Is it possible to retrieve the tune from a chipped ecu to use as a baseline if you were to swap to a hondata set up? The tune up in it is decent, it’s way rich though and I would like to start turning thre boost up. Could the chip remain? I’m sure the software used to burn the chip would play into this. I’m leaning more towards a stand alone but I’m not ready to rule out hondata, although I downloaded the software and wasn’t a huge fan, but all factory ecu software kinda sucksForgive me if this is a stupid question and way out in left field from how things work.this is. Y first Honda. I’m used to hp tuners used with gm vehicles and our race car has a MegaSquirt 3 pro, which the software is awesome. I’d say this car will wind up with the base model MegaSquirt 3 by the time jts all said and done. Thanks

 

If you know what software was used to create the chip (CROME, NepTune Dealer, HTS, etc) AND you can get a hold of a burner/reader to pull the data from it, it's pretty much a no brainer. If you have to invest any money into doing it then it's not really worth the effort in my opinion. You're just spending money that you could be spending on dyno time with the new ecu.

The rub - if it's a non-Hondata tune the maps are almost worthless in another software suite. Everyone uses different calculation methods and background code and transferring fuel maps around doesn't work that well. Ignition maps might be more useful to have an idea of a starting point but you'll still end up tuning them.

 

exactly what I was looking for and kind of thinking. Thank you sir. More of a reason to go stand alone

 

No problem. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish the S300 is pretty nice, but I understand your reservations entirely. If you want a straightforward setup then it's fine. No knock control, no closed loop boost control, limited closed loop fuel control/target mapping, etc.

You can add some of that stuff on... coil-on-plug, traction control, or knock control, but you end up spending just as much as you would on a proper standalone really fast and still have pretty limited software and datalogging/analysis. I have to say my biggest complaint is that 10Hz logging makes me want to scream sometimes!

Two options that always stick out to me:

AEM Infinity 506 - Does just about anything you can dream up, and quickly. $1400msrp.
Link G4 Plugin - really nice piece of hardware that fits in a stock ecu case and plugs into your stock loom. <$1k new. It doesn't have an onboard lambda sensor (bummer) and I think may require an external knock box to have control. Watch out for the differences between the OBD1 and OBD2 versions.... the OBD1 looks like it has less aux inputs/outputs and no knock control, according to their website.

 

one more thing, with the hondata, does the chip get removed and the hondata go in its place or how’s that work? My impatient side says to go hondata but my logical side is saying go stand alone

 

Yep. The male pins are on the ecu board with the S300 though. You'll need to remove your socket and solder the headers on, then notch the case for the USB.