Map Sensors V's Afm Ecu

[carl h]

im going to say that i would suppose it really depends on what kind of goals you have for the car.

for most ppl the pfc will cover almost any thing that they could throw at it, it does its job and does it well.

while the aem ems is superior in almost every way (ive seen wonders done with it, local civic hatch makes nearly 600fwhp using a aem unit) it really is overkill for what most ppl need.

the one feature that might make me buy the aem over the pfc is the knock and autotune ability, 2 options the pfc doesnt have, however i simply could not justify the nearly 2k$ usd price tag the unit comes with.

for me it was simply a better idea to go with a pfc and hand commander for my setup as it works and will cover the power level i want.

as the local shop put it (they are a apexi power excel dealer and a aem dealer) the pfc is best for most applications, and the aem even better, but the aem gives you the ablility to f**k something up a whole lot quicker than the pfc.........

i guess it really comes down to how much you want to spend and your overall goals, 400whp on my rb20 came pretty easily and i think that the pfc will have no problems keeping up with it.

[maximajim]

There's alot of things the AEM has that the PFC doesn't have that helps lessen the price impact. It's just too much too list. One is a cheap Electrionic boost control option, the aem uses a GM boost controller which costs $10 (!).

I don't see how the AEM has a greater chance of destroying something when it's the PFC that doesn't have any knock control. I've tuned with both.. I don't know what there talking about.

[Sydneykid]

1. They use the same ECU only where the wiring harness is the same.  So R34 units are different to R32 and R33.  Like PFC's they don't suport autos, which was  a dissappointment considering the American's love of autos.

That is true, but the R34 RB26 is the only odd ball of the family. The rest are the same.

2. There is only one Australian agent located in Queensland and there is little, if any, support in the other states.

There is the AEM forum, where AEM engineers will help with issues. The aem also comes with comprehensive documentation where as the PFC has nil.

3. The price he quoted was $2,900 delivered, which is up there in Autronic and even Motec territory.

I'm sure that price includes the intergrated AEM WBO2, there are two versions of the ems, one with an one without the WB. The non-WB is about 1700USD. Now remember the AEM is PNP, no need for Trigger wheels, CDI's ect etc.

4. The last version of AEM software I saw was very clunky, not friendly, slow and cumbersome, not all nice to use like a Motec or Autronic.  In fact not even as easy to use as Datalogit for the Power FC's.  It seems to operate on its own logic which is totally different to almost every other ECU.

You may have been looking at an older version of the software. The current version makes the Datalogit look like a homemade app. I can send you the software for you to evaluate. IT did take me a while to become acustomed to the aem after using the datalogit. However the apps feel much more polished.

5.  I couldn't find one tuner with the software loaded, we would have to supply our own.

Each ems comes with a software CD which includes EFI basics manual, EMS instruction manual,MAPS for all supported cars, control and logging software

6. All units ran wasted spark ignition, as they only had 5 ignition drivers.  I couldn't decide whether it was a 4 cylinder unit trying to run a 6, or a V8 unit.  This is confirmend by the CDI where they only have 4 cylinder or 8 cylinder CDI units, no 6 cylinder.

True they have 5 ignition drivers, but 10 sequential injector drivers.

7. Processor speed was difficult to tie down, they quoted 16 bit in some places and 32 bit in other.

AEM quotes a 16/32 hybrid processor.

8. There weren't any tables for upgraded AFM's, only the standard AFM for that model.

No here's the kicker, the aem can use ANY Sensor from ANY car as long as you have a calibration table. Thereare a number of MAF's listed in the AEM software, the z32 MAF is listed.

From memory there were a few minor other issues, so they are CLOSE to being a good competitor but not quite there yet.

I don't think the aem was ment to compete with the high end motec's or autronics, but it try to fit right below them.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for the info guys I will have a deaper look into the AEM during the racing off season. Quick responses follow;

1. The R34GTT, R34GTR, Stagea S1 and S11 all have the later ECU plug version that the AEM doesn't fit.

3. $US1,700 = $A2,300 + freight from the US + GST 10% + freight from Queensland = $A2,900. Same price as a Motec or an Autronic, depending on options and models.

6. Have you configured one of the spare 4 injector drivers to run the ignition? Or are you runnng wasted spark using 3 ignition drivers ?

8. I saw that the Z32 AFM was there, but I expected that due to the popularlity of 300ZX's in the US. Are there GTR and Q45 AFMs on the list now? I did notice that I would have to load them from the table, that they weren't menu selectable.

I had a bit a chuckle at that, and the PNP claim, as you also have to load all of the maps. It's like a Wolf, it's sorta PNP, except after you have plugged it in, you have to do lots of other stuff before the car will start and run. The PFC is still unique in that area, as all you do is literally plug it in and drive away.

I suspect that's why the AEM hasn't been very successful here, it costs the same as a high end race ECU (Motec, Autronic, Bosch etc) and yet isn't as easy as a PFC, which costs a third as much. Maybe if they halve the price and do dedicated 6 cylinder units they might sell a few.

cheers

[carl h]

There's alot of things the AEM has that the PFC doesn't have that helps lessen the price impact.  It's just too much too list. One is a cheap Electrionic boost control option, the aem uses a GM boost controller which costs $10 (!).

I don't see how the AEM has a greater chance of destroying something when it's the PFC that doesn't have any knock control. I've tuned with both.. I don't know what there talking about.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i think its the fact that the aem has so many more pretty buttons than the pfc that a person who is not familiar with it can do more damage, granted both can cause equal destruction.......

i have heard from a few friends who run a aem ems that they dont like the fact that the ems uses gm sensors, while cheap they seem to fork out at the most inopertune times, mebey its just them or mebey its a the dodgy gm sensors.

again as i said before while i would love to have a aem ems, i simply could not justify the price when the pfc can do what i need it to for a fraction of the cost.

[maximajim]

i think its the fact that the aem has so many more pretty buttons than the pfc that a person who is not familiar with it can do more damage, granted both can cause equal destruction.......

i have heard from a few friends who run a aem ems that they dont like the fact that the ems uses gm sensors, while cheap they seem to fork out at the most inopertune times, mebey its just them or mebey its a the dodgy gm sensors.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like I've said before the aem can use any sensor. It can use GM sensors but the AEM brand sensors are made by Kavlico which are top notch. They make sensors for aircraft (aircraft parts=$$$$$).

[maximajim]

1. The R34GTT, R34GTR, Stagea S1 and S11 all have the later ECU plug version that the AEM doesn't fit.

There is a R34 GTR ems, they have no plans for a GTT unless there is demand.

3. $US1,700 = $A2,300 + freight from the US + GST 10% + freight from Queensland = $A2,900. Same price as a Motec or an Autronic, depending on options and models.

Motec m600 list price is still $3100aud++ at various online websites. And you still have to pay for wiring, and options the ems already comes with standard (logging, traction control, anti-lag, staged injection)

6. Have you configured one of the spare 4 injector drivers to run the ignition? Or are you runnng wasted spark using 3 ignition drivers ?

Stock it comes with 3 operating drivers aka wasted spark. We have numerous 600whp+ supra's running around with the aem, nobody seems to have issue with it.

8. I saw that the Z32 AFM was there, but I expected that due to the popularlity of 300ZX's in the US. Are there GTR and Q45 AFMs on the list now? I did notice that I would have to load them from the table, that they weren't menu selectable.

GTR mafs are listed but VH45 is not.