jungle

Sorry for the ignorant question, but I am by no means a car guru other than on simple stuff people have explained to me, and as I have no money to toy with this stuff on my own, I can't just go out and buy one and throw it in (can you even just throw it in?) and fiddle. Either way, what exactly is an ECU, what does it help do, and why do I need one so desperately bad? (According to the 3rd Gen FAQ about after buying your first FD). Keep in mind all of this is currently research for a new FD, as my FC is sitting with dead clutch in my driveway.

Midnightdriver

you need to do way more research before trying to play around with cars kid

jungle

well that's why I asked the question, I'm NOT playing around with my cars until I have a pretty good idea of what's going on with it, and what everything that you folks talk about does. I hear tale of ECU's being an almost 'required' update to a car before mods are done (or at least before 4 are done) so that the car can operate better under new circumstances not generated by stock performance. I have an idea, like that Power FC is a newbie's dream and that if you put one on the car it's essentially a guaranteed slightly better performance, and that there are a few other ECU's that fiddle with idle ranges, cooling, air/fuel mix ratios, and all that jive, and that you can sit there with a computer and tinker with it, but my question is, what EXACTLY does one do with an ECU? I mean it's obviously the computer core of the car, but how MUCH does it control, what is it's limitations, why do they say that I need one so badly when I get an FD and intend on modding it? Sorry for sounding ignorant, as I first stated, but not all of us have people around us that know cars as well as you folks do, in fact I'd wager to say that I'm the only person I know that has even an incling of what an ECU is, and I'm nowhere near scratching even the surface of understanding one!



So please, an explanation? I've at least brought it to the right forum, and searched in other forums for the answer, but alas have not found it. My other post that I'm going to make is for what EXACTLY to look for in buying an FD. I made a horrible mistake in buying the first FC I got my hands near and I'm carless and hating it now, so I won't make that same mistake twice.

Joe Flo

No Money, No Job= No FD



Sorry dude, but I just bought a FD from a guy who couldn't afford to keep up with his car. No I am busy replacing all these little cheap parts that he put in my car. They are not cheap to maintain and I do not recommend buying one if you can't keep up with it.

MazdaMike

standalone ecu can control everything. boost, ignition timing, fuel injection, u can turn sensors on and off, etc...

most common standalone ecu is prolly the power fc which will cost u bout 1200 u could go with bigger better and more complicated but thats a whole nother ball park

piggyback ecu's tap into the existing stock ecu and let u tamper with stock fuel maps. with these u can alter ur air fuel ratio but not as mmuch and as precise as u would be able to with a standalone.

some piggybacks are like the apexi s-afc and... actually i cant really think of any off the top of my head other than that.



standalones are usually a lot more expensive but are much better and worth the extra money.



from ur sig it dont look like u should be worring about an ecu though. fix ur existing problems and pick up maybe a bigger radiator then u can do some basic mods like a downpipe... after that maybe u should start lookin into ecu's

j9fd3s

ecu = engine control unit



mike

yayer

good job mikes. i appologize jungle for the rude comments above the proper answers to your question, it's pretty irritating to see people asking questions and instead of having them answered being told that they don't deserve their car.. WTF. I'm glad you took it like a man and responded with maturity instead of making a fool out of yourself like a lot of people do.

jungle

Thanks all, and especially Joe Flo for the concern of the cheap part fixings, and I agree wholeheartedly - the reason I'm researching an FD is because August 23rd I ship off for the Navy and will be an Electrician's Mate in the Nuclear Field (i.e. - E3 in boot camp) and the paycheck and money I earn from THAT job will be my FD support. The current FC will not be repaired (other than the clutch if I get a job), and whoever redoes my engine is free to part out anything they want from my car in a quasi-trade deal (I.E. - If you take this car, do a better job?) I dunno yet, it might just sit until one day when I have exorbiant amounts of cash to restore it to, possibly, to better-than-stock condition.

jackdhammer

Hey man I'm down the block from you. As a matter of fact I've met this guy before and of all the kids who ask about my car (and we all know how that is) he had obviously put in the research time about the car (at least stock) I was pretty impressed. So cut him some slack. Anyway man, I have a Power FC and a few other mods plus I have put in a fair amount of wrench time and time talking to reputable shops. Plus I spend at least an hour a day on this forum (skate job ) so If you have any questions about how something looks, sounds or fits (provided I have it) or if you just want to know what one is like on the road. Hit me up. Or go to the street races on saturday nights. I usually stop by once or twice a month just to check out the cars.

Srce

Thanks for the simple great answer!