Are AFRs going lean for a split second when the bucking happens? IDK how the link works exactly, but it could be a dtps setting problem (delta tps or how the ECU handles extra fuel needed for a sudden change in throttle position).

I'm also wonder if this has something to do with the transitional settings between idle control and part throttle driving. Like what tps % threshold the ECU is using to differentiate between idle control and low rpm low throttle part throttle driving.

Just thinking out loud here

 

So I ended up posting on the LINK forums and couple people chimed in with some good info. They are showing my fuel map to be off and my lambda target vs actual is all over the place. Closed loop lambda also pulling a ton of fuel out. The said during transitions to and from idle, I’m getting big swings and instability which could be contributing to the bucking and hesitation. They also said my CAN setup is configured for a LINK CAN Lambda rather than the AEM. This is odd as I told Jeff that I was running the AEM.

Some seem to think it’s my aem wideband connection not being right and they suggested installing the link wideband and gauge which is directly connected to the ecu vs how the aem gauge is connected.

they’re also showing my ignition table between 1500 and 2000 rpm to be like a vertical wall and suggested smoothing it out.

I have the link wideband and gauge but have no clue how to install it and the wires don’t appear long enough to reach inside of the car like the aem.

for anyone who has installed the link wideband and afr gauge would you be able to explain how you did it?

I’m also wondering if it’s just difficult to tune LINK remotely and it would be better off on a dyno tune. I have several friends on AEM tuned by Jeff with zero issues. All the people on the this thread with issues have two things in common, the LINK ecu and tuner.

 

Sonic9, good work sir. Do you plan on emailing jeff to ask what he thinks in regards to that?
Seems like youre the only one that has taken the time to do a datalog.l

i find it hard to believe its an AEM wideband problem. Wiring should be straight to a CAN channel.

 

so that’s probably part of my issue I believe. My AEM wideband is not connected straight to a CAN channel. I have a chassis ground and then I spliced the other wire into the OEM o2 signal from the factory harness. This is what LiNK told me to do when I first installed this. My connection may not be great which could be contributing to my low speed issues but seeing as some people on here have a LINK CAN lambda installed, I’m thinking Jeff’s tune is also the issue.

I have a LINK wideband and gauge that I’ve been waiting to install. The one thing that was preventing me from installing this for so long is that the wiring wasn’t long enough to reach from the o2 location in the header to inside of the car where the ecu is. As you can see in this picture, the two connections circled in white need to be extended.


reds connect, blues connect, greens connect, yellow goes to ecu, purple goes to gauge. I didn’t know where to buy a harness extension as LINK doesn’t sell one. I was just recently sent a link for the extension I need so I will be buying that and installing this.

just out of curiosity though, for those running the LINK wideband and gauge, how did you solve this issue of the wiring not being long enough?

 

ah ok. Your AEM is currently hooked up analog. although, i dont think analog would cause any issues. its how widebands have been hooked up for a long time, until recent.

Im going to try to get logs ASAP and email Jeff. Ive just been strapped for time. then i forget... then drive the car and im like "oh yea... that thing" lol.

 

Im not sure. I dont run any gauges in my car, and havent had time to do logs to check.

 

So for anyone still wondering or dealing with this issue, I finally just gave up on the LINK and tune. Causing me too much stress and frustration trying to figure out who to tune this properly and how to plug in the LINK wideband properly instead of using the AEM.

im finding out there isn’t a lot of support for the s2000 platform anymore, at least in my area. These forums are great and full of helpful people but there is only so much that can be done online. Sometimes you need in person specialty help and there just isn’t where I’m at. Which is central Florida where you would think there are a ton of good resources available. Seems like most just moved on to newer platforms and don’t mess with s2000’s anymore.

I swapped back in the factory ecu and happy to note none of the drivability issues or erratic starting issues happen anymore. Car drives great with no low speed bucking to note as of now. I do have a check engine lights but it’s related to my o2 sensors and the fact that the AEM wideband gauge is still spliced into the oem engine harness interrupting the signal. I’m having that taken care of next week and ordered new o2 sensors.

for anyone still dealing with the problems with LINK, hopefully you can find a good tuner cause as far as I’m concerned, it’s a tuning and LINK issue. I know plenty of people using AEM ecu’s and none of them had the problems that I had with link. Maybe I’ll end up going to an AEM in the future but seeing as they discontinued them, I doubt that also

 

Happy to take a look at data logs of the issue for anyone experiencing this problem just PM me for my email address.

 

I reached out to Jeff. He asked me run the TPS and MAP relearn procedure, to see if that fixes it. if not, he has no problem with me sending in a LOG. i will report back once i get more info.
Jeff has been incredibly responsive and helpful with any questions i have had for him. I think we will get this sorted out.

Sonic9, youre right that the s2000 is losing the quantity of support it had back in the day, but there are still some niche guys still supporting the platform, and id argue to the point that the quality of products we have now are even better. The fact that LINK made this ecu fit the s2000 plug and play is an example in its self. Look at companies like URGE, and Sakebomb. ASM is doing great things with suspension and k swaps. SOS is about to put out a new revised turbo kit for the S (crazy).

Have you called LINK to ask about expansion harness? ive called them once to ask ecu specific questions and the customer service was top notch. (also, i would just de-pin the plug and extend the wires)

 

I completely agree that Jeff is super responsive and willing to help, however, I reached out to him countless times about these issues. Every time I send him a log, he has me do the TPS and MAP relearn procedure and revises the tune. Issues still present.

I also agree that LINK customer support is great as I called a number of times also and they were always willing to help. I’m the kind of person though that needs to see stuff done (either video or in person) before I learn how to do it. You can tell me what to do but it doesn’t compute until I see it first hand. Especially when it comes to electronics and wiring stuff in. A lot of times they (meaning LINK, Jeff, and knowledgeable people on forums) will explain stuff in ways that would make sense to someone who already knows what they are doing but are just caught up on one aspect. To someone like me who doesn’t know the first thing about electronics and wiring stuff in it’s extremely complicated and tough to understand their explanations.

I have no degree or schooling in mechanics or electronics. I’m pretty much taught by watching talented people in person or YouTube. I can work on any mechanical aspect of cars, I’ve broken cars down and reassembled them on my own. But these electronics, wiring, and computers are foreign to me. Talking about pin outs, grounds, this wire goes here, get power from this area, I’m lost

at the end of the day I just wanna enjoy the car and drive it without issues. Factory ecu gives me that enjoyment and perfect drive ability again. The added power of the LINK is nice but it came with a cost for me and it wasn’t worth dealing with the problems anymore. I’m not racing the car