ECU Modification
By Rob Robinette
Installing a fuel computer such as EFI System's Programmable Management
System (PMS, also known as the PFS Powertrain Management Computer or PMC)
is easy.
The HKS FCON installs the same way as the PMS but has an additional connection to
sense boost. If you have a boost gauge simply T off the line and run the boost
line to the FCON's boost sensor.
Start by disconnecting the negative (black) terminal on the battery, then
remove the passenger kick-panel. It has two buttons securing
it, just pop up the center of the button with a knife or small screwdriver then
pull the buttons out and remove the kick-panel. The plastic door sill just pulls off
straight up.
Passenger kick-panel and door sill removed to expose ECU
The ECU is held in place by a bracket with 3 10mm bolts, just
loosen the top bolt (leave it in place) and remove the two bottom bolts, then slide it out. Use a small flat
blade screwdriver to depress the plastic latches on the ECU's harness connectors
and pry the connectors out one at a time (there are four connectors in a line connected to
the ECU, remove them all).
The PMS male/female harness
Connect the fuel computer's harness to the stock harness, make
sure the latches snap into place. Then plug the fuel computer's harness into the
ECU. Put the ECU back in place and secure the 3 bolts.
The PMC harness connected to the stock harness ready to be
plugged into the ECU
Unclip the white plastic clips that secure the rug along the
door sill. Run the fuel computer's harness as shown below to where you want to
mount your computer. I put Velcro patches on the bottom of my computer and
simply slid it under the seat (above the carpet). Others have removed the
passenger seat (5 bolts) and mounted it just in front of the seat under the
carpet, or under the seat and carpet. If you put it under the carpet remove the
carpet pad to make it fit better and don't forget to write down the info on the sticker on your
computer, you'll need it to determine what firmware version you have for support
or upgrades.
Harness routed for under seat placement
Connect the serial cable to the computer. Even if you don't
have the keypad or acquisition software go ahead and install a serial cable just
for future use. Push the computer harness under the seat from the side, then
pull the harness out the front of the seat and plug in the connectors. Position
the computer into its final resting place. Put
the 3 position switch wherever you want, I temporarily just ran it up into the
passenger side storage bin. Later I replaced the rotary switch with a small 3
position toggle switch, see the PMC Switch How To. That's it, it's installed.
The PMS with keypad ready for testing with door sill
installed
Be very careful when programming your PMS. If you lean out the
mixture too much you might blow an apex seal requiring a complete engine removal
and rebuild. Be sure to get your boost under control first by lowering the
manual vent settings before you start to adjust the fuel settings. My PMS was
having trouble limiting high RPM boost so I followed Wael's suggestion and set
my manual vent settings to 4C primary boost and 27 secondary and turned vent
learn on. This solved my boost creep problems.
Rob Robinette
EFI PMS (PFS PMC) Newsgroup
I don't know if everyone is aware of this, but EFI systems has
a news group dedicated to the PMS. Doug monitors the posts and responds to them.
Most of you who got their pms/pmc's this year should be aware of this, but i
thought I'd post it in case anyone wasn't aware of it. To join the list go to http://www.onelist.com
and sign up as a member. You need to search for the newsgroup and can do that by
searching for "efi pms". I've been perusing the daily archives
for several days going back and think it's pretty interesting.
Gordon
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