Im finally just about ready to set up some engine management/tuning dyno sessions once I get my car back, so Im trying to decide between AEM EMS and Hondata.

I was leaning towards Hondata, but now Im thinking otherwise. Basically, the AEM EMS unit sounds unbeatable. Completely plug and play, already has stock factory maps depending on your application, no need for p28 or other ECU or wiring harness, "user friendly" windows format, etc.

I was on the phone with a local tuner of Hondata, and he told me he is no longer going to be using Hondata because of several reasons, which I will not get into because I dont know enough about it to state them correctly. But basically he says the AEM unit is far superior and he will be using that from now on. The only downfall is the price. The AEM unit runs for around $1200(ouch), but he says that you will spend less time on the dyno, and the savings from not needing an OBD1 ECU and wiring harness, and the total price difference isnt too great. But the major difference is that you get you car tuned right the first time, with no problems or headaches, and the results are impressive. You are gonna pay a little bit more, but you are going to get what you want and then some.

Has anyone here had a chance to check out the AEM EMS unit?? What did you think and how would you compare it to the Hondata?

 

AEM unit is

 

If you are intrested i'm now a distributor of the link engine management system it also is a plug and play system no additional wiring all the features of a full stand alone and is cheaper than the AEM EMS it's only $1021. If you are intrested PM me and i can go into more detail about it.

 

I also wish to know more.

 

I've got one. It's going in the car this weekend.

One of the main reasons I went with it is because it has all the functions of a J&S safegaurd built in, the Hondata doesnt.

 

If you are NA, you wont notice much of a difference since you wont take
advantage of any of the features of it. If you are FI, turbo especially, then
the AEM may be better.

 

mugenintegra16

Can you also send me some information on this...I was just looking into Hondata, but would like to hear more of what you have...

 

will the aem ems void your warranty

 

If you need that AEM EMS then you probably don't have a warranty left. Not necessary for just boltons.

 

oic..thanks

 

never thought i'd hear you sat that yack.... thought you were a PFC guy....

D

 

IMO the AEM blows away the Power FC. Not because the Power FC isn't capable but because you can only tune certain aspects of the ECU yourself and the rest is tunable only by using thier software which is only made available to dealers.

Not to mention the horror stories I've heard about shops password protecting the maps so you can't make adjustments at all without going in and paying them $150 an hour to do it for you and not let you see what they're doing.

I guess if you're the type that doesn't want to have to mess with it and don't mind being kept in the dark about how you car works (as long as it works...) then it's a good system. It's certainly capable of tuning the car as well as any other system. But if you'r a DIYer, it's not a good choice IMO.

 

I'll buy anything if the $$ is right.....my FC was a total steal, thus i use it. my money goes towards beer, not racing

the AEM is a step above the FC, no doubt about it.

It rocks hondatas nads on a daily basis

 

Hondata works well. 2b is a great value for the price. 4b is not cost effective IMO.

For OBD2 cars, I don't really consider any of the Hondata stages cost effective. (Yet, Doug is doing some cool work right now)

The AEM EMS has a lot more features and is much more powerful.

If you know a good amount about fuel injection, know what you are doing, want to tune the car yourself, like to "tinker" with cool features, can live with some non-honda peculiarities due to standalone engine management, and have a seriously modified car... the EMS is for you.

If you love your silky smooth Honda idle, like being able to read honda error codes via CEL out of the ECU, rely upon base maps that are actually drivable, don't necessarily want to tune the car yourself, don't expect a whole horde of cool features, or if you are not afraid to burn a chip every time you want to make change... Hondata is for you.

You make the choice.

Dustin

 

This brings up a good question...with the AEM(this is my understanding anyway), it completely replaces the stock ECU. If thats the case, do you have to worry about anything like check engine lights and codes and whatnot??

 

It has full datalogging, no need for CELs or a set of ambiguous error codes (like too rich/too lean. WTF does that mean? Which one it is would be nice...).

It has 1MB of internal RAM which is enough to store over 30 minutes of every sensor reading and output signal in the car sampled at (I want to say, my laptops at home) 50 times per second.

 

Yeah it has fast sensor and slow sensor sampling rates.

I have had some trouble with the internal logging on the EMS, it likes to corrupt the internal logs sometimes and return garbage data.....

 

I'm assuming you're using version .73? That's not encouraging. I'm going on the dyno to tune mine on Sunday. Is it a common thing or just once in a while?

 

Please be sure to share your results before and after if possible.

 

Yes, version .73.

It's random. Only messes up sometimes... I think there is a bug in the "wrap" feature that overwrites old logs when it runs out of recording space. It never "wraps", so I think the byte offset gets messed up and all the data goes to heck..

But sometimes it works great.. If I have something I /need/ datalogged, I fire up the laptop.

Dustin

 

OK cool. So the active datalogging works but the internal one has issues. gotcha.

Shouldn't be a problem on the dyno then.

 

Yep, datalogging w/ the laptop works great.

It datalogs all parameters that are currently open in the parameter windows. Right click to set the sample rate for each parameter....

Dustin

 

Hopefully that will change soon:
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=157344
http://www.rx7.net.nz/data-log_100m.html
ITR version looks likely to be the next one out , luckly I don't need it yet

Current Voting for next version to be developed:
Car Votes %
Honda civic EK9 1 4.17%
Honda Integra DC2 7 29.17%
Nissan GTR 32 1 4.17%
Nissan GTR 33 0 0.00%
Nissan GTR 34 2 8.33%
Nissan Silvia S13 1 4.17%
S14 3 12.50%
S15 3 12.50%
Subaru WRX 5 20.83%
Mitsubishi EVO 0 0.00%
180 SX RPS13 1 4.17%


Anyone with a PowerFC that hasn't joined or voted needs to now to get this developed for the ITR

 

Good news for FC users.

Thanks.

 

So you have to buy a piggyback box to be able to get the PowerFC to do things you should be allowed to do anyways?