I have a 2004 and want to start tuning soon but not too sure what I should use. any recommendations?

 

Best advice is to find a tuner local to you first. Usually tuners will prefer a certain EMS or a few EMS systems to use. The key, however, is finding a honest, competent tuner first.

 

Hondata, AEM, Greddy EMU, and Haltech pretty much. Most tend to go with Kpro and AEM options (each has pluses and minuses), STR autocrossers usually go with Greddy EMU. I don't see a large number of people using Haltech, so not much to say other than it's an option. Units like Apexi VAFC and AEM FIC are half-ass measures and not worth the time.

 

I have a Haltech on my 01, its great except for loss of the OBDII function.

 

You'll need an aftermarket ECU or at least a piggy-back unit as the OEM ECU is not directly tuneable. None of these are street legal that I'm aware of (but neither is a "test pipe"). Off road use only. I'd seek out a Honda S2000 tuning specialist. Will probably be well over $1000 for the device and tuning. And you'll pickup maybe 20 bhp if you've done intake and exhaust.

-- Chuck

 

aem series 2 with a flex fuel sensor would be ideal

 

thanks for the replies. Mostly have just done bolt-ons (I/h/tp/e) and want something to utilize them and would like the option to lower vtec engagement. From my understanding being that I'm pre06 flash pro isnt an option so I've been looking at aem but would like to know if maybe there's a different option

$1000 is about my price range. With most of the parts for our cars being on the expensive side I expected about that.

 

Peak HP tune is vanity. Higher HP throughout the engine's rpm range is what counts (the area under the graph's curve) and the lowered VTEC and related changes contribute to this.

On my 2006 I did the near universal K&N FIPK intake and high flow cat, and put on the Tanabe Medalion Turing dual exhaust. With a Gernby road tune via Hondata FlashPro I dynoed 221bhp at the rear wheels on a Mustang (which many folks tell me is a conservative dyno). VTEC is engaged at 3600 rpm under WOT so at highway speeds VTEC is just under my right foot with no downshift needed under most circumstances. Gernby-tune is only available on the DBW-FlashPro tuned cars but I'm sure a Honda specialist can duplicate the results. There are plenty of tuned Civics out there so finding a Honda specialist should be possible. Due to the expense of dyno tuning I do not have before HP data, only after.

Be sure any ECU change you make will meet emission testing if your car is subject to that. My car is registered in a non-testing county in Ohio but passes the tests at the self-service testing sites (I was curious).

-- Chuck

 

Who do you plan on tuning it?

 

living in soviet California pretty much any modifications are illegal but emissions testing isn't a concern of mine. I've heard a lot of people say that lowering vtec that much on these cars isn't beneficial if you're n/a but I get what you're saying, having to downshift to the top of your power band can be a PITA sometimes when you really need the power.