98TypeR#21

Was the benefit worth it? Was it an obvious improvement and worth it?

I'm looking for more low-end torque and less bogging, and would love to have your thoughts if you made the upgrade...

Thanks!

Elistan

There's hardly any difference between 00/01 and 02/03 models. Just a slightly revised ECU, but you'll be hard pressed to notice anything IMO.

If you're talking about bogging after sitting at a light, try the radmat.

For general torque improvement, try shorter rear end gearing - at the expense of extra shifts and higer rpms while cruising.

98TypeR#21

Thanks.

No - I'm not talking about bogging at a light - I'm talking about the lower torque in the revs below about 2500.

My type-r (with 40 less HP) is tremendously torquey compared to my '01 S2000, and I'd seen a number of comments about the 02/03 ECU being much leaner which apparently helped in the low-rpms.

Did you change the ECU out and notice no difference?

DJSang

Instead of doing that, why don't you just get a VAFC and tune it?

Slows2k

It's a 2.0L, that revs to 9k rpm. Torque at low RPM is not the engine's strong suit. Try a 2.2L car if you want more torque.

I've driven every year s2k from 00-05. The 00-03's are virtually identical, you'll be hard pressed to notice much difference between an 00-01 and a 02-03.

I've driven a few ITR's as well, I'm betting your noticing the different gearing between the 2 cars.

Elistan

I haven't heard of any difference at low rpms - it's in the 8000+ range where the 02/03 ECUs are leaner, giving higher peak hp numbers.

Based on going between an '00 and '03, I can't notice any difference that's not heat related.

I don't think anybody has bothered trying to tune the engine below 2500 rpm. Except for driving under 45mph in 6th gear, I can't think of any time that we'd be spending at 2500rpm and under.

1fastminivan

ok the 00-01 vs. 02-03 issue. I have an 01'. Before I purchased the 01' I had an 03' for about a week that i was test driving. It felt really "easy" to drive in the beginning part and pulled very nicely and smooth vtec transition. Then I took it back because they wanted too much for it. Then I found the 01' same color for 5k less. Had 34k miles on it and I jumped on it right away. RIGHT when I drove off the lot I immediately felt the difference in power. I thought it was just my imagination and thought maybe it was just me being paranoid. I drove the 01' for about a week and it was still bothering me so I went and got some fuel injector cleaner thinking maybe it would help a bit. Well that didnt help any so I was kind of stumped. I should've been on this site before I went out shopping for an s2k......hehehe. I didnt know about the whole ECU difference until a buddy of mine with an 03' told me about it. He asked me if it really was that much of a difference and I told him YES. So I drove his car and it felt "strong" just like the one I had for about a week. He drove mine and concluded that the ECU does make a difference. So I came on here, registered and starting searching for the ECU....hahaha.

I finally found a used 02 ECU thanks to 10secs2k. I recieved it and went immediately to a local dealership to have the immoblizer thing fixed. As I drove off with the new ECU, I felt the difference right away from the way it was "easier" to drive. I hit vtec and it was a smooth switch over and pulled very strong. On the 01' ECU the vtec was much more "dramatic" of a switch over compared to the 02-03 version ECU. I have another friend who owns a 00' s2k and had him come over to test drive mine. He also agreed that the difference was VERY noticable. We ran each other and i would pull on him. All i have is the 02' ECU and he had a KN drop in filter and gutted airbox. We then switched drivers to see if it was just drivers and it was the same outcome, my car would pull on his instantly. Now he wants an 02-03 ECU. hehehe .

Conclusion, YES IT IS WORTH IT IMO. BUT I dont know how much of a difference the VAFC would do the 01' ECU compared to a VAFC on an 02 and up ECU. If you can find a good used 02/03 ECU I would definitely jump on it

SPLNDID

Is the ECU programmable?
Or, is it flat-out burned like an old-fashioned PROM? (Programmable Read Only Memory.)
If the ECU can be re-programmed, then what do we need to adjust parameters?
I watched the "Speed Channel" last week, and noticed that a Corvette owner used a laptop to tune his engine with programmable set points.
Can our stook, ECU be re-programmed?

Slows2k

The stock PCM is non-programmable.

SPLNDID

Is there a programmable ECU, aftermarket option out there? Is it something we should look for?... or is the Honda ECU PROM as good as it gets?
Man, I want more power out of the turns!!!