Been reading up for a while now but I still need some advice have a lot of questions.

I am looking for an engine management for an OB2a Civic. The engine is a 96 B18C1 NA with a bunch of add-ons that have me at the point where I believe I need something more than the U.S. P73 ECU and APEXi V-afc I currently am currently using.

The car is currently completely OB2a. For my yearly state inspection the car consists of an emissions test, there must be no current or pending codes and the readiness status (is this the correct term?) okay. There is no tail pipe sniffer test. The first issue for me is figuring if I can use an OBD1 based system and get through the emissions part of the state inspection.


Will a system like Neptune or Hondata still read through the OBD2 port and does an OBD1 computer show a ready status?



I am looking for a system that will allow the tuner to extract good power but most importantly tune for excellent drive-ability. I know the tuner's skills will be a big part of this but I want a system that will give the tuner the best tools to do this. The system should allow for easy changes so as I learn I can tune for changes I make down the line (new header, injectors, throttle body, cams, etc), i.e. not something I would have to go back to tuner to adjust. I want to buy something that I can adjust by hooking up a lap top, I don't want to have to burn a chip. I also like the idea to be able to data log and hook up a wideband for future tuning.

My criteria:
1) excellent drive-ability
2) power
3) fuel economy-following very closely to power


It looks like Neptune would be a very good option, especially for the cost to option ratio.

What would you more experienced tuners recommend? What questions or important details did I leave out?

 

No OBD1 ECU is going to provide the necessary OBD2 communication protocols for emissions. Your best option here is switching back to your OBD2 ECU for emissions and in some states they will roll you on the rollers if your OBD2 ECU is not communicating.

Drivability, power, and fuel economy will be easily achieved with the systems you've mentioned if you have it tuned by a knowledgable tuner.

 

Does this mean there will be no communication if a scan tool is hooked up to the OBD2 port?
I am not sure but I have the impression the car basically gets hooked up to some kind of glorified scan tool. I have been told they are looking for current or pending codes and "readiness" status-the car has been driven a certain amount of miles or the like.

I was hoping to sell of the OBD2 ECU to offset some of the cost of the new ECU setup and initial tune.
There are no rollers in any of the testing stations I have been to in my area. Don't know where that would leave me.





What is the difference between the Neptune RTP and the RTP Demon I have seen on a website or two? Are they the same thing?

 

Since OBD2 is newer it implements new emissions equipment and protocol standards that weren't available for the older ECUs.

I highly doubt your testing stations have no outlet to test vehicles older than 1996 which don't have OBD2, so you'll have to ask what they do when an OBD2 ECU is unreachable... or keep your stock ECU.

The NepTune RTP software uses the Moates Demon.

 

My understanding is there is no testing on a 95 or older car: http://www.dmv.org/nc-north-carolina...ard_Exemptions

So I don't know where that would leave me if I go in for test and nothing is picked up from the OBD port. I know they will do a visual to make sure the cat and both O2's are present, I would pass in this area.


Got it.

 

Best bet is to keep the obd2 ecu for emissions purposes and use the tunable ecu (obd1) all other times.good luck

 

So we have determined there is just about no way in hell I am getting around the OBD2 issue without having a separate ECU for the emissions test or truckloads of 100 dollar bills.



My car has a complete working OB2 setup. I know I need a OB1 ecu, harness and system like Neptune, Hondata, etc.

Does any thing else need to be changed? Injectors, distributor, etc all compatible, correct? Trying to figure what the end out of pocket is going to be to do this.

 

Harness, ECU, and system. That's it. Some retailers offer package deals. Check around.

 

Well there is an option.. Its crude, but it DOES work if you have a tuner that knows what he's doing. You can always install an AEM FIC. They work great for allowing you to tune a vehicle while not affecting the factory controls for emmisions. The trick is, with an FIC you can't advance ignition. It only allows you to retard it. So what I do in cases like this is I advance the distributor a few degrees, lets say 6 deg, then I pull that 6 deg out with the FIC, and now you have a 6 deg window of advance and unlimited retard to play with. The fuel control the FIC offers works well and u should have no issues getting everything working in harmony. Like I said its a bit crude due to having to work around the ignition limitation, but the FIC works very well for this type of situation if you do it properly.

On that same principle, even though a lot of people might say it sucks, UniChip is also a very comprehensive piggy back that gives you the ability to advance and retard timing. its approach to fueling is a bit different than the FIC, so for certain setups I wouldn't recommend it, but for what your doing it will work just fine. Only down side with the Unichip is you have to find a UniChip dealer to tune it, or someone who has the interface cable and software.

I've used both quite a bit, and either one will do the trick for your application and not interfere with the ECUs OBD2 compliance.