Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hey All, just before i purchase one, anyone have any stories/advice on 2nd hand Power FCs, or any ECU for that matter. I figure that if you are going to get it retuned anyway, there is not much point buying a brand new one? THe only advantage i can think of is the warranty, but are they really prone to failure anyway?

comments/advice?

Cheers,

Matt

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/44695-used-power-fcs/
Share on other sites

Well i bought a used Power FC about 18 months ago from Japan, and guess what it didnt work.

There were two possible reasons why it was no good. One was that it had been locked with the Exel software, so couldnt be tuned...the other was it was simply cactus. Thankfully the importer who i bought it thru refunded my deposit.

2nd time round (about 1 week ago) i just bought a new one, as demand is so good they often fetch near new money even when used.

But others have said, no moving parts, but they are still an electonic item that dont like shock, moisture and heat so still pays to be wary to test before you buy a used one.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/44695-used-power-fcs/#findComment-913308
Share on other sites

Hi oofoofoo, I bought (on the Skylines Downunder Forum) a used R32 GTST Power FC 2 years ago, no problems. Had it checked with a Datalogit software as I had heard about other R32 GTST ECU's coming with locked maps, mine was OK. I have since bought a Commander (on the Skylines Australia Forum) and my own Datalogit system (direct). Works great, highly recommended. :D

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/44695-used-power-fcs/#findComment-913357
Share on other sites

Absolutely no reason not to buy a second hand one (taking the usual precautions, obviously). However, I have been monitoring the prices on Yahoo JP pretty closely the last two months and, as Roy alluded too, the prices they fetch -- even in Japan -- is very close if not higher (by the time you include auction fees, agent fees and shipping) than to get a new one from Nengun/Greenline (~$1200 to your door with hand controller).

If anyone as a good deal on a used PFC (+ hand controller) for a R32 GT-R, let me know :D

Lucien.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/44695-used-power-fcs/#findComment-913484
Share on other sites

be careful as i believe in the past some models of the power fc dont work with various versions of the hand controller. i believe it boots to the apexi logo and sits there and does nothing else, i think the main cause is incorrect ecu vs hand controller version

could be the only downfall i guess

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/44695-used-power-fcs/#findComment-913605
Share on other sites

thanks all, for responses. I am getting one at a pretty good price so ill make sure i get some assurances of its tune-ability. As for hand controllers, looking at this site suggests that all the commanders made for nissans should be interchangable, just not other car brands. (ie they are all 415-X001s)

http://www.ooparts-international.co.jp/ind...r_fc/index.html

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/44695-used-power-fcs/#findComment-913628
Share on other sites

JaFF: $1240 (w/ hand controller) is about the right price. Aussie dollar is pretty crappy at the moment so prices are slowly rising as places order new stock.

oofoofoo: $850 for just a PFC, second hand, is more than I would pay since they are about $900-950 new last time I checked. For $100 I would rather the warranty..?

Lucien.

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/44695-used-power-fcs/#findComment-914781
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • Ok glad you clarified on the frenchy’s options , I was worried about if my oem hoses would fit the new compressor or not if I just bought the bracket/compressor kit ,  didn’t realize they also sold a larger full conversion kit. Hmm may just go oem in that case then to make it easy only because I plan to sell this car to upgrade to a 32 GTR or 34 GTT.
    • Right, here's a video of the basic operation at least.  This is what you can expect day to day when you turn the car on and it boots from standby.  The only thing from a media point of view I haven't gotten working is for it to autoplay plexamp when it turns on from standby (it works from cold boot) but that's more of a plexamp problem as it will autoplay other music players.  Also attached is my one stray cable.  It's part of the screen's wiring adapters but there's just nowhere for it to go in my car.  I've just now done a bit of research and found a matching port on a 2010-2014 head unit with BOSE.  Mine has no BOSE so that's that case pretty much closed I think.  Plugging in the Infiniti AC panel basically did nothing for me, so that's a dead end as well.  Next port of call is to mess with this CANBUS module and see what I can find from it.  I found this resource containing the DBC files for a 2010+ G37 : https://github.com/icecube45/Dash_InfinitiG37/blob/master/InfinitiG37.dbc I'll now have something to go from when I try to extract my CANBUS data so I can see if the HVAC Mode, Fan Speed, Temperature, etc. match and also the gear shifter position.  It's a pretty big assumption that it's just mismatched CAN signals but considering all the devices in the CAN network are talking to each other (AC can be fully adjusted just with no info on screen) it might be a safe one.  I will report back WhatsApp Video 2025-02-26 at 12.49.10.mp4
    • Thanks for that Paul.  Do you think if I posted a picture you'd be able to remember where it went? 
    • Sorry Duncan, I didn't get a notification for the replies.  Thanks for responding!  It's a full Android device, but does allow you to use CarPlay/AA as well.  This is the one I bought from NaviRS on AliExpress: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006368602668.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.111.59aa1802JDzQ0E - the 2K 8G-256G CAM variant but it seems to have gone up by £170 since I bought it!  My purchase was £307.14.   It's not the fastest thing in the world but performs perfectly adequately.  It stays on standby unless I disconnect the battery and let it power down, then it's just a fairly standard Android bootup time from cold.  The DSP Equaliser is very nice and made the standard stereo system sound pretty decent compared to the stock screen.  Perhaps I can take a video of it when I get a sec. It *allegedly* supports the reverse camera, but I'm yet to get that working.  It has options for reverse cam (a camera unit can be bought separately) or 360 cameras (also bought separately).  To be fair it doesn't seem to detect that the shifter was put into reverse but I'm working on a theory about this as well.  At the moment I'm going without which is a bit annoying considering the car is an absolute canal barge but so far I haven't caused any damage I'll grab a picture of the wire I'm missing later today when I can get outside.  My theory, by the by, is that not only is the head unit different, but the CANBUS network has different signals for the different years.  I think this because I have a spare AC panel from a newer Infiniti G37 (as opposed to my Nissan panel) which wouldn't control anything except the volume when I had it wired up with the stock system.  I'm going to throw it back in and see if the screen will respond to it.  I've just ordered an arduino CANBUS module so I can have a look at the signals going around the car and see if I can spot anything.  I'm thinking if I can work out what it's expecting vs what it's getting I might be able to translate and relay the signal back but so far just a theory anyway. I also found this on my travels, so far the only one that specifically matches my car: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002822934280.html?spm=a2g0s.imconversation.0.0.33433e5fgttovi If you look at the picture of the before, it has the card reader slot, and the picture of the head unit is exactly the same as the one pictured in my original post.  I asked if they sell the cables separately but sadly they won't.  I didn't want to just buy this one because it's a super old Android version and only dual core - likely slow as hell. 
    • As above, you did refill the coolant and burp the system before running it again didn't you?
×
×
  • Create New...