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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Jaycar's performance car kits
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Fri, 11 February 2005 23:17
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Hi all,
I thought I might just post my current experiences with those relatively new car performance kits.
The other day I bought 3 kits, the Digital Hand Controller, the Independent Electronic Boost Controller and the Digital Fuel adjuster.
Over the past two nights (in my spare time basically) I have built the hand controller and DFA. I chose these two to build first as they would be the only two I could use right away  Apon completing the two projects (which were fairly easy, but took a bit of time) I hooked them up to the only 12v power supply I had nearby... my computer... and the LCD screen on the hand controller came to life!
It lit up, but there was a solid bar on the top line. I soon figured out that I had to calibrate the DFA in order to get the right results, a fairly easy task. Since the computer only had 12v at a fairly consistant value, I had to "trick" the DFA into thinking the "car" was now running. I did this by disconnecting the power source and reconnecting it almost straight away. As soon as I did this the LCD came to life and I saw exactly what I wanted to see - the DFA configuration screen.
I had a quick play with the settings but it was getting late last night so I didn't get too much into it. The interface is very user friendly and tuning should be extremely easy. The value up/down buttons had two modes, one was very fine which stepped the values up in 1 unit increments, for fine tuning, and the other stepped them up in 4 unit increments. In 'View' mode I could tune every "step" manually, however in run mode it would seem I could tune "on the fly"... I can't see this being too useful unless I was on a dyno with the revs holding very stable.
On the back of the DFA unit there is also a lock switch. This switch (which i stupidly installed upsidown... i was going so well too!) will prevent any changes from being made, so that annoying mate in the passenger seat cant lean out your engine
Calibration (from the little amount I could do at the time) was very easy. All that was needed was a small flathead screwdriver to tune the variable resistors to the correct values.
Tonight, I will be installing the unit into my car and I might even snap a few pics!
Tommorow - building the IEBC
[Updated on: Fri, 11 February 2005 23:23]
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
sunny coast, qld
Registered:
October 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Fri, 11 February 2005 23:50
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sounds good mate.
Keep us posted.
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Toymods Social Secretary
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sat, 12 February 2005 06:36
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IEBC is a very good piece of gear, i use one on my AE71 4agte.
combined with a good solenoid, they are able to perform the same task as an E-boost at much lower cost.
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sat, 12 February 2005 07:10
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What solenoid are you using witzl?
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Location:
Syndey
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sat, 12 February 2005 08:06
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i have used it boost controller,
tried 2 different soloniods (MAC and haltech)
5 different ways of hooking it up (everything from bleed off to directly controlling wastegate)
even tried reprogramming the frequency following the steps jaycar reccomend and it still did nothing
work great if you only want to boost up a few psi but when trying to raise it 10psi by using the soloniod to directly control the boost the wastegate it seeing it would flutter the boost up too 2 psi when the soloniod plused, so it was basically impossibe to get a tune on the car and it sounded like a chopper.
i ended up throwing it in the bin, big waste of $300....when you work out all the time it takes to sort out a system that you have to build and supply a soloniod etc it is no cheaper than buying a profec b spec 2 off ebay.
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sat, 12 February 2005 08:24
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you paid $300 for one? :?
A good solenoid shouldn't have any trouble if it's in good condition, just needs to be able to switch fast enough. It works very well for a lot of people too, so i've heard. I will be running it as soon as I get a solenoid!
I have calibrated my DFA now (using the computer PSU to get the AFM values done) but will need some final tweaking in car to get the switch on voltage right. Looking goood!!
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sat, 12 February 2005 16:37
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Installed it in the car and took the car for a quick drive, drives normally as one would expect with no adjustments made. Played with it at idle by making the mixture slightly more rich, noticable change in engine note and idle speed.
It seems to sit at around 100 with the engine off, 70 at idle, and 9-10 at full load. The 1G AFM (and most Toyota vane AFM's afaik) read 4.5-5v without any load, and climb towards 0v as more load is put on the engine... I suspect boost cut happens when the afm flap hits the mark where there is no longer any signal that the ECU can read.
Apon playing with it for a bit, not really touching the mixtures, I soon realised that I will definetly want to hire/borrow a wide band EGO sensor at the very least. Dyno time would be nice, but it's so expensive (so is the EGO sensor!!).
I'm pretty happy with how it has gone so far, it does it's job well. I can see this being useful even for such upgrades as a larger afm, larger injectors, etc.
Now I just need to piss off the bleed valve and get some real boost control happening... solenoid this tuesday!! 
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Location:
Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Japan
Registered:
January 2003
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sat, 12 February 2005 22:51
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tech edge DIYWB is one of the cheapest WB kits around. uses the Bosch LSU4 sensor, which are about $150 (you can get them from 1stVWparts site in the US for US$28 )
tuning by feel, we got about 5-10% rich, which is not too bad (this is from a complete beginning with mechanical spark control)
Cya, Stewart
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Location:
Syndey
Registered:
December 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sat, 12 February 2005 23:36
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| HyDrA wrote on Sat, 12 February 2005 19:24 |
you paid $300 for one? :?
A good solenoid shouldn't have any trouble if it's in good condition, just needs to be able to switch fast enough. It works very well for a lot of people too, so i've heard. I will be running it as soon as I get a solenoid!
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you work it out by the time you get the hand control, EBC, soloniod, connector cable etc its around $300
i tried 2 soloniods that every other boost controller on the market can use with no problems at all,
the jaycar one just cant drive the soloniods well enough full stop....
allo these people that are using them are only tring to up the boost a few PSI, try upping it 10psi (from 6psi stock to 16psi) and see what happens....
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sun, 13 February 2005 04:00
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Boost controller install is put on hold for now... gotta either replace the CT12's with fresher ones, or go single turbo conversion!
I killed the oil seals on one/both of the turbos... hahaha
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Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Registered:
January 2004
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Sun, 13 February 2005 06:51
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perhaps twin T28's from the guy that selling his....?
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Mon, 25 April 2005 00:58
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Just to follow up on this thread.
The DFA worked well however I have taken it off for now until I get time to visit the dyno. Yesterday I installed the IEBC with an Apexi boost control solenoid - I must say I am impressed! It works very well after a bit of on-road tuning. Gotta be careful though... very easy to see the boost fly past the end of the gauge if the person in the drivers seat (ie. not me) has no idea how to let off the throttle!!
I soon had things under control, it now boosts quickly from low revs to 14psi and holds it through to rev-limit. The map is still a bit dodgy though - at one load point it spikes above 15psi (my gauge only reads to 15psi). A little more tuning needs to be done.
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 03:45
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Well the boost map is not perfect yet - in cold weather it likes to go past 15psi - this is a problem since my boost gauge wont read this high.
More tuning required 1/4 throttle and 15psi is interesting... it makes the car feel powerful!
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Location:
Madrid - Spain
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 04:27
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I think it's definitly time for a boost gauge upgrade. 
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Location:
Wollongong
Registered:
January 2005
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 04:42
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At last! Some people using the Jaycar shite!
I'm really interested in the Fuel Adjuster kit. Let me know how you go.
Hey, there's a couple A/F ratio kits they sell too. I've made both, and they're really good.
Only thing is though.. you need to set them up on a dyno, but that's not too expensive, and you need a car with an O2 sensor.
OR you could be dodgey, and find a value (a number or a LED) which gives best SOTP power, and set the fuel maps to that... 
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 05:24
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I'll be tuning the DFA on a dyno once I am happy with my money situation (ie. i dont spend as much).
I'll get a boost gauge upgrade with a bigger cooler - then I might be brave enough to touch above 15psi 
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Toymods Social Secretary
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 06:07
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just brave it matey, they 1ggte can handle it
Yes a 20psi boost guage is recomended.
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 06:13
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Hehe yeh... I just need to have an idea of whether or not i'm getting there!! It gets there damn fast. Actually, the shitty 3s-gte intercooler was cooling the air VERY well on a cold night Tested by hands
Haven't seen fuel cut yet.
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Location:
south east - melbourne
Registered:
March 2004
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 06:59
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DUDE WHATS THE GO ON THESE THINGS NOW
are they performing well
im in the market for a apexi safc and boost controller will these be a good choice to go with i dont intend on going aftermarket ecu or turbos and have a gz20 soarer u were trying this out on the 1g-gte motor werent you , so it will be a good thing for me if the results are good
i will be getting a bigger intercooler soon plus full exhaust then need to tune the car with this jaycar gadgetry need to know if its worth it or just go out and buy the safc 2 and some bleed valve/ebc
cheers
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Tue, 26 April 2005 08:52
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I have never used the apexi gear (cept for the actual solenoid - score!) but this jaycar stuff is impressive. It probably isn't as user friendly, but for the price, it can be much better.
The boost controller will require some brain power to get working, you need to understand how it works before you attempt to tune it. The DFA is the same, you WILL need a dyno and i've not taken mine on to the dyno yet. I have played with the mixtures at idle speeds a bit, but only changed the output by 1-2 steps - makes a difference to the mixtures! I have to modify it anyway because it's reading in reverse. There are provisions on board for this and you can easily change to the other mode.
So basically, with proper tuning these kits do really well.
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Location:
south east - melbourne
Registered:
March 2004
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Location:
Rocky Mountains, Canada
Registered:
May 2002
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 Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Wed, 27 April 2005 09:16
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Hmmmm.
I was thinking a bit about the Jaycar boost controller last night while reading through the article on it.
It doesnt use any kind of pressure sensor to monitor the actual boost.
This means it is only relying on the injector duty cycle to open/close the wastegate.
This may work ok, but i dont think i would ever use it.
If engine conditions change for whatever reason, it would be very easy to over-boost since the Jaycar kit has no idea of what the actual boost pressure is.
Seems a very odd, cheap, and possibly dangerous way of doing things.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
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Location:
Adelaide, SA
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: Jaycar's performance car kits
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Thu, 28 April 2005 04:49
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I have first hand experience with this. Yes, it will happen, but only in an un-tuned state. With some tweaking last night i've got it stable at 14psi throughout the rev range, in different gears (except 1st, which just revs out too quickly anyway). It's not the best way to control boost, but it is the best way without spending big $$'s.
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