maybe its all the drugs i'm on talking, but i'm thinking about getting the aem ems for my lancer oz. i was wondering if anyone else has it, and is using on their NA lancer, or if they can suggest any better alternatives. i personally want to avoid turbocharging my car for now... hear lots of horror stories from it. and since i'm not that far away from my warranty ending (20k to go) i should be able to add the ems soon (not until after warranty expires though).

also, i found it for about 1600 on the web. anyone know a better price somewhere?

thanks in advance!

 

save your money and get the RRM piggyback. If your'e not gonna turbo/supercharge youre car I don't think there is that much of a use for it... someone correct me if im wrong.

 

Sounds right Boni, I thought Rob did some testing with the EMS and didn't like the way it worked with the Lancer.

 

i'm trying to stay away from the rrm piggyback as i'd rather not cut up my wires, and want to be able to tune on the fly as i continue to modify my car. i figured the EMS would be the best route, since its MUCH cheaper than a turbo and with less headaches (i'd think). yes, i know a turbo would be faster, but i don't want to go that route right now.

also, what about that SAFC thingy? does anyone know much about those and if they'd work? or greddy e-manage if they have one for us?

 

get the apexi safc2

 

The EMS is ****ing amazing and can also be a nightmare at the same time. I'm sure this goes for any good standalone. Like I always say about standalone engine management you'd better either be very well versed in EFI and engine functions or have a shop nearby to tune it for you. After fixing a lot of my car's problems (all except the important fuel one) I came to realize just how awesome the PEMS is. The system allows nearly infinite tunability and flexability, and, if you're willing to sacrifice a lot of time to reading, research and testing, it's not very difficult to learn. My recommendation if you do go this route however is that you have a shop make you a map to start and to save this working map in a bank vault with 10' thick titanium alloy blast doors with no other valuable contents inside. DO NOT LOSE IT. If tweeking is your thing the PEMS is fun as hell. If you're concerned with out-of-the-box performance and simplicity however I would avoid it.

My personal feeling is that piggybacks generally do not offer back what they cost. I would also like to add I have zero experience with the RRM piggyback or any piggyback for that matter, but their limits are crystal clear whereas standalones limits border on boundless.

 

To me it sounds like the emanage would be perfect for you. It will give you a good amount of tunablilty for less $ and is far simpler than the EMS.

 

BTW, very view people have the AEM EMS for the Lancer. Honestly very few people have the reason or desire to have it. I doubt you'll find more than 2-3 other people and they'd all be FI. I'm only aware of a couple others out there. I think I may win the lowest serial # award though. If anything only RRM has me beat.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and maybe the e-manage is better equipped to meet your needs. It's worth looking into though the cost vs. available functions is still not worth comparing in my mind.

Figure out your end goal, then figure out how to get there and how much it will cost. ...then double that figure to be safe. You'll have everything all taken care of, and if you have money left over buy yourself beer and an ice cream cake and have yourself a party, brother.

 

sweet, thanks guys. i'll look into e-manage some more. got any prices for that route?

 

Someone on the board was selling one with all the harnesses...do a search in the for sale forum.

 

E-manage info from www.optauto.com:
E-Manage is an inexpensive programmable fuel management system that allows you to properly tune your factory fuel system without changing the entire factory ECU system to a "stand-alone" unit. The E-Manage system is a "poggy-back" type unit that will save you from wiring headaches by working in conjunction with factory ECU. This system will allow the tuner to easily control the pulse duration of factory injectors or upgraded injectors with a built in adjustable dial, It also has a built-in VTEC controller which can adjust the VTEC shift point as well as the fuel curve. An optional communication software package (PC Windows) and harness kit is available to fine tune the entire engine, from 16 additional fuel RPM points, ignition timing, larger injectors, airflow meters, injector duty cycle, and control up to 2 sub injectors, with the use of optional communication software and a PC Window based lap-top, the E-manage system will assist the tuner in data logging and real time monitoring capability.
Price for main unit is $303. bout 25-30 for each harness you want.

 

Look at Rhyzin's dyno for reasons not to get SAFC. His air/fuel ratio was terrible! However, if you plan on tuning it on a dyno and maybe an FPR and emanage or something, you could use it for good.

 

I'd also vote for the emanage, having installed one myself. It gives you plenty of tuning options even with just the barebones setup (no other harnesses installed, which will give you even more points to tune) of splicing into the airflow meter signal.

You get a grid that you can customize by rpm levels you personally set by increasing/decreasing the air flow reading (by percentages). You also get realtime feedback if you have it hooked up to a laptop showing rpm level, airflow in and airflow out; which you can record and play back at your leisure instead of driving wrecklessly or finding someone to ride shotgun to do your settings.

Add a good air fuel gauge and you're set to do some basic tuning. And by good, I mean hard numbers, not lean/stoich/rich. Feel free to PM me if you need help with wiring, software for the emanage, etc. I can even hook you up with the interface cable and newest software package for about half of the retail cost.