LINK Ecu - Thoughts?

[joshg123]

Ive got the choice of ECU, between LINK, EMS, and Microtech.

EMS ive read up on, they seem like a decent unit, have seen a few people using them. Heard good things about them. not seen one on my series of motor

Microtech - everyone with my car over east uses them, some are putting out 330whp on them and dont seem to have any problems, and they are sworn to be the ECU to use for the mazda 1.8 engine. But they sometimes just die in the arse

LINK - Ive spoken to link via email and they offered me a pretty decent price on the new unit as a direct plug in for my loom. Ive read up on these on pwrx and they seem to be liked over there on the boxer motor.

My question is this, whats the best universal ECU, a link may be good on the boxer, but is it any good on other motors? My mazda stock ecu is not bad and with a safc can support around 200whp, but i want to hit over the 300 mark and need a computer.

The main things im looking for

Tunability,
The ability to run 2 seperate maps stored in the ECU
Reliabliity,
Fuel economy is not a turning point, but a decent comprimise would be nice.

I dont care about

Idle quality,
Antilag
In built boost control
Fancy pants features like launch control


If anyone using either ecu could give me a quick review on how they personally found it that would be great! This isnt a inter-ECU war, i want to make sure i get the best overall computer.

[AD4M]

EMS all the way
microtech have alot of faults, my tuner has sent back more than he can count, only ever sent one EMS back due to a wiring fault that cooked it

who tunes link in perth? who has the software to support it?

why would you need two maps? just run two boost settings on a ebc theres your two diferent maps lol

fuel economy comes down to your right foot, i get beter fuel economy with my foot flat :P but then again i dont run a o2 sensor (dont NEED to run it with ems but it is supported in the ecu)

your going to get told so many diferent opinions, it all comes down to what your tuner prefers/knows what works best for your aplication

[joshg123]

Ive never had a car thats needed standalone before, so im a tuning virgin.

Ive gotta choose a ECU and ive gotta choose a tuner at the same time

[AD4M]

the EMS can be wired as a piggy back or stand alone (pretty sure all wire in ecu's are capable of that), i went stand alone just for simplicity but ive used 3 out of my 4 external outputs doing so (idle control, fuel pump trigger and tacho output) i can use my 4th for either launch control,rotational,antilag,nos and the list goes on

i can recomend a tuner i have used, Mick at ovaboost. but there are many outher good tuners out there that are more than capable. its probably best to find your tuner befor your ecu

[Lump]

what about haltec? i had that on a awd mazda B6T, it was awesome.
if not, go the stinger

[ENEMIE]

lots of people use and tune link ant, lumpy, lee st rsm i had it on my car for years could really fault it as one of the cheaper computers on the market. the link plus is good option too has heaps of fetures includin knock readings launch control cooler water spray most things u dont get without spending up big with autronics or motec

[lysdexia]

i'd decide on a tuner first, and discuss with them what ecu will be best to use

[TJ]

Moved to correct section.

[Mandee]

From experience (and 3 years ownership), Link aren't a bad ECU.

Obviously built down to a price with less features than, say, a MoTeC or Autronic (batch fired only rather than sequential, less resolution, etc), but if you find the right tuner, they can be made to work REALLY well.

They make the power, thats for sure! Fuel economy is same as my MoTeC, but I had less mods...so I'd say the MoTeC is more economical.

EMS standalone, on paper, is a much better unit, and we all know what Microtechs can and cant do...

Really, it comes down to who is tuning it.

[DCIEVE]

Had link+ wire in ecu on previous car. No one liked tuning it, never sorted cold or warm start, was generally a pig all round. It was cheap to start with but ended up costing me more than an Autronics would have.

Have only heard good things about EMS.

[_tinny]

i had a old version of link running a fj20, bad cold start, used fuel, tuned and ran fine, but not smooth and nice. maybe cos of old version...
i have now changed to microtech and its a dream, cold start, tunes up better smooth and good. also have mtech in a sr, goes good also. mates of mine have mtechs too, no probs, link on subi no worries, not sure on anything else.

ems seems to be good, lots of points on the map you can tune to. ( create your own incremants far as i know)?

hard choice to make, i agree choose a tuner talk to them and then decide

[joey89]

Got a link PnP in my car . . .

Its no autronic or motec but does serve its purpose and performs well.

I got mine tuned by leigh at Revlimit motorsport done a awesome job got good power and drives nice with no problems so far other than the idel creeping up and down every now and then nothing to lose sleep about use's abit more fuel but i also got bigger turbo more boost etc at the same time but yeah like i said serves its purpose no real compliants . . .

Overall i think they are a good bang for your buck i picked mine up at a pretty good price so yeah hope this helps you!

[eunos]

pick a tuner before you pick an ecu, the power is in the tune not the ecu itself.

[Joe]

PLEASE STOP DIGGING UP OLD THREADS!!

P.S.,


The power is in the tune not the ecu itself.

A Wolf 2D and a Pectel T10S can both make the same power. One costs $200 and the other is $20,000.

SO therefore, the "power" isn't in the tune, the driveability and cold start ability is...and any ECU can make the same power, because WOT air/fuel ratios are easy to tune. Its everything in between thats the challenge.