Convince me I don't want a AEM FI/C 6
 

So I have a 2000 Miata and a DIYPNP MS2. I have a VVT head in the garage, but in order to use it in any logical way, I would need to dump another $250 into a VVTuner box and then pull out my remaining hair trying to get it to work, and then I'll still have virtually no tuner support.

I see solid used AEM FI/C 6's sell for as little as $250-300 on a semi regular basis WITH PNP harness. From what I have read, the FI/C6 should control VVT, correct? Plus I get the benifit of a literal army of tuners that are familiar with the AEM platform, even if they are not familiar with the Miata specifically.

As a bonus, I already own:

AEM UEGO wideband 30-4100
AEM 35psi Boost Gauge 30-4406 I haz stupidcharger, so I don't need the TRUBoost controller
Boomslang BF13002 Miata extension harness While not a FI/C PNP harness, I can cut it up and roll my own if need be.

I'm looking for facts or opinions here from you guise running or experienced with the FI/Cs. Convince me that I do or don't need an AEM FI/C 6

Does not appear to control VVT, drat. Looks like I was confusing it with one of the EMS or other stand-alone products :( I wonder if I could just run a 2001 ECU and add the 2 extra wires to the harness...

I'm a fan if piggy backs and keeping it simple. By using the stock ecu as a baseline you avoid reinventing the basics like cold start, warm up, accel fuel, part load operation and so on. I'm having good luck with an FIC on my NA 1.6. AFAIK it has the basics to cover your application too but not a lot of extra features. Actually I think yours is the type of app it is intended for without the VVT. Call me an semi-qualified vote for the FIC.

sell ms2
purchase ms3 from rev
profit

And for the love of everything miata turbo, don't listen to the idiotic post #3

Vlad: purchasing another megasquirt based product is not going to make my life easier. One with a custom hardware/firmware build is just going to complicate things when trying to find a competent tuner. :facepalm: If I decide to drop that kind of cash, its going to be on a AEM EMS4 or a Series 2 from TrackSpeed, and then I can leverage the entire import tuning community for support.

I'm not badmouthing Dimitrius, I'm sure he builds an amazing product. I'm also not badmouthing the support that the community here on MiataTurbo offers. Its just that I do not find the MS to be at all user friendly at all, and around here the support is very bipolar. I tire of the "read the manual" responses everyone gets when asking MS questions. There are so many different hardware and software versions out there that the MS documentation is a bloody nightmare. The MegaSquirt documentation makes me feel like this:
Its no wonder that the MS series has such a bad reputation.

I poked around and checked out the AEM offerings and they seem to be well supported, so I'm exploring my options.

I have the FIC/6 in my 2000 with M45. I like it. It won't tune with a 99-00 the way AEM says, but the way I was shown is less work anyway. The MAF is not being captured by the FIC/6, but I can clamp it later if I decide I need to. It is easy to understand and able to handle my setup well enough. The goal in leaving the Powercard and going with the FIC/6 was to move to a turbo and greater HP while maintaining my stockish drivability. This is my DD. Basically, if you want to control fuel and timing it will work without having to get a degree in MSology. Just for kicks I wired up a new harness to test various resistor values on the O2 line and to give the ability to play with the TPS signal. The dual calibration is a plus, as well as the ability to pull in any input and use the Analog A/B setups to tweak or log them.

This was all done in FI wasteland. I'd never seen another FI Miata except my trip to the Mitty. The only real downer on the FIC/6 is an lack of experienced users in the Miata community and the fact that AEM does a very poor job of supporting it. Still, if I can do it, you can too. VVT, you are on your own....Like I said, a lack of experienced users in the Miata community....

I'm going to be completely honest and serious with you:

To do it right you'll either
1) spend a ton of money
2) spend a ton of time
3) fail miserably trying to pioneer some non-existent method both cheap easy and proper, then end up doing the "proven" method.


Trust me, I was right there with you before: I spent DAYS dreaming of different ways to "fight the system" and get by with bandaids/doodoo boxes/ppppower cards, etc etc etc.......

Its not worth it. You know it, we know it, everyone that's not an idiot knows it. Don't kid yourself.

I know the fic is not as bad as your typical bandaid...But its still not great. Heck, I'd say its "no good". Sure it may "work" for some, but look at their cars, their setups, etc. They're mediocre at best. You want to track your car: either go with good stuff or just stay n/a and not worry about it.

EO2K: When you get one of my ECUs, you get complete and total support from. You will not have to resort to anyone else for help on the ECU. I provide instant tech support 14 hours a day, 7 days a week. I usually reply to emails and PMs within minutes.

I knows this :squint: and it's still frustrating. I've never really asked for hand holding and I expected to be able to eventually figure things out based on the documentation. I think the DIYPNP is probably one of the worst. Its like a MS2 + Enhanced, but without all the features because its running on a MicroSquirt module. The documentation jumps around so much it'll make your head spin.

You'll have a PM shortly.

fwman1,

Hey,
I am just starting my turbo project on a 2000 Miata. I have already ordered a FIC6 and a boomslang harness. Would you mind sharing your map file with me? What injectors are you running? What hex files are working for you?

I am new to this forum but not forced induction. Maybe it's foolish, but the miata turbo seems really straight forward. I can't wait to start getting into it when the parts show up.

I've gone the bandaid route before, but went megasquirt and never looked back. I have not dealt with the other MS developers here but the support from DIY Autotune is awesome as well.

Thanks for the input about the MS. I would totally go the stand alone route, but to be able to pass inspection in NH I need to maintain OBD2 compatibility. None of the non band-aid methods do that except for a factory ECU reprogram which makes tuning changes difficult. What I need to find is a working map from a current 99-00 AEM FIC user. Maybe I will start a new thread and keep a fire extinguisher handy. I think my path is going to work where I am building this on a budget more for fun then anything else.

Thanks