Link ECU experience?

[nzflash]

Hi all,

I'm considering going down the aftermarket ECU route. I've read the threads about the various options.

Since I'm based in New Zealand I need to be sure I can get good support for the system I go with.

There's is a company here that manufactures the Link ECU product range but I haven't seen it mentioned in the forum.

Has anyone had experience with these ECU's on a TVR?

Cheers.

[hoofa]

I looked at link years ago as it offered close to motec m800, the problem here’s is getting a good mapper that knew the link ecu ,and in the end went motec, people don’t want to spend high end and see emerald, mega squirt etc as being at the more favourable price point which is why you won’t see it mentioned in the uk for tvr,s

Edited by hoofa on Sunday 30th May 06:53

Edited by hoofa on Thursday 3rd June 07:05

[Belle427]

Haltech seems to be popular down under and may be worth a look.

[450Nick]

If it were me I would put a GEMs ECU in it, set up by Mark Adams. No rolling road tuning really required other than setting up the injector ranges which I'm sure could by Mark before sending. Fit and forget solution without any of the BS associated with aftermarket ECUs. Extremely smooth driving manners (self adjusting), very economical and delivers great power. It had my supercharged 450 Chimaera idling at 600rpm rock solid (with an 885 cam), no problems with cold start, no shunting and superb power - and not once did it need tuning to do any of that beyond basic setup.

[Classic Chim]

450Nick said:

If it were me I would put a GEMs ECU in it, set up by Mark Adams. No rolling road tuning really required other than setting up the injector ranges which I'm sure could by Mark before sending. Fit and forget solution without any of the BS associated with aftermarket ECUs. Extremely smooth driving manners (self adjusting), very economical and delivers great power. It had my supercharged 450 Chimaera idling at 600rpm rock solid (with an 885 cam), no problems with cold start, no shunting and superb power - and not once did it need tuning to do any of that beyond basic setup.

Whats the cost of all the gubbins and install to make GEM’s work.

[subhas]

Folks I’m having a mare starting my chimera.

New battery installed.
No 12v found across the coil, very low voltage.


Resistance across coil seems ok.
Swapped relays ( fuel pump)
Initial buzzing sound is there.

I previously installed the hot start.

I’m a novice so don’t know what else to check.

Engine turned over, fired up for a few seconds.
I gassed it a lot as it was struggling.

Than it died and hasn’t restated.

I’m in west london.

If anyone can advise on what I should check, I’ve order a new coil and ignition amp anyway, but don’t think it’s theses ,
If anyone know a good mobile Tvr mech please let me know, I’m stuck and run out of ideas ,

Cheers. Seb

[450Nick]

Classic Chim said:

Whats the cost of all the gubbins and install to make GEM’s work.

That can vary wildly depending on what you do yourself. If you talking the raw cost of the parts then a few hundred for the ECU set up for a TVR from Mark, maybe another 1000 for the wiring loom, engine sensors and GEMs flywheel then another couple of hundred for Mark to check the setup on a rolling road and check it's running happily.

If you pay people to make/install the wiring, sensors and flywheel then more money obviously. All in all it's cheaper than an aftermarket system I'd say, except you get full knock control, sequential ignition etc etc.

[spitfire4v8]

You are going exactly the correct route by choosing an ecu with good local support .. It's always my advice for people abroad to go with an ecu which is well known locally. Link is excellent, and if you have good local installers/mappers then there really shouldn't be any problems.

[Belle427]

subhas said:

Folks I’m having a mare starting my chimera.

New battery installed.
No 12v found across the coil, very low voltage.


Resistance across coil seems ok.
Swapped relays ( fuel pump)
Initial buzzing sound is there.

I previously installed the hot start.

I’m a novice so don’t know what else to check.

Engine turned over, fired up for a few seconds.
I gassed it a lot as it was struggling.

Than it died and hasn’t restated.

I’m in west london.

If anyone can advise on what I should check, I’ve order a new coil and ignition amp anyway, but don’t think it’s theses ,
If anyone know a good mobile Tvr mech please let me know, I’m stuck and run out of ideas ,

Cheers. Seb

Try and keep posts to your other thread, it's a lot easier for people to follow and help.

[nzflash]

spitfire4v8 said:

You are going exactly the correct route by choosing an ecu with good local support .. It's always my advice for people abroad to go with an ecu which is well known locally. Link is excellent, and if you have good local installers/mappers then there really shouldn't be any problems.

Good to know. Thanks for the advice.

[davep]

Just looking at the Link Product Warranty Statement, does anyone know what the full implications of this clause are:

For off-road use only, not intended for highway vehicles.

Does it mean that the warranty is invalidated if the car is used on the public highway? And what about insurance cover for off-road or track use, or the lack of.

I see this type of clause a lot in the support documentation for Aftermarket ECUs, injectors and tuning gizmos, especially from companies based in the States.

[spitfire4v8]

Presumably it refers to local region type approval or equivalent ..

[Steve_D]

In many states in the US it is against the law to do mods to your car particularly if it may effect emissions so pretty much anything sold has that caveate.

Steve

[davep]

Also applies to Europe it seems - interesting response from sbdmotorsport/MBE here:

https://www.sbdmotorsport.co.uk/ufaqs/engine-upgra...

Still begs the question what happens to the warranty if a product clearly intended for motorsport or off-road use is installed in a road car?

[Classic Chim]

If it passes emissions is all that seems to be important.
If they are used in single seat racing cars and racing boats etc then I’d have thought they are robust enough not to fail in a road car.
If it fails you send the ECU back for a diagnosis of the fault. I doubt the question of what it’s fitted to would be a problem.
In the case of MBE they have produced ECU for military equipment snd sport so probably fairly robust.

[Franky boy]

I've heard a lot of good things about link, used quite a bit on hillclimb and sprint cars locally, so would think great for a TVR. Certainly if you have local experts to carry out the mapping.

[JD1000]

nzflash - what ECU did you settle on? From where? I also am fitting a supercharger - I'm in Auckland.

[nzflash]

Haven't upgraded yet. Have decided to keep original for now.