Simtek Owners - How Do You Feel About The New Simtek ECU?
03 February 2012, 08:30 AM
#91
Scooby Regular
Thread Starter
iTrader: (100)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 13,684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And I will continue to answer your e-mails Pete - even though you haven't got a "new" simtek.....
The two customers that called yesterday requiring help with Simteks that had inadvertently been damaged also found that we didn't take the attitude that some posts above would suggest.Althouh these ECUs are well out of warranty, I organised for their repair and if at all possible this will be FOC...
The two customers that called yesterday requiring help with Simteks that had inadvertently been damaged also found that we didn't take the attitude that some posts above would suggest.Althouh these ECUs are well out of warranty, I organised for their repair and if at all possible this will be FOC...
I tried for nearly 3 weeks without success to contact Andrew Leech who wouldn't even acknowledge if he had the unit or not (I knew he had it as I sent it via RM Special Delivery). It was only when you got involved did something get sorted so I can't fault you for service at all.
To be brutally honest I don't have any faith in Alcatek given my experience with them, and that would appear given my interpretation of the posts I've read where the delays and lack of action have occurred.
Plus of course what incentive does Alcatek have to now bring these updates to the market?
03 February 2012, 07:15 PM
#96
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: cornwall
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
snake1906 :
I have two Simteks on two of my own cars and a Motec M800 on an other which I may replace with a Simtek or Syvecs. I have no idle problems on the two Simtek equipped cars and I have no issues with lack of knock ECU control of which I was aware of before I bought the first ECU. The second ECU probably followed 18mths later so I was well aware of what the Simtek could do as I do some of my own personal mapping. We have a third Simtek in a friends P1. I have contact with numerous Simtek owners and the vast majority are very happy with the very cost effective and capable Simtek.
I agree that knock retard would be a good addition to the Simtek for many people, giving them a degree more confidence. Although promised for a long time, perhaps it will now become available in the near future. I rely on my Knock Analyser(s) and flashing CEL. Set up properly these are very worthwhile.
The complaints I come across with the SimteK are cold start or poor idle. Both are mapping issues. The mapper only has one shot to get the cold start right so unless he has good cold start maps and off sets/scales, chance are he will not get it right first time. Often the car arrives with the mapper warm or even hot. So cars with cold start issues need delivering the night before, mapped first thing in the morning and checked again late afternoon or early evening (second attempt). If necessary the car stands overnight with a third cold start next morning.
If your mapper is competant and has enough maps saved for particular specs or experience he will get it right first time. If your cold start does need tweaked and your mapper is concientious it will be FOC PROVIDING you are prepared to leave your car overnight. Now I have to say that the experience, knowledge and skill of Simtek mappers varies greatly and this explains a lot of "cold start issues"
If you have cold start issues or poor idling and it is a mapping issue as opposed to sucking air from a loose or split pipe and your mapper cannot resolve then it is time to seek out a capable and concientious mapper.
Like I said I have no idle issues and our mapper appears capable of resolving both of these minor irritants and has the interest and determination to do so. HTH.
I have two Simteks on two of my own cars and a Motec M800 on an other which I may replace with a Simtek or Syvecs. I have no idle problems on the two Simtek equipped cars and I have no issues with lack of knock ECU control of which I was aware of before I bought the first ECU. The second ECU probably followed 18mths later so I was well aware of what the Simtek could do as I do some of my own personal mapping. We have a third Simtek in a friends P1. I have contact with numerous Simtek owners and the vast majority are very happy with the very cost effective and capable Simtek.
I agree that knock retard would be a good addition to the Simtek for many people, giving them a degree more confidence. Although promised for a long time, perhaps it will now become available in the near future. I rely on my Knock Analyser(s) and flashing CEL. Set up properly these are very worthwhile.
The complaints I come across with the SimteK are cold start or poor idle. Both are mapping issues. The mapper only has one shot to get the cold start right so unless he has good cold start maps and off sets/scales, chance are he will not get it right first time. Often the car arrives with the mapper warm or even hot. So cars with cold start issues need delivering the night before, mapped first thing in the morning and checked again late afternoon or early evening (second attempt). If necessary the car stands overnight with a third cold start next morning.
If your mapper is competant and has enough maps saved for particular specs or experience he will get it right first time. If your cold start does need tweaked and your mapper is concientious it will be FOC PROVIDING you are prepared to leave your car overnight. Now I have to say that the experience, knowledge and skill of Simtek mappers varies greatly and this explains a lot of "cold start issues"
If you have cold start issues or poor idling and it is a mapping issue as opposed to sucking air from a loose or split pipe and your mapper cannot resolve then it is time to seek out a capable and concientious mapper.
Like I said I have no idle issues and our mapper appears capable of resolving both of these minor irritants and has the interest and determination to do so. HTH.
Last edited by snake1906; 03 February 2012 at 07:17 PM.
03 February 2012, 07:46 PM
#98
Scooby Senior
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: www.m-soc.com
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mines had none of the issues described in this thread. Great on cold start, starts everytime, none of this mis fire thing. I'm happy. Yes i would like active knock control, but i know the protection is set up and i only use quality fuel.
Seems to be its all down to who's mapping them. But i know nothing
Seems to be its all down to who's mapping them. But i know nothing
03 February 2012, 07:52 PM
#99
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: cornwall
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
and can some1 answer my other question that was highlighted by some1 else,can simtek cause a misfire in 4th gear ive changed my plugs 3 times with this issue
03 February 2012, 08:03 PM
#101
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: cornwall
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ive done the leads but not coilpack they dont seem to cause many problems,2 specialists and both have looked at or changed the plugs,do you know if the simtek has issues with a misfire? my symptoms are/were under load and a very violent misfire even causing my rr session to end
Last edited by snake1906; 03 February 2012 at 08:13 PM.
03 February 2012, 08:22 PM
#105
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: cornwall
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
hello andy no he didnt mention the ecu if memory serves? ambient temps may have been used but for it to have been the same 3 times in a row? well i say 3 times when it was 1st fitted the car would just stall when i stopped and wouldnt start again quite embarrassing when in a que of traffic,i think i may have strayed off the the thread purpose and apologies to all my last question is just the misfire?
03 February 2012, 08:44 PM
#106
03 February 2012, 09:12 PM
#108
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ECU Mapping - www.JollyGreenMonster.co.uk
Posts: 16,548
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
ive done the leads but not coilpack they dont seem to cause many problems,2 specialists and both have looked at or changed the plugs,do you know if the simtek has issues with a misfire? my symptoms are/were under load and a very violent misfire even causing my rr session to end
Oe leads are best, after market do not help
03 February 2012, 09:16 PM
#109
Former Sponsor
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ECU Mapping - www.JollyGreenMonster.co.uk
Posts: 16,548
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Mine does it sporadically, Granby's used to do it and I know of two others with unexplained 4th gear misfires one of which came from API, I guess mapped by Pat or Bob, so mapping pedigree. Nothing shows out of the ordinary on logging it's quite random. I know that this issue was highlighted with Steve back in 2008. My car has all new ignition components injectors etc, it's not my car
Unusual for misfire issues on a 92-96 car like yours 53 not to be coilpacks or plug gaps.
Log cc1 and cc2 errors. Should get a few on start up and then none.
Simon
03 February 2012, 09:19 PM
#110
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1,405
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I never said that original Simtek could not do knock control.I said that the progress towards relesing the upgrade was unacceptable and for this reason I decided to develop a new ECU.
I always believed Simtek could support KC; otherwise I would not have laboured for 3 years pushing the development project.
I don't understand comments that we were somehow negligent in letting these ECUs out with the potential to damage engines.If you stop to consider how this panacea of knock control works on non adaptive learning ECUs (syvecs and new simtek) then you might understand why we felt that knock warning was a suitable option:
With an ECU that does not "learn" where the det is occuring then the knock control strategy has to be like this:
1.knock is detected
2.depending on level of knock ign is retarded
3.knock stops
4.ECU then has to either remain retarded until keyoff and back on or increase ign back to normal level over a number of engine revs
5.if cause of knock (bad fuel etc) has not been resolved then knock will re-occur.
Start steps 1-5 again.....
That is why we made a point of introducing knock warning so that you had a visual (flashing CEL) alarm that knock was occuring.Maybe not all the dealers took the trouble to explain this to the customer when installing the ECU...
The new Simtek will still retain knock warning.It will also keep the CEL lit when high levels of knock have occured.
I always believed Simtek could support KC; otherwise I would not have laboured for 3 years pushing the development project.
I don't understand comments that we were somehow negligent in letting these ECUs out with the potential to damage engines.If you stop to consider how this panacea of knock control works on non adaptive learning ECUs (syvecs and new simtek) then you might understand why we felt that knock warning was a suitable option:
With an ECU that does not "learn" where the det is occuring then the knock control strategy has to be like this:
1.knock is detected
2.depending on level of knock ign is retarded
3.knock stops
4.ECU then has to either remain retarded until keyoff and back on or increase ign back to normal level over a number of engine revs
5.if cause of knock (bad fuel etc) has not been resolved then knock will re-occur.
Start steps 1-5 again.....
That is why we made a point of introducing knock warning so that you had a visual (flashing CEL) alarm that knock was occuring.Maybe not all the dealers took the trouble to explain this to the customer when installing the ECU...
The new Simtek will still retain knock warning.It will also keep the CEL lit when high levels of knock have occured.
Anders
good to hear
03 February 2012, 09:31 PM
#112
Subaru Tuning Specialist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 7.74 @179 mph 1/4 mile - road legal
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
There is no technical reason it can't be implemented as a fixed knock retard which resets on key off.
Regards the 4th gear miss, outside of coil packs which are load sensitive, I have never had an issue and I've mapped hundreds of them. You do need to watch where you leave the redundant maf plug/cable and how you route/screen the AIT as this can pick up electro magnetic interferance from the HT side of the coils if just allowed to 'dangle' in the wind.
Regards the 4th gear miss, outside of coil packs which are load sensitive, I have never had an issue and I've mapped hundreds of them. You do need to watch where you leave the redundant maf plug/cable and how you route/screen the AIT as this can pick up electro magnetic interferance from the HT side of the coils if just allowed to 'dangle' in the wind.
03 February 2012, 09:39 PM
#113
Granbys was a bit of an odd ball as the engine was an early engine converted to run in his car and the cam and crank signals were weak and it did therefore have a tendency to miss signals far more than it should have.
Unusual for misfire issues on a 92-96 car like yours 53 not to be coilpacks or plug gaps.
Log cc1 and cc2 errors. Should get a few on start up and then none.
Simon
Unusual for misfire issues on a 92-96 car like yours 53 not to be coilpacks or plug gaps.
Log cc1 and cc2 errors. Should get a few on start up and then none.
Simon
mine are spot on though. It's only random and it's only that I have discussed it with a few other Simtek users over the passed 3 years that I raise it again. It may be nothing but worthy of mention if nothing else but to dismiss it as coincidence.
03 February 2012, 09:59 PM
#115
Scooby Regular
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: cornwall
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is no technical reason it can't be implemented as a fixed knock retard which resets on key off.
Regards the 4th gear miss, outside of coil packs which are load sensitive, I have never had an issue and I've mapped hundreds of them. You do need to watch where you leave the redundant maf plug/cable and how you route/screen the AIT as this can pick up electro magnetic interferance from the HT side of the coils if just allowed to 'dangle' in the wind.
Regards the 4th gear miss, outside of coil packs which are load sensitive, I have never had an issue and I've mapped hundreds of them. You do need to watch where you leave the redundant maf plug/cable and how you route/screen the AIT as this can pick up electro magnetic interferance from the HT side of the coils if just allowed to 'dangle' in the wind.
03 February 2012, 10:14 PM
#117
Subaru Tuning Specialist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: 7.74 @179 mph 1/4 mile - road legal
Posts: 6,654
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Ok but watch the routing of the AIT wires, these wires are not screened but are connected via a screened cable which has cores within it that share a ground with the cam and crank signals.
04 February 2012, 03:01 AM
#118
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Oz
Posts: 941
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There is no reason why the maf should be unplugged as it still gives a stock look for those that need it for legal reasons but of course it is redundant.
Cutting the probe of so it isnt in the airflow is a good idea.
Cutting the probe of so it isnt in the airflow is a good idea.
04 February 2012, 09:18 AM
#119
Scooby Regular
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It needs to be unplugged if the MAF wiring is being used for the Air charge Temp sensor!
If the air intake wiring is being used (only on some JDM carss) and the software has been set to read this input then OK to leave MAF plugged in.
If the air intake wiring is being used (only on some JDM carss) and the software has been set to read this input then OK to leave MAF plugged in.