hey all, i just recently installed an apexi VAFC NEO air-to-fuel ratio controller in my 89 civic hatch with the b series swap. i've just been pressing buttons switching stuff around trying to figure out what does what and what seems to make my car run better, but its a pretty slow process LOL!!! anyways, i was wondering if anyone out there has had one of these and knows how to work it & make useful adjustments. by the way, i live at about 6500 ft. so theres not as much air up here also does anyone know if you can hook a car up to a dyno & get an air to fuel chart mapped out so i can really use my VAFC to correct the ACTUAL changes that my specific set up needs? any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

You need a wideband for that device to be useful. If you take it to a tuner, they may be able to tune your car using a wideband and the VAFC, but the vafc is only useful for minor corrections.

In most honda circles, piggyback devices are considered a waste of time, because you cant tune timing with them. Given that most cars can be converted to use obd0 or obd1, and then use a stock ecu as a fully programmable engine management system for cheaper than a VAFC, piggybacks don't make a whole lot of sense.

the cliffs notes are: you need a wideband for that device to be useful at all, and then the VAFC will only be mildly useful to adjust the a/f ratio on a pretty much stock setup car. anything crazier than IHE and you might as well sell the VAFC and pay someone to chip a stock ECU.

 

yeah, im pretty sure i dont need any HUGE corrections for my a/f ratios. i mainly wanted it more for the vtec controller and was curious how to use the vtec unmatching and what exactly the hi-lo & lo-hi vtec controller does. my car isn't running a stock setup either. i've got a fully ported & polished head with ferrea valves, 11,000RPM dual springs, new retainers, viton seals, CTR cams, cam gears, header, exhaust, ported & polished intake manifold, 76-78mm tapered throttle body, lightweight crank pulley, fuel rail, 270cc RC injectors, fuel press regulator, 255lph fuel pump, and cold air intake.........and thats just the engine performance!!! LOL!!!

 

uh, with all that work, you should spend money to get a real engine managment system. The AFC is basically worthless with your setup. You should either get your ecu chipped or buy a hondata setup or an AEM ems or motec setup. otherwise, all those parts are basically a waste if you ask me..

 

each to his own i guess.......& my ECU IS chipped. & if these things are so worthless why does my car already run WAY better than before, when i don't even know how to work it properly & why do so many tuners use them in their multi-thousand dollar rides? also, have you ever used one of these to know from experience that they're worthless or are you just regurgitating what you've heard from some other blogger?