Haltech and CA

[Supra7]

After getting pissed off at my stock harness and deciding it was a :fruit :biggun: I went ahead and ordered a haltech for this car. I was wondering if anyone on this forum was running a true standalone. I will keep you guys posted as I complete the install and get her up and running..... If anyone needs a harness or ECU, let me know, otherwise I am going to burn them out of disqust! :thumbd :naughty

[NeedCAforS13]

I'll take the harness... it might come in handy some time:) Let me know how much you want for it (don't need the ECU, but you can sell it on eBay or I'll take it and sell it on eBay;))

I'll be on AIM for awhile too:)

Sean

[Nismo1182]

what happend with the stock harness? If it was complete and uncut, then its easy as pie to wire it up. It took me 15 minutes to do mine.

[cortina-mk1]

supra 7 yes im running a standalone (as you call them) ECU on our CA18detwe run autronic SMC

[boost_boy]

otherwise I am going to burn them out of disqust!

Ahhh, another board memeber who's had about enough of fighting with the stock system. We feel your pain, man! I also use a standalone fuel management system called "SDS" or simple digital system as another board member "drumma022" uses the same system with much success. There are a couple of decent systems on the market like the Autronic SMC like cortina-mk1 mentioned, microtec, haltec, wolf 3D,etc. I know of only one other CA18DET guy that actually have the haltec installed on his vehicle as I type and another board member in the progress of using one on his built CA18DET. Any which way it go, you'll find that you are now in control of your motor as opposed to just basically doing whatever the factory stuff will let you do. In some cases the factory stuff works great and some cases, it's an omen. Good luck and welcome to the world of standalone and no more air flow meter;) .

[Xero]

I've been looking into Electromotive's TEC-3, but it's a bit on the expensive side. I downloaded their tuning software and I've been playing with it, very extensive, it'll take a while for me to get it up and running, but I need to get the engine first. I sure hope their tech support is really good, I'm gonna need it

[nismoplsr]

i am running a Haltech E6K in my pulsar with ca18det

i think im the one boost boy is talkin bout

[boost_boy]

i think im the one boost boy is talkin bout

Yes he's the one. How's the car running "Steve"? Any more upgrades?

Dee

[nismoplsr]

well was runnin awsome for a while, but it just started miss firing under high boost, starts around 8 psi, i am thinking its either plugs or coils, gunna check them out today

not so many upgrades, i am back at college now so i am kinda poor

but i do have a sweet spearco intercooler thats goin on this week, gunna have the haltech controlling boost this week too.

thats gunna be it till i save for a t3/04e

[CA19DET]

i got a E6K, i bought it with a Hraness for the CA18DET that someone else had made. will be installing shortly, my harness was made using the stock crank trigger and coils etc... never started the motor with it, will give more info when i do, if you wish you can PM/email me and i'll try to help anyway i can.

[float_6969]

Sean, I need that harness more than you do, so lay off biatch! JK! Anyway, CA19DET, you've got mail.

[Supra7]

Anyone have a base map for me for a stock engine...thats all I need...Ive done a BOAT load of Standalone ecu installs including on SR's....and as far as Electromotives Tech support, It used to be better when their lead tech was named Pete.... Now its a bit tuff cuz their lead tech now is also the president of the company, so he has less time to help....I love my tec 3 though

-- Edit- I wouldnt buy another Tec3.....its cool, but not worth the extra change-- Haltech is my fave.....

[float_6969]

I'm gonna use the Apex Power FC. Kinda hard to get for the CA though...

[NeedCAforS13]

its back on ebay Ryan;)

Sean

[float_6969]

I know, I've been watching it for weeks. But my swap has managed to take all of my dough. Which really sucks, cuz after I get this in all I'll still need is a new turbo, boost control and tuning. I got those Nismo 550cc injectors yesterday so I'm all set. Oh well, I know what my extra student aid money is going to! hehehe

[CA19DET]

i heard you can use the SR fc with the pins changed on a SR plug to suit the CA, kinda confusing but i think you understand.

[float_6969]

I wouldn't see any reason you couldn't really. I have a CA pinout, I might have to take a look at the SR pinout and see how different they are. If I could make that work, it would be no problem getting one, plus I could get the upgraded unit that eliminates the MAFS. If I can't do that, I'm prob gonna get the normal Power FC and then get an HKS VPC. Dang MAFS...

[CA19DET]

why not a Greddy Emanage with software, ignition harnedd and injector harness, you can sue 550cc injectors, get the presure harness and use the 2 bar map sensor, so when your stock/Z32 AFM is maxed out (Z32 AFM is good for 500hp) the map sensor will take over in calculating fuel/timing,

And if 4x550cc injectors are not enough you can use the additional injector subharness. all this and have datalogging, laptop fuel & ignition timing (now that its fixed for teh CA w/ v1.2).

ig you get the E-01 you'll have all that with incar tunerbility along with boost controll etc, all for the cost of teh power FC & commander without boost controll and the mapsensor etc...

think about ti TRUST is one of the biggest in japan for a reason, and this si choice product fi tunned and installed correctly.. very powerfulll..

but also dont forgoet about SDS, the Power FC and others, they are fantastic engine management systems...

[float_6969]

PERSONALLY, I don't like laptop systems. I'm also not afraid of wiring, but if I can get a system that is practically plug and play, I'd much rather go that route. I'd never get anywhere near 500hp so I don't really need the MAP sensor upgrade, but I just don't like MAFS in general. There are alot of different systems out there, and I think some research on your part will help you decide wich will work best for you. I've done research on it and I know that for my aplication, I would like the Power FC, second would be SDS/emanage, then haltech, and then down from there.

[Supra7]

I have used everything but the SDS...Haltech is my favorite...Ive used the SDS software...and still prefer Haltech....Also, if you want a hand controler, look into Microtech...its pretty cool, just has no closed loop

[boost_boy]

I have used everything but the SDS...Haltech is my favorite...Ive used the SDS software...and still prefer Haltech....Also, if you want a hand controler, look into Microtech...its pretty cool, just has no closed loop

I didn't know SDS has software. What are you referring to? Everyone is entitled to use what they want because it's their money, their car and whatever; but when you sit down and compare user-friendly as well accessibility, coupled with simplicity, the SDS and microtec systems win.

TEC systems are too expensive, too difficult for most novice tuners to tune and requires the forbidden laptop. Haltec is rather expensive, can be a pain to tune (this I do know), has miliion extra wires that you won't be using, provides some features that SDS and microtec does not and still not a bad system if you want to play with the forbidden laptop thinking you're Paul Walker from the fast and the furious.

I'll find out more about the microtec as I'm going to install one today on a friends 240sx with CA18DET motor. And as for the SDS, one may say I'm biased towards it because I've owned a few of these systems, but at least I did my homework before I invested in them. IMHO and after watching many tuners blow up motors and attempting to blame it on software issues with the haltech, I chose the SDS system because it was about as straight-forward a system that my money could've purchased.

Tuning is not easy, but if you know your motor and understand the concepts and philosophy of tuning, timing, fuel and ignition, on e would then see why these systems are so trust worthy. I wrecklessly ran my T2/T3 hybrid open boost from Moroso motorsports park back to my house in Miami which is roughly over 80 miles and my motor loved every minute of it. I contribute most of that on the fact that my tuning may have not been the most efficient, but at least failsafe nontheless.

Here it is some 2 years later, I've installed a few more SDS systems for SR20 guys and CA18DET guys as well and the result was the same "No broken motors". Everyone is happy in my SDS tuning ring whereas some of my other associates who use haltech and DTA have been fighting with haltech tech support after customers engines have been popping. Could just be the tuner, who knows.

But I do know that unless you are competent at tuning, you may as well put the life of your engine in the hands of someone else.

[float_6969]

So how do you become competent at tuning. I personally feel a have a pretty good grasp of the concepts of fuel and ignition management, but I've never actually tuned before. Is this someing you should get some sort of training or eduction in, or is it trial and error?

[boost_boy]

Is this someing you should get some sort of training or eduction in, or is it trial and error?

Tuning is the art of tweaking one's engine to optimal parameters using the knowledge you have of the engine in question and your general understanding of the do's and don'ts of making high performance changes to a car/engine. Trial and error is certainly prevalent in the business of turbocharging, but you can minimize your chances of puking your internals by reading all the valuable information being spewed all over this forum and the internet.

I learned the hard way. Blew up 3 CA18DET engines in whch one had forged pistons that lasted less than a thousand miles, so I think I've definitely paid my dues and after nearly 8 years of screwing with the CA engines, I now have a clear understanding of what it likes and what it dont like. It hates the factory system and highboost. It hates crappy installs and botched-up wiring jobs. It hates the T25 with a passion, it hates excessive timing unlike the SR20 and it loves abuse.

[Supra7]

The control box is the software I was refering too, there are a few supras that have em around here....And im sorry the Haltech and TEC systems dont spoon feed you and are more involved...and I never considered 900$ expensive.....also the tec 3 is only 1700$ now....how much is your SDS...1200? As far as the tuning...Making 2nd gen RX-7's go fast is what pays for my mods ...if I can tune more rotary's than you can count on both hands to 350+ RWHP and have them running for 2+ years dont worry about me on the CA18.......As for the "forbidden" laptop....unless you want to datalog in the case of the E6X or E6K which dont have onboard or change maps...what do you need it for agian?

[boost_boy]

The control box is the software I was refering too

If you're talking about the hand controller, I would hardly call that thing soft, but whatever.

And im sorry the Haltech and TEC systems dont spoon feed you and are more involved

Spoon feed? None of these systems spoon you nor me nor anyone for that matter. It's just that I chose this one over the others and am very content with my choice. They all have their pros and cons and that's the beauty of it, you choose whichever you think will fortify your needs. You chose haltech, I chose SDS and others here like the power FC or even JWT (god forbid).

and I never considered 900$ expensive

Is that what you paid for your haltech? You must have an E6S or something like that or just got one heck of a hook-up because haltechs are not that cheap especially if you want accesories like 3 bar map sensor and all the other goodies that may be needed. ANd for the average person who wants to upgrade, if he/she doesn't have a laptop readily available, it's going to be pretty hard programming the ecu.

how much is your SDS...1200?

I purchase multiple systems that are complete with all the accesories I need to fast idle the car, A/C f/p control/ fan control and the cost is more closer to $1300 or a bit over. Worth the money I've spent and I'll spend it again and again if need be. It works and especially is CA18DET friendly because you get to remove the bulky idle control section, air regulator, coilpacks, crank angle sensor whereas the haltech will allow you to keep these components. I happen to like the extra space and my car fast idles with A/C and cold start. Some people prefer to keep the CAS, stock coilpacks and idle control section as well as the air regulator. To each his own, but at least mine is proven and I'm almost sure folks around here would love to see your car in action with the haltech controlling it; I know I would.

[float_6969]

This is one of those things that has no right or wrong answer. To each is their own. I like the Power FC, Dee likes SDS, you (Supra7) like the Haltech. Nobody has said that you are wrong for liking the Haltech unit. I think Haltech is a good unit, but it's just not right for me. Dee has said the same thing. If the Power FC and SDS didn't exist, that would be my first choice. Let's not get personal about this please. No body was putting down anybody, and lets please keep it that way.

[nismoplsr]

i paid a lil over $900 for my e6k then 60 for bar 3 map and like $50 for the connector kit.

[CA19DET]

i paid 900 for everything associated with my E6K (3 bar map, connectors, software etc etc..)

so it can be had for cheap.....

[boost_boy]

i paid 900 for everything associated with my E6K (3 bar map, connectors, software etc etc..)

I'm not here to question the cost of a haltech system because those prices vary tremendously and even the average cost of one is over a grand which doesn't include the cost of a laptop, installation or tuning and /or software. I'm more of a tune-on-the-fly type individual who's in tune with my motors. I know them, I feel them, I understand them and the fact that I can change paramaters on the fly via the hand held works for me.

Most of the guys down here use either haltech, some use DTA, a bunch of SDS users, microtec users, a bunch of emanage lovers and the list goes on. How much you pay is irrelevant to the way your car/engine performs. I

've seen more disasters at the hands of haltech and the programmer as well as JWT users with me being an ex JWT ecu owner. And when I say more I mean alot and you should hear the excuses. People blame the computers or something haltech related. Bottom line, who is really at fault. Is it really system related or is it user error. Once again, reputable tuners same issues, different shops.

So whatever system you use I wish you the best of luck. And however much you spent on it, I hope it was money well spent and hopefully you achieve the goals you want with whatever you purchased.

I'm done on the comparison and cost thing. Get your cars to the dyno and put out some figures that's worthy of a standalone and anything under 200whp is horrible for a car with a standalone because you can do that with the stock ca18det and it's stock fuel system.

[Supra7]

The tuner is at fault for breaking ****...like all the rotor heads who have ignition break up problems with their haltechs at high revs......people who do not know blame the equipment for their own uneducated mistakes....Ill openly admit that I love to blow **** up.... No better way to learn than make a mistake that costs you any money! And I have gone to the dyno, which sheet for which car would you like? As for the CA18, Ill be sure to keep you guys posted And all standalones do the same god damn thing, its just people defend what they like/use, but when faulty info is spread, like the haltech being expensive, that bothers me...I will sell you a Haltech E6K (While i can still get them, E6X is supposed to be about 100$ more spendy) with a flying lead harness and all sensors including 4 wire 02 and 3 bar map sensor for 950$ all day long shipped....And microtech's for 750ish.....I dont like Microtech though, as it does not have Closed loop 02, so I would much rather sell you a haltech