I have a B16a (from Japan) that I plan on swapping into my 94 Civic once the weather warms up a bit. I want to know if there is any difference between the Jdm P30 ECU and the USDM P30. I was told that there might be some emissions differences between them and I may end up throwing codes for missing emissions equipment.

I also have the option of having a P28 chipped for my B16a for the same price.

I figure since my engine is the Japanese variant that I should get the Japanese ECU.

I know that the ECU's are different shapes and I am okay with that. I just want to know if it will run my engine correctly without giving me too much trouble.

So which should I buy?

All help is appreciated.

 

If they put the right program on it, it'll run fine.

 

just get your stock ECU chipped/modded and run a b16 program, no need for another ECU.

 

First off, I don't have a stock ECU. Secondly, if I had a stock ECU I wouldn't need to get it chipped/modded because it's already meant to run my motor. But thanks for the reply.

 

Are the "programs" initially lifted from a factory Honda ECU or are they created by someone other than Honda? I mean, do the creators of these tuning softwares actually get factory Honda ignition/fuel maps or do they create them themselves?

 

Anyone who knows anything about this should be able to provide a program setup exactly like it should be from the factory for you. The P28 doesn't have a knock board, that should be the only difference.

 

sorry bro, I meant take the stock ecu out of the 94 civic you're doing this swap into and modify that one.
Did the car not come with an ecu?
I'm just saying you can modify the ecu that came with the 94 civic (prolly a p06 or p28). Once an ecu is chipped and has the vtec components, you can use it on pretty much ANY setup you want.
I've run literally everything from non-vtec f22, b20vtec, h22, d16y8 to d15b7 on a chipped p28 (or p06/pr4/p75 converted to p28).

If you're getting an ecu with the swap parts anyways, get a USDM ecu, they're easier to chip...lol.

 

Aaaah I understand what you're saying now. This makes much more sense. Unfortunately, This 94 Civic is my DD and I don't think I'd have time to have it chipped seperately. I think I'll end up buying a chipped P28 with my B16 maps on it so i'll have everything ready when the time comes to do my swap. If I had an extra P06 laying around, then I'd for sure do it, but I do need my DD to get me around. Thanks for all the wisdom guys.

 

Pssst...what's a knock board?

 

It's a separate circuit board in the ECU case that is for the knock sensor.

It kind of looks like it was an afterthought for the OBD1 ECU's the way it is mounted inside the case and not part of the main board circuitry.

Click here for a Good DIY link!

 

This is why I came to this forum section for answers, you guys know your business. Now, another question.

If let's say I took my stock 94 Civic CX ECU to Joe Blow to have it chipped, is there a socket already in it (the ECU) that accepts this chip? Or do I need a different style of ECU like a p28?

And another question. Do I need to bring my ECU to Joe Blow to have it chipped, or can I just grab the chip from him and install it myself when I'm ready to do my swap?

 

Yes and no, there are pins for a socket to be placed but they have to be de-soldered first. Then you drop the socket in and then the Chip into the socket.

Check out this tut if you want to do some research into chipping

Click here!


It should answer your questions

 

That answered pretty much everything. Thanks for the help.

 

Your car will run perfectly fine with the JDM P30 ECU. The emissions codes and problems are generated by the ECU, so it will not look for anything that a JDM B16 powered car did not originally have.

When doing your swap, you know that you'll have to wire up the Vtec, don't you? If you go with the JDM (or a USDM) P30, you'll just need to wire up the knock sensor at the same time.

If I were you, I'd be careful about running the chipped P06 (or P28), as you need to pass emissions testing in Ontario, don't you? If the person that chips your ECU doesn't get it just right, you could have difficulties getting through the tests.

 

I'm saying that I've heard Japanese Hondas may have different emissions equipment factory installed, therefore the ECU would be programmed to interface with these components. If this is the case, and my Civic does not have these components, I'll end up throwing CEL's.

And yes, I know I'll have to wire Vtec, this is not my problem. And I do not have a knock sensor on my engine so I need an ECU that won't look for one.

I am not concerned about e-testing, there are ways around this.

 

There are no emissions control devices on JDM engines that would be absent on a USDM/CDM car. What engine are you installing? Above it says B16A, which all have knock sensors?

 

You sounds confident about the emissions equip. but you can understand me being uncertain about it. I've had people say things with 110% positivity and they still end up being wrong.

I am in fact installing a b16a. My engine has the threaded hole for a knock sensor but the previous owner was not running one. So, you may be right, it probably did come with a ks factory installed, but there is not one installed at the moment. I need an ECU that functions without one. Such as a chipped P28.