useful replies would be appreciated.

 

[mchustle]

From the sounds of your Rev limiter post it sounds like your auto and in that case I'm pretty sure the ecu controls shifts. Rev limiter is the highest Rev point so free Rev at idle and see how high it will go, I want to say mine was 6700 or so when I had my tn but that was a long time ago so I'm not sure.

 

[bo0st]

From the sounds of your Rev limiter post it sounds like your auto and in that case I'm pretty sure the ecu controls shifts. Rev limiter is the highest Rev point so free Rev at idle and see how high it will go, I want to say mine was 6700 or so when I had my tn but that was a long time ago so I'm not sure.

Yes it's an auto.

Thanks for the useful reply I'll give that a try tomorrow.

Anyone else want to chime in feel free to help a brotha out =)

Thanks!

 

[rydereclipse]

Back when I had a N/T, I purchased an AFX ECU. I couldn't tell the difference either..at first. I believe (and i could be wrong, never researched it) it has a more aggresive fuel/timing maps. If you dont have a way to adjust either, then I think that ECU, is just another ECU to you. I had adjustable cam gears and an AFC w/modified fuel, so a tweak here a tweak there and it felt, to me, stronger. YMMV.

 

[bo0st]

Back when I had a N/T, I purchased an AFX ECU. I couldn't tell the difference either..at first. I believe (and i could be wrong, never researched it) it has a more aggresive fuel/timing maps.

Thanks for your reply.

I guess I'm not alone.

If you dont have a way to adjust either, then I think that ECU, is just another ECU to you.

How would one go about adjusting this ECU?

I mean if howell 'did it' and he's a guy, we can do it too, surely it may take some hard work and a lot of computer geeks but we need it done right.

I surely don't want to send it back to howell and wait forever. I won't even try to get a refund for the core. Not worth it to me I'd rather have it laying around incase this one flops one day.

Thanks again for the reply.

 

[jayson427]

Mine didn't last more Then 6000 miles. The afx ecu is not meant to be on an automatic car you know that right? It says it right on the website and you can only run 91 octane since That's what it's designed to run. If all you have is higher compression Then you won't feel much difference. With big cams and all the other mods I have it does get better around 100 miles of driving or more. You will notice your car revs better and pulls through the power band alot smoother and not cut so much timing back like the stock ecu does. Every time you unplug your battery you lose the tune it learned and have to relearn it again. My rev was at 6900 and Then it cuts all fuel its not like normal That's for sure I hate that part of it. There's no refunds or warranty I called Gary about my issues with my afx and it's another 250 to get it reprogrammed. My injector driver went out on one cylinder it still drives but I have one cylinder leaner Then the rest . Which held me back big time when I went to a shop to wire in my afc and dial it in.

 

[silvreclips]

I would be pissed paying that much money for an ECU and receiving a broken part. I would have sent it back immediately. The only real way to tell if it gave you any gains would be to put the car on a dyno

 

[mustracetsi]

Couple of things. 1 rev limit is a set rpm so you dont go redlining. Example if you had a 4k rpm revlimit when you are I nuetral or park and hit that gas pedal the car revs wont go past 4k. It hits 4k rpms steps a lil back and back to 4k. 2 I think you are confussing rpm stall vs rev limit. Rpm stall has to do with your torque converter inside your trans. If you hold the break down and give it gas the cars rpm rises to a point before the car starts to move. And higher stall torque converter will make these rpms go up. So instead of being only to rev to1500-2500 like most do stock, you can have a rpms at4500 before you leave the line from a dead stop. I have and auto tsi I can stall to 2500-3k I think to build up my boost before I launch of the line. I also got link with a set of 4500 revlimit which I only see if I rev in park or nuetral. I can set my rev to what ever rpm I want. But revlimit at 3k or 2500 is not worth it. Im not a nt guy any more but the amount you paid for that ecu you couldve got a megasquirt ecu if im correct. That would have gave you alot more options now and for further tuning if you mod more. I think for that type of ecu you have they have a pkug and play one. Been so long sibce I had my nt. Back then your ecu was the only plug and play cause the single plug harness ecu you hade build it and wire and solder like megiver . Last if youre thinking of idle rpm you easily adjust that with you throttle cable but do not recommend it. You got an auto and it with mess up you trans raisings those rpms.

 

[901gtsi]

Where did I say 93? I stated I ran premium fuel, not 93 octane specifically. this is hilarious how this is even brought up. Are we doing interrogations now?

Mercedes / Porsche / Audi / many cars that require 'Premium' run the 91, that is our Premium in Arizona and a couple other state's.

Please respond if you 'have the ecu' and not just are some guy reading a forum and saw what some other guy said. I think that's a reasonable request.

Okay any useful replies would be appreciated. [/QUOTE]

sorry man I didn't mean to offend you in any way. I thought you might of known of a place where to get it. Because I know there's some places in the valley where they have 100 octane from the pump. Sorry

 

[Roberti 2G]

I would get a refund. Over 500 dollars and broken parts, sounds like a BS scam to me.

 

[Snail_GS]

To the Original poster, There have been cases where neon owners who have ordered a AFX ECM, got a stock ECM back with a AFX sticker slapped on it. Check the neon forums under Tuning, there is a member with the screen name Kevin@sykedecu he can retune those ECM. You should of posted this in the 420a section, 4G63 guys don't keep up with 420a stuff.

 

[jayson427]

Couple of things. 1 rev limit is a set rpm so you dont go redlining. Example if you had a 4k rpm revlimit when you are I nuetral or park and hit that gas pedal the car revs wont go past 4k. It hits 4k rpms steps a lil back and back to 4k. 2 I think you are confussing rpm stall vs rev limit. Rpm stall has to do with your torque converter inside your trans. If you hold the break down and give it gas the cars rpm rises to a point before the car starts to move. And higher stall torque converter will make these rpms go up. So instead of being only to rev to1500-2500 like most do stock, you can have a rpms at4500 before you leave the line from a dead stop. I have and auto tsi I can stall to 2500-3k I think to build up my boost before I launch of the line. I also got link with a set of 4500 revlimit which I only see if I rev in park or nuetral. I can set my rev to what ever rpm I want. But revlimit at 3k or 2500 is not worth it. Im not a nt guy any more but the amount you paid for that ecu you couldve got a megasquirt ecu if im correct. That would have gave you alot more options now and for further tuning if you mod more. I think for that type of ecu you have they have a pkug and play one. Been so long sibce I had my nt. Back then your ecu was the only plug and play cause the single plug harness ecu you hade build it and wire and solder like megiver . Last if youre thinking of idle rpm you easily adjust that with you throttle cable but do not recommend it. You got an auto and it with mess up you trans raisings those rpms.

Were not talking about launch control. He is saying the rev limiter when you hit red line is different Then it was before and he wanted it higher Then 7k but they don't do that anymore with the afx ecu.

 

[n0de]

Good God man, I hate to say this but for that price you could sell your car, and use the additional $500 to buy a 1g gsx then if you wanted 9 more hp just go get a boost controller, turn it once, then go have at it.

 

[GofaST4life]

That looks like the biggest waste of money.

And you paid someone to install an ECU?? WTF

$550+ could have EASILY been spent in a smarter way, elsewhere.

Also, you should have sent that thing back the second you saw the damage. Who gives a crap about a hand written note...in cursive.

Good God man, I hate to say this but for that price you could sell your car, and use the additional $500 to buy a 1g gsx then if you wanted 9 more hp just go get a boost controller, turn it once, then go have at it.

I know right? All this for "maybe" 9hp....that the OP wouldnt feel anyway.

 

[LandoAWD]

Did you buy it on a credit card? Threaten a charge-back if they won't help you with that stock ECU you were sent...