| I've looked at these before but quite fancy going for one now... Anyone have one of these from Superchips - claimed 6bhp increase for 165 quid... http://www.superchips.co.uk/car/indexfr.htm I'm interested in this, but as my timing is set at 14BTDC and with a JRCAI and Borla, would I have to alter the timing back to 10BTDC before fitting it or are all the outputs from this device relative to baseline timing? Would it go well with the CAI and catback or have I already got the increase from the timing advance? I'd imagine that it would smooth things out generally better than a simple timing advance might? Thoughts? (2/00) |
| If I remember rightly a magazine reckoned that chips on the 5 don't work without more engine work and they aren't really worth the money. (2/00) |
| AFAIK, these chips only do what you've already done by advancing your ignition to 14 deg. And according to Norm Garrett "The Miata Club has run dyno tests on.........PCM chips to fancy plugs and wire systems. Another short discussion: None of them works any better than the stock system." ref Mazda Miata Performance Handbook, P. 65 "Ignition". (2/00) |
| Until now, not a single Chip for the Mk1 has succeeded in doing more than the timing advance already does. No idea whether this one is different, but I guess not. (2/00) |
| This one claims to remap the ignition, which could mean benefits of 14 degrees with the disadvantages mapped out (ie. retard in the +5,500rpm range before pinging begins). I have CAI also, and run 14 degrees. I really like the difference that 14 degrees makes, but I do have to keep an ear open for pinging... I'd like to know more about this device... (2/00) |
| Are these disadvantages normal with 14 degrees BTDC timing? I was considering doing this, but this puts me off. (2/00) |
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Hey, don't let it put you off ! The benefits are enormous - you will definitely feel the difference once you go to 14. The thing is, all engines are different. Mine has its limit at 14, while other engines are quite happy at even 18. It could be something to do with the quality of petrol here in Ireland - I don't know. Also, the change is completely reversible. I would recommend the following: What you have now are marks for 10 degrees and 14 degrees. Try driving with 14 degrees; if you find 'pinging' noises (light metallic tapping) you need to move the cam sensor away from the 14 degree mark towards the 10 degree mark. My car likes 14 degrees unless the weather is very hot, or if I am driving at > 5,500rpm for long periods. Going to somewhere like 12 degrees is a good compromise, but I can even tell the difference between 12 and 14 just by driving. As I said before, don't let it put you off: try 14, you'll like it ! I heard a 'rumour' once that claimed the engines were set at 10 degrees at the factory for one main reason: the allegedly iffy quality of Japanese petrol. True ? I don't know ! (2/00) |
| "Icon Race is an on-board computer that can vary ignition timing by up to 20 degrees advance or retard throughout the rev range. It does this using a performance map to enhance your cars existing ECU commands without actually changing the manufacturers programme. It's diminutive size allows it to be tucked away in any convenient location. It uses the latest PIC microcontroller, running 4 times faster than most current manufacturer's ECU's. A new ignition value and advance pulse is calculated for every spark giving your car more mid-range torque and added throttle response, with power increases up to 10%. It's simple to install (only a 4 or 6 wire connection), reliable (if it does fail a safety circuit kicks in, allowing you to continue driving using your car's original ECU) and comes with our 1 Year Warranty." It costs about £150. To me it doesn't seem worth the money for a 6bhp increase, has anybody else fitted these? (2/00) |
| RE. the Icon computer - someone recently mentioned a webpage with more detail on those devices, but I can't find it now. Anyway, how it affects horsepower is one thing, how it affects drievability is another. I'd be happy with 6bhp extra, if the ICON unit was able to "fill in" the timing/hesitation/whatever below 4,000rpm. It should be easy for such a device to remap the ignition, which could mean benefits of running 14 degrees BTDC with the disadvantages mapped out (ie. retard in the +5,500rpm range before pinging begins). As I said before, I love running my car at 14 degrees (it makes a BIG difference to driveability but probably negligable difference to power output), but I do have to keep an ear open for pinging... (2/00) |
| It seems that these icon race things can be fully programmed. There's only one little downside...only the dealer can do it. Can't see me drive to the dealer 10 times and pay who knows how much to get it reprogrammed whenever I change something on the car. If we were able to get our hands on the program then it could be an interesting alternative for a msd or J&S though (2/00) |