two mp3 ecus available

[pdhaudio83]

yep, there are two ECUs from mp3s available in the 50 states. If you are interested, PM me and i will put you in contact with the people that have them.
They maybe a few bucks, but if you really want it, let me know.

[Captain KRM P5]

yep, there are two ECUs from mp3s available in the 50 states. If you are interested, PM me and i will put you in contact with the people that have them.
They maybe a few bucks, but if you really want it, let me know.
try hawking these in the protege5 section, you never know. plus i forget - if installed on a p5 will you get a CEL?

[Poseur]

interested, $ dependant...

[DooMer_MP3]

try hawking these in the protege5 section, you never know. plus i forget - if installed on a p5 will you get a CEL?
On the CEL - No, you won't on a P5 with a MP3 ECU. However, a MP3 with a P5 ECU would, as the P5 ECU wouldn't be able to locate the VTCS solenoid on the MP3, as the MP3 has no VTCS.

Chris

[Little Beavis]

On the CEL - No, you won't on a P5 with a MP3 ECU. However, a MP3 with a P5 ECU would, as the P5 ECU wouldn't be able to locate the VTCS solenoid on the MP3, as the MP3 has no VTCS.

Chris
Exactly!

Chris I see the "location" has officially changed! Hope all is well.

I know of at least one other ECU as well.

[dudeondacouch]

Around how much is "a few bucks" ???? I wouldn't mind having one. Also, does installing the MP3 ECU neccessitate disabling the VTCS solenoid?

[Little Beavis]

You would want to disable the VTCS. The MP3 has no control over it, so that would mean it would stay closed and never open.

You could either remove the VTCS completely just drill off the bolts that hold the butterflys on and then pull out the rod and put a 1/8" pipe plug where the rod went into the manifold - I've done this before, very easy.

Or ghetto, just zip tie them open since there is an arm on the rod that could just be zip tied open.

[dudeondacouch]

You would want to disable the VTCS. The MP3 has no control over it, so that would mean it would stay closed and never open.

You could either remove the VTCS completely just drill off the bolts that hold the butterflys on and then pull out the rod and put a 1/8" pipe plug where the rod went into the manifold - I've done this before, very easy.
that's what I thought... thanks for clarifying...

[KzA]

VERY INTERESTED...please lemme know

[TurfBurn]

I have one that I'd part with on exchange plus some cash.... dunno what the "going rate" is for them..

[yanp]

I'm verry interested about buying an Mp3 ecu .. PM me or e-mail me if you have one.

[TurfBurn]

anybody have an idea as to how much the ECU is worth on a swap? I have nothing to gain or lose by swapping mine in my situation... just looking for any way possible to try and fund my engine rebuild in any amount!

[FrigginGLI]

Interested as well, what were the gains again around 5whp?

[pdhaudio83]

this wouldnt be a trade ECU for ECU, you'd be buying the ECU and keeping your old one! :) (or selling it, or whatever you want)

[Captain KRM P5]

anybody have an idea as to how much the ECU is worth on a swap? I have nothing to gain or lose by swapping mine in my situation... just looking for any way possible to try and fund my engine rebuild in any amount!
i know of someone who would like to swap with you here in IL if you are open to do so

[pdhaudio83]

Wow, TONS of interest. I have answered all PMs (over 6!)
First come first served.

[pdhaudio83]

its not a swap kinda thing... cuz if i trade, then i'd have two ecus sitting around ;)

and... you get to keep your old ECU in case anything happens.

[Leppy]

would they work in a 2.0l LX with Mazdaspeed exhaust? i'm interested if i can get some kind of gain out of it...

[Little Beavis]

would they work in a 2.0l LX with Mazdaspeed exhaust? i'm interested if i can get some kind of gain out of it...
In "theory" you would get 10 hp over stock with that ecu and your mazdaspeed exhaust. Not sure how much you gained when you got the exhaust, but the two of them are supposed to be worth 10 hp together (at least that is what Mazda told us). I do think the throttle response and such is better. . .that's why I kept my MP3 ecu even after I boosted it.

[pdhaudio83]

yes it would as long as you have a manual transmission.

[Leppy]

cool, put me in touch with whoever has one for sell. I have an LX 2.0 with manual tranny, m'speed exhaust and .. well, let's just call it an SRIntake.

[TurfBurn]

the dyno set I saw posted on here show 5 hp increase and 8 ft-lb's increase...

Post #13
http://www2.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59533&highlight=mp3+ecu+sale

[TurfBurn]

But again.. any thoughts to what these are worth ??? Pm me... I don't want to rip anyone off.. but also don't want to let something "valuable" go too easily! I have an engine that needs some serious parts... doesn't run so good with a gaping hole in the block! :) But I have an ECU available for you!

(Edit: So obviously I can ship you the ECU and once you are good to go I need your ECU ! But the timing and shipping would be easy :) )

[flat_black]

They go for $100 - 200 used from junkyards, but that's without swapping ECU's... P5 ECU's go for about the same, though.

[rodslinger]

If you can't find someone to swap, do a search on www.car-part.com. I found about 7 available and prices were in the $100 to $200 range.

[TurfBurn]

I looked through them... a couple say MP3... but I'd certainly wonder... cheapest I saw was around 150 or so... couple over 300 though.

[H5N1]

Is the MP3 ECU programed for premium fuel (92+)? So is the 10hp gain based on using 92+ fuel? What happen if just regular fuel is used? Just curious:)

[dudeondacouch]

From what I understand the MP3 ECU responds quite a bit better to mods. Good combo of I/H/E, cams, and MP3 ECU should put over 130hp to the wheels. (MTX) I still want one.

[Captain KRM P5]

Is the MP3 ECU programed for premium fuel (92+)? So is the 10hp gain based on using 92+ fuel? What happen if just regular fuel is used? Just curious:)
it advances the timing requiring it to use premium fuel. the horsepower gain, according to dynos by flyin miata, is from a combination of the programmed timing advance and the mp3's exhaust system


I looked through them... a couple say MP3... but I'd certainly wonder... cheapest I saw was around 150 or so... couple over 300 though.
turfburn i sent you a pm today :)

[MikeBlueP5]

I am interested. Gimme some prices shipped to GA

[daKiNeP5]

PM sent if its still available

[Protege2K]

If anyone is interested, pm me for a price on a MP3 ECU.

[TurfBurn]

octane doesn't give horsepower... octane is essentially detonation prevention... makes it so you can get more power by having higher compression and more advanced timing... but octane in itself yields absolutely no gains. Just for clarification.... :) (so using regular 89 octane as was asked would probably result in nasty detonation...)

[jjac28]

Im just curious why mazda doesnt sell and install them? I mean who wouldnt want more zoom zoom

also, any disadvantages that come with this ecu swap?

[H5N1]

So is premium fuel required after a ECU swap?

[Captain KRM P5]

So is premium fuel required after a ECU swap?
yes it is.


Im just curious why mazda doesnt sell and install them? I mean who wouldnt want more zoom zoom

also, any disadvantages that come with this ecu swap?
they theorhetically do not need to sell the ECU itself but just reflash the exisiting p5 model with the mp3 code. the ecu from the dealer is about $1000 :(

[H5N1]

Thanks Captain KRM P5:)

[never Ender]

why won't they work for an auto?

[jeffmsp]

i think its because mp3s are 5-speed and I guess the ECU controls an auto.

[flat_black]

My new ECU is on its way. ;) And yes, the ECU acts as a TCU, too, controlling various dash functions, and OD, and whatnot.

[Captain KRM P5]

Thanks Captain KRM P5:)
any time :) are there still ECUs available for sale? i have a friend with a protege5 that really wants one and he is willing to pay a reasonable price, swap or no swap, for one.

[WRCprotege]

will mp3s ecu with ABS work on the non ABS p5s?? like do they rear the speed from the abs or would my speedo work just fine?? oh and the vics thing. im suppost to zip tie it open?? dosnt it build much more low end TQ with it working?? basicly i can get one on fri.. but i dont what to lose any TQ, i dont give two shits about upper end HP.. so basicly if i lost mid tq in gain for upper hp, i dont what this.. someone help me

[flat_black]

VICS isn't what you lose from swapping ECU's; VICS is included with the MP3's, and all Protege's. What you're losing is VTCS, or Variable Tumble Control System. This causes the intake air charge to tumble when it enters the ignition chamber, which allows the car to warm up the precat faster, and doesn't add or remove any horsepower. You may lose some from the butterflies being there in general, but I doubt you'll notice it terribly much. That being said, I don't beleive you need to zip tie it open; I think it stays in that state under zero vacuum, which is what it'll be seeing, as the solenoid won't ever receive a signal. The ABS, I can't say; I'll find out shortly, and let you know, though. Presumably the speedo should work just fine, though, either way, as the speed sensor is right off of the tranny, and the ABS sensors are at the wheels.

[jjac28]

just curious, why wouldnt mazda install one for all mp5's so the car gets more hp?

[flat_black]

Gas requirements; The P5 is economy, so people would want to have to only use 87 octane, rather than 93 octane.

[JCell]

r the ecu's still vavailable? interested

[Protege2K]

Mine is sold. Somebody is coming tomorrow to mi casa to swap em.

[WRCprotege]

thanks for that info flat black,im new to the P5... thats help alot!

[flat_black]

No problem, WRC. =) Always glad to help. Oh, and I just tested on a dirt road; The ABS works perfectly!

[Little Beavis]

I may have an mp3 ecu in a couple weeks (might just bring itto the Illinois meet on 8/21).

I do believe the VTCS system will remain "closed" rather than open, but I would have to confirm on a car that actually has the system . . .so now I'm curious. . .

And MP3s did not come with ABS. Is it being said that they work with ABS systems on P5s? If so, very interesting. . .the MP3 uses a speedo gear as well and any ABS car uses the ABS sensors instead. . .

Oh well. . .enough of this. . .time to move on.

[JCell]

btw, will the odommeter change if i change the ecu? or does the dash hold the miles?

[flat_black]

No, my odo didn't change; Yes, the VTCS does not operate with the MP3's ecu, and the VTCS doesn't interfere with performance, perse, other than blocking air flow a tiny bit due to the butterflies being there. Yes, the stock ABS functions perfectly using the MP3 ECU. The ABS, as well as cruise, has it's own mini computer, as it were, so both operate independantly of the engine's ECU.

That's as concise as I can be. =)

[pdhaudio83]

nice post (thumb)

[gino]

nice post (thumb)
(attn) Yo, bro. Still have those ECUs?

[pdhaudio83]

i maybe able to get one or two more from a friend but they are like $275 (mind you this is not a swap, you get an extra ecu so if anything ever happens, you still have your old one)

[gino]

i maybe able to get one or two more from a friend but they are like $275 (mind you this is not a swap, you get an extra ecu so if anything ever happens, you still have your old one)
Thx, lemme know by PM.

[Protege2K]

Well here is a little swap update for you guys. Me and WRCprotege just finished swapping ours. After giving the MP3 a few cycles to run through, it runs perfectly. A bit slower but good none the less. And no CEL on the MP3. I took it out and ran it for about 15 minutes. Drove it hard, drove it slow. Let it idle. Nothing, the cel never came on. :):)

[flat_black]

The CEL on the MP3 would probably come on after letting the car cool down all the way; The VTCS only actuates when the coolant temp is lower than (I think) 70 degrees celcius, and that's when the P5's engine would try and kick up the idle, and engage the VTCS. That's another cool thing I noticed with the MP3 ecu; Warmup idle is only about 1700rpm, as opposed to the 2000ish it used to be.

[Protege2K]

I'll check on it again once the car has cooled down. The idle at first was sitting at 1k once the P5 ECU went in, but after running through a few cycles it set back down to around 850~k.

[Protege2K]

You were right. The CEL came on once the car was cooled off.

[protegeV]

yes it is.


they theorhetically do not need to sell the ECU itself but just reflash the exisiting p5 model with the mp3 code. the ecu from the dealer is about $1000 :(you mean I could just go to the dealer and get my ECU reflashed to MP3 specs? that seems a lot easier...

[JCell]

but how much would the dealer charge to do it?

[Protege2K]

but how much would the dealer charge to do it?
My guess; arm and a leg. (yupnope)

[pdhaudio83]

the dealer WILL not do it 99.9% of the time. Its not something mazda would do.

[JCell]

yeah, dealers like to overcharge for simple things, when i got my strut bar, i needed the bolts, 6.99 each, 8 bolts, hell no! went to home depot and got 10 for 2.99, and they look so much better =)

[flat_black]

They almost definitly won't do it... I went to four dealerships, and all gave me the exact same schpiel about not being able to do it, for legal or liability purposes... You'd need a friend on the inside, so to speak, and even then, it'll be a bit of a job to get them to do it. So, I just bought my own MP3 ECU. Superchips can re-program Ford ECU's, now, by the way, from what I've read, so that means they should be able to reprogram it for you, if you can get the ECU/car to them.

[WRCprotege]

i just got mine from protege2k this weekend, at first i didnt think it made much differance.. after alot of driving at deals gap (the dragon),, it was much better all around, the car just kept pullin all the way to redline..very smooth, more responcive and a good punch in the mid , i was very happy with the way it made the car drive..the car seems to want more now.. all and all id say do this mod, not a huge hp gain but the car becomes much more fun to drive, and willing to do more!!
oh and thanks to greg (protege2k) for the swap..

[Protege2K]

I figured it would be harder to feel the gains. With the P5 ECU in my car, it feels so damn slow. The car seems to want to quit pulling at 4k. I am just glad I only have to drive like this for a week.