TurboX'S FCD

[Brent Coulon]

For those of you who have the TuboX'S FCD, I just want to hear what your feedback is on how it has worked so far. And also if there were any problems with its performance or installation. (rockon)

[Striker187]

i don't think anyone has the turboxs fcd. most people are using joe p's fcd. though i guess joe p isn't making those anymore?? but the turboxs one does have a boost limiter so that's always good :).

[spooling]

Also haven't heard anything about that one but I have a joe p fcd in the for sale section =) $30 + shipping (used)

[DiscreetSpeed]

the turbo xs dosnt work on our cars

[mazdaspd2003.5]

the turbo xs dosnt work on our cars
Why not?

Also, with a FCD vs a Fuel Pressure Regulator, what are the differences? I was leaning toward getting the fpr unless im missing something.

[DiscreetSpeed]

they use map sensors that they connect to and the maf voltage on our is way off what then what they designed that fcd for.

[mazdaspd2003.5]

they use map sensors that they connect to and the maf voltage on our is way off what then what they designed that fcd for.
I must be reading that wrong.... so your saying that it is or isnt better to go with a FPR?

[BOOSTR]

Here's what TurboXS told me about the FCD:

"I believe the fuel cut defender will work but you must double check to

make sure it is a MAP signal (5v) fuel cut. The FCD will work on any 5v

sensor.

Thanks and I hope this helps.

Phil Grabow

Director of Marketing, TurboXS

8041 Queenair Drive, Unit 2

Gaithersburg, MD 20879"

[Dr.Sound]

FPR (if u're talking about JoeP's) doesnt change any voltages.
It's a way to reduce the pressure of fuel, kinda trick the system, by releasing extra pressure back into the intake manifold.
since our cars run very rich, it is safe. i ran an FPR on my first MSP, helped with gas milage and hesitation.
it doesnt have much use on flashed cars, although some people still use it to lean out the A/F mixture.

FCD taps into your MAF, changing the voltage it sends to PCM. hence no fuel cut. but this is a more dangerous route than FPR. u have to be carefull and have gauges to monitor your A/F ratios......otherwise BOOM!

[DiscreetSpeed]

lol put it to you this way...there are only 2 fcd's that work on our cars..joep and essential speed's.

[mspeed101]

So im assuming that the HKS fcd wont work either?

[t3ase]

So im assuming that the HKS fcd wont work either?

lol put it to you this way...there are only 2 fcd's that work on our cars..joep and essential speed's.

:D

[chitownballer]

what is the difference between the essential speed FCD and the joe p fcd? and how much is the essential speed one?

[DiscreetSpeed]

the essential speed i believe (dont quote) is 70 bucks...
no big difference in the 2 just the name of the maker or seller

[nictlg7]

the essential speed i believe (dont quote) is 70 bucks...
no big difference in the 2 just the name of the maker or seller
I searched all over Essential Speed's website, and I couldn't find the one they sell. They certainly don't seem to sell anything as cheap as $70. At any rate, I don't want another blown engine, so I won't use the JoeP, just in case. I ordered the TurboXS, I heard elsewhere it will work. So I am going to do some more research, and see if this is an option for us. as others have said, I like the alerts, and the amount of control you have with this one. I will let you know if it works for us. Otherwise, I am just getting a piggy-back/stand alone ECU, and taking care of all my issues at once. I will let everyone know the outcome...

[KyRaceFan]

ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!


THE JOE P FCD is not popping motors. People running too much boost for their own good are.

thanks have a nice day.

[nictlg7]

ATTENTION!!! ATTENTION!


THE JOE P FCD is not popping motors. People running too much boost for their own good are.

thanks have a nice day.
If you say so dude. I wouldn't stake a $7000 repair on it though, myself.(flame) I happen to know the person was running stock boost when his engine blew, because he felt, as many people here have, that the JoeP MBC also had problems, and was causing spikes and "boost creep/leak". I spoke to the guy, and he said it seemed to be losing its settings. If the TurboXS works, it has an easy to read dial with the settings on it, it has a boost cut, so you can't overboost with it, and it has a warning, to let you know you are hitting cut, or need to make an adjustment, which looks pretty easy to do "on the fly". It i just my opinion. I am not knocking the JoeP, but don't try to tell people it is perfectly safe to use those products, because if they blow a motor with those products, they are going to be really pissed. (argh) I just want people to be careful...that is why I am researching Electronic Valve/Boost Controllers, instead of an MBC. There are many reasons they also are safer, and allow more control, too. Thanks! (I am done(rant))

[t3ase]

I spoke to the guy, and he said it seemed to be losing its settings.
So, the guy knew that it would lose it's settings and he didn't write Joe an email just to ask if that was normal? Nor did he try to readjust it periodically if it did actually 'lose' it's settings? (Which I find kinda hard to believe if he had tightened the lock down enough)

Finger pointing and go both ways.. I've only heard of two or maybe three MBCs from Joe that were literally bad. All other cases were truly operator error. Remember, it's always easier to blame someone else when something goees wrong.

(Not trying to start a flame or fight or anything... I've had Joe's products for quite a while and I hate to see people talking shit about him or any other vendor that's close to the Mazda community.)

[silverturbozoom]

sorry...im new to these terms....whats FCD(huh)

[evo..eater:)]

sorry...im new to these terms....whats FCD(huh)
Fuel Cut Defenser

[silverturbozoom]

ah....thanks

[nictlg7]

(Not trying to start a flame or fight or anything... I've had Joe's products for quite a while and I hate to see people talking shit about him or any other vendor that's close to the Mazda community.)
If you don't want to start a flame war, I suggest we drop this now. I really don't think you want to hear the entire story, not to mention the diagnosis of the Tech, Service Manager, and Mazda engineers who looked at the car. Believe me, the boost was set at the minimum level, it was spiking, and was removed. The engine was at stock boost at the time. Everyone said the fuel cut off, and the boost kept going, hence the car ran lean. The new FCD I am looking at, or the full stand alone ECU I am researching both will have a boost cut, so they won't allow the boost to keep going without fuel. They won't cut the fuel in the same method. I never even tried to dog JoeP's products. I was actually going to research the fuel pressure reducer, in case it would help my hesitation problem. I just think people should be aware if a product can potentially void their warranty and cause engine damage. I am trying to help the other members, not "talk shit about anyone". Thanks!
No more fighting about this, right? (bicker)

[t3ase]

If you don't want to start a flame war, I suggest we drop this now. I really don't think you want to hear the entire story, not to mention the diagnosis of the Tech, Service Manager, and Mazda engineers who looked at the car. Believe me, the boost was set at the minimum level, it was spiking, and was removed. The engine was at stock boost at the time. Everyone said the fuel cut off, and the boost kept going, hence the car ran lean. The new FCD I am looking at, or the full stand alone ECU I am researching both will have a boost cut, so they won't allow the boost to keep going without fuel. They won't cut the fuel in the same method. I never even tried to dog JoeP's products. I was actually going to research the fuel pressure reducer, in case it would help my hesitation problem. I just think people should be aware if a product can potentially void their warranty and cause engine damage. I am trying to help the other members, not "talk shit about anyone". Thanks!
No more fighting about this, right? (bicker)
EDIT: Comments removed. Those who know, well, know. Those who don't will learn and then realize what I'm talking about.

[KyRaceFan]

If you say so dude. I wouldn't stake a $7000 repair on it though, myself.(flame) I happen to know the person was running stock boost when his engine blew, because he felt, as many people here have, that the JoeP MBC also had problems, and was causing spikes and "boost creep/leak". I spoke to the guy, and he said it seemed to be losing its settings. If the TurboXS works, it has an easy to read dial with the settings on it, it has a boost cut, so you can't overboost with it, and it has a warning, to let you know you are hitting cut, or need to make an adjustment, which looks pretty easy to do "on the fly". It i just my opinion. I am not knocking the JoeP, but don't try to tell people it is perfectly safe to use those products, because if they blow a motor with those products, they are going to be really pissed. (argh) I just want people to be careful...that is why I am researching Electronic Valve/Boost Controllers, instead of an MBC. There are many reasons they also are safer, and allow more control, too. Thanks! (I am done(rant))
JoeP wisely includes a LONG disclaimer with all of his products about what you are doing by installing his products, and the potential risks you take.

Did the guy you were talking about know anything about how turbo's work, and how to properly install and tune the controller?
If it was an XZ MBC, then to keep the settings, you simply tighten the locking nut, and it should always be the same.

Yes MBCs can spike, its the simple nature of them... EBCs are solenoid controlled and actually open the wastegate right before the desired boost is reached to prevent boost spike, and no boost controller can prevent boost creep. If youre wastegate cant keep up with exhaust gas, then its possibly the boost will rise.

Also, the turbo xs FCD requires a 5v MAP sensor to work, something the MSP doesnt have, since it reads airflow by a 5v hotwire MAF.

Like i stated before, a correctly installed JoeP FCD cannot blow the motor. Its the boost it allows it to run that blows motors, and if a motor at stock boost blows, I doubt it was the boost that did it.

[nictlg7]

JoeP wisely includes a LONG disclaimer with all of his products about what you are doing by installing his products, and the potential risks you take.

Like i stated before, a correctly installed JoeP FCD cannot blow the motor. Its the boost it allows it to run that blows motors, and if a motor at stock boost blows, I doubt it was the boost that did it.
Maybe you need to read that disclaimer again. Good luck, since he no longer sells the products, "for various reasons." I was never trying to hurt his reputation, so please stop trying to make me look like a bad guy. The statement clearly said this can and will cause engine damage by allowing the engine to overboost. Unlike the TurboXS and some other models, if the turbo spikes, it will allow this to happen, and the engine can blow. The other models will also cut the boost. Not to mention the Turbo XS has a warning you can see when this happens. I thought we had dropped this topic, though. At the time the engine blew, the boost controller was not even installed, just the FCD, and the car was @ stock boost. The car ran lean, the engine blew. That is what the engineers and Master Tech's and Service Manager's and everyone else who looked at the car said happened to it. Who am I to argue with them? I don't know what happened, or what may have caused it. I just want people to be careful, because it was a nightmare getting an engine in that car. It happened Dec. 19th, and it is still not over. I am still having problems with the car, I haven't told the BBB or Mazda Arbitrations (Consumer Compliance), I am happy yet, and I still haven't been refunding any of my money from the car payments I was out for 2 1/2 months, or the rental I had to pay for myself. I just think people need to be better informed of the risks of these products. Thank you! (poke)

[nictlg7]

EDIT: Comments removed. Those who know, well, know. Those who don't will learn and then realize what I'm talking about.
So Mazda Master Tech's, engineers, field rep's, District Manager's, Service Director/Manager's (who build race cars)...don't know what they are talking about. However, one of the people on this Forum knows more than all of them. This is what you are implying? I am not trying to be a jerk, I was trying to let this die, because we are off topic and have a flame war going. However, comments like do not make any sense. I would have loved for you to be the Service Manager where I took my car, either at the dealership in Vegas, or the one in Cerritos. Both of them tried to deny the warranty saying that fuel system had been modified. They specifically said it ran lean, and pointed the finger at the FCD. They never mentioned boost being set to high, so they must also have tested the boost levels and found them to be @ stock specs. At any rate, it is over, let's get back on topic. I should be getting my TurboXS soon, and I have heard both ways. Will it read our MAF and work, or not? I heard a few people say they installed it and it worked fine. If anyone knows of who those people are, I would like to verify it does work fine. I have already ordered it, but I can always cancel it if it has been found it does not work properly. Thanks!

[KyRaceFan]

Im sorry you blew your motor up at stock boost, and im not saying Mazda was wrong or right, however any mod left on the car when you take it in for warranty can be blamed for the failure, and gives them an oppurtunity to deny warranty work, especially for a motor thats obviously been modified.
If your motor ran lean with an FCD installed, it was probably running lean without it installed, however there is no way to tell.

Im not calling you a bad guy or trying to make accusations that you were defaming JoeP. I know that you were not. I was simply trying to get rid of some of the confusion about the Fuel Cut Defenser.

I will agree that what the fuel cut defenser does can lead to engine failure due to overboost. You agree to take that risk when you install a boost controller and something that bypasses a stock safety system.

Lastly, youre right, this is a pointless flame war. I do not know what comments were made that t3ase edited, but the fact remains that you blew your motor up at stock boost, and since you had an FCD, were denied warranty work.
Sucks to hear, but this can be a lesson to anyone with problems with their car. REMOVE ANY MODS OR YOU WILL VOID THE WARRANTY!

Better yet, if you dont want to worry about your car breaking, dont mod it.

[perfworks]

nictlg7,

Forgive me bud BUT I will assure you that the Turbo XS wont work on the MSP. If you dont believe me then PM me and I'll explain

[perfworks]

Im sorry you blew your motor up at stock boost, and im not saying Mazda was wrong or right, however any mod left on the car when you take it in for warranty can be blamed for the failure, and gives them an oppurtunity to deny warranty work, especially for a motor thats obviously been modified.
If your motor ran lean with an FCD installed, it was probably running lean without it installed, however there is no way to tell.

Im not calling you a bad guy or trying to make accusations that you were defaming JoeP. I know that you were not. I was simply trying to get rid of some of the confusion about the Fuel Cut Defenser.

I will agree that what the fuel cut defenser does can lead to engine failure due to overboost. You agree to take that risk when you install a boost controller and something that bypasses a stock safety system.

Lastly, youre right, this is a pointless flame war. I do not know what comments were made that t3ase edited, but the fact remains that you blew your motor up at stock boost, and since you had an FCD, were denied warranty work.
Sucks to hear, but this can be a lesson to anyone with problems with their car. REMOVE ANY MODS OR YOU WILL VOID THE WARRANTY!

Better yet, if you dont want to worry about your car breaking, dont mod it.
K,
I am using your post as a reference only to some good key points you made.
Does anyone understand why the FCD can cause detromental damage? Certainly not at stock boost levels as you have not gone over the predetermined airflow values calculated in the ECU. Your stock ECU has a specific amount of resolution in the load table. The "fuel cut" on the MSP is a max reading from the MAF to the ecu. It is maxed because it is programmmed to read airflow between 1.5 to 4.5-.8 volts internally. The airflow value at higher boost levels is being measured but measured off the scale. It can't calculate the right amount of injector on time.