Ok so Im putting together all the parts that Im going to get for my crx si b16a1 swap. Im talking with my parts guy he is saying some interesting things about wiring the ECU that Ive never heard:
I know I wont need the wiring harness, I already have the wiring diagrams and it looks easy enough.
(email from him)
It usually is not easy at all, you will need to source several connectors and terminals for the VTEC and knock sensor. The knock sensor and VTEC solenoid valve require a technically specific wire to work correctly. You cannot just use a regular wire or the knock sensor will pick up too much noise. I would suggest you at least purchase the DIY harness which is less expensive. We do need to use the harness from the motor to make the supplementary harness.
(my response)
I also wanted to speak with you about what all is involved with the DIY harness, and if it involves hacking the stock pr3 harness or if its something im buying separate. Basically all the plans Ive seen involve adding a few wires (for the new sensors). Also about where to source the special wires needed for the sensors.
(his response)
We use the stock PR3 harness as a core to make the suplimenterary harness. We like to use the more complete (expensive) harness so you have just one harness for the motor and not two seperate harnesses
(my response)
on the ECU how much does the cheaper option cost ? I don’t mind having more than one harness. Also can I just get the wires needed and do all the actual wiring myself ? I don’t mind doing the work to save money. Im trying to stay on a small budget for the most part.
(his response)
The sub-harness is $160.00. You will need to source the terminals, the wire, and the pins, which are virtually impossible unless you are a Honda dealer, I would not suggest it.

please respond, last I checked it wasnt near as impossible as hes making it sound

 

Its pretty easy. On my buddy's b16, I traced the stock knock sensor wire back to the plug and used it.

He probably just wants your money.

Ben

 

Thats what I was thinking, previously I thought he was an awesome tuner, but lately he seems more like a salesman.

 

you use your stock harness, then hack off the connectors for the extra plugs (oil pressure and knock I think are the only two plugs) that you need off the harness that came with the motor. then you can run the wires straight to the ecu or make your own subharness for those extra 4 (the previous two + vtec solenoid and 2nd o2).

 

He sounds pretty straight forward to me, maybe a little stringent about how he want's it done, but understandably so. He probably doesn't want you to make the harness because if there are any problems with it that is the hardest part of a swap, tracking down another persons mistakes. Then it also sounds like he's a little lazy and doesn't want to make it himself becasue he doesn't want to track down the pins himself, but if he's busy it's understandable. You can't even get these pins if you go to or work at a honda dealer becasue the connectors and pins are only available for the newer models. And yes, he does need the stock PR3 harness, or at leas the cut harness to use as a donor if he is going to be making the sub harness.

 

Well I figured as long as I had the pr3 wiring I could take the needed components from that to make a subharness, hes making it sound like if I use normal sheilded wire it wont work because the knock sensor will pick up too much noise.

 

the lines he gave you about the wires having to be exact thats complete bullshit,

wiring isnt hard at all its 5 wires, if you have ever hooked up a car stereo or home theatre then you can do the wiring.

another option that i would recommend is just getting a zydne 1 wire ecu an running the one wire, you can sell your pr3 ecu for about 180 and the dynes go for about 220 used, then you wont have the headaches of wiring or the stupid *** o2 sensors.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowpokesi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the lines he gave you about the wires having to be exact thats complete bullshit</TD></TR></TABLE>
no its not. The knock sensor wire is shielded.

Ben

 

I'm using a Radio Shack shielded wire for my knock sensor and it seems to work fine. FWIW.

 

Well I knew that It had to be shielded but his comment on not being able to get it unless your a dealer is what I thought was a lie.

On the zdyne one wire, will it come with the harness too, or what cause I know I wouldnt be able to just plug in the stock harness or it would still be missing those wires.
What are the advantages of running that setup ?

 

with the zdyne one wire all you do is use your factory 88-91 si harness or hf harness and literally plug it in to the ecu, run 1 wire for the vtec solenoid,


yes the line he gave you about using the factory wires was bullshit you can get "SHEILDED " wire from autozone 3.00 bucks for like 20 feet of it,

i ran all the wires for mine on my own had no problems, i later switched to the zdyne due to the hassle of the o2 sensors / with my header.

 

Id like to do it all myself, what hassles will I run into with the o2 sensors and the stock header ? I dont plan on upgrading that cause I will prolly do turbo.

slowpokesi - I love your site, do you have any instant messengers