Looking for some general info on ecu upgrades

How prone is it to damaging something in your engine?

How leagal is it?

What exactly does it do ?

Is it easy to install?(any how to links)

 

Well im not sure as far as damamge or legality, but I believe most ecu upgrades for the maxima require you to send your current ecu away to have to upgraded, leaving you carless for a couple weeks. Maybe less depends on where you go, not sure if the JWT ecu is a send away or not. I do have this to say though, take from it what you will.
Two of my friends drive 2002 GTI vr6's... both were actually bought in the same week and both up till now have the same mods, exhaust, headers,cams etc.. Now one of them decided it was time for an ecu mod, so he got one, had a local VW "guru" install it for him...and he has not had 1 problem car runs great so on. The other also purchased the same ecu had it installed by the same person, ran fine for about 2 days then his car started stalling out everywhere, gas meter was way off, car was eating gas hardcore. Pistons mis-firing etc..he got the chip replaced with the original stock on, and still has the same problem. not 100% positive the ecu did it, but im about 99.99% sure I don't think the maxima ones are really even worth it, I thought they were pretty minimal gains and less mpg? Anyway just thought I would sahre the little story with you

 

If you are running nitrous, SC or turbo, an NA ECU might advance timing to the point of being dangerous. But if you are running an NA modded ECU on a car with FI you are retarded and deserve it. An NA ecu on an NA car will cause no damage, and neither will an FI ecu on an FI car.

Legality... ECU is perfectly legal. Even if it wasnt, it would be impossible for someone to tell you had changed the ECU unless they tear it out of your car and look at the little sticker on it.


What it does.... it advances ignition timing and fuel delivery maps, and in the case of the JWT, raises the rev limiter (which is pointless unless you have an MEVI).

How easy to install... very easy. Its behind the plastic panels behind and under your radio console. A few screws to take out and then you plug the wiring harness in... as easy as plugging in a lamp, almost.

Will it make a difference? People who do not have ECUs are usually the ones who say "I hear it doesn't help any". ECUs give a good amount of power especially in the midrange RPMs. If you mate a JWT ECU with an MEVI, you have a lethal combo.

Yes an ECU needs to be sent off to be reprogrammed, so you have have a few options.
1) be without a car for 2-4 weeks.
2) buy a spare ECU for like 100-200 bucks and send it off to be reprogrammed so you can still drive your car on your stock ECU.
3) Pay JWT or G-Force or whoever a $500 core charge, they will send you a stock ECU, you send them yours, they reprogram yours and send it back to you, then you send theirs back to them. when all is said and done they give you your $500 back, but it cost you about $1100 up front.

 

I've enjoyed mine for the past 18 months. No problems at all. Couldn't be easier - I switch back & forth between boxes, takes maybe 2min

 

Why do you switch between the 2?

 

gforce ecu is on sale you know.. only $380! almost $215.00 off retail!

 

I get more tickets when running the upgraded ECU. It also makes things simpler for warranty work for anybody who doesn't regularly work on the car.

 

which ECU do you guys recomend for me,? if I'm running the V2 S/C with 3.125 pulley (10psi), vortech FMU, Apexi S-AFC, etc. bolt ons???

 

bejay, i'm definately interested in buying your Gforce ECU if it's not sold already. i sent you an email. email me back! maxgxe97@yahoo.com