I know this has been brought up more times than you guys would want to see/hear, but I want to increase the stock boost on my 97 T5.

Now, I have the option of getting a 95 850 T-5R ecu from a local, i've read that i'll get a check engine light. Will I be okay to run this ecu on my car and still acheive increased performance without it being detrimental?

Or, am I better in searching for an R ecu instead?

 

I would just search for a later model R ECU.

 

How much boost are you after? Max your going to get from a stock ECU is 12-13 (240hp)

 

or if you dont mind coming off a little more money, get a tuned ECU with the IPD or RICA tune on it. that'll bump you up plenty.

 

and that will put a smile on your face.

 

If you havnt done it already id do:
Aside for the tuned ecu....
1. HD CBV (heavy duty compressor bypass valve ) (IPD)
2.Re-adjust your waste gate to make sure your not loosing boost
3.Reverse Intercooler Piping Kit (ipd or EST)
4.all else fails go BIGGER turbo...

 

1. Will not net you any gains. Not needed and highly unlikely to be needed until you hit much higher boost.
2. You can get a little more out of her doing this.
3. Has no affect on increasing your boost.
4. Yes

Bottom line, a manual boost controller will get you your gains cheap but you will run into fuel cut off very fast. So, to do it right get an ECU flash.

 

Seller has made clarification as to what ecu he was selling. He initially said 95 but I asked him to check the door of the donor car and he said it read 9/96, so it's a 97.

So I paid him, he'll ship, i'll plug and get more power the reliable way.

The first thing I did to this car was tighten the wastegate 2.25 turns last july, stage 0 done finally, just installed FCP's silicone intercooler hoses which were a PITA to install (took almost 24 hours!!??). I don't want a FMIC yet, maybe when the stock one goes, then we'll see.

I'm only in search of ~300hp max so i'm either going for OBX full exhaust, or custom, then RICA tune. 240+-hp should hold me over until it's time for the $700 tune. I am aware of cheaper tuning options for ~400 but I hear ST makes you run rich, inmotion and upsolute have both + - reviews, and I read all good things about IPD and RICA. Oh, i'm terrified of MBCs, i'll be forever paranoid if I got one.

 

MBC - I run it and love it!

 

or you could go here:

http://www.eurosporttuning.ca/mm5/me...Code=VL-850-en

And get your RICA tune for $500.

 

"There is a $200 core charge applied to all orders which will be refunded once we recieve your ECU back. The price of $499 does not include the core charge." $700 up front, but yeah I saw that a few days ago but I still have to fork up 7 bills regardless...

Cool thing is it is the rica tune, but a different vendor (est) for $200 less after refund.

 

I have a spare ecu, so I'll send one in while I run on the other. poof! no core charge! Plus that way I can swap to the standard ECU in the winter, when nobody here wants power anyway, since it just equals wheel spin in snow/slush.ice...

 

ha..so you have 3 ECUs. Thanks for the tip. T5 ECUx2, R ECU, save $200 when I send in both T5 ECUs right?

I live in Florida, perpetual heat. Need power all year round!

 

no, I have 2 ecus. One I will send to get tuned, then I will get it back with tune installed on it.

 

it does not matter what ECU you send them (whether its an R or not) ....your getting it flashed which means ERASED so dont go spending a bunch of money to get an R ECU then sending it in. Just get the right ECU for your car and send that.

 

Send in two ECUs? lol wut?

I just sent my ECU in to Viva for a tune about a week ago. So once I get it I'll update my thread with my reactions.

 

Ibified states in his earlier reply, "I have a spare ecu, so I'll send one in while I run on the other. poof! no core charge!"

That got me thinking, I already paid for an R ecu, i'll send my T5 ecu to rica at a later date, But how do I get a rica tune without paying a core charge?

Ibified replies, "no, I have 2 ecus. One I will send to get tuned, then I will get it back with tune installed on it."

Boxpin, I figured as much when you send in any ecu, they rewrite their file onto it. I just got this R ecu to hold me off till I can afford a tune...

 

by sending in an ecu, you don't pay a core charge. The core charge is for them to tune an ECU and send you the ecu, and then once you receive it, you send your core back, once received they refund you. Just like any other car part that has a core charge.

 

duh vmax... alright cool. Hey Gilber, if you can, please take a before/after video of your 0-60, 50-70mph times for us to see if your car pulls any harder with the tune. I see your mod list is extensive...

 

One question I have here about tuning an ECU: Suppose you have a buttload of mods done already....white injectors, cams, ignition system, front mount intercooler, bigger turbo, exhaust, air intake, all that....do they make the tune specifically for what you have done to modify your car, or is it a "one size fits all" type deal, where it's the same tune regardless of what you have?

I only ask because if they dont, it seems that things like running white injectors would be a waste of money. Can someone explain this a little more to me?