Megasquirt on a Distributor VR6

[drag_vw]

I have a costumer that is moving to maryland and I Install a ms2 extra in his fiat the car runs great, but he may need a litlle tuning help, can you send me your email or phone # to referyou this good friend? I call you monds ago but I lose your #

[need_a_VR6]

You got PM.

[hasnfefr]

I love this post

[jity86]

im looking to do this exact setup on my mk2 vr6, i was looking at preassembled kits on diyautotune.com, which version of the ms is going to work best with my dist. vr6.

[majic]

Back from the dead. Put the project down for a while and I'm trying to get it started again. It started up with a little gas peddle, ran under it's own power for a little while, now it's hard to start again. Is there any kind of logging one can do in the moments of startup to see what you need to adjust? I have a wbo2, would that be helpful or would it give me garbage while cranking?

[Nastyboost35]

Well I have been itching to get into megasquirt for a while now for my distributor turbo VR. I am wondering now that MS3x is out with sequential fuel and spark , is it possible to run sequential fuel with the ignition setup described in the earlier posts? I read in the sequential fuel section of the manual that it is required to have a cam sensor input.

[need_a_VR6]

Yeah no problem, just wire in the cam sensor. The 3x outputs will fire a stock 12v coilpack with no mods, also.

[Nastyboost35]

Thanks . my stuff is on the way. I should be working on it this week, so I might have a few questions in the days to follow. Any advice other than what is listed in this post?

[need_a_VR6]

I have a few MS3 install threads, but it was when it was in alpha still, not sure how much will still apply! Everything is fairly straight forward on a distro car, but post up any questions you might have anyway.

[Nastyboost35]

Thanks, I will need it. My really good friend is proficient at soldering boards and does a lot of ardiuno projects and things for musical equipment. He will be helping me with the boards and stims. I have been reading up the last week or so on the MS3 manual page to refresh my memory from previous reading. I am starting to understand it but once it becomes more hands on I will grasp it a little more.

[Prof315]

Thanks, I will need it. My really good friend is proficient at soldering boards and does a lot of ardiuno projects and things for musical equipment. He will be helping me with the boards and stims. I have been reading up the last week or so on the MS3 manual page to refresh my memory from previous reading. I am starting to understand it but once it becomes more hands on I will grasp it a little more.

If you get stuck on anything let me know. I have been known to make housecalls.

[Nastyboost35]

Ill let you know, if you are in melborne my shop is in north lakeland so not too far away from you. We actually go to cocoa beach to surf a lot . Maybe we could meet up sometime to talk shop .

[Prof315]

Sounds good

[Nastyboost35]

alright so for the cam signal would the hall sensor for the distributor work as a cam reference signal ? I understand I have to get "a" signal to the ECU but I can't see using anything else as the signal reference. I have been assembling the stims the last couple nights. I have found out I am pretty good at soldering, must be all the welding practice.

[Prof315]

alright so for the cam signal would the hall sensor for the distributor work as a cam reference signal ? I understand I have to get "a" signal to the ECU but I can't see using anything else as the signal reference. I have been assembling the stims the last couple nights. I have found out I am pretty good at soldering, must be all the welding practice.

It works just fine. That's what I use on dizzy VR6s and ABAs when I want sequential. It IS the Cam sensor.

[Nastyboost35]

Cool. That is what I figured. Learning a lot about this stuff just reading can't wait to get it running.

[Nastyboost35]

so ... questions.

I will list them as numbered on the MS3 v 3.0 assembly page.

#8 - Do I install D1 as I am running a single high current coil (stock Distributor VR6)

#26 - Idle valve setup: I was planning on running my factory idle valve, because that is what i have at the moment. I might want to step up to an OBD II vr throttle body later if it works better? I like the idea of having all in one for space . I guess my question is are you guys using the output on ms3x card now , or is setting it up like paul originally outlined it the perfered method?

#27 Tach input I assume is what is outlined earlier

#28 is the part about d14 on the first page on spark output

#31 ms3x expansion card mods, this is set up for the hall effect sensor in the distributor correct? What type of pull up are you using for this?


Thanks for everyones help. I am trying to make sure this stuff is correct before I get any farther in builing this thing.

[Prof315]

#8 No don't install D1. That's for getting your tach input to MS from the coil -

#26 You can build the TIP 122 Fidle mod or not. The MS3x idle pin works fine but if you do the mod you have another med current PWM output.

#27 You'll use the VR conditioners but I alway build the opto/hall conditioner too.

#28 No need to do this the MS3X spark outputs will work fine

#31 simply install the jumper on JP7 and set the pots as described. That's all that needs to be done for using a hall effect cam in

[need_a_VR6]

8 doesnt matter if you are using 3x for cam in. I would leave it out.

[Nastyboost35]

you guys are awesome. Thanks. now on to more soldering.

[Nastyboost35]

On number 27 (tach select) on the first page it is outlined a little different than what is outlined on the ms3 manual.

For the vr sensor they have it set like this:


V3.0 board - VR Input for VR (magnetic) sensor
a) Solder a link between VRIN and TACHSELECT
b) Solder a wire between VrOUT and TSEL
c) With a small screwdriver, turn the pots, R52 and R56, about 12 turns anticlockwise (sometimes you may feel a "click" when the end position is reached, they can't be damaged by turning too far.) This sets them up for most VR sensors.


On the the first page it is setup:

VRIN - TachSelect
TSEL - VROUT INV
D14 with pullup to IGN (no VB)
Both VR pots fully CCW

Now I am going to use one of the spark outputs to control the stock distributor vr6 coil so I understand I won't be using the D14 pullup. but the tach input is different and I just want to get your opinions of the correct way for the VR6. Thanks guys. I am almost there, just have the mods to do.

[Prof315]

For MS2/MS3 builds using a VR crank sensor connect VROUT to TSEL. VROUTINV to TSEL is for MS1 mostly.

[Nastyboost35]

cool . that is what I figured . I just wasn't sure. I thought I read somewhere in paul's posts that he used the vroutinv because the number would be to low if the vrout was used. I am really digging the assembly. stuff is really small but once you pick up the soldering it is really challanging. Well thanks again. I should have it done soon. maybe once i get it going you could come by the shop and give me a good tutorial on how to use this thing. I will pay you for your time. Thanks again, everyone on here has been a huge help.

[need_a_VR6]

Jeff nailed it, ms1 needs inverted, the rest you use vrout and select the trigger edge in software.

For the 3x ignition out with a stock coil you run direct to the middle pin and use inverted output.

[Nastyboost35]

well guys with your help I have managed to get this thing to comunicate with my computer on tuner studio. I started inputing some settings and started to get familiar with the software. Next is the wiring. I am taking the stock engine harness and I hacked it off behind the big engine connector and am going to graft it into the ms harness. I envisioned having only one major connector in the engine bay for ease of working on this thing if it needs to come out. I am going to get some connectors from the junkyard to play with so I will be able to get it all through the firewall. This is my plan, If you guys have any words of wisdom lets here it. I know this is a little more indepth than just using a modded harness but I like doing stuff like this, I think it adds that little extra that sets it apart . And really for anyone that has contributed to this thread Thank you, as it has been a huge help.

[Prof315]

We did basically the same thing with my best friend's SLC Corrado. We cut the 68 pin Motronic connector off right at the ECU and rerouted the harness into the car and then pinned the Megasquirt mainboard and MS3X DB37 connectors directly to that. It was a pain rerouting the harness but the end result is very very nice.

[Nastyboost35]

Well guys I have been working on my Corrado wiring and getting everything tightened up in there. I have a question about a connector on the CE2 fuse box.

1) G1 connector
g1/07
mine is a black/brown

a2 resource states it is g60 ecu power supply, In the Bentley for my year(1992 up to 1993 AAA) The path is for the ECM power supply relay. Now my question is, is this what will power up my MS?

Next...

2) Same G1 connector
g1/03 yellow/blue
a2 resource - "ECU- fuel pump turn on"
Do I use this for the fuel pump signal from the MS to power up the relay or should I use another method?

Thanks guys.

[EnIgMa '06]

Does anyone have the pinout for hooking MS up to a stock, OBDI VR6 with a distributor? The OP has placeholders for the pinouts but they are not there.

I just bought a MegaSquirt setup that was on an OBDII VR6 and would just like to compare. I have the plug and play harness from the OBDII car.

Thanks in advance, I'm just starting to learn about this stuff.

[need_a_VR6]

Should be in post #8 it looks goofy on my phone but it should look fine on a real screen.

[EnIgMa '06]

Wow. Derp. Thanks man, I guess I'm blind! That was a super quick response.

I think the guy I bought it from originally bought it from you. Are there identifying marks on the board that would let you uniquely identify exactly what I have?

[need_a_VR6]

There should be a serial number on the bottom. I cant remember offhand ever doing an obd2 pnp though.

[EnIgMa '06]

I think that you are correct. It's not OBDII, but he may have been running it with an OBDII throttle body and it was definitely a coilpack car. What is the format of the serial number? I can't find anything obvious other than "1708".

[need_a_VR6]

If its old its 2 digit. Newer ones are year and 3 digit sn. Like K&P2011079

[EnIgMa '06]

Strange. Maybe it wasn't built by you. I don't see anything that looks like a serial number anywhere.

Edit: Sorry for all the questions... I can't find a definite answer to these two (maybe I'm looking in the wrong places).

1. Is the wiring of the board (jumpers) any different between a coilpack and distributor setup? My wiring harness is setup for single spark output and was used with single spark output with coilpacks (I think...is this possible? They were not the stock coilpacks).

2. If I want to run this on my distributor-equipped car, do I need to make my distributor into a six window unit? I plan on running all factory sensors.