nickwrxstiV2

I have a WRX STI V.2 with full decat, induction kit and Apexi SAFC boost controller.

I would like to know if I can get the original ECU mapped or do I have to buy a replacement ECU such as a PowerFC or GEMS????

Also, would an aftermarket up pipe give me any advantages over standard?

Thanks!

SCOOBYD00

Speak to Andy F. My car is transformed. Good fair priced solution.

turboDean

iTrader: (4)

Pretty sure you have to change th ecu on anything early than 1999.

Speak to andy f like Scoobydoo said, top guy mapped my car yesterday.

Mo

Where are you based Nick, surely location must have some bearing on this for ongoing support.

DaveC1

Your ecu isn't mappable and an apexi safc isn't a boost controller, it's a fuel controller.
Have you still got the little slanty intercooler on it?

nickwrxstiV2

I'm based in Whitley bay, near Newcastle.

My car is still running the slanty intercooler, why? Thanks for the info on the SAFC, I thought it was a boost controller. What does the SAFC do then apart from raise and lower fuel input?

Cheers guys!

Mo

OK, not too far from AndyForrest Performance then.

Apexi PFC would be my weapon of choice then if you can afford it, I should imagine you are looking at around £800 supplied, fitted and mapped. You can get the chip within your ECU reflashed with a new map which would cost less but is a little short sighted as you would have no facility to make any future changes should you modify any other component(s)...........which you no doubt will

The beauty of the PFC is that with a basic understanding, which you could obtain if you pay attention throughout the initial mapping session, you can make minor alterations to suit you as and when.

DaveC1

I've got a V2 sti with a SAFC II. It just controls your fueling, but it does it in a way that you can set it all the way through the rev range, to suit the set up of your car. Don't mess with it yet because if you get it wrong you can do a lot of damage. Why I asked about your ic, the size of the eary ones (slanty one) was very limiting, and you can pick up later ones about £80 to £100. I've got a V4 STI on mine. Much better cooling and flow. You want to get all your mods, like this done before you get it mapped, because if you get mapped, then add more mods, you'll need remapping. More expense. When your ready for mapping, Andy F is up your end of the country. Everybody reckons he's the dogs.
Tell me more about your car. Has it had any modification already?

nickwrxstiV2

Cheers for the info guys!

Basically, the car is a V.2 WRX STI. It has the following mods -

H&S Decat downpipe
Blitz NUR Spec decat system
Blitz SUS induction kit
SAFC Fuel controller
Blitz blow off valve

It's recently been off the road as last Sunday night I broke down, I think it needs a rebuild by the sound of the engine. It won't even start. Got it booked in at AS Performance in Birtley tomorrow for the to diagnose and fix the problem.

My SAFC was set to positive 3 notchs when the breakdown happened. Could this have something to do with it??????

nickwrxstiV2

Forgot, it's got an HKS fuel defencer and is running 1.2 bar.

DaveC1

More likely the fueling wasn't right for that high boost. Avin said that, if its anything like mine, it runs fairly rich anyway, and 1.2bar is only about 17 psi, I think. Whats controlling the boost? MBC? Who has set up the SAFC?
I take it 'positive 3 notchs' means richend up a bit, so its unlikly that caused your damage( My SAFC II works diferently. I get a % correction readout)

nickwrxstiV2

Not to sure what is controlling the boost? The SAFC must be the version 1, it doesn't have a digital reading, it's just 5 dials in a line. First 1 contols idle I believe. Others have rpm numbers beneath them.

What could be controlling the boost? It does read 1.2 bar on my boost gauge?

Cheers!

nickwrxstiV2

Here is a link to a picture of my SAFC - http://www.toyotacelicaonline.com/celica1/safc.htm


Apparently the guy a bought it off said Power Engineering set it up.

DaveC1

Each dial represents a corection setting for a different RPMs(800rpm, 2400rpm, 4000rpm, 5600rpm, 7200rpm). It dosn't affect idle because below 20% throttle, the map is ignored and the lamda sensor takes over( closed loop mode ). I'd put money on it that you've got a MBC ,ie. blead valve or dawes device, somwhere between your turbo and actuator controlling the boost. When you eventually get a programable ecu, all this will become redundant. You should get a few quid for the safc on ebay or the for sale section on here

Roojai

You can get a scoobyecu chip mapped for your car, so essentially exactly the same as a remap. Scoobyclinic does it I think for around 400 quid

DaveC1

Is the scoobyecu the one that sits on the board in the ECU. At £400 its got to be considered

nickwrxstiV2

Just checked Scoobyclinic website, it's £380, not a bad price.

Does anyone know what the differences are between the Scoobyclinic ECU and Power FC? Is the PFC worth the extra cash?

If wanted to look for the manual boost controller, where would I look in the bay?

DaveC1

Is the scooby clinic thing a replacment ecu, piggy back chip or what?

Mo

As stated above in previous post...........

DaveC1

You can't remap or reflash the ecu on a V2 STI

nickwrxstiV2

Just checked the Scoobyclinic website again. The mapping needs a max of 2 hours on the rolling road. This brings the price to near £650.

I could get an Apexi PFC fitted and mapped by Andy F for £100 more! Must be worth it!

Anybody out there that can give me an idea of how it has changed their car???

Thnaks!

Mo

Remap, re-flash, chip, etc etc terminology aside I'm referring to the ScoobyECU or what ever people wish to call it. There are a number of people who can offer this service from ScoobycClinic, David Wallis and Zen Performance maybe??

nickwrxstiV2

Cheers Mo!

Anybody know where I look for the MBC under the hood?

DaveC1

Definitely power fc.
MBC will be in the pipes between turbo and actuator. Mine is infront of the intercooler to the left, near the BOV. Just a matter of following the pipes really. Have you had a look to see if your ecu is stock, Mine wasn't. Thats the other thing that could be giving you your 1.2 bar

nickwrxstiV2

As you may guess, I'm new to scooby ownership! Where abouts would the ECU be? Is it by the passanger footwell? How would I check if it is aftermarket?


Thanks!

DaveC1

Pull the carpet back where the passanger feet would be. Its under the kick plate, three nuts to remove. Let me know what it says on it, probably Z4, or maybe Prova.

nickwrxstiV2

Cheers Dave, you're a good help!

I'll have to look tomorrow as it's too dark outside at mo! I hope it hasn't got an after market ECU! Just because I want to get 1 and feel even more bhp and torque! If it's already got one then I'll have to think of other tuning options!

So if it says Z4 or Prova then I take it that the ECU is standard?

Thanks Dave!!!!

DaveC1

Not if it says prova. But don't panic if it does, a prova is just an eprom board in a standard ecu and not very suited to our fuel, so there is much improvment to be made still. Somthing is uping your boost, and we need to know what before moving on. Standard is 13.8 psi, I think, which is just under 1 bar, I think

nickwrxstiV2

Yeah, I'd like to know what is upping my boost! I think standard boost for my car is 0.9 bar? I'll check tomorrow and post again.

Could it just have a chip in it? In that case I wouldn't know until I took the cover of the ECU? Should I disconnect the battery?

Thanks!

DaveC1

Don't know, I never do but you probably should.
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=334074
This will help you with what to look for