Here is a compiled list of questions/concerns regarding the MAP ECU, with appropriate answers. Before getting this far, it is assumed that you have read through the MAP ECU Installation Guide and MAP CAL Software Guide included on the CDROM in the box with your MAP ECU. It is also assumed you know how to properly install, tune, and diagnose electronic accessories on your vehicle. If you have any doubts, take the MAP ECU to a professional installer to have it installed and tuned. If you don’t see your question on this list, email me directly.
1. My laptop won’t connect to the MAP ECU, or throws an error when I try to connect.
Make sure the MAP ECU is powered up and the ignition key is on. If using a pure serial connection, make sure you have the correct serial COM port selected in the MAP CAL software. If using a USB/Serial converter, get a PCMCIA card with serial port and throw the USB/Serial converter away. 99.99999999% of MAP ECU connection problems relate to USB/Serial converters or the ECU is not powered up. For older MAP ECU units, also be sure your MAP CAL software matches the firmware on your MAP ECU.
2. The LED lights on the MAP ECU are not on, or they come on briefly at start-up and go off. Is my MAP ECU defective?
The two LED lights are only active when the two outputs are active. IE: NOS control, spray bars, or boost control. They may illuminate on occasion during power-up, but not always. This is normal.
3. How do I wire the MAP ECU into my car?
Get a factory wiring manual for your year, make, and model-specific vehicle. Or search the internet for wiring data. The MAP ECU only needs +12V power, ground, RPM signal, MAF/MAP/VKF signal, and TPS Sensor inputs. These are the very same wires used for an HKS VPC or Apexi S-AFC installation, so you can also search for help in wiring those units. If you are installing the MAP ECU into a 93-98 Supra, go to www.powerhouseracing.com and click on TECH. Then click on ELECTRONICS. Click on MAP ECU INSTALL IN SUPRA and read diagrams.
4. How do I connect the Air Temp (AT) sensor? The factory AT sensor was installed inside the factory MAF meter.
Also see #3 above. The factory AT sensor gets removed when you remove the MAF meter, so normally you connect the supplied AT sensor onto the MAF connector, using the two wires for the AT sensor. If you are installing into a 93-98 Supra, go to www.powerhouseracing.com and click on TECH. Then click on ELECTRONICS. Click on MAP ECU INSTALL IN SUPRA and read diagrams. Most MAP ECU installations include mounting the supplied AT sensor into the intercooler plumbing just before the throttle body. Other mounting locations for the AT sensor include the turbo air inlet piping or intake manifold. You can also substitute the AT sensor for a 2.2K OHM resistor (1/2 or 1/4 watt does not matter) between the AT pins in the MAF connector.
5. Do you have a map for XXX car for the MAP ECU?
Go to www.mapecu.com and click on DOWNLOADS. There are the public maps that are available for download. If there is no map listed for your car, you can contact MAP ECU and ask for a map for your application. They will forward your email to the most appropriate dealer who handles the make and model of car you are inquiring about. But remember, these are BASE MAPS and were most likely tuned on a vehicle with slightly different modifications than yours. You MUST get the car to a dyno with proper A/F metering equipment in order to PROPERLY tune the MAP ECU.
6. Should I use an OBD1 or OBD2 ECU with my MAP ECU.
The MAP ECU can handle airflow mapping for any ECU on almost any car. OBD1 systems are generally easier to tune. OBD2 systems include ECU feedback loops and require more fine tuning to keep the ECU happy. The final decision is up to you.
7. Will the MAP ECU work on XXX car?
The MAP ECU is UNIVERSAL. This means it will work on MAF, MAP, Karman-Vortex, or Flap style OEM systems. This covers about 99% of cars on the road today. If there is no plug-and-play harness for your car listed, you can hard-wire the MAP ECU with the 5 required wires listed in #3 above. Building maps is easy using the self-learn function or starting with an existing base map.
8. How do I connect a wideband O2 meter to my MAP ECU?
The MAP ECU yellow wire is for either an OEM 0-1 volt O2 sensor, or an aftermarket wideband O2 controller analog output. If you connect an aftermarket wideband O2 controller to the yellow MAP ECU wire, you must also select the wideband used in the MAP CAL software so the scale can be adapted to your unit. This is covered in the MAP CAL user guide supplied with your MAP ECU via CD ROM. If your unit is not listed, contact MAP ECU directly and request a custom wideband configuration file for your application.
9. I think I have a bad MAP ECU because my car won’t start after installing it.
We have only had TWO units that were defective out of nearly 1000 sold. And both defective units related to communications errors, not lack of starting up. 99.99% of the time the lack of starting is related to installation error, namely a mistake in wiring. It’s easy to mistake wire B58 for B57 in the harness while your upside down underneath the dashboard. Purchasing a plug and play harness solves this issue, but if you insist on hard-wiring the MAP ECU please make sure your wires are absolutely solid before insisting it’s a MAP ECU fault. All MAP ECU units are burned-in, powered on, and tested at the factory to ensure quality. If you believe you have a defective unit, contact MAP ECU directly at www.mapecu.com.
10. I’ve installed the MAP ECU correctly. I’ve downloaded the base map from the www.mapecu.com website. Now when I press the accelerator quickly the car hesitates.
Read the QUICK START guide included with your new MAP ECU. Adjust the TPS MIN/MAX values for your car according to the MAP CAL user guide (CD ROM) first. Then adjust the TPS Enrichment value up or down until the hesitation goes away. Most turbo cars with large injectors require very little TPS Enrichment, between 5-10% on average. Remember you can only use TPS Enrichment *OR* MAP Enrichment, but not both together. Most applications with a TPS sensor use TPS Enrichment ONLY.
11. I am trying to use the logging feature to tune my MAP ECU while driving. I’m getting XX A/F ratio while driving then drops to XX A/F at idle.
First of all, get to a DYNO. Never, Never, Never attempt to tune a MAP ECU on public roads while driving. Download the appropriate base map, drive to a dyno, and build your map while utilizing reliable A/F, RPM, and speed data from the dyno. This unit is super-simple to tune, and 100% reliable when installed and tuned correctly.
1. My laptop won’t connect to the MAP ECU, or throws an error when I try to connect.
Make sure the MAP ECU is powered up and the ignition key is on. If using a pure serial connection, make sure you have the correct serial COM port selected in the MAP CAL software. If using a USB/Serial converter, get a PCMCIA card with serial port and throw the USB/Serial converter away. 99.99999999% of MAP ECU connection problems relate to USB/Serial converters or the ECU is not powered up. For older MAP ECU units, also be sure your MAP CAL software matches the firmware on your MAP ECU.
2. The LED lights on the MAP ECU are not on, or they come on briefly at start-up and go off. Is my MAP ECU defective?
The two LED lights are only active when the two outputs are active. IE: NOS control, spray bars, or boost control. They may illuminate on occasion during power-up, but not always. This is normal.
3. How do I wire the MAP ECU into my car?
Get a factory wiring manual for your year, make, and model-specific vehicle. Or search the internet for wiring data. The MAP ECU only needs +12V power, ground, RPM signal, MAF/MAP/VKF signal, and TPS Sensor inputs. These are the very same wires used for an HKS VPC or Apexi S-AFC installation, so you can also search for help in wiring those units. If you are installing the MAP ECU into a 93-98 Supra, go to www.powerhouseracing.com and click on TECH. Then click on ELECTRONICS. Click on MAP ECU INSTALL IN SUPRA and read diagrams.
4. How do I connect the Air Temp (AT) sensor? The factory AT sensor was installed inside the factory MAF meter.
Also see #3 above. The factory AT sensor gets removed when you remove the MAF meter, so normally you connect the supplied AT sensor onto the MAF connector, using the two wires for the AT sensor. If you are installing into a 93-98 Supra, go to www.powerhouseracing.com and click on TECH. Then click on ELECTRONICS. Click on MAP ECU INSTALL IN SUPRA and read diagrams. Most MAP ECU installations include mounting the supplied AT sensor into the intercooler plumbing just before the throttle body. Other mounting locations for the AT sensor include the turbo air inlet piping or intake manifold. You can also substitute the AT sensor for a 2.2K OHM resistor (1/2 or 1/4 watt does not matter) between the AT pins in the MAF connector.
5. Do you have a map for XXX car for the MAP ECU?
Go to www.mapecu.com and click on DOWNLOADS. There are the public maps that are available for download. If there is no map listed for your car, you can contact MAP ECU and ask for a map for your application. They will forward your email to the most appropriate dealer who handles the make and model of car you are inquiring about. But remember, these are BASE MAPS and were most likely tuned on a vehicle with slightly different modifications than yours. You MUST get the car to a dyno with proper A/F metering equipment in order to PROPERLY tune the MAP ECU.
6. Should I use an OBD1 or OBD2 ECU with my MAP ECU.
The MAP ECU can handle airflow mapping for any ECU on almost any car. OBD1 systems are generally easier to tune. OBD2 systems include ECU feedback loops and require more fine tuning to keep the ECU happy. The final decision is up to you.
7. Will the MAP ECU work on XXX car?
The MAP ECU is UNIVERSAL. This means it will work on MAF, MAP, Karman-Vortex, or Flap style OEM systems. This covers about 99% of cars on the road today. If there is no plug-and-play harness for your car listed, you can hard-wire the MAP ECU with the 5 required wires listed in #3 above. Building maps is easy using the self-learn function or starting with an existing base map.
8. How do I connect a wideband O2 meter to my MAP ECU?
The MAP ECU yellow wire is for either an OEM 0-1 volt O2 sensor, or an aftermarket wideband O2 controller analog output. If you connect an aftermarket wideband O2 controller to the yellow MAP ECU wire, you must also select the wideband used in the MAP CAL software so the scale can be adapted to your unit. This is covered in the MAP CAL user guide supplied with your MAP ECU via CD ROM. If your unit is not listed, contact MAP ECU directly and request a custom wideband configuration file for your application.
9. I think I have a bad MAP ECU because my car won’t start after installing it.
We have only had TWO units that were defective out of nearly 1000 sold. And both defective units related to communications errors, not lack of starting up. 99.99% of the time the lack of starting is related to installation error, namely a mistake in wiring. It’s easy to mistake wire B58 for B57 in the harness while your upside down underneath the dashboard. Purchasing a plug and play harness solves this issue, but if you insist on hard-wiring the MAP ECU please make sure your wires are absolutely solid before insisting it’s a MAP ECU fault. All MAP ECU units are burned-in, powered on, and tested at the factory to ensure quality. If you believe you have a defective unit, contact MAP ECU directly at www.mapecu.com.
10. I’ve installed the MAP ECU correctly. I’ve downloaded the base map from the www.mapecu.com website. Now when I press the accelerator quickly the car hesitates.
Read the QUICK START guide included with your new MAP ECU. Adjust the TPS MIN/MAX values for your car according to the MAP CAL user guide (CD ROM) first. Then adjust the TPS Enrichment value up or down until the hesitation goes away. Most turbo cars with large injectors require very little TPS Enrichment, between 5-10% on average. Remember you can only use TPS Enrichment *OR* MAP Enrichment, but not both together. Most applications with a TPS sensor use TPS Enrichment ONLY.
11. I am trying to use the logging feature to tune my MAP ECU while driving. I’m getting XX A/F ratio while driving then drops to XX A/F at idle.
First of all, get to a DYNO. Never, Never, Never attempt to tune a MAP ECU on public roads while driving. Download the appropriate base map, drive to a dyno, and build your map while utilizing reliable A/F, RPM, and speed data from the dyno. This unit is super-simple to tune, and 100% reliable when installed and tuned correctly.