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.

 

[bo0st]

I don't know much about that ecu, but I know when I flash mine it's an instant change. I would figure putting a new one with new maps should be as well an not having to wait 100 miles of driving.

I figured the same, but sadly it's not the case. Stocker with a sticker.

 

[Fotowntalon]

Let me start by saying how that ECU looked was bullshit. As a person who works in selling high performance parts, yes we do once in a while sell "blems" but they should always be sold at a discount, and with the customers consent well before hand.

As for the Rev limiter, I'd imagine more goes into changing that in an automatic than in a manual (I could be wrong). When I had my AFX ECU, I hit rev limited at 7500 RPM, I was rather dissapointed in that regards.

CEL's its a DSM, of course it has a CEL, I lived 3 years with a CEL (2 years was with my AFX ECU)

For the ass dyno, recalibrate it, they sell those tools on e-bay i think =D. No seriously, there are people who can barely tell a 30hp difference, let alone 10hp, and there are people who can have a good feel for a 5hp difference. Trusting a butt dyno is one of the most ignorant things you can do when complaining about a performance part. I am not saying it is or is not working, but that you simply have no idea.

I wasn't always 100% sure if my AFX was working as intended, so I bought a piggyback and took it to a professional tuner. With a fully built head, full intake and full exhaust, you know how much HP the piggyback netted me? 2whp. Thats right 2 WHP!!! Why? Because the AFX was that close to the tune!

Before you go dragging someones name threw the mud and destroying some of there lively hood, you need PROOF! Yes it is complete bullshit that he sent you a screwed up looking piece, and he deserves called out for that. Yes Howell ships SLOW. Anyone who has ever heard that name knows that. You actually got yours in a decent time compared to others if that makes you feel any better. But I can not defend you saying he scammed you with the ECU till you have proof.

 

[dr1665]

I don't know much about that ecu, but I know when I flash mine it's an instant change. I would figure putting a new one with new maps should be as well an not having to wait 100 miles of driving.

It's been a loooong time, but the AFX ECU basically works by modifying a single variable which then scales everything else. Think about your LTFTs, mate. My fully built 2GNT would barely idle those first couple-three times I started it after a reset. STFT & LTFT aren't manually set a la flash tunes.

I figured the same, but sadly it's not the case. Stocker with a sticker.

Unless Howell has gotten increasingly brazen - which that note could imply - it's not just a stocker with a sticker. It's a serious piece of equipment delivering returns commensurate with the air pump it's controlling.

Compelled to reply from the barren wastelands of Life After DSM...

First, you paid good money for a good part. No self-respecting vendor would ever ship a damaged product - cosmetically or otherwise - especially when the product has their name on it. They owe you a replacement or a refund. If they refuse, let them discuss with your credit card company. Taping a hand-written note to the item is bush-league. If it's gonna be Amateur Night, I'll take my money elsewhere.

Second, summer gets hotter here every year. Unless you were looking to install on that fateful, 118° day we had back at the end of June, replacing a 2GNT ECU is a five minute affair. First thing in the morning, last thing at night. It's something like (3) 10mm bolts. It's more work to load the dishwasher, albeit, if you've got health issues, you've got health issues. I'd encourage you to take stock of your goals relative your abilities, though, as the further down this path you travel, the more expensive it gets - especially if you can't turn your own wrenches.

Third, you want to run the 91 octane and you don't want to lug the engine below about 3000rpm anytime ambient temps are above 100° with that ECU. Your mileage may vary, but my engine would ping if I did anything more than cruise below 3000rpm during the summer. Consider a range cooler plugs, and gap them appropriately. Someone suggested you might have a built bottom end. If your CR is anything above stock, you really want to stick with 91+ and no hard acceleration below 3000rpm with that ECU.

This brings me to the engine. My own experience with the AFX/R (they used to offer street and race models) was positive. Fully built, valve cover to oil pan, Daisy was still pulling at something like 7800rpm when the rev limiter hit (in the form of ignition cut, aka: "stutter box" - I was going way too fast on Pinnacle Peak to really get a good look at the tach at the time). With the AFX/R, 4000rpm was almost like VTEC; when ignition timing, cams, and $2000 in head work came together in a way that forever changes a man. When I swapped back to a stock ECU, all that engine did was make noise above 4000rpm. Without tuning, it's all just nuts and bolts.

Here's an old video from 2007 or so which I haven't looked at since Google Video forced the transfer to YouTube. Southbound onto the 51, Bell to Greenway, or something like that.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvLbcX2wGtE]420A NA 0-100mph - YouTube[/ame]

To those saying the AFX/R ECUs are a waste of money, it all depends on your goals. Not everyone is looking to build another cookie cutter DSM. I'd never pay retail for an AFX ECU, and I'd never - personally - order from Howell. Just seen too many deals go pear shaped in the last decade. My opinion, though. Sure, MSnS would give you more power for less money, but it's a substantial investment in time up front, and reverting to stock for Maricopa emissions is cause enough for me to stick with pre-OBDII, AWD vehicles from now on, but to each his own.

For the record, by the way, I happen to know there's a super clean, silver, 99 RS on Prokits in the west valley up for sale these days, probably for little as $3000, which has a fully-built, 10.5:1CR race engine under the hood that only needs cams, gears, and MSnS to be a solid, 180whp+, all motor daily driver. The current owner refers to his engine as "The Heart of Daisy."

Oh, and if you never had a subscription to the Talon Digest and are talking down on 2GNTs, walk on home, son. You don't know the half of it (and I'm not gonna bother).

 

[95VENG]

This was good reading. I have though about getting an ecu from kevin but screw it im getting my MS.

 

[TalonSpeed]

I had one of the first AFX ECUs way back in 2002 when they were only for 97 year models. I had a 96 NT Talon and ran the 97 ECU on it with no problems. I said it back then and I still say it now, it is nothing but a stock ECU with a sticker.

I am sorry but, the rev limit didnt change (I was 5spd btw), it couldnt be set for larger injectors, all CEL still came up, etc... Face the facts people its clear as day, nothing was changed!!! Howell has made so much money by tricking people its funny.

The 420a engine is ran off a MAP sensor so it can adjust for changes in airflow pretty good compared to a MAF based ECU.