Discussion
I have been looking into Megasquirt, Emerald and the like, where it seems there are various ways to spend quite a lot of money, and I've been wondering if there is a "gap in the market" where people want a hassle-free plug-in replacement for the 4CU which is
a) a reasonable price (i.e. well under £300)
b) requires no prior knowledge of computers, etc to set it up (plug -n- play)
c) has modern more reliable electronics inside
d) gives mild economy and/or performance gains
e) fitted into an original 4CU box and uses the existing loom for originality
Any interest in this? What other features would be on your shopping list bearing in mind I'm trying to keep the price down.
- Adam
a) a reasonable price (i.e. well under £300)
b) requires no prior knowledge of computers, etc to set it up (plug -n- play)
c) has modern more reliable electronics inside
d) gives mild economy and/or performance gains
e) fitted into an original 4CU box and uses the existing loom for originality
Any interest in this? What other features would be on your shopping list bearing in mind I'm trying to keep the price down.
- Adam
Sounds very interesting Adam.
It would be good to eleminate the process of elemination when somthing is not right.
Also if there is a way to know what's going on ie advance, air/ fuel etc.
But I do like the idea of keeping it all looking original with a more modern ecu.
The other Adam
It would be good to eleminate the process of elemination when somthing is not right.
Also if there is a way to know what's going on ie advance, air/ fuel etc.
But I do like the idea of keeping it all looking original with a more modern ecu.
The other Adam
Im sure i read some where that mega squirt were working on a plug and play for the flapper as im sure they have one for the hot wireI know l know when i have my old loom ripped out tvr did there standard job of bodging the RR loom rather than make it fit the car correctly and after 26 years it was totaly shagd.all the ends of the cable were braking down, so i know i have a god ecu as mark adams serviced it...( its for sale plus large mass meter to match) a good dizy but the loom always looked ok but i bet if i canged it the car would have been better but i went the full montie...map fuel and ing...much better more accurit.
Flapper is okniff ur a stickler for oridunality or dont have the cash for a big chmsnge over but i would get some one that can make up new looms for these cars first before chassing new ecus and wasting money...if i were to do it over again knowing what i know now i would change the look totaly as my starting point then look at improvments fownthe line...
Cambelt
Flapper is okniff ur a stickler for oridunality or dont have the cash for a big chmsnge over but i would get some one that can make up new looms for these cars first before chassing new ecus and wasting money...if i were to do it over again knowing what i know now i would change the look totaly as my starting point then look at improvments fownthe line...
Cambelt
Diagnostics could be an interesting add-on. I'll look into it. It depends on CPU speed and program size - I don't want too much "feature creep" ;^)
The Jeep-style fault code display (a number of flashes of a lamp - you just count them to find out) would mean you don't need to carry a laptop around for the common types of fault code.
The Jeep-style fault code display (a number of flashes of a lamp - you just count them to find out) would mean you don't need to carry a laptop around for the common types of fault code.
RCK974X said:
I can see that the longest job of all is probably getting the calibrations right.....
I am amazed how many Ford EEC-IV calibrations there are for the SAME ENGINE !!
Do the later V8's have exhaust Gas sensors ? (EGO). If so, the box can probably tune itself to some degree....
No - no lambda sensors - this would make for a much more expensive box and installation. Although I'll need to get one to set it up...I am amazed how many Ford EEC-IV calibrations there are for the SAME ENGINE !!
Do the later V8's have exhaust Gas sensors ? (EGO). If so, the box can probably tune itself to some degree....
Bearing in mind that the standard 4CU has only one map which you're stuck with, a "reasonable" map will do just fine, and an option switch for economy or power will be a big improvement.
To answer Jeff's question, sorry, different ECU, I don't have a car with one fitted, so I won't be doing one just yet.
OK, no EGO sensors.
I have quite a bit of knowledge of how Ford EEC-IV boxes work, the early ones aren't too hard to understand, if it helps anyone with suh a project. I have a disassembler tool which will give a readable (EEC-IV or V) listing for those more techie minded people - happy to share info if anyone wants, or if it helps ....
I have quite a bit of knowledge of how Ford EEC-IV boxes work, the early ones aren't too hard to understand, if it helps anyone with suh a project. I have a disassembler tool which will give a readable (EEC-IV or V) listing for those more techie minded people - happy to share info if anyone wants, or if it helps ....
Edited by RCK974X on Tuesday 23 October 08:11
adam quantrill said:
Diagnostics could be an interesting add-on. I'll look into it. It depends on CPU speed and program size - I don't want too much "feature creep"
Rover did produce a Fast Check Test Machine for its franchised dealerships to test the Rover SD1 Flapper System by disconnecting the ECU, plugging the Fast Check machine into the flapper system and following the test instructions.
Based upon the test results, components could be replaced and customers charged accordingly and sure enough, some components may not have been faulty, if perchance the local wiring was to blame.
They come up on Ebay from time to time and go for silly money.
Get a PDF of the above from here: http://www.vintagemodelairplane.com/pages/Download...
grahamw48 said:
Fascinating stuff
Yo Indeed! Sadly tho' it represents only part of the story. Several times the sparse instructions say "renew/replace 'component' ". Ouch!!!!!!!! 
Also a few instances of "refer to repair manual" or similar.Most of which implies that this is only a crude component diagnostic tool to be read in conjunction with the real test processes, to be found elsewhere.
Given the current climate of 'home enthusiasts' needing to do ones own repairs or pay through the nose for 'expert/professional' services, which are pretty non-existent anyway, the key to getting things sorted lays in access to the test processes, as opposed to having a (very rare) diagnostic tool.
Mind you, it would be nice to come across a circuit diagram for its innards.
Having said that, when it comes down to it, there are hardly any specified tests that can't be carried out using simple workshop tools a cheap multi meter and good simple instructions as seen from my archive! . . . . . http://www.vintagemodelairplane.com
And of course, equally mysterious to the enthusiastic punter is the Electronic Ignition System(s) that most of our cars sport. Yet when described and analysed in easy to follow detail, becomes much less mysterious and a cinch to test (even right down to component level,) again with simple instruments. "The Diagnostic Challenge Continues"
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