Megajolt: Used Or New?

[akstsstjs]

I would like a Megajolt for a supercharged A Series, but I don't like the new price of £390.
Used ones come up reasonably often, but ignoring the variable risk of owner care v owner abuse ...
Are they long lasting and reliable?
Are they likely to be supported for the reasonable future?
Some sellers don't know, so how can I tell from a photo whether it is a MAP or a TPS version?
Is what looks like a small black spigot on the side of the Megajolt the MAP sensor?
If so, does the TPS version not have this spigot?
Is it worth the risk buying used or should I save up for new?

[GreenV8S]

I've got a Megasquirt (MS1/extra) rather than Megajolt, and I don't know how much of this applies to Megajolt, but it's been completely reliable and I don't see why it wouldn't outlast me. However, there are endless hardware and firmware options and if you don't have a detailed spec (and know that the spec suits your needs) I'd be wary about buying used. Have you looked at the costs for the modern MS hardware?

[stevieturbo]

megajolt for £390 ??

The ecu is nowhere near that price.

If you are referring to a complete bespoke kit to fit your particular engine...that is a different matter.

If you can wire and fabricate yourself, then you may not need a complete kit.

[Zag_a_muffin]

Have you considered a second hand nodiz? around £200 and no need for edis.

[akstsstjs]

GreenV8S said:

I've got a Megasquirt (MS1/extra) rather than Megajolt, and I don't know how much of this applies to Megajolt, but it's been completely reliable and I don't see why it wouldn't outlast me. However, there are endless hardware and firmware options and if you don't have a detailed spec (and know that the spec suits your needs) I'd be wary about buying used. Have you looked at the costs for the modern MS hardware?

It's good to know that MS is reliable and durable.
The MS hardware is more expensive than the Megajolt, so I have ruled it out, thanks.

[Lotobear]

I bought my MJ as a kit from the US for around £75 and a chap off a kit car forum built it for me for £15 so £390 sounds bonkers.

It was totally reliable and I did 15,000 miles (Lotus TC, Elan +2) with it before selling the car. A great upgrade short of going full FI which was always my intention; it got me 70% of the advantage of FI for a fraction of the cost.

A friend has just put Nodiz on his Zetec powered baby Elan with motorbike TB's - he loves it.

PS: mine used a TPS and the wires were bundled in with the main harness from the unit - the MAP version has a spigot for a suction tube

Edited by Lotobear on Wednesday 8th July 20:10

[akstsstjs]

stevieturbo said:

megajolt for £390 ??

The ecu is nowhere near that price.

If you are referring to a complete bespoke kit to fit your particular engine...that is a different matter.

If you can wire and fabricate yourself, then you may not need a complete kit.

Yes, I was referring to the A Series Kit.
Many of the used Megajolt are complete packages, that's why I was using the Kit £ as a comparison.
I'm also open to buying mix and match used parts to make up my own kit, so yes I could save some £ that way, thanks.

[akstsstjs]

Zag_a_muffin said:

Have you considered a second hand nodiz? around £200 and no need for edis.

I like the Nodiz but the complete package costs in slightly more expensive than the Megajolt.
I haven't ruled it out though. Thanks.

[akstsstjs]

Lotobear said:

I bought my MJ as a kit from the US for around £75 and a chap off a kit car forum built it for me for £15 so £390 sounds bonkers.

It was totally reliable and I did 15,000 miles (Lotus TC, Elan +2) with it before selling the car. A great upgrade short of going full FI which was always my intention; it got me 70% of the advantage of FI for a fraction of the cost.

A friend has just put Nodiz on his Zetec powered baby Elan with motorbike TB's - he loves it.

PS: mine used a TPS and the wires were bundled in with the main harness from the unit - the MAP version has a spigot for a suction tube

Edited by Lotobear on Wednesday 8th July 20:10

You got a bargain there. If you see another at that price please let me know!
It's good to know your Megajolt was reliable and ditto your friends Nodiz.
I'm starting to feel OK about buying a used Megajolt or Nodiz.
Sounds like only the MJ MAP version has the spigot on it - that's good to know, thanks.

[Arnie Cunningham]

Just to 2nd this. I'm running a pair of them. ms2/extra - the more recent one running a V8 with wasted spark distributorless and connecting to my laptop via bluetooth. I don't think I'd bother doing anything other than a megasquirt now - they are just excellent.

GreenV8S said:

I've got a Megasquirt (MS1/extra) rather than Megajolt, and I don't know how much of this applies to Megajolt, but it's been completely reliable and I don't see why it wouldn't outlast me. However, there are endless hardware and firmware options and if you don't have a detailed spec (and know that the spec suits your needs) I'd be wary about buying used. Have you looked at the costs for the modern MS hardware?

[Lotobear]

akstsstjs said:

You got a bargain there. If you see another at that price please let me know!
It's good to know your Megajolt was reliable and ditto your friends Nodiz.
I'm starting to feel OK about buying a used Megajolt or Nodiz.
Sounds like only the MJ MAP version has the spigot on it - that's good to know, thanks.

I should mention this was probably around 8 years ago and as far as I can recall for reasons I never understood you could only buy them as a sort CKD kit then.

Also, I then had to buy a TPS, trigger wheel, sensor, bracker, EDIS and coil pack, universal loom etc. to make it up - these mostly came from Trigger Wheels and at a guess with all this stuff it probably came to around £250 in total.

However it was a brilliant system and worked superbly on my twincam.