Tuning apexi power fc

I have a customer coming in for a tune on a r33 skyline with a apexi power fc, I’m a confident tuner but I have never tuned the power fc and don’t really now anything about them. Where can I get some info on how the opperating system works and what to do.

Hi,

Having tuned a few of my Skylines with a Power FC, unless you have the software and specific cable/interface (Datalogit) they are a pain in the a** as you have to use the little hand controller which only gives you access to a few of the settings and you can only view a portion of each table at one time (if I remember correctly you can view a 5x5 section of the table)

Ignoring the fiddly tuning method, actually tuning them is easy (partly because they are fairly basic).

I had never mapped a petrol ECU before buying my first R33 GTR, plugging an Apexi Power FC into it and then tuning/learning at the same time (I have however spent many years tuning LPG systems which slave from the original petrol ECU so I was not a complete amateur)

You have a selection of different AFM settings pre calibrated, the timing map is fairly easy as the ECU is calibrated for the specific engines knock sensor and it gives you a knock reading that you ideally want to keep below a certain number on the controller.

There are however no real safety strategies, the engine can be knocking its tits off and although the commander will show you a high reading, it is unable to do anything about it as it has no ability to retard the ignition based on knock.

You cannot set a boost limit etc.

I found a company is Australia that were selling a unit called the 'FC Hako' this is the same as the datalogit and allows you to connect a laptop and run the Apexi software which gives you access to a lot more settings, and you view the tables complete.

It also allows you to log a wideband and datalog numerous parameters to the PC, I purchasewd one of these very early into my Power FC experience and it worked perfectly and made tuning the Power FC 100x easier.

Edward.

Also, a useful website if you a re new the Power FC would be this one.

http://www.paulr33.com/powerfc-faq/powerfc-faq.htm

Hope this helps,

Edward.

You need to find out if it's a standard Power FC (uses a MAF sensor also called an AFM), or if it's a D jetro Power FC (meaning D Jetronic, which refers to speed density). If it's speed density it's a different process.

and you're dead in the water without a Datalogit.

Ok no worries thanks guys I have the car coming in on Monday for a pre dyno check so I will see what set up it’s running.

I'll second the requirement for FC Datalogit. It's borderline impossible to get anything approaching a decent level of tune with the hand controller. The actual tuning process is quite straightforward though and if you're competent in general with tuning you should be able to pick up the PFC in no time.

I thought that may be you can help me Andre. When I tune jzx90 toyota chaser with power fc I have an interesting issue which I couldn’t solve. Issue is when I plug in tps sensor socket and make wide open throttle car bogs (like boost cut but off course its not a boost cut because no boost yet.) and when I plug off tps socket engine check light comes on but engine revs and boost comes on without any bog. On power fc commander vta1 is 0.4v at idle and at wot its around 4.1v. If you can advise some solutions to me I will be happy, may be I did something wrong but tps looks fine because voltage increase when throttle opened and check engine light goes of when I plug in the tps socket. Thank you in advance.

https://fc-hako.com/ this is also a nice interface for Apexi FC. Uses the same PC software as FC Datalogit. Only pain is the windows drivers. This one only works with specific Prolific drivers, as far in my experience.

The nice thing about FC Datalogit or FC-hako is possibility to log WBO2 controller output in same software.

This was my first ECU i played with in my subaru. It's fairly easy, but downside is - it's limited to only OEM sensors and actuators. Can't add additional inputs or outputs, or motorsport features, like anti-lag and so on. The good thing is, it's truly plug and play. No finding basemap, startup settings etc. Good for beginners as you can start with something already working, and then try to improve upon that. But it has zero protection. For example, if it will see knock, all it will do be a flashing Check Engine Light. If you want to kill an engine, it will let you do it.

Yes I’m thinking exactly like you. Simple easy to tune with some disadvantages. I tuned several power fc ecu’s with fc datalogit but first time I have a problem like this and also throttle position sensor is oem toyota.

Could this be because when you unplug the TPS it goes into some limp mode and it disregard other sensor as well, and one of them could be faulty?

Are the other sensor values in the correct range?

Thanks for reply. That is so sensible. I will check other sensors voltages.