Hondata or AEM EMS? - Honda Forum / Acura Forum

ALL C5 · 12-31-2002, 05:22 PM

I am looking into getting either one of these systems, but i am not sure which one is better. I have read both websites specs on each of them. I have also done a little reading but could not find alot to get enough info. on them. I have read that the EMS is better for tuning, but on the website they list no other options that is comes with. Hondata comes with 3-stage rev limiter, full throttle shifting, shift light, etc. So what has the most options and which is a better chioce for all high horsepower all motor? If someone could please enlighten me on which is better and why, and also the pros and cons of eech one. thanks guys.

majeed11 · 01-02-2003, 06:19 PM

Me too.... interested to hear what people say.

PM-Performance · 01-02-2003, 10:20 PM

ems has a little more features , but its a bitch to tune if you or your tuner doenst knwo the systme too good,
and im not sure if you can use all tyour stock sensoprs with it
hondata is a little easier to tune and get a grasp of , can use stock sensors and the base maps are nice becuase you can at least start your car and get it drivable before you tune , aem needs to be messed with more to get drivable.

plus hondtat costs less, but you need a 4b owneer to tune them or someone with the tuning equipment

sak · 01-02-2003, 11:18 PM

I thought BLKMGK answered your question already?

Anyhow, I'll list as much features as I can for the moment.

Staged Injection
Boost Control
2 step Rev Limiter
Automapping
MAP sensor
EGT Sensors
Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)
Knock Sensors
WB O2 Controller (my favorite )
Set up Nitrous
Auto Transmission Controls
Switched Ignition Retard and Spark Cut
Ignition Timing
5 second shift light
VTEC (you can even change it so that VTEC is RPM dependent)

It would probably be better if I can get you a screen shot of the menus's from their software, but I don't know how to do that? That way you will know all the features for it. I wonder if you can download their software? You should try that... since it doesn't require the EMS to run the software. I'd advise you to mess with it some to see if yo like it. Download it here

TeG01 · 01-02-2003, 11:39 PM

Hey sak, what is a WB O2 Controller?

sak · 01-02-2003, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TeG01
Hey sak, what is a WB O2 Controller?

Here is the Techedge one (this is the one that I have)
and here is the FJO one (basically what the dyno tuners use)

Its basically what the dyno tuner uses to tune your car, except for the user instead of the tuner and minus the dyno itself.

Len2176 · 01-03-2003, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TodaTeg
I am looking into getting either one of these systems, but i am not sure which one is better. I have read both websites specs on each of them. I have also done a little reading but could not find alot to get enough info. on them. I have read that the EMS is better for tuning, but on the website they list no other options that is comes with. Hondata comes with 3-stage rev limiter, full throttle shifting, shift light, etc. So what has the most options and which is a better chioce for all high horsepower all motor? If someone could please enlighten me on which is better and why, and also the pros and cons of eech one. thanks guys.

Haltech EK6, Electromotive TEC 2 or 3, or Accel DFI 7.0....Those are the absolute best out there. If you are serious about going stand alone, go with one of the best

sorenmd · 01-03-2003, 06:44 PM

do you need a better o2 sensor to run boost?

sak · 01-03-2003, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sorenmd
do you need a better o2 sensor to run boost?

There's basically two different kinds of o2 sensors out there. There's the narrowband o2, which basically all stock cars use. And there's the wideband o2 sensor that the tuners use.

The narrowband o2 is basically used for emmisions and not tuning, thats why people say that the autometer A/F ratio gauge is garbage. Its range of measurement is very limited and narrow, hence the name narrowband o2 sensor.

The wideband o2 sensor is basically what it says. A wideband. It will read readings anywhere from 10.0 to ~ 26.0 A/F ratio. thats good enough to tune any car. Its also very good at telling you whether you are running very lean or very rich. Whereas the narrow band just tells you are running one or the other.

Here is the narrowbands range:

Here is the wideband o2's range:

Here is the wibeband compared to the narrowband:

The wideband is the purple line at the top.

So to answer your question, no you do not need a better o2 sensor for boost. But the better wideband o2 sensor is better for tuning. they cost about the same. But you cannot just slap on the wideband o2 sensor on your car and expect it to work like a charm. The wideband o2 sensor has 5 wires and requires a controller box like this FJO controller box:

Here is what the wideband o2 sensor looks like:

The stock narrowband o2 sensoronly has 3 wires.

Basically, get one or the other. I'm getting the wideband for my car with the controller box unit and display to show the correct A/F ratio and dumping my autometer crap.

sorenmd · 01-04-2003, 02:06 AM

DAMN! that was some helful info!

I definitly get exactly what it is. My guess is that Wideband o2 is strongly reccomended for running moderate to high lbs of boost... how much is a setup? (box and sensor) and does it just plug into the ECU harness (or AEM EMS)? i want to make sure i don't blow up my engine with boost.

sak · 01-04-2003, 02:10 AM

No its not required to run high boost. Its just required for finer tuning.

My kit cost me ~ $400. The FJO starts ~ $590 to well over $1000.

You do not have to have it hooked up to anything. Just the WBO2 kit will do you good. The bonus about having the AEM EMS is that you can hook it up to it and the EMS will automatically tune your system for you.

If you have a stock car, all the WBO2 will do for you is show you how rich or lean you are running.

ALL C5 · 01-04-2003, 04:40 AM

Is it worth it on a heavy N/A set up?

sak · 01-04-2003, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TodaTeg
Is it worth it on a heavy N/A set up?

What the WBO2? It depends on what you? I think its worth it for me.

The AEM EMS? Honestly, if you are planning on just going full N/A, I would recondmend the Hondata over the AEM EMS. The only reason for me saying this is cost. If you just get the basic Hondata S200 it will be about 1/3 to half of the price of the AEM EMS. However you may have to convert to OBD1. That might cost you another $200 (ballpark figure).

In in the end you will have saved a few hundred in the standalone system. If you plan on getting the Hondata stage 4 however, I will definately recomend the AEM EMS over the Hondata stage 4. Simply because in the end you will have paid the same money. And when the price are equal, you want the one with more features... and that would be the AEM EMS.

SpoonDOHCVTEC · 01-05-2003, 04:40 PM

the fastest all motor car is running a hondata right now............www.ericksracing.com also recommend it with boost

sak · 01-06-2003, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SpoonDOHCVTEC
the fastest all motor car is running a hondata right now............www.ericksracing.com also recommend it with boost

That doesn't mean sqaut! Thats like saying they are using a race header and Toda Spec D's so we should use them. There could be a million things that made them choose Hondata, and I doubt it was because it was a good system. Probably because it was easier to tune because its been out for a while and they have tuners for it. It uses factory Honda wiring. It was cheaper than the competition and can do the same thing. Shit I can name a lot more reasons why they probably choose it.