AEM FIC v.s. enthalpy/deatschwerks rom tune

[sidewaysil80]

i've been searcing around for a reliable/safe engine management unit for a 14-16psi/480-550cc setu for an gt28r sr. i've searched and read just about all i can but i havent found much on the FIC recently, a few threads speculating right when it came out but nothing else. obviously i know a reflash will be fine once i get a couple wide band pulls done and search/correct any trouble spots in the a:f/timing. but i kinda like the flexibility fine tuning that comes with an FIC. does any one have input for this (specifically steveshadows because i read a post from you awhile ago that speculated it was good but you hadnt at the time tried it,any experience now?)
-thanks in advance


ps.
yes a month ago i was going to use an safc for a simple fine tuning setup and got some advice on here but after some thought i've decided i want to get 300whp and realize a safc isnt the way to go for upgraded injectors/mafs

[sidewaysil80]

nothing? anything?...i've checked fresh alloy as well but cant find anything newer then an like 08' on these fic things

[S14_Kouki]

Is this the AEM that is fuel/timing?? Cause I would get that over a rom tune anyday

[sidewaysil80]

Is this the AEM that is fuel/timing?? Cause I would get that over a rom tune anyday

yes the aem fuel/ignition (i think you can only retard timing) controller..i would be going with fic6 version
AEM - Fuel / Ignition Controller (F/IC) (http://www.aempower.com/ViewCategory.aspx?CategoryID=116)

basically i can sell my safcII and do one of the following:
A. pick up the aem f/ic and get tuned by a very very reliable/talented tuner in my area
OR
B. get a rom tune, have said tuner hook up a wide band and evalute the pulls adressing any a:f,timing issues so that i can note them and send it back to be corrected

with either option the setup would be z32 mafs, gt28r, 550cc injectors, 14-16psi, all the trimmings...the ONLY thing i would add down the road would be cams...which is why i'm leaning towards the f/ic. i just havent been able to find any conclusive sr20 experience/reviews on the product.

[johngriff]

There are allot of better tuning choices for the SR other than the FIC, that is why. Power FC and so on.

FIC is a universal clamp system, it is good for a newer car that there is no replacement ecu's for. For the SR's, Engine Managemnt tuning choices are endless.

[sidewaysil80]

i know everyone says this...but a even a used power fc at say (if i'm lucky 500 bucks) plus tunings would be out of my price range. so with that and the mild nature of my setup i thought i could get away with a reflash or piggy back. i KNOW everyone on here says standalone or bust...but i'm trying to see what other options their are BESIDES a standalone.

[johngriff]

a good reflash.

Ask enthalpy for some good setups he has done, then modify your setup so it is the same and order an ecu from him.

Basically, the FIC is going to be a waste of money, and a headache at the end of the day.

[sidewaysil80]

a good reflash.

Ask enthalpy for some good setups he has done, then modify your setup so it is the same and order an ecu from him.

Basically, the FIC is going to be a waste of money, and a headache at the end of the day.

ok great thanks for the info, thats what i was worried about...when the fic first came out everyone was raving about how great it was but i figured it was just as bad as the rest of the piggy's out there. as far as reflash i'm leaning towards the deatschwerks because i keep reading/horror stories on the customer service from enthalpy...

[johngriff]

Enthalpy is a good guy, he is just busy, as is everyone. If you clone one of his known setups you will have good results.

[sidewaysil80]

yeah i just sent him an email of my setup and asked if he had any dyno sheets he could send me on similar/exact(seeing as how its the basic boost up setup) setups using his ecu. the only thing i was wondering though, is how are things like idle/anti stall/boost creep controlled with a reflash?

btw, thanks for all you and all the other tuners input on here. its tough because i build cars all day long but when it comes to the tuning/managment side i'm a newb. its good to get UNBIASED information from people who know what they're talking about.

[S14_Kouki]

FUCK ROM TUNE... Buy the AEM and get it tuned you cant go wrong with a AEM

[sidewaysil80]

im not doubting you OR your abilities but could you explain...thats what i'm trying to figure out...what are the pro's cons of rom tune compared to the same for the aem f/ic. i understand aem puts out a great standalone, but how's their piggyback? what seperates the f/ic from say an emanage ultimate?

[2fast4y0u]

i can say this with the most honesty

i have been dealing with Rs Enthalpy for the last month with stuff. Martin at Enthalpy has been MORE then helpful.
long story short. i have an aem ems but i couldnt afford to tune it. so i bought a used Enthalpy tuned ecu for basically my exact setup. I sent the ecu to Enthalpy and they tuned it and sent it back. i couldnt get my car to run so i turned to them for some tech support.
finding out that my issue had NOTHING to do with the tune, Maritn helped me anyway with my problems. He found my issue over the phone and now my car that hasnt ran in 2 years runs like a champ!
thanks to Martin my car is awesome now.

Highly recommend Rs Enthalpy!

[sidewaysil80]

double post like a mother f*cker

[sidewaysil80]

I sent the ecu to Enthalpy and they tuned it and sent it back. Maritn helped me anyway with my problems. He found my issue over the phone and now my car that hasnt ran in 2 years runs like a champ! thanks to Martin my car is awesome now.
Highly recommend Rs Enthalpy!
so it sounds like they fixed the customer service "issues" that seem to come up everytime they get mentioned (long waits, long time between replys/call backs, etc.) their tunes seem to have more credibility then the deatschwerks ones...and its only like 30 bucks more as well. how were your a:f's/timing curve and such...did you ever hook it up to a wideband and get some pulls?

ps
s14kouki still down to hear your explanations dude

[2fast4y0u]

Actually Martin told me he is specific working on better customer service for Enthalpy. dude called me one afternoon to see how things where goin, i talked to him for a few minutes and had to get back to work. he told me to call him up to 11pm that night. Dude has been helping out a lot.
seriously cant say enough good about them.

i had the wideband hooked up prior to my issue( had my fuel pressure reg hooked up wrong) and i was lean as hell..Martin had me switch things around and i made 5 runs with the wide band hooked up...damn near perfect across the board. couldnt be happier.

he told me if i log it and want to change anything to let him know and he will make the adjustments.

[sidewaysil80]

he told me if i log it and want to change anything to let him know and he will make the adjustments.

awesome, so i'm assuming its a pretty conservative tune and once it's on the down you can just note where you would it more on the aggressive side...let them know and send it back (is that free or do you pay the reflash fee?) by the way, thanks for your time, everyone has an opinion but your like the first person who actually has an enthalpy to go along with said opinion lol

[2fast4y0u]

he sent me a tune that is basically perfect. actually i can do most of my fine tuning with my adjustable fuel press. reg. or worst case i can use an afc.(which i do have)

If i can help out Enthalpy by spreading the good word about them, then great! Nothing but good from them with my experience.

im not sure if i would have to pay the reflash fee or not. dont quote me on this, but i would imagine i wouldnt...i could be wrong on that though.

[sidewaysil80]

HAHA martin from enthalpy just emailed me back (guess they did fix their customer service) and answered ALL my questions...he said
that tune will hold a 12.0:1 AFR in boost, mid 14's out of boost and cruising...and when i get it dyno'd any issues i note are fixed for free. the only thing i have to figure out is what psi to run for that turbo...i think 15-16 should be pretty safe for it and hopefully with my setup put out 270-300whp. guess i'm going with an enthalpy :) thanks for everyone's input and comments!

[2fast4y0u]

no problem man. glad i could spread the good word of Enthalpy

Jay

[lazysk8er2]

i second the notion that enthalpy has been extremely helpful to me.

My ecu got a short in it and i sent it back to him. He resoldered and fixed whatever it needed. The contact situation is immediate and didnt charge me a lot at all. We go through email and he responds very quickly with all my questions answered thoroughly. I have a power fc laying around but no funds to go get a dyno tune so im gonna use the enthalpy ecu for a while.

+1 for R.S. Enthalpy

[R.S. Enthalpy]

Thank you all for the kind words. I am fixing all the customer service support issues and I have 0 down time / same day turn around.


R.S. Enthalpy

[VQMaxFan]

Thank you all for the kind words. I am fixing all the customer service support issues and I have 0 down time / same day turn around.


R.S. Enthalpy

+1 ill vouch for that, customer service recently is awsome, compared to a few months ago. Hopefully my new chips show up tomorrow.

[2fast4y0u]

yet again another awesome experience with Enthalpy. just to concrete what i said before, i emailed them last night with an update on my setup. i was assured i would be able to zero out my afc and its true. the tune is damn near perfect where im running all correction back to 0

got to love that :D

[S14DB]

There are allot of better tuning choices for the SR other than the FIC, that is why. Power FC and so on.

FIC is a universal clamp system, it is good for a newer car that there is no replacement ecu's for. For the SR's, Engine Managemnt tuning choices are endless.

FIC does not clamp sensors. It is placed inline of the injectors and the coil output. It uses the stock output from the ECU to emulate its own output. This allows it to decrease injector pulse-width. Not something you can do on clamp based systems such as the eManage.

But, it is designed for people that have OBD-II(plug in) emissions testing. Regions that have OBD-II testing have to retain the factory ECU for testing. Negating the use of stand alone systems. Flashing is available on some vehicles but not all. This fills the gap of clamp systems and full standalones.

This may be a good solution for OBD-II S14's that are in a plug-in testing region. I don't see it being widely adapted because AEM will probably be only releasing patch cables for new cars. Splicing in the universal kit will be a daunting task for most people.

I do agree there are a lot of better solutions for the SR in the price range. From ROM tuning in the low cost end to PowerFC in the middle to full Standalone's in the upper.

[johngriff]

FIC does not clamp sensors. It is placed inline of the injectors and the coil output. It uses the stock output from the ECU to emulate its own output. This allows it to decrease injector pulse-width. Not something you can do on clamp based systems such as the eManage.

But, it is designed for people that have OBD-II(plug in) emissions testing. Regions that have OBD-II testing have to retain the factory ECU for testing. Negating the use of stand alone systems. Flashing is available on some vehicles but not all. This fills the gap of clamp systems and full standalones.

This may be a good solution for OBD-II S14's that are in a plug-in testing region. I don't see it being widely adapted because AEM will probably be only releasing patch cables for new cars. Splicing in the universal kit will be a daunting task for most people.

I do agree there are a lot of better solutions for the SR in the price range. From ROM tuning in the low cost end to PowerFC in the middle to full Standalone's in the upper.

I "consider" that a clamp system. Have never been ultra excited about pulse in "+/-" pulse out. Also, with the horrible track record the AEM EMS has reading the nissan optical, what has the track record been with the FIC.

If they fixed it in the FIC, but make you replace the dizzy wheel in the EMS, my side is going to split. So assuming you can expect the same performance, then you are just begging for timing errors.

Like you said, wiring that --> into a factory harness, plus the myriad of issues that could arise (triple trouble shooting fic, ecm and wiring), I would just avoid it all together and go with an Enthalpy tune or PFC if we are talking budget tune.

[R.S. Enthalpy]

We do offer tuned maps for the PFC as well !


R.S. Enthalpy