If you’ve made major modifications to your engine, whether fitting a turbo kit or aftermarket cams, you may be reaching the limit of your factory Engine Control Unit (ECU). Most factory ECUs do not support advanced features such as launch control, boost control or flex fuel. In these situations, an aftermarket or standalone ECU is a must have investment to add features and make the most out of your engine.

What is an aftermarket ECU?

An aftermarket or “standalone” ECU replaces all factory engine control and gives you full control over the features and functions of your engine. The standalone ECU reads sensor inputs, from sensors like Crank Angle, Throttle Position, Air Temperature, Oil or Fuel Pressure, Ethanol Content, Wideband O2 and more. These inputs along with precise tuning allow the ECU to calculate the optimum igniton timing and fuel required to keep your engine running at optimal efficiency.

While factory or OEM ECUs have minimal self-tuning capabilities to make necessary adjustments to the engine, aftermarket / standalone ECUs give you full control over every input and output, allowing for virtually unlimited tuning ability. In most cases an investment in an aftermarket ECU to support your engine modifications will allow you to get the most from the combination.

When do you need an aftermarket ECU?

Typically we suggest investing in an aftermarket ECU if you want to:

• run boost above 9psi
• target power levels 250rwkw+
• have advanced features such as flex fuel, drive by wire, launch control, boost by gear, engine protection, etc
• have adaptive self-tuning features for major mods
• datalog 5+ sensor inputs for racing

How to choose the right aftermarket ECU for your car

There are many different aftermarket ECUs available on the market, from basic plug-and-play units to more sophisticated units with loads of inputs and outputs. Choosing the right aftermarket ECU for your build depends on several factors, including the engine, the features you need, and your budget. Some of our options include:

• Haltech Elite 750 – a great entry level ECU, the 750 has enough inputs/outputs to run a 6 cylinder such as the 4L in sequential mode.
• Haltech Elite 2500 –  a more feature rich ECU, the Elite 2500 has a total of 28 outputs and can control up to 12 cylinder engines. Drive By Wire, VCT control, dual channel knock and more are all possible on the 2500.
• Haltech Nexus R5 – The Nexus R5 is the most advanced ECU in the Haltech range. Suitable for full race builds and with all the features of the 2500, the Nexus adds Power Distribution Module (PDM) capability, so it can run your whole car using solid state switching, eliminating the need for fuses and relays.
• Haltech Plug-In Harnesses and ECUs – Haltech offer a range of plug in harnesses and ECU kits for many models including LS, Coyote, SR, RB, Barra and more. Contact us if you can’t find one for your application.

Check with our expert team to find out which ECU is best suited for your vehicle.

Easy shipping Australia-wide

At T.I. Performance, we offer Australia-wide shipping, within two full working days of receiving the order when the item is in local stock. We send orders via your selected carrier, including Australia Post Express Post, with the option for same-day courier delivery in the Melbourne Metro area.

Shop our range of aftermarket ECUs and more at T.I. Performance today

T.I. Performance is a 100% Australian business selling genuine performance products for car enthusiasts; from Bosch to Walbro and Turbosmart, we have everything you need under one roof to modify your car’s engine and enjoy peak performance. As car enthusiasts ourselves, our expert team is more than happy to assist you in finding the parts you need to maximise your car’s performance. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today for more information.