Aem fic
09-14-2008, 02:46 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,011
Total Cats: 7
Aem fic
I finally got an FIC wired up in my MX3. The 3 has a BP engine swap now and is boosted with the BP26 turbo setup.
I said I'd post my opinion of it when I had a chance. So here it is.
Compaired to the EMS, the FIC is harder to work with imo. For example. To change values you have to manually enter them or hit ctrl-u and ctrl-d to increase or decrease a value. You'd be suprised how hard that is vs. using the +/- keys like the EMS. It makes it difficult to modify a value quickly and with one hand. There isnt a target box either. You have no idea whether or not your smack dab in the middle of a cell or slightly off. An adjacent cell could be modifying the value in the active cell and you'll never know. You have to feel it out. Don't get me wrong. There is -much- less to deal with then a stand alone. I'd say the FIC can be learned quickly by a novice tuner. If you can install your own turbo and know how to read wiring diagrams and connect wires you'll grasp the FIC easily.
As far as the MAF elimination goes, yes you can eliminate the MAF. Here's how that works. You choose "MAP as load" in the configuration and then modify the "MAF Map" (in voltage mode). The values you enter in the MAF Map will be the voltages the FIC sends the factory ECU as the MAF signal. I left the MAF sensor (and recirculation bov) installed. I watched the MAF voltage, as displayed by the FIC, and entered that voltage into the MAF Map at any given load/rpm. It takes awhile. If data logging actually worked it would be easier but that's AEM bugs for ya.
Of all the things it's logging, MAF voltage is blank. When time comes to upgrade injectors, I think I'll tune it with the MAF Map rather then the actual Fuel Map. Once a drivable state is reached, where the factory ECU isn't trimming fuel, I'll use the Fuel Map like a boost-comp map. I'm using the IGN Map to pull 2deg/psi. That's working well. Both the Fuel Map and IGN Map have an auto-fill feature so the user can simply choose X-deg per lb of boost.
The FIC has a nice gauge display. Tach, Load, and a 3rd user configurable gauge that can be used to monitor a wideband. All gauges have adjustable min/max/yellowline/redline adjustments.
Breakpoints are also adjustable. Don't plan on 50lbs of boost at 10,000rpm? Then readjust the breakpoints for 30lbs@8500 max to increase the resolution of the maps.
The MAP load is measured in kpa or psia. This means that "12lbs of boost" is going to show up as 26.5lbs (psia) in the FIC. I understand how pressure works but I don't understand why the user interface has to work in those values. Another anoyance.
I may update this post as time goes on, and bugs show up.
EDIT - This thing REALLY needs a 3D map view.
I said I'd post my opinion of it when I had a chance. So here it is.
Compaired to the EMS, the FIC is harder to work with imo. For example. To change values you have to manually enter them or hit ctrl-u and ctrl-d to increase or decrease a value. You'd be suprised how hard that is vs. using the +/- keys like the EMS. It makes it difficult to modify a value quickly and with one hand. There isnt a target box either. You have no idea whether or not your smack dab in the middle of a cell or slightly off. An adjacent cell could be modifying the value in the active cell and you'll never know. You have to feel it out. Don't get me wrong. There is -much- less to deal with then a stand alone. I'd say the FIC can be learned quickly by a novice tuner. If you can install your own turbo and know how to read wiring diagrams and connect wires you'll grasp the FIC easily.
As far as the MAF elimination goes, yes you can eliminate the MAF. Here's how that works. You choose "MAP as load" in the configuration and then modify the "MAF Map" (in voltage mode). The values you enter in the MAF Map will be the voltages the FIC sends the factory ECU as the MAF signal. I left the MAF sensor (and recirculation bov) installed. I watched the MAF voltage, as displayed by the FIC, and entered that voltage into the MAF Map at any given load/rpm. It takes awhile. If data logging actually worked it would be easier but that's AEM bugs for ya.
Of all the things it's logging, MAF voltage is blank. When time comes to upgrade injectors, I think I'll tune it with the MAF Map rather then the actual Fuel Map. Once a drivable state is reached, where the factory ECU isn't trimming fuel, I'll use the Fuel Map like a boost-comp map. I'm using the IGN Map to pull 2deg/psi. That's working well. Both the Fuel Map and IGN Map have an auto-fill feature so the user can simply choose X-deg per lb of boost.The FIC has a nice gauge display. Tach, Load, and a 3rd user configurable gauge that can be used to monitor a wideband. All gauges have adjustable min/max/yellowline/redline adjustments.
Breakpoints are also adjustable. Don't plan on 50lbs of boost at 10,000rpm? Then readjust the breakpoints for 30lbs@8500 max to increase the resolution of the maps.
The MAP load is measured in kpa or psia. This means that "12lbs of boost" is going to show up as 26.5lbs (psia) in the FIC. I understand how pressure works but I don't understand why the user interface has to work in those values. Another anoyance.
I may update this post as time goes on, and bugs show up.
EDIT - This thing REALLY needs a 3D map view.
Last edited by lazzer408; 09-15-2008 at 12:49 PM.
Reply
0
0
09-14-2008, 11:40 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,011
Total Cats: 7
The 3 is doing ok. My junkyard BP was from a Escort GT. It sounds great. No leaks. Light brown under the valve cover so that was a good sign.
Actually Tim, maybe you can help. Do you have any 330cc or larger injectors laying around?
I should mention the FIC has an injector calculator in it also.
Reply
0
0
11-20-2008, 09:45 AM
#5
Just wanted to bump this old thread to say I've been running my F/IC for...9 months? I guess. And it works excellent and is simple to tune. Datalogging works great, car runs like stock out of boost and the transition into boost is completely seamless. A/F's are dead on where I want them after a bit of street tuning.
If you havent decided on fuel management yet, don't overlook the F/IC.
Datalogs, including WBO2
Controls injectors directly
retards timing based on basically whatever you want
narrowband sensor manipulation (for smooth transitions into boost)
adjustable, switchable 12v output for whatever you want. Right now im running some hidden shift lights (gay) but I might convert my cutout to a super-fast electric and open it above a certain TPS voltage
*could theoretically delete MAFS although for it to work perfectly you would probably need to also modify the fuel map based on an IAT sensor, but people have done it successfully.
If you havent decided on fuel management yet, don't overlook the F/IC.
Datalogs, including WBO2
Controls injectors directly
retards timing based on basically whatever you want
narrowband sensor manipulation (for smooth transitions into boost)
adjustable, switchable 12v output for whatever you want. Right now im running some hidden shift lights (gay) but I might convert my cutout to a super-fast electric and open it above a certain TPS voltage
*could theoretically delete MAFS although for it to work perfectly you would probably need to also modify the fuel map based on an IAT sensor, but people have done it successfully.
Reply
0
0
11-20-2008, 10:00 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,011
Total Cats: 7
After using it for some time it's a pain in the *** to tune compaired to the EMS. There are many features I'd like to see with the FIC like a 3d map view. That would make it very easy to see if you have a hole or spike anywhere in the maps. I'm hounding AEM about it. It would be a function of the software itself. Automaping of the maf map voltages would also be great as many of us would like to eliminate the maf sensor. It CAN do it but it's quite a task to enter all the voltages manually at any given point. The FIC also lacks a target crosshair to let you know when your smack in the middle of a cell. For the cost I expected more. But, it does work. Considering I'm running a BP engine with a B6 ECU and 330s with no cel it's doing ok.
$.02
$.02
Reply
0
0
11-20-2008, 10:40 AM
#7
Agreed on the software. It could do much more but I think it sucks (compared to the EMS software) by design, in order to keep it in it's own niche and not be a direct competitor to the EMS. I do disagree on the price however. $400 is just right, if not good IMHO.
It would have been simple for them to incorporate things like launch control, solenoid control (for boost/WI), multiple 12v outputs but they didnit which kinda sucks but it was to keep it from stepping on potential EMS sales.
Another little annoyance is that it doesnt have a "built-in" copy of AEMLOG. It's an inconvenience to switch back and forth. Ooh, and color-coded cells...why the hell not? Auto-tune would be nice too
In regards to MAF output voltages, wouldnt there be a problem running the car in different weather? I foresaw myself datalogging and getting all of these voltages and tuning it to where it'd run good just to get pissed off when the weather changed.
It would have been simple for them to incorporate things like launch control, solenoid control (for boost/WI), multiple 12v outputs but they didnit which kinda sucks but it was to keep it from stepping on potential EMS sales.
Another little annoyance is that it doesnt have a "built-in" copy of AEMLOG. It's an inconvenience to switch back and forth. Ooh, and color-coded cells...why the hell not? Auto-tune would be nice too
In regards to MAF output voltages, wouldnt there be a problem running the car in different weather? I foresaw myself datalogging and getting all of these voltages and tuning it to where it'd run good just to get pissed off when the weather changed.
Reply
0
0
11-22-2008, 11:34 AM
#8
Elite Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 2,320
Total Cats: 13
I'm currently running the F/iC in my 90 miata, and I just set up the MAF bypass table, and so far everything is running great. It idles so much better then it did before. Anyways, I'm going to try to completely remove the MAF and just keep the idle air temp sensor, so I'll keep everyone posted.
Reply
0
0
11-22-2008, 09:01 PM
#12
Senior Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,011
Total Cats: 7
FIC MAF Simulation
Pain in the butt alright to do something that can easily be mapped out in real time using software. tisk tisk AEM.
Pain in the butt alright to do something that can easily be mapped out in real time using software. tisk tisk AEM.
Reply
0
0
02-15-2009, 11:38 AM
#19
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 349
Total Cats: -2
Excel has useful features, like you can just go to the data point and it'll pop up the values, etc.
And Excel has gotten a lot more stable the last ten years. It's not like in Office 97 when it would be likely to crash your tuning session
Reply
0
0
