ECU's Autronic sm4 Vs Haltech platinum 1000 [Archive]

180SXTCY

24-01-2010, 05:22 PM

G'day

its coming close to the point where i need to purchase an ecu for my s15, with a built sr20 that will be running a fair bit of boost, gas etc..

im a massive fan of the autronic sm4, however i have been speaking with some people who are telling me to go the haltech platinum 1000 as they are a newer unit, cheaper, can do everything the autronic can do etc etc..

another bonus with the haltech is that i can get a patch loom so it makes wiring easy as 1 2 3...

for tuners, if i go the autronic hyperdrive or all star would be my chosen tuners..

if i go haltech.. i 'hear' aaron at intune is the man?

anyone shed some light...tell me about your experiences etc etc..

thanks
john

Lonewolf

24-01-2010, 05:54 PM

heard that the new link G4 storm = vipec = autronic
have plug in for sr20det and not badly priced.

ASG can do Haltech as well if you go that path

joshg123

24-01-2010, 06:10 PM

joshg123

24-01-2010, 06:11 PM

heard that the new link G4 storm = vipec = autronic

Link G4 = Vipec, but Vipec does not = autronic.

Vipec is just a rebadged G4, AFAIK there are no software differences

180SXTCY

24-01-2010, 06:24 PM

not keen on power fc, ran one on my last built sr20 in the 180sx and it was a bit average imo.

Lonewolf

24-01-2010, 06:25 PM

Choose your tuner before your ecu.

I have a SM4 and i love it, very easy for me to do bits and pieces at my workshop now i have my head around it and just leave the important bits to sean.

Not keen on PFC?

Said he wanted to run Gas, pfc doesnt have any auxillary outputs.
If he could run PFC he could run nistune which is cheaper and better anyway.

My bad on the autronic vs vipec, either way, still a good option.

180SXTCY

24-01-2010, 06:34 PM

has anyone of you two, used a haltech plat 1000 series?

personally i was leaning autronic way but yeah..

AD4M

24-01-2010, 06:35 PM

ray hall created autronic, then left them to create vipec.

vipec are manufactured by link to rays specs.

Like Josh said choose your tuner befor ecu.

Saf

24-01-2010, 07:07 PM

Vipec is just a rebadged G4, AFAIK there are no software differences

Really ?. I know Ray Hall would differ in his opinion, best you call him and ask before assuming that on public forums.

DCIEVE

24-01-2010, 08:19 PM

ray hall created autronic, then left them to create vipec.

.

:lol: :lol:
He might have created the autronic support forum. The ecu? No.

I do recall in the Vipec thread on SAU one of the tuners commenting the softwares were very similar. I'm not sure why people feel the need to distance Vipec from Link given by all reports they're both good ecu's and Vipec is the obvious choice given the excellent local support??

180SXTCY

24-01-2010, 08:27 PM

dont want a shit fight in ere boys..just wanna know bout these ecu's.. lol

DCIEVE

24-01-2010, 08:35 PM

Pick your tuner and use the ecu they recommend. All the ecu's mentioned here will do the job..

The problem with asking for opinions is people tend to defend the one they've made/spent money on (or when it comes to ecu's, the allegiance they've chosen!!).

mitchy

24-01-2010, 08:44 PM

as everyone else has said... pick a tuner, then an ecu.

AD4M

24-01-2010, 08:55 PM

He might have created the autronic support forum. The ecu? No.

yeh sorry your right, he was tech support for autronic not the creater.

putting all that knowledge into your own product and improving where others fail can only be a good thing

iluv2moan

24-01-2010, 09:53 PM

yeh sorry your right, he was tech support for autronic not the creater.

putting all that knowledge into someone elses product and renaming it can only be a good thing

fixed

joshg123

24-01-2010, 10:35 PM

Really ?. I know Ray Hall would differ in his opinion, best you call him and ask before assuming that on public forums.

Im making no assumptions, i recently looked into it as i purchased one for a customers car.

Heres a thread to ponder, its what got me thinking and then asking questions. Im not going to name names but i have it on very reputable authority. Hence my comment.

Ive personally seen the two side by side, the packaging is the same, the ecu is identical in construction, plugs, lights etc etc is all the same, serial numbers.

http://4gtuner.com/site/showthread.php?p=160544

I also took a look at the software, and its uncanny resemblance to each other.

http://www.vi-pec.com/page_files/software.htm

http://www.linkecu.com/support/downloads/pclink-download

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/joshg123/vipecv1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/joshg123/link1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y220/joshg123/vipecv2.jpg

Unless you can see something i cant, or have heard something i havent, id say they are pretty simmilar?

Milhouse

25-01-2010, 12:55 PM

Microtech = http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~djg11/howcomputerswork/h.jpg

If you've got a plug and play option ecu for your car, go with that

Vipec software only talks to vipec ecu tho, Link only talks to link etc...

Alt_F4

25-01-2010, 01:08 PM

Nemi

25-01-2010, 01:34 PM

microtec ah hahahahahahahahahahaha
migh as well just run a carby :P

cplagz

25-01-2010, 01:38 PM

I was under the impression the firmware was different between the two., but hardware and software was the same.

In my mind this is reinforced by the fact that if you want to run an AIM dash off your VIPEC, you need to install files that originate from the G3/4

Not anymore. Just update firmware, change data bus speed and hook up CAN-cable. ASG will be doing mine shortly *poke poke*

Joe

25-01-2010, 01:41 PM

MoTeC M800.

Have a look at 2nd hand ones, you might be surprised at how cheap they are.

RRob

25-01-2010, 10:11 PM

IMO If your not keen on a Djetro, Vipec would be the way to go. They are very easy to use and have great results(power and drivability).

cplagz

26-01-2010, 07:05 AM

and then go see this man ^^ at ASG his wiring skills make the girls wet.

180SXTCY

26-01-2010, 07:50 AM

RRob do u wire up ecus at all star ?

Joe

26-01-2010, 09:35 AM

He sure does.

juggernaut

26-01-2010, 10:20 AM

Mofo

26-01-2010, 10:27 AM

^^ more like time for you to get another tuner...

juggernaut

26-01-2010, 10:29 AM

I thought Lumpy was one of the best tuners for the Autronic? No?

180SXTCY

26-01-2010, 10:32 AM

If I were in your shoes I would go the ViPec. I've heard it has better idle control than the Autronic which is never a bad thing.

I have the Autronic SM4 in my sr20 and am not overly impressed with it. The idle hunts with pissy Tomei 260 hla cams. It is also currently hanging at 1900rpm (this is a problem that has resurfaced again after being fixed by my tuner)....but I can ride the clutch to pull it back to idle...Lol.

Light throttle and low rpm driveability is also average.

But I have a big hypertune plenum & t/b, and Sard 1000 cc injectors, headwork......so maybe I'm asking too much from the setup.

I'm almost ready to rip the Autronic out and try the ViPec.

hey Ian,

yes i have a fair bit of head work also, tomei 270 procams, hks 1000 cc top feed injectors, 80mm tb, aftermarket intake plenum etc also...

thats interestin what you said about the idle control and your thoughts on the sm4... thanks

whois the tuner for vipec?

also RROB i will be in touch with you soon ;)

juggernaut

26-01-2010, 10:35 AM

I was going to go back to Lumpy if I switched to the ViPec as he is also the WA dealer/agent for ViPec.

FWIW some of the fastest sport compact drag cars and time attack cars in Australia are also using ViPec.

180SXTCY

26-01-2010, 10:36 AM

is lumpy still at hypers?

he isnt is he.

juggernaut

26-01-2010, 10:43 AM

No...not at hypers.

He's the tuner at Autoworx last time I heard.

juggernaut

26-01-2010, 10:51 AM

I also beleive the ViPec V88 has knock control.....I don't think this ever eventuated with the Autronic.

180SXTCY

26-01-2010, 10:56 AM

think ur right bout autronics not having knock control, i heard somethin along them lines also when i was doing some reading up on them.

ill have a look into the vipec ecu then also... wouldnt the v44 be more than enough however as we only have 4 bangers?

juggernaut

26-01-2010, 11:00 AM

Hi John,

Check out the features of each and decide....does the V44 have knock control, anti-lag etc.....if thats important to you?

Late edit:

Here's a link to the comparison of the two....no knock control on the V44 I see.

http://www.vi-pec.com/techdata/ViPEC_Features.png

Correction...no knock sensor "inputs" on the V44.....and says that it requires an external amplifier.

DCIEVE

26-01-2010, 11:48 AM

Odd, I have an sm4 and no idle issues - according to lumpy they're among the best for large injector idle control (to the point he was recommending 1600cc injectors). Sounds like a set-up issue.

Low rpm driveability, idle control (hot or cold) etc are all spot on for me. I only have poncams but it's happy to idle where ever I want (down to 400rpm).

Funny you guys talking about knock control when some tuners don't bother listening to knock sensors when they tune. I know Sean at ASG does... the others???

juggernaut

26-01-2010, 12:10 PM

Lumpy does.

Re my setup....everything in my setup was recommended and done by Lumpy himself or myself.

Lonewolf

26-01-2010, 01:02 PM

for the OP, also note that Vipec offers a plug in ECU for the sr20, so there would be no requirement for an ECU to be wired in, saving costs.
Also quite stealthly like the nistune.

Mofo

26-01-2010, 04:50 PM

I thought Lumpy was one of the best tuners for the Autronic? No?There's absolutely no reason why your setup shouldnt be running smooth if the installation and tuning were both done properly... thats all i will say. I know how fast things get heated on here when you talk about tuners.

AD4M

26-01-2010, 05:30 PM

x speed use a hks knock control box. theres other ways for those that dont use knock boxes but that means two people to do the tune.

IMO your better of deleting all idle control valves and simply run a screw on the throttle body to control idle. mine runs perfect like this it just takes a little fine tuning around the area in the map to make it happy

in my evo the only trade off is the first couple seconds of cold start i have to hold the idle with the acelerator at around 1800-2000 rpm. my rb20 was done the exact same way but had no issues with cold start

RRob

27-01-2010, 06:09 PM

If I were in your shoes I would go the ViPec. I've heard it has better idle control than the Autronic which is never a bad thing.

I have the Autronic SM4 in my sr20 and am not overly impressed with it. The idle hunts with pissy Tomei 260 hla cams. It is also currently hanging at 1900rpm (this is a problem that has resurfaced again after being fixed by my tuner)....but I can ride the clutch to pull it back to idle...Lol.

Light throttle and low rpm driveability is also average.

But I have a big hypertune plenum & t/b, and Sard 1000 cc injectors, headwork......so maybe I'm asking too much from the setup.

I'm almost ready to rip the Autronic out and try the ViPec.

There is probably something not quite right with your package or ECU setup, but the SM4 Is more than capable of doing what you want. My own car had idle issues aswell with SM4, but there are ways to get it fixed.

For the OP Djetro or Vipec would be your best bet IMO. Both are plug in with minor wiring modifcations and both get great results.

180SXTCY

27-01-2010, 06:43 PM

can run power fc as they dont control gas ?

juggernaut

28-01-2010, 07:48 AM

There is probably something not quite right with your package or ECU setup, but the SM4 Is more than capable of doing what you want. My own car had idle issues aswell with SM4, but there are ways to get it fixed.

Well thats good to know.....might have to get someone else to look at it.

Cheers.

joshg123

29-01-2010, 08:49 PM

can run power fc as they dont control gas ?

Are you talking about LPG? or Nitrous

180SXTCY

30-01-2010, 07:27 AM

nitrous.

joshg123

09-02-2010, 11:20 PM

I know the SM4 does, not sure about haltech

Alt_F4

09-02-2010, 11:24 PM

I know the SM4 does, not sure about haltech
yeah haltech premium supports the giggle gas

180SXTCY

10-02-2010, 09:59 AM

think im just going to go for the autronic sm4.

ive always been a fan of them, and only ever heard good things about them plus the people who tune them, aka asg or hypers do good work as well.

also race torque in ossy park tell me they make a patch loom for the s15 wiring harness so no wiring in required just plugs all in.

the only problem im going to have is however, being a s13 engine in my s15, the coil packs from the s13 have an external ignitor where as the s15 coils had an internal ignitor, so if i leave the s13 coil packs in they wont get spark.

one was around this would be to fit s15 coil packs to the s13 engine. they do fit however they don't seal on the spark plug wells right.

does anyone know if the s13 coil packs can be wired to suit the s15 wiring harness?

btw they are splite fire coil packs...

if it gets all to hard ill just do the old bosch external coil pack setup or something.

cplagz

10-02-2010, 10:08 AM

ASG tune ViPEC also .... actually, come to think of it, I reckon Sean could tune your car with a Commodore 64.

Coil packs shouldn't really matter too much - +ve/-ve/trigger ?

180SXTCY

10-02-2010, 10:09 AM

ASG tune ViPEC also .... actually, come to think of it, I reckon Sean could tune your car with a Commodore 64.

Coil packs shouldn't really matter too much - +ve/-ve/trigger ?

HAHA and whys that?

Turbo2.6L

10-02-2010, 10:12 AM

Funny you guys talking about knock control when some tuners don't bother listening to knock sensors when they tune. I know Sean at ASG does... the others???

If a tuner isn't using a knock box, i'd steer clear...

juggernaut

10-02-2010, 04:56 PM

John,

Here's my SM4 pinout details if your interested.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff132/juggernaut000/SM4Wiring-1.jpg

cplagz

10-02-2010, 05:31 PM

HAHA and whys that?

Oh nothing to do with your car in particular, just saying Sean seems to be able to tune just about anything :)

180SXTCY

10-02-2010, 07:02 PM

thanks for that Ian..! hrmms now the question do i attempt to re-wire it myself lol...

yeh i agree cplagz, only ever heard good things bout sean at asg

cplagz

10-02-2010, 08:02 PM

thanks for that Ian..! hrmms now the question do i attempt to re-wire it myself lol...

yeh i agree cplagz, only ever heard good things bout sean at asg

Get Rob at ASG to wire it in for you. His work is impeccable.

180SXTCY

10-02-2010, 08:08 PM

yep and hes a member on these forums isnt he..when the time comes, will be bout a month ill be speaking to him :)

cplagz

11-02-2010, 05:51 PM

Yep he is. Has the silver 4dr R32 with a VG30DET.

juggernaut

17-09-2010, 12:54 PM

If I were in your shoes I would go the ViPec. I've heard it has better idle control than the Autronic which is never a bad thing.

I have the Autronic SM4 in my sr20 and am not overly impressed with it. The idle hunts with pissy Tomei 260 hla cams. It is also currently hanging at 1900rpm (this is a problem that has resurfaced again after being fixed by my tuner)....but I can ride the clutch to pull it back to idle...Lol.

Light throttle and low rpm driveability is also average.

But I have a big hypertune plenum & t/b, and Sard 1000 cc injectors, headwork......so maybe I'm asking too much from the setup.

I'm almost ready to rip the Autronic out and try the ViPec.

Well I recently had the car tuned at ASG....now runs sweet as...perfect smooth idle....and no hanging idle anymore either. I love my Autronic again.