ok, 2000 ITR with drag kit, stock motor. i decided to buy an EMS of some kind before building my motor. I need your honest and experienced decsions, (yes i did a search)...My top choices are:

1.AEM EMS
2.Hondata s200
3. haltech

I need opinions before making my final decsion...also i dynoed at 210whp and 155lb tq @4.5 psi..


[Modified by R-1303, 4:51 AM 10/16/2002]

 

anybody?? nobody is managing their turboes eh??

 

I hope you got alot of time on your hands. EMS is nothing but time...

The thing people don't understand...is that the EMS software is NOT, I repeat NOT..

NOT designed for a Honda.

Its generic, in my opinion. Its for like any car. The plug fits Honda though..you have to enter so much crap...its just a nightmare.

Get somebody who is good with it to help you. That will save you 50+ hours.

Then it will take 8 hours instead.

Jeff

 

The AEM is definately a very nice setup but, like Jeff said it's definately not easy to setup. If I were you I'd check out AEM's site, http://aempower.com, and get a feel of what everyone is doing. Over time I predict that the basemaps will get a lot better but, the pioneers are definately having problems and issues. I bought the AEM because I got a very good deal on one, else I woulda got the hondata (actually glad I didn't since recently the s200 just came out).

With the wideband I just bought, I'm hoping to ease my own tuning sessions...and learn on stock/low boost.

 

Well i dont think thats true. I have a bunch of friends running them on their DSM's and they got there car started and running in no time. You just need a base map to start with (which they provide).

I think for the money its wwaaaayyy better then a hondata, much better datalogging, easy of us (no damn rom chips), and tons and tons of features. (antilag, drive-by-wire throttle, the list goes on and on).

Although it might be a little generic the interface..it does everything.

liam

 

thanks a lot guys, yeah i did check out the aempower.com and was reading a little bit of info, from what i notice is this: the AEM is worth it but takes too much time to figure out, the Hondata is easier but doesn't offer much features....and Jeff, i know who you are, i live right down the street from you guys...

i also still interested in hearing what othe people have to say..so lets argue on!

 

if you want something alittle simple that definitely works.. Hondata is goof enuff.

 

what do you guys think of the power fc

 

After being on the AEM forum for a month I have realized that AEM EMS is waaaaay over my head. I would say go with Hondata for it's simplicity.

 

Hondata 2b...on sale now...$450 shipped...BRAND SPANKIN NEW!

 

why dont you build the motor first, what good is an ems when you blow up your motor and the stock cast pistons coming flying throuh the head and destroy everything.

 

If you live right next to Import Builders then I suggest you call Jeff, get a s200 system and have him work his magic with it. He can have it installed and tuned for much less than you would spend on a AEM EMS and it'll run like stock! I have the s200 system and I love it. Trust me, I have thought about the AEM EMS, but have you noticed how many people have sold them on here to get a hondata? I have a pretty extreme setup and I don't see what real big features the AEM has over the hondata. Nothing will prevent the s200 system from producing big power numbers and awesome driveability. Plus you got like 20 guys on here and other forums that have experience with this system. Not to mention you can easily control all your stock functions since your still using the stock ecu. For your daily track use and overall daily driving, the hondata will have everything you will possibly need. Driveability, and power, what else can you ask for. When you get on the track it's all about your driving then. Remember, tons of support, easy to use, plenty of features. Don't underestimate what you can do with that little blue box even with a stock motor and drag setup.

Ohh BTW, I also have a 2000 ITR motor! It's loves BOOST!!


[Modified by BodyKits NW, 6:31 AM 10/16/2002]

 

why not tune it.... then you shouldnt blow your motor..

 

EMS is the ****! Yes, it will take quite a long time before you feel comfortable with it, I just started trying to tackle mine 3 days ago, and I am now starting to understand it, piece by piece! The only downside to ems is that you have to spend a lot of time learning it, which in my mind isn't a downside! I am not scared to have to learn something, it doesn't just have to fall in my lap! AEM EMS

As far as haltech goes, I would say no. Yes haltech gets the job done but the features just aren't there, like with ems. We are currently putting a haltech E6K unit on my roomates RX-7, and WOW that is a SHITLOAD of wiring!!! The displays on the haltech unit aren't nearly as "trick" looking either

Good luck

 

The EMS is awesome. It is difficult to set up from scratch, but not from a base map. It is completely flexible like any TRUE STANDALONE. Just because something is difficult doesn't mean it shouldn't be done.

Shame on those turning away the EMS just because it is time consuming. We would have never turbo-charged our cars if it was easy!

I could post for 3 pages on the capabilities of the AEM.

I'll save you the trouble.

But I will say, if you want to keep your car and you want endless possibilities and the ability to really tune your car, EMS is it and at half the cost of any standalone and the same cost as adapted ecus it's a bargain.

If you have any specific questions I would be glad to help.

 

who has the best price on for the EMS? I remember someone here has it for $1300 but I forgot the website. Does anyone know cheaper or who was selling it. Thanks for the input.. I am definitly going with the EMS, my other choice was the tec III but that is expensive and looks to be a real headache.

 

Haltech has fallen behind in features and functionailty. They are going to be releasing a major update, the E11 which is now available to beta testers in Australia. It'll be around $1300.00 street price. Unless you have the time to wait for the E11 to come out I wouldn't get the E6K. For one thing the price and demand for the E6K is going to drop a good amount when the E11 hits NA shores. The one thing I like about the E6K is that it has true Peak and Hold injectors drivers, unlike Hondata's and the AEMs' saturated drivers.

 

Does that mean that you don't have to run a resistor pack? Sorry for the stupid question but I'm trying to learn

 

Guys thanks a lot...these are the comments i was looking for!! AEM i heard goods and bad, hondata i heard it was simple and it works...i narrowed the choices between those two..again i will do further reasearch into choosing an ems for my car..i hope it doesn't come down to flipping a coin ...again thanks to all for replying to my post!! knowledge is key

 

I can get you a good price on either system, when you decide, GOOD LUCK

 

The AEM system, IMO, was released prematurely. It can be a great system in the FUTURE. The Aem acutally the GEMS system was used for landrovers other cars back in the motherland. So the software is very general, therefore, tons of options.

Hondata works and it's simple! Buring those eeproms are nothing, it takes 10 or less seconds.

The best advice that I'm going to give, which your problaly going to ignore is -

GET THE SYSTEM THAT YOUR TUNER IS MOST COMFORTABLE WITH.

Everyone says they are going to tune themselves, but I'm sure 80% of these people will bring it to a tuner because they dont want to blow up your cars.
HTH

 

Hondata 2b...$450 shipped...if anybody wants it

 

What good is a built motor withoug proper fuel management??

The EMS is not as tuff as everyone makes it out to be. PErsonally if I were you I would find out what your tuner is most comfortable with and go with that. IF he has ever tuned speedpro or something similar he shouldnt have problems with the AEM. PLus, you can get maps from other users not to mention the muliple ones they give you to start with. I am obd-2 so I went with the EMS. IF I was obd-1 I would have gone with hondata...good luck on your desicion.

 

It means you don't need to run a resistor pack and you can get better control of the injectors with very small pulse widths.

 

not to mention the EMS has antilag!! How cool is that!

liam