Megasquirting my stock '99 NB
#1
Megasquirting my stock '99 NB
Hi guys,
I'm planning to install a turbo, probably a BEGI-S, in my '99 10AE. Before I do that, I need to rebuild the bottom end (leaks around the rings).
Before I do any of that, I'd like to get the Megasquirt installed and get some experience tuning it. I'll be doing a parallel install, to allow the stock ECU to control the alternator, AC, and basic OBD-II stuff for emissions testing. I may go full standalone sometime in the future, but I want to start here and learn how to tune the device.
I've been following Braineac's Post, but I'd like to get my Megasquirt pre-built so I don't have to learn assemble boards. I'll save that for another project, if possible.
Is thispre-assembled MS-1 pcb2.2 the right starting point?
To build my boomslang-style harness, I need a Megasquirt Tuning Cable (DB9 straight-through), a 18" Megasquirt pigtail harness, and a bunch of 64, 26, and 22 pin connectors. Does anyone sell the wiring harness pre-assembled for a parallel install in the NB?
I've also seen mod-kits described, but I'm not sure which ones are necessary for an NB parallel install. Do I (or will I, once I build the turbo) want the IAT, boost control, or relay fan control mods? I understand I don't need the IAC if I am running in parallel.
I'm planning to install a turbo, probably a BEGI-S, in my '99 10AE. Before I do that, I need to rebuild the bottom end (leaks around the rings).
Before I do any of that, I'd like to get the Megasquirt installed and get some experience tuning it. I'll be doing a parallel install, to allow the stock ECU to control the alternator, AC, and basic OBD-II stuff for emissions testing. I may go full standalone sometime in the future, but I want to start here and learn how to tune the device.
I've been following Braineac's Post, but I'd like to get my Megasquirt pre-built so I don't have to learn assemble boards. I'll save that for another project, if possible.
Is thispre-assembled MS-1 pcb2.2 the right starting point?
To build my boomslang-style harness, I need a Megasquirt Tuning Cable (DB9 straight-through), a 18" Megasquirt pigtail harness, and a bunch of 64, 26, and 22 pin connectors. Does anyone sell the wiring harness pre-assembled for a parallel install in the NB?
I've also seen mod-kits described, but I'm not sure which ones are necessary for an NB parallel install. Do I (or will I, once I build the turbo) want the IAT, boost control, or relay fan control mods? I understand I don't need the IAC if I am running in parallel.
#3
Boost Pope
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Posts: 33,556
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From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
I strongly council against purchasing the R2.2 pca. The R3.0 board is a much nicer design, and the cost difference is trivial.
If you were to use the MS-II CPU as opposed to the MS-I, you could use the stock NB cam and crank sensors and not have to deal with an NA CAS.
One option for your harness would be to purchase a "factory harness extension" from Boomslang. This product is exactly what the name implies- just a plain ole' male-to-female extension that goes between the factory ECU and the factory wiring. The idea is that it gives you a convenient place to do all your cutting and splicing, making the MS essentially a plug-n-play device. So on this extension, you'd cut the injector and ignition lines and bring the car-side of them over to the MS, tap into power, ground and the sensors, etc. The pigtail harness could be used for this purpose, though honestly it's not that hard to solder some wires into a DB37.
If you were to use the MS-II CPU as opposed to the MS-I, you could use the stock NB cam and crank sensors and not have to deal with an NA CAS.
One option for your harness would be to purchase a "factory harness extension" from Boomslang. This product is exactly what the name implies- just a plain ole' male-to-female extension that goes between the factory ECU and the factory wiring. The idea is that it gives you a convenient place to do all your cutting and splicing, making the MS essentially a plug-n-play device. So on this extension, you'd cut the injector and ignition lines and bring the car-side of them over to the MS, tap into power, ground and the sensors, etc. The pigtail harness could be used for this purpose, though honestly it's not that hard to solder some wires into a DB37.
#4
I've been following Braineac's Post, but I'd like to get my Megasquirt pre-built so I don't have to learn assemble boards. I'll save that for another project, if possible.
you can buy the same thing from DIYautotune prebuilt. they can even do the mods for you. then its a matter of buying/building a harness.
#5
I strongly council against purchasing the R2.2 pca. The R3.0 board is a much nicer design, and the cost difference is trivial.
If you were to use the MS-II CPU as opposed to the MS-I, you could use the stock NB cam and crank sensors and not have to deal with an NA CAS.
If you were to use the MS-II CPU as opposed to the MS-I, you could use the stock NB cam and crank sensors and not have to deal with an NA CAS.
I'm not too worried about the trivial cost differences - I just don't want to be too close to the cutting edge. I travel all the time for work, so my quality time with the car is limited to Saturday & Sunday. I only want to spend part of that time under the hood (or upside down with my head under the dash)
How many folks have had success with a parallel install on an NB using the R3.0 board?
you can buy the same thing from DIYautotune prebuilt. they can even do the mods for you. then its a matter of buying/building a harness.
Do I need the same mods for an R2.2 or an R3.0 board? MS-I CPU vs MS-II CPU?
#8
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 33,556
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From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
Incidentally, you NB guys have the most frakked up ECU location I have ever seen. My back is killing me today.
I'm not too worried about the trivial cost differences - I just don't want to be too close to the cutting edge. I travel all the time for work, so my quality time with the car is limited to Saturday & Sunday. I only want to spend part of that time under the hood (or upside down with my head under the dash)
And of course, using an extension harness means that you can do all the wiring sitting comfortably at your workbench, rather than standing on your head under the dash.
How many folks have had success with a parallel install on an NB using the R3.0 board?
#10
The only MS2 on NB stock sensors I've seen personally is AbeFMs, but then I've only seen two NB installs in total, and one of them we just did yesterday. Abe originally ran parallel, but finally manned up and went full standalone.
Incidentally, you NB guys have the most frakked up ECU location I have ever seen. My back is killing me today.
Incidentally, you NB guys have the most frakked up ECU location I have ever seen. My back is killing me today.
Thanks so much, again. That was totally AWESOME of you guys to help me as much as you did and I dont think I could ever thank you enough to repay what an invaluable service you guys performed for me. and BTW I ordered the LC-1 With a red Gauge. I just figured, 'do as the romans do' I'll also be ordering a tablet and fabbing up a mount similar to yours.
Maharashii, Listen to this guy. Him and AbeFM are the ****** MAN(s)
I will also Man up to full standalone as soon as I get it to a comfortably tuned level.
#11
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 33,556
Total Cats: 6,933
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
But here:
#14
Boost Pope
iTrader: (8)
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 33,556
Total Cats: 6,933
From: Chicago. (The less-murder part.)
The major problem was that he was trying to do a COP conversion at the same time as a MS conversion. The COPs were ones that I'd not seen previously, and they were either damaged or mis-wired, because any time you plugged one in (even with the MS out of the car) the 15A engine fuse immediately popped. We yanked them out and put the stock coils back on, and that fixed that.
I went through the ECU wiring pretty carefully (or at least, as carefully as a person can while standing on his head for three hours under the baking sun in a flat black car on a 100° day, watching other people drink his beer) and noticed one other abnormality. He used the piece of shielded coaxial wire that came with the MS pigtail for the CKP input as per your writeup, with the center conductor at DB-37 pin 24 and the shield at pin 2.
On the other end of that cable however, the shield was spliced into a wire of the factory ECU harness. My memory is hazy, but I believe it was a green/orange wire which we determined to be pin 2K- goes to the instrument cluster and the diag connector. I'm pretty sure it's the tach wire. So that wire was being grounded through the MS. Pulled it.
Anyway, the car starts and runs, though it's quite rough. Without a wideband it's hard to know where we are, and by the time we got to that point we were all pretty tired and just happy to see it running at all. For some reason, even though the O2 wire appeared to be connected I didn't seem to be getting a reading from it. Ignored that since a wideband is in the plan.
Also, I seem to recall that the MAP read a bit high- like 40-50kPa at what passed for idle. TeamPlur- if you're reading this, check very thoroughly for vacuum leaks on that line, and also tell me where on the manifold it connects, I forgot to check.
While trying to figure this out, Abe pointed out that we had no idea what the stock ECU was trying to do with the IAC valve- aargh! One of the frustrations of a parallel install.
I went through the ECU wiring pretty carefully (or at least, as carefully as a person can while standing on his head for three hours under the baking sun in a flat black car on a 100° day, watching other people drink his beer) and noticed one other abnormality. He used the piece of shielded coaxial wire that came with the MS pigtail for the CKP input as per your writeup, with the center conductor at DB-37 pin 24 and the shield at pin 2.
On the other end of that cable however, the shield was spliced into a wire of the factory ECU harness. My memory is hazy, but I believe it was a green/orange wire which we determined to be pin 2K- goes to the instrument cluster and the diag connector. I'm pretty sure it's the tach wire. So that wire was being grounded through the MS. Pulled it.
Anyway, the car starts and runs, though it's quite rough. Without a wideband it's hard to know where we are, and by the time we got to that point we were all pretty tired and just happy to see it running at all. For some reason, even though the O2 wire appeared to be connected I didn't seem to be getting a reading from it. Ignored that since a wideband is in the plan.
Also, I seem to recall that the MAP read a bit high- like 40-50kPa at what passed for idle. TeamPlur- if you're reading this, check very thoroughly for vacuum leaks on that line, and also tell me where on the manifold it connects, I forgot to check.
While trying to figure this out, Abe pointed out that we had no idea what the stock ECU was trying to do with the IAC valve- aargh! One of the frustrations of a parallel install.
#19
I read the one located here:
https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13676
If I want to run MS-II, I'll just need to substitute This
Rather than This. Correct?
https://www.miataturbo.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13676
If I want to run MS-II, I'll just need to substitute This
Rather than This. Correct?