Hello all. I'm a miata newb. I've come from the world of subarus where a tactrix cable is all you need to hack into the stock ecu.

Now, I have an 01 Miata. I found an 04 msm engine and ecu on craigslist for $500. I swapped it all in, analyzed the wiring diagrams, and made the 4-5 wire changes necessary to get it running.

What I completely ignored, like a newb, was the immobilizer issue on 01 and up cars. I thought the immobilizer was the only thing associated with the keys.

So anyways, since these ecus appear almost identical, with the exception of vvt channels being used for boost and IAT sensors. I was wondering...Is it possible to pull the map off of the msm computer and save it to the 01 computer? Thus, leaving whatever immobilizer voodoo is on the board. Or another idea is to just to unsolder the msm chip and solder it to the 01 board. I saw BEGI does something similar where they solder a new reflashed chip onto the board and immobilizer features still work...

Am I on to something or am I crazy?

 

I just want my $500 project to run for right now. It's been on stands since mid oct. It's catless and has a FM intake so I think I should be in the 190-200 whp range.

 

No one has really developed what I'd call a good solution for modifying the stock ecu. Most on here run megasquirt. And you're probably more at 150-160whp right now. MSMs aren't too impressive without some much needed tuning. Throw on a piggyback and an o2 clamp if you're not looking to go full replacement.

 

F that O2 clamp BS and a piggyback. Get in on the DIYPNP group buy going on now. That is the answer to your question.

 

I know that is the answer, but I need the car to pass emissions as well... they check it every year in tx. It's kind of a pain to swap everything out, and i currently don't have a working stock ecu because of the immobilizer feature.

 

Talk to BEGi about their new ECU flashing program.

 

I did speak with Stephanie, and they are looking into it. I'm also talking with dptune since Joe is in Texas. He says he can put the map on the 01 ecu without an issue. I'll be the first guinea pig I suppose.

 

Stupid question: Doesn't the MSM ECU have a MAP sensor, a second IAT sensor, an electronic wastegate valve, and maybe one or two other things which the '01 ECU is not equipped to deal with from a hardware standpoint?

 

MSM has same MAF. IAT and electronic wastegate valve are actuated via the two wires that are run for vct on the 01. I flashed a msm map onto my 01 ecu. It works like a charm.