Wiring an ECU installation

One of the more interesting jobs when doing a performance build up is the wiring of the ECU. In days gone by it was a simple matter of of just getting into it, for the higher end ECUs like the Autronic range, you are best off planning your installation with all of the features you want to use and allocating them the correct output. This takes a little more time in the first instance but over the life of the car, it is significantly easier to get things right from day one.

When Autotech installs an ECU for you, we work with you to understand what features you plan on utilising on the ECU. For example on a race car you may not care about the idle speed as you might need the output to control the variable cam timing. On some ECUs you have to make this compromise between what you want and how many outputs your ECU can provide but the current generation of ECUs are very feature rich and provide a lot of options for both outputs and inputs. Data logging is also a feature that most modern ECUs support without having a laptop plugged into the ECU. We use this information to help us diagnose problems quicker and more accurately than prevously able.

Always us the best quality connectors and sensors. One of the most difficult problems to find are intermittent issues caused by a poorly installed connector. Always us the correct tool to install pins. No matter how tempting it is, using a pair of pliers instead of a proper crimping tool will cause you more hours of troubleshooting than you care to imagine.

Secure your wiring so that it does not suffer from vibration. This leads to poor quality connections and eventually breakdowns in extreme circumstances.

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet! If you find something on the internet, verify it with a reliable source like a factory workshop manual.

If you are installing the ECU yourself, ensure that it is reliable before you come to the dyno for a tune.