Standalone ECU questions

[xnamerxx]

Originally Posted by tmontague

thanks for the info. I'm not partial to the EMS 4, I would just like to stay with AEM if possible so I can hook my gauges up to it if need be.

Does the stock ecu need the MAF signal to run the throttle? and can the factory ecu control the dual vvti without having all of the other sensors connected (ie: fuel, ignition, cam,crank)?

The infinity almost doubles the price and not sure if that would be worth it just for throttle control.

EDIT* I think a smart next step foir me would be to find a tuner within my area that deals has experience with 4 bangers and Toyotas and ask what they recommend. At the end of the day, they will be tuning it so the more comfortable they are with the software and ecu, the better

It needs the MAF singnal or it it goes into limp mode and doesn't allow more than 20% throttle, you'll either need to add another MAF sensor or add a MAP sensor, I went the MAP route. You'll want to control the intake cam as there is alot of power to be had there, and I think the EMS-4 is very capable of doing that. But yeah if you didn't want to wire those up you can easily have the stock ecu control vvt, but it may start doing weird things trying to learn its way out of not being able to control spark or fuel. You'll also want to wire the knock sensor up to the new ECU since its going to be controlling spark and fuel. All of the ECU's are pretty much the same in regards to tuning, at least thats what my tuner tells me, but they prefer tuning with Motec but I can't swing the 3-4k for one of those.

I think the EMS-4 should be more than capable of doing what you're asking, since I'm sure there isn't much power to be had messing with the exhaust cam, I even think MWR sells a ecu kit for the corolla that uses this ECU, but I'm not sure the wiring is the same for the XD as it is for the corolla.

[tmontague]

Originally Posted by xnamerxx

It needs the MAF singnal or it it goes into limp mode and doesn't allow more than 20% throttle, you'll either need to add another MAF sensor or add a MAP sensor, I went the MAP route. You'll want to control the intake cam as there is alot of power to be had there, and I think the EMS-4 is very capable of doing that. But yeah if you didn't want to wire those up you can easily have the stock ecu control vvt, but it may start doing weird things trying to learn its way out of not being able to control spark or fuel. You'll also want to wire the knock sensor up to the new ECU since its going to be controlling spark and fuel. All of the ECU's are pretty much the same in regards to tuning, at least thats what my tuner tells me, but they prefer tuning with Motec but I can't swing the 3-4k for one of those.

I think the EMS-4 should be more than capable of doing what you're asking, since I'm sure there isn't much power to be had messing with the exhaust cam, I even think MWR sells a ecu kit for the corolla that uses this ECU, but I'm not sure the wiring is the same for the XD as it is for the corolla.

I plan on going the MAP route as well, and i definitely don't trust the ecu ton control vvti without receiving all of the other inputs. I am going to look into the EMS4 some more and potentially plan to have it control the vvti at leats on the intake side if it cannot do both. I hope to use the stock ecu just for throttle and leave it hooked up to the MAF.

How bad is the idle with the set up?

[xnamerxx]

Originally Posted by tmontague

I plan on going the MAP route as well, and i definitely don't trust the ecu ton control vvti without receiving all of the other inputs. I am going to look into the EMS4 some more and potentially plan to have it control the vvti at leats on the intake side if it cannot do both. I hope to use the stock ecu just for throttle and leave it hooked up to the MAF.

How bad is the idle with the set up?

VVT control is actually quite simple. All its looking for is cam angle and frequency for the solenoid, you then get a output that is actual, which is usually a few # off requested. Its a bit fun to advance the solenoid to 40% at idle so it sounds like its got a huge cam. The only down side I've found running the stock throttle is that it wants to hunt for idle speed unless you tune the ecu to reach the same idle speed as the factory one.

[Jason@SportsCar]

Originally Posted by tmontague

I plan on going the MAP route as well, and i definitely don't trust the ecu ton control vvti without receiving all of the other inputs. I am going to look into the EMS4 some more and potentially plan to have it control the vvti at leats on the intake side if it cannot do both. I hope to use the stock ecu just for throttle and leave it hooked up to the MAF.

How bad is the idle with the set up?

I think you are on the right path here.

To fix my idle I drilled an 1/8" hole in the butterfly - started smaller and worked up to a spot where the car wouldn't die.