I initally started looking for a 02 - 03 ECU for MY00 to gain that extra little bit through the whole rpm range. (as i have seen in other posts). So then i started lookin at other ECU's like the Mugen and then something piggy back like a vafc...
My question is ..which is the better way to go? I don't want to do AEM EMS because i'm not planning on modding my car beyond intake and exhaust... so i think that would be overkill.

THe mugen ECU adjusts mapping and timing ...but requires 92 octane min and the cooling mods.
Correct me if i'm wrong but the vafc does nothing to timing but changing vtec and mapping.

Is it better to go with a 03 ecu and then piggy back to slightly lean out to get more power or just piggyback the 00 ecu....

Sorry for all the jibber jabber ....but im confused..

all and all i just want a little more power and that bottom to mid range pull of the 02 and greater

 

we get 93 octane in tx. mugen ecu with header and cooling mods runs nice and smooth, esp mid-range.

 

Doesn't the EMS cost as much as the Mugen ECU?

 

Possibly...but the mugen ECU is much more user friendly, plug and play type of thing. AEM EMS is far from that...

 

If you plan to get the AFC, don't bother to change the ECU cuz the ECU won't make much off a difference.

Mugen ECU will work fine but the engine will "PING" (detonate) a bit during low rpm with load throttle.

 

I would say get the later ECU and then a V-AFC. You may find that you don't need to adjust things much as the ECU will already be leaner and more advanced, but then V-AFC is only for fine tuning anyway so it's a bette rpoint to start from.

 

yes that is correct...i tried the mugen ecu b4 and made my engine ping especially while dyno'ing it and at full throttle..also it is hard to compare the vafc and mugen ecu because of its price difference...i think it depends on your budget...mugen ecu is like at least 4 times more expensive than the vafc...i had tried both vafc and mugen ecu..not much difference in power if the vafc is tuned correctly...

 

what if im using 98 octane fuel ? my engine will also ping ?
correct me if im wrong but im not sure that is correct if you are using a high octane fuel .
im running my car with 98 octane fuel and the Mugen ECU works great with the other other mods.

 

In my experience the Mugen ECU works fine with proper fuel. Minimal RON octane rating is 98, in the States that equates to AKI 93 (RON+MON/2). 92 or even 91 can be used but high load can sometimes cause ping.

 

ya i use cheveron 94 octane here in canada and it pinged like crazy at high loads of throttle