Rep Power: 188

O.k. I have searched for answers to this question and while people start to answer them they have been taken off in another direction. I am new to Hondas and turbos but would like to know a couple of things about the ECU:
1. will the ECU from an RSX work (direct plug in no additional reprogramming)
2. if no to 1. other than Hondata what is good option looking for piggyback

with number 2 I am not looking for what people say is the best I simply want to know what everyone uses and the function-ability of it.
thanks

 
Rep Power: 367

I might be wrong, but does not 1 and 2 required for hondata?
let's wait for actual boosted guys to chime in.

 
Rep Power: 285

Hondata isn't a piggy back, what are you looking for standalone or piggyback?

 
Rep Power: 0

i have k-pro in my car car...the rsx computer plugs right in no mods necessary...its just $$$$ and its a full standalone

 
Rep Power: 188

OK I misworded what i was trying to say in the 2nd part. I am wanting to go with a piggyback. I know Hondata is the best option for standalone but can't afford it right now so looking for a good piggyback as a cheaper option. I am looking at the AEM FIC right now. With the whole RSX ecu thing I have seen people say that they have used them and had no problems but I don't know a whole lot about that option.

 
Rep Power: 188

Is anybody on here running an RSX ecu in their car without the k20 swap?

 
Rep Power: 0

yes i am.. i have k-pro on a d17....

 
Rep Power: 188

how bout anybody using the rsx ecu without kpro? I had seen on another forum that someone was going to use the base rsx ecu in their civic without the kpro and was curious if it was possible? If not I will get the AEM F/IC.

 
Rep Power: 285

Get the AEM F/IC, the RSX ECU is more aggressive than the d17, but it doesn't give you the ability to adjust the tune which is the most important feature.

 
Rep Power: 367

non, if you looking to buy a k-pro in the future, you will need a K-series ECU anyway. hondata will provide one for 600, so if you happen to get a cheap one, get it, plug and see.
don't know if it will work, though, or what is needed to adapt it. Some stuff is in the hondata site, but it is for installing the k-pro.
Who did you see saying that? isn't them the best option you have to ask?
PS: Are you boosted now in a stock ECU?!?

 
Rep Power: 313

I'm not a turbo expert by any means at all. But I think in order for the RSX ECU to work you would have to use RSX injectors and would be very limited in how much you could boost. You would have to limit the turbo PSI so that the car would not run rich or lean. It's a lot of money to spend for limited results, get yourself an aftermarket.

 
Rep Power: 367

non, like i said, if he is not boosted now and plans to get a k-pro in the future, he could get an RSX ECU if he have a cheap option now.
He could just try to plug it and see if it works. wideband A/F gauge/sensor will be required to check how engine running.
RSX ECU with the k-pro should work for turbo, not sure how it will be with RSX ECU only.
Or just get the AEM and try to see if it can handle the turbo later, if not money in drain.

 
Rep Power: 313

All KPROs are RSX Type-S ecus (The ones for our civics anyway). They never made a D17 ECU KPRO. As far as running a stock RSX ECU I'm not sure if it would work

 
Rep Power: 0

So i guess the AEM F/IC is good then....

 
Rep Power: 367

unless OP is not boosted right now and wants the k-pro in the future.
As informed before, K-pro requires a k engine ecu anyway

 
Rep Power: 511

The k-pro is installed on any k-series ecu. I think you can use your stock injectors with it, as it can be tuned to whatever setup you have.

To the OP, seems like you're pretty set on the FI/C, so I'm not gonna say anything further. I'm not gonna knock the FI/C, as I have one sitting in my room, but if you're gonna do it proper, and you're saving up for it, I'd go k-pro. Back when I bought my FI/C, I did read good things about it. However, seeing as how I bought it and haven't re-turbo'd my car, I should have gone with the k-pro. Oh well.

 
Rep Power: 285

+1 on that xRiceboyx

The stock d17 ECU has the ability to learn and adjust to conditions, if you use a piggyback system then your car will constantly be fighting back against the tune trying to maintain stock conditions. Its your decision, but you'd be better off spending less on your turbo set-up and more on you EMS, because you'd probably have better results in the end.

 
Rep Power: 313

Any input on using an RSX ECU? I'm rather interseted to know this myself.

 
Rep Power: 285

The only imaginable benefit is the more aggressive map, you can't tune it to your specific engine upgrades to extract maximum performance and thats what EMS is all about.



Oh.. and you can have a fancy switch blade key with an RSX ECU.

 
Rep Power: 511

Yea, I can't imagine it would do you too well... Sure, it's controlling an engine for a higher compression (11.0:1 vs the ex's 9.9:1 or dx/lx's 9.0:1) and controlling for a higher injector rate (310cc vs the d17's 2XXcc injectors), but in the end, you'll be growing more air into the engine than a stock RSX would, so the fuel management still wouldn't be adequate. It would be slightly "safer" (for a lack of better words) than running boost on a stock k20 with no ems.. But we all (hopefully) know that tuning is KEY to running a safe turbo setup..

That's how I see it, at least..

 
Rep Power: 0

yea agreeing with most i def would not just stick the rsx ecu in my car...you can't tune it and will run like **** prob blow up....like rice said its all about the tune.... the aem is fine if you just want like an extra 40-50hp but if you are looking to go higher with the turbo setup then i would save up and buy k-pro.... i have it and its the best thing i bought for the car...you just have to decide on what your future plans are with the car then go from there

 
Rep Power: 229

but he wanted options for piggyback systems to.

ones i know of that seem to be decent are the

~AEM piggyback
~Greddy E-manage piggyback

does anyone know how good the e-manage is? or of other quality piggybacks?

i have an uninstalled e-manage blue right now..got an s2k harness but i'm waiting till i find a harnes for the d17 for a good price.

 
Rep Power: 285

Let me know how well the e-manage works once you have it on Mac, I'm curious since we both have auto trans.


**side not for Mac** Racing Greed in Coquitlam is having a dyno day in Feburary, you should come see how many ponies the bolt ons have added!

 
Rep Power: 229

sounds good mindbomb! i saw a harness at mopac for $150, it's for the aem to d17, but i think i'd be able to rig it to my e-manage.

 
Rep Power: 511

$194 + shipping on dezod

$189 shipped from boomslang

 
Rep Power: 229

thx rice! 1+

edit: or not...computer wouldn't let me rep yu.

 
Rep Power: 511

Lol, no worries. I heard about boomslang a long while back, just passing on some knowledge

 
Rep Power: 367

OP is boosted01civic, not EM2allday

 
Rep Power: 511

My mistake. Sorry.

 
Rep Power: 367

i almost did same mistake, being the reason i pointed