Aftermarket ECU's

D

DiscoEd

Guest
Well, I wasn't going to open this can of worms, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.


Given the complexity and other Lucas related issues with the Disco's, Has anyone ever given thought to using an aftermarket ECU.

I've started doing a little research on this subject just in case I can't find a reasonable fix for my no start problems.

I see that Accel/DFI makes a unit called the GEN VII. This may be one possible alternative. I say "may be", because after repeated attempts to get some info on this unit Accel/DFI has yet to return my calls/emails.

As I like to say, "Ignoring a potential customer is a sure way to create a competitor".

So anyway, being the engineer that I am, I have even considered developing my own system.

Lets face it, even though LR blew this whole multi-ECU, electronics nightmare out of proportion, the fact is on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of technology, this stuff would fall in at about a 2. Your cell phone is blowing this thing away and it probably hasn't failed you once. Sure the battery in the cell phone dies, but you don't have to stick a key in, turn it to the right, twice, push a button, pat yourself on the head and rub your stomache all at the same time to get it working again.

Wouldn't it be great to have one box that keeps the engine running. Reliably!

It's late I'm getting punchy here...

Dance the Night Away!
DiscoEd

p.s. Give me a chance to brace my self for the frontal assault of replies :eek:
 
Joey

Joey

Well-known member
Apr 19, 2004
976
0
Liberty Township, Ohio
I have checked with a few manufactures of electronic equipment....ECU's and ECU programming units... they have all told me that Land Rovers are not large enough number (potential customers) to design anything for them.
 
Str0ud

Str0ud

Well-known member
Apr 20, 2004
492
6
53
Iowa
DiscoEd said:
As I like to say, "Ignoring a potential customer is a sure way to create a competitor".

So anyway, being the engineer that I am, I have even considered developing my own system.

Lets face it, even though LR blew this whole multi-ECU, electronics nightmare out of proportion, the fact is on a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of technology, this stuff would fall in at about a 2. Your cell phone is blowing this thing away and it probably hasn't failed you once. Sure the battery in the cell phone dies, but you don't have to stick a key in, turn it to the right, twice, push a button, pat yourself on the head and rub your stomache all at the same time to get it working again.

Wouldn't it be great to have one box that keeps the engine running. Reliably!

It's late I'm getting punchy here...

Dance the Night Away!
DiscoEd

p.s. Give me a chance to brace my self for the frontal assault of replies :eek:
Click to expand...

DiscoEd Van Halen, Build it, and they will come.
 
D

DiscoEd

Guest
I'm not giving up that easily!

So far only one company I have contacted regarding their aftermarket systems have replied. I'm not going to spill the beans about who has and hasn't yet, but this sure doesn't say much for kind of support you would hope to get with such aftermarket systems.

That having been said...

I've looked at a lot of specs on these systems and there are some that might fit the bill and some that clearly will not. I will post more as I learn more.

Regards,
DiscoEd
 
p m

p m

Administrator
Staff member
Apr 19, 2004
15,643
867
58
La Jolla, CA
www.3rj.org
I would probably uprate it to 3.5 on your scale - the damn thing has to work at 200F or so under the hood, moisture etc. on top of that.

But yes, it isn't rocket science. You'll run into a lot of research with a scope - say, what are the signals from the cam and crank sensors, what is the knock sensor signal, what are the signals from TPS, MAF, ECT, fuel temperature, etc. sensors, and how linear they are. LR is unlikely to hand you all the ICDs for this stuff.
The output stage - drivers for fuel injectors and coils - is piece of cake.
The simpler way to deal with that would be to find the similar engine and adapt the wiring harness for its ECU - Ford 4.6 ECU looks like the prime candidate; this application must have large enough market for people making adjustments to fuel and ignition timing maps.
 
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ShaunP

Guest
Sensor values are not normally a problem, both the Motec and EMS will take feeds from just about any or you simply change the sensor. They have options in the set up to calibrate the ecu to tps etc. Just takes some dyno time. I have spoken to Peter at EMS on a number times but then I'm in Australia so I just ring him. All top end motor sport in Australia uses Motec.
 
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syoung

Guest
I believe the ecu used in the Volvo T5 wagon I used to race was made by Motec. I wasn't allowed to tinker with it, but I recall watching the tech remap stuff and tune it with a laptop- it was some pretty amazing stuff.
 
S

ShaunP

Guest
Bazzle the Mega squirt is pretty basic and unless it has changed would not map ignition timing, which is ok for a car with a distributor, unlike the OZ spec cars the US cars don't all run a dissy, and I think the Mega would really stuggle to get the US guys even close to their smog tests because I don't think it has enough inputs, they are cheap however and would be fine in OZ. I'm betting the minimum the US guys will get away with is a MOTEC or EMS
 
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