Where to install a Reverant MS3 Basic in a 99
 

So the stock 99 ecu sits above the clutch and brake pedal. The MS3 basic is is more than twice the size of the stock ecu though... I don't see how it could fit anywhere near the drivers feet where the harness will reach. Has anyone installed an MS3 basic in a 99? If so where did you put it? At this point my only idea is to find the stock connecters and make an extension harness to put it behind the glove box.


Wut do?

Also I'll try to get some pics of the problem tonight I'm on my phone now.

I'm going behind the glove box. Boomslang made me a extension harness for the one that isn't long enough. Mine is 48in and was about $100, but a 36in would work and be cheaper. I err'd on the long side since I think I'm the first going this route. The two green ecu connectors that are engine harness will route far enough to work.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379805578


Edit:
Found the pic of extension harness and second is the USB panel mount. Should eliminate the need to fiddle around with wired ecu connections.
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379805715

Attachment 239495

Haven't done mounting yet. Semester started and mildly lost interest in my slow going project.

My ms2 has a small harness cause it goes db37 to Miata stock harness. My ms2 is zip tied to the steering column kind of...
Ms3 looks way bigger, and I really dig the way you cut that hole in the side of the interior panel for the USB port. That is win all over.

Awesome, I was actually over at Concealer404's place, and he said he needs to make a couple of harnesses for his crazy 90s bandaids, so that's probably what I'll do.

I found this m.net thread with the part numbers for the stock connectors, I'll look into if they are correct or not later. Right now it's time to drink my sorrows away.

Thanks again TZ, great pics.

Oh and thirdgen I think that cutout is already there isn't it?

Reverant sent me a picture of one installed next to the steering column. Unfortunately, I did not save it. Perhaps he will post it here?

Yeah that cutout is already there. Never thought to use it as a USB jack, though, awesome idea! I need to do that for my NB.

As for the MS3... i dont think there's any GOOD way that this thing is fitting on the driver's side. It's HUGE. It really needs to be mounted Hydra-style with a patch harness.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379867900

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379867900

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379867900

He has the breakout harness on the other end, though. I shoved it up there but with engine harness on one side, breakout on the other, it wasn't going to work real well.

I'll bring everything back over after grabbing some food and we'll give it another shot. But we'll start with the ECU this time lol.

Thanks for the pics Reverant. Did that also have the DB-37 harness attached to it? It looked like it might have had a chance except for that expansion harness.

He removed the black cover on the DB37 connector and insulated any bare contacts with electrical tape.

Awesome, I will try that, I could almost get it in that spot, but the DB37 was right up against the firewall.

The main problem appears to be the white plug seen in picture 2.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379878068

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379878068

Anyone know what that is? I guess I could have looked while I was under there. I might see how much room I have to move it out of the way.

I powered up the MS3 and calibrated my TPS at least.

Might this help?



Attachment 89639

I have a DIYPNP, but that appears to be of similar size. I got tired of installing and pulling it from the clutch/brake location... here's what I did:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379885134

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379885134

The ms3 won't fit in that location.

diypnp is way way smaller aaron

My solution might also be not relevant to thread :giggle::party:

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1379914828

It's just too wide to fit in there Aaron. And don't think I didn't try, I'm quite good at fitting wide things into tight spaces :giggle:

For instance, the MS3 WILL fit in his anus. Really the hardest part about that install was figuring out how to feed the factory plugs up through the seat.

I already sent these photos to concealer but this is what I came up with to mount my ms2e.

Basically just made an aluminium bracket that bolts in to the oem ecu's bracket bolt and runs across to near the fuse box and the ms2 sits ontop. Then I just ran the serial cable out the fuse box.

If I wanted to not hack it together, I would have done something like that. For now I will save the nice mounting options until I put it behind the glovebox with an extension harness.

I'll take some pics of the hack job at lunch. We got it up there and installed.

Yeah it's mounted somewhat securely right now with clever application of zip ties. I think i'm going to end up making him a harness though. As he says, the location now is "good enough for gubment work" but it gives me the skeeves.

Here's a pic.

https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1380218941

It doesn't fit by a lot, but it does fit.

I thought I had my VE dialed in pretty good, but then I decided to get rid of the boost rows, so I still have some work to do.

I did need to adjust the knock windowing as it was pulling timing just from the noise.

I'm going to have to deal with the same issue next week. I like the idea of an extension harness and mount the MS3 in the glove box. Who are you looking to make your harness?

Probably me.

Boomslang will do them as well. Dont know about their pricing or what the ideal length is yet.

I know the Hydra harness I had was too long.

I'd be interested in one myself if you feel like doing it. I don't know if you guys are local to each other or not. I can do any measuring or anything like that you would need. I'm going to go ahead with the zip tie method for now to see if I can get this thing up and running. Frankly, I'm a noob and the thing that worries me the most is being able to communicate with the MS3 over the USB since I am running Tunerstudio on a MAC

My harness reached far enough to plug it in after removing the stock ECU. There are 2 bolts, that top one is a bitch. A small wrench helped me get the harness plugs off the stock ECU. Plug the MS3 in and turn the ignition on first thing, and try to connect with it. You can calibrate the TPS while you are there too. From a quick google it appears that if it doesn't work naitively you can load up XP with virtualbox and that might have a chance.

It reached to where you have it zip tied in the picture? Do you have the 37 pin break out connector on the back in that picture? I just got one of those 90 degree adaptors like the one posted in the beginning of the thread and we will see how that works out. Long term I would still like it in the glove box just because it is easy to get to.

I'm going to have my fingers crossed that it works natively with the MAC.

He has the breakout, but took the cover off of it. Wouldnt fit with it still on.

And yeah we're local. I can do one for you as well, just let me price materials and stuff. If you need it quick, you'll want to look elsewhere. I've got two cars of my own that need to take precedence right now, but if all goes well I'll be ready in a couple weeks. :)

That's fine, I'm not in a hurry for that, I'll get it zip tied up there some how. If he can do it, so can I.

I also have developed a contingency plan for the MAC and tuner studios, I have a crappy ASUS PC running windows 7 and EFIanalytics allowed me to download another copy of Tunerstudio and Megalog to the PC so hopefully I can just make the USB work on that. I do have a email in to REV about the link to the drivers in the instructions as it appears to be old and no longer works.

Got it zipped tied up there but I think I am having issues with the vacuum line getting pinched and causing some weird idle issues. Definitely interested in an extension harness. Under the dash is terrible to get to as well as mount so that it doesn't move around.

I just got mine installed last week. Put it up there with zip ties like everyone else seems to be doing... I also left the bottom bracket from the stock ECU in place, and have the MS sitting on top of it (with a zip tie that goes around both the MS and the bracket, to keep it from falling off).

I'd take a pic and post it, but it looks pretty much the same as the other that have been posted...

Also just as a note to JDM74, I'm not having any issues with the vacuum line... I think the fact that I've got that bracket there is preventing the MS from moving too far towards the firewall... might wanna try that out if you're not doing it already.

I actually fabricated a small L bracket that goes on the same stud you are talking about and the MS is sitting on that right now. It's not as sturdy as I want and I still would like to get it in the glove box but it is working for right now. Car seems to be running good now too since I got the VVT hooked up after waiting for some o-rings and getting those installed.