Beyond 0.92Bar Boost

[desmondsee]

hello,<br><br>I believe some have done it....how do i get past the boost cut by the ECU of 0.92 Bar? I am intending to install the APEXI SAFC for remapping and taking the Boost to 1.2 Bar after switching out the injectors.<br><br>The alternative path of installing a standalone ECU is good but rather costly...plus the turbo will definitely got to go too...plus fuel lines etc...<br><br>Thanks!

[Doug]

Desmond, the simplest answer for what you are proposing would be to install a "fuel cut defenser" (discussed in the site ad nauseum), which is a box plugged into the MAP sensor line that keeps its input to the ECU from going beyond 0.92bar.  Your fuel computer would do the side calculations and hopefully all would be alright.<br><br>There's other safer ways, but they involve new stand-alone ECUs which is an area that the Elan community has little experience with.  There's another way but I'll leave it out unless Alan wants to comment.<br><br>

[desmondsee]

Hi Doug,<br><br>thanks for the tip! the thing about this forum is that everyone is so active and willing to share information.<br>3 thumbs up!

[mark]

Desmond, I put in the ApexiSAFC2 on my car.  For best tuning feedback, you should consider installing a wideband O2 sensor at the same time you put in the fuel controller.  The wideband will help you stay of out trouble so you avoid running too lean.  If you do the install and tuning yourself, its best to have a friend you can buy some beers and ride along with you to watch the Apexi.  Its difficult to monitor and adjust the thing and drive at the same time.

[dr-nookie]

just another way<br>I bought my car fitted with an uprated chip supplied by Superchip <br>this takes care of the boost limiter itself and there is no cutting out,my car is putting out 217 bhp on a standard turbo and injectors quite safely according to the dyno<br>I think they now cost about £500 fitted and they really are very good.<br>hope this gives you another option

[Nige]

Alternatively, fit one of elanscanmans chips.  Everest Chip will give you .9 bar boost, fuel cut is raised to .98 bar and I get 204BHP on the Dyno, £100, bargain.  Just remember all the available evidence indicates you need a larger diameter exhaust to realise the benefits of any increase in boost above standard, 2 1/4" is fine some have gone to 2 1/2".<br><br>Nige    

[desmondsee]

thanks everyone...as it is, i have decided to go the really expensive way.
first, i got the AVC-R instead of the SAFC. the limited matte black look of it was too great to resist. Then i think i will probably go down the route of a standalone ecu for remapping and also boost at slightly higher level about 1.1 - 1.2bar. but i think this will take some time cause the cost will be about 2000GBP. i will be running first at close to 0.9 bar.

but i will remember the alternatives listed herein. i think it will be a good read for any other members also contemplating this cheers!

[Ashaman]

Desmond, that is the same controller (AVC-R) that I am using. I like it pretty well, I think it is about the best solution on the market.

I am also using the Haltech E6GM ECU with it. If you go that route, let me know if you have any questions/need any maps!

[desmondsee]

Yup! I am definitely going down that route. I am considering the Motec M400 though cause no one doing the other brands locally want to tune the Elan over here. The Motec guy is actually distributed by my friend whom i made quite a few years back and he still remembers me!! What a nice coincidence. He has been tuning quite many cars and recently one of his client's DC5 (honda integra) took 2nd in a championship race so i have a some confidence in him. the local haltech guy wanted about 1200GBP for tune and install whereas the Motec guy is asking for 1700GBP..so i decided to go for the Motec since i probably can reuse it in future. The MOTEC guy said that in fact, i could have saved on the AVC-R II with the MOTEC but well, i bought it already so...

But my funds are dry now so i may have to wait a while before i get to the ECU...but i will definitely head that way ; )

Anything to share on the Haltech though? Cheers! Des-

[desmondsee]

...sorry read my question again and found it to be too open ended. what i meant to ask was the experience with the Haltech...has it improved the torque and power output after install and remapping? (by how much?) also how about the fuel consumption. i believe it is reduced? (all things equal).
thanks! (trying to understand how much effect a standalone ecu can contribute - all things equal)

[Ashaman]

If the Motec will work fine, I have heard good things about them as well. The Haltech was very cheap (I believe I paid ~$500USD for mine) and is pretty much a plug-in option. That was a big plus for me at the time since I did not want to cut up/splice up the stock wiring harness.

However, the plug-in factor is not that big of deal to me anymore since you could make a custom harness and acomplish the same thing with any system (I would have loved to try this with the MegaSquirt II!).

I wish I had some hard numbers for you on the improvement, it feels much faster and pulls harder throughout the entire RPM range so I think it is significant. I will get on a dyno soon, but I still have some other things to take care of (like a SECOND blown manifold to turbo gasket - GRR!).

For me it really isn't an issue of "improvement" on its own however, it is a part of a larger project. If you increase boost, add free-flowing intake & exhaust, larger injectors, larger turbo, etc., you need some way of adjusting & optimizing for these changes. The only real way is via a programmable ECU.

It depends on your goals, really. The stock turbo runs out of steam around 12PSI anyway, so how much further will you go? I would say that if doing a turbo swap is a possibility for you, no question - get a programmable ECU. If it is not, then there is no reason to - get a chip from alan.

[desmondsee]

you are right, i do have designs on switching out the turbo but would like to use it till it's shelf life is over. this will give me time to also put aside somemore dough on the project. had been considering the VF 34 for a while now, but did other mods first. costas seem to have a very good experience so far!

wow, i am impressed that things are so cheap over there ..usd500 bucks as compared with 1200Gbp for the haltech...man.. u got a good deal!

[desmondsee]

....my car is now done up and it will be fine tuned this week..2 questions:
1. Cant seem to find the FCD thread in here. Anyone knows? I think so far HKS has an on the shelf FCD.
2. Ashaman, may i ask what boost setting are u currently running with the haltech and avcr-ii. are they on stock internals and injectors?
3. btw, anyone ever experience that the battery is drained if left connected after 2-3 days? and the battery is brand new! this problem has been buggin me for countless days already..

[Ashaman]

If going the FCD I think I would consider an off the shelf model (once verified!). Most of the designs I have seen floating around are flawed in that they are not linear in their "clamping." I have a limited electronic knowledge, so I had an EE check the diagrams and he confirmed the were not accurate or linear. He did actually design an new circuit for me, but I decided to go the Haltech route anyway and I am not sure what I did with it!

The AVCR-II is set at 18 PSI and I have not mapped or gone further. I never intended on going over 20PSI, as I understand efficiency falls off before then. So maybe another pound or two for me but that is about it. Well, for now anyway Stock internals, RC 550cc injectors, VJ17 turbo.

No problems with a drained batter, even if it sits for a few weeks. I did however have this problem before my alternator failed entirely...sorry...

[mark]

desmond, is the lamp in the boot connected? if so, its a common reason for battery draining - the lamp often stays on when the boot is closed. For some reason, one of my kids plugged my lamp in last week - guess he saw a loose wire hanging and thought he was doing me a favor!! battery was totally drained within 1 day.

Ashaman, how do the fuel controller and the Haltech work together? doesn't the Haltech have its own fuel maps and so why the need for the fuel controller?

[Ashaman]

I think you are confusing the AVC-R (boost controller) with the S-AFC (fuel controller). Otherwise you are right, it would be redundant. They work together very well as it is though, the AVC-R is a pretty full featured unit.