Power FC vs. Autronic?

[LTSJayce]

I was just about to lay down the cash for a Apexi Power FC for my R32 GTR,when a very knowledgable and trusted source mentions Autronic as an option.I realise that both Autronic systems aren't merely "plug in & play" like the P. FC.,but I'm interested in having the features of the full management system.I'm used to seeing the Apexi unit in almost everything that comes from Japan,so this Autronic thing is a new thing to me.I considered MoTec for a brief second,until the Bank Manager drew the crosshairs on me...and Microtech wont get a look in(been down that road with a friend before).The car is,effectively,standard right now,but will be the recipient for 2530's,pistons,rods,cams,clutch,fuel system etc etc in the not-to-distant future,hence the debate between the known quantity(Power FC)and the Aussie contender(Autronic,obviously...).I'm torn between the two-any info' on what you lot may've been through with either system would be appreciated!Cheers,J.

[Sydneykid]

Looking at your mods list (noting the great choice of 2530's), the Power FC would be my preference. For less than half what the Autronic would cost, wired and tuned.

Have a look at any of the PFC versus other ECU's threads, the Wolf is probably the best comparison. All the advantages of the PFC are listed.

[meggala]

the major issue with autronic is that is only has 4 ignition point and uses wasted spark to fire the coils. power fc as sydney kifd said is the main option with a few of the other gettign a looking micro tech does get very bad fuel consuption.

meggala

[JH32]

Haltech?

[N I B]

PFC all day every day as the Autronic really is an old hat waste spark thing now days and cant match the PFC for things like idle control etc. If you ever chase big power the Autronuc will present major ignition dramas. Go with tha PFC or Wolf plug in.

[drunkenmaster]

Are there differences in the power FC's across the RB25 production years?

I have a 3.0 running an RB25DE head, and have been reading these sort of topics with interest.

I have been wanting to wire in an autronic or haltech as I think it would be enjoyable/a good experience especially with an engine conversion however I am a bit worried lately about getting an engineers certificate and a powerfc in a nissan box is looking more and more attractive.

[SR910]

whats wrong with wasted spark anyway? ignition problems? get the autronic cdi, that has so much power you can melt the end of the spark plugs off if you wanted to. If your going to try blow out that spark **** knows how much power your going to be making.

autronic can controle the standard idel controle valve, air con idel up, colsed loop functions so i have no idea where it is so called not as good. If autronic is so bad then same goes for motec as they are nearly identical as they come fromt he same makers after they broke up, and how many motecs do u see in japanese cars, alot if they are so bad.

[lwells]

SR910: Although I am speaking for others, I think the point was not that the Autech's are crap, but that for this particular purpose there are no real benefits to the Autech and it costs nearly twice as much.

LW.

[GTS-t VSPEC]

SR910, And how much extra is the CDI? Why bother buying a more expensive unit like Autronic if you then also have to buy an extra CDI unit?

Of the two choices given I'd go PFC, but if you can find a good tuner then the Wolf is also a good choice.

[Ustasa]

I’d go Autronic if you really intend on going ballistic later on. But if you are happy with running 2 Z32 AFM’s and around 550hp at the crank then Power FC is the pick.

[N I B]

Autronic CDI only has two caps so they are close to usless.Two capasitors 6 coils you work it out.

WE have a GTR making 683rwhp on a Wolf with stock coils, see this car in the current Zoom as it has just run 10.7 at 139.96mph.Waste spark is a bad thing and we even got our money back from autronic for a SMD and CDI that could not handle the ign this GTR now has a Plugin wolf and problems are solved first try after 3 years pain with the old set up.

Autronic and Motec are now far removed from each other as the split was many years ago.

[R31Nismoid]

:werd:

[SR910]

JPC vl turbo. autronic and autronic CDI, makes the power but i dont know how, it uses usless CDI. Thats just an example i can think of off the top of my head.

[gtrken]

Highest hp road type GTR in Oz I believe is Leewah's running Autronic and CDI.

Highest HP at this years Summernats was a twin turbo V8 running autronic and CDI....

Cheers

ken

[Mesmer]

I own a old autronic SMC and i'm wrapped with it but thats just me as i like to play with things.

It handles the Idle valve and ignition very well but i dont have stock coils anymore i have a 3xtwin coil packs & modules from bosch or something.

Also i have to raise another point about autronic ecu's are you need to replace the trigger disk in the CAS.

Now for you i would say get something plugin unless you really want to dish out the extra to get a SM2 with all the nice little extra's that the smc doesn't have.

Also the smc is really overpriced last time I checked compared to most powerFC/plugins prices i've seen & the sm2 is lots more.

John

PS on a side note they are fun to tune if you have all the gear (Autronic WB02) and hooked up correctly.

[SR910]

Yea i have a SMC as well and quite happy with it. For this car i would use a power FC as well as easy of instillation, but i didnt understand the autronic bashing.

[N I B]

Just to expensive to make work in high power applications after buying the ECU then CDI and sometimes 2 CDI units when a PFC plugs in and makes good power with out all the cost with its 6 drivers and no piggy back or 4WD problems.

[yamaha227]

i have an SMC installed in my supercharged mitsubishi pajero, its an evo lancer plug and play with an extra ignition driver wired into the board. it works awesome, plugged straight into my original loom and i have the advantage of a nice big laptop screen to look at for tuning.... and how good is that auto tune feature, autronic is certainly not behind the eight ball when it comes to ecu's

[Sydneykid]

i have an SMC installed in my supercharged mitsubishi pajero, its an evo lancer plug and play with an extra ignition driver wired into the board. it works awesome, plugged straight into my original loom and i have the advantage of a nice big laptop screen to look at for tuning.... and how good is that auto tune feature, autronic is certainly not behind the eight ball when it comes to ecu's

I HAVE to agree with Steve-SST, an ECU is a package, you just can't simply pick out 2 features and say it is better because of those. :headspin:

Let me choose one for comparison, a PFC with Commander is going to be 1/4 the cost of a Autronic and a lap top. If I have a "free" lap top, then I can add a Datalogit to the PFC, still less than 1/2 the cost.

How much extra did the auto tune really cost? Software, wiring, F&W lambda, tuning time etc etc. You get nothing for nothing.

I have used Autronics in a number of cars, BMW Supertourer, Commondoor (all of Larry's customer cars came with Autronics) etc. They are a great ECU for particular purposes, not EVERY purpose.

Horses for courses