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ECU location
furryeggs - 13/4/17 at 08:35 AM

Where have people put their ECU's. Under/behind the dash or in the engine bay? Engine bay would be easier for me as it'll mean i don't have to cut of and re attach plugs etc... but under the dash would be neater.

Any thoughts


CosKev3 - 13/4/17 at 08:57 AM

Is it waterproof is the main concern?


furryeggs - 13/4/17 at 09:01 AM

Nope


tims31 - 13/4/17 at 09:34 AM

quote:
Originally posted by furryeggs
Where have people put their ECU's. Under/behind the dash or in the engine bay? Engine bay would be easier for me as it'll mean i don't have to cut of and re attach plugs etc... but under the dash would be neater.

Any thoughts


Ran the loom along the bulkhead and seated mine on a small shelf to the right of the dash - Right hand side on this picture

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r1_pete - 13/4/17 at 09:54 AM

Inside the car away from weather and engine temperature is definately the better location.


peter030371 - 13/4/17 at 10:05 AM

Mine is going in the engine bay as I simply have no room behind the dash in a Striker and also access to the serial port for tuning is limited when fitted behind the dash. Not my first choice but the only choice I have and it seems to work for other people.


pekwah1 - 13/4/17 at 10:31 AM

I have a striker, i did find room behind the dash on the passenger side as per the following:


r1_pete - 13/4/17 at 10:38 AM

Mine is pretty inaccessible too, so I made up an extension for the serial port about 200mm ribbon cable, which is permanently attatched to the ecu, tucks away when not needed.


peter030371 - 13/4/17 at 11:22 AM

quote:
Originally posted by pekwah1
I have a striker, i did find room behind the dash on the passenger side as per the following:



That's a 'classic' and mine is the 'new' scuttle design so a little different With the 'new' design you do get a bit more space but its all in the engine bay side really (I had a 'classic' shaped Striker before).

For reference maybe these help show why I have gone for the engine bay option

Dash layout, don't like the silly glove box as it takes up room and offers little if any practical storage space but its what the kit came with. Since this picture was taken I have added a USB charging point in the glove box for Tom Tom, phone etc plus a dash mounted USB output for direct connection to the Dash2Pro for setup and data logging download.
Dash layout
Dash layout


After much head scratching I made up a panel to go behind the dash and take the fuse boxes and relay box. I had to leave space in this plate for the handbrake lever and the silly glove box. I also added a earth bus bar as 99.9% of kit car wiring long term reliability is down to doggy earths. My last loom is now 20+ years old and has never had a problem (although admittedly was a lot simpler than this one).
Fuse and Relay layout
Fuse and Relay layout


It's not going to stay like this but with 95% of the loom test fitted it starts to look rather 'busy' in the space I do have
First wires in place
First wires in place


So the ECU has gone in the engine bay and is tucked under the fluid reservoirs with easy access to the serial port for tuning (in this picture connected to the Dash2Pro for logging of the engine data).
ECU location
ECU location


Maybe my situation is not helped by having a Dash2Pro with GPS and datalogging which I insisted had to link to the ECU to get its data. Plus a reasonably complicated to build and install (but easy to operate) 8 button steering wheel control system with an electrically connected quick release and an auto-cancel module for the indicators....as of last Tuesday night all 8 buttons are now connected and fully functional for the first time

The final thing that made my mind up about putting the ECU in the engine bay is that is what RAW have done with the Duratec/Omex demonstrator car they have. Still my second choice but it can work


Banana - 13/4/17 at 09:14 PM

Passenger foot well for me. Along with the battery, hidden behind a footrest.


kingster996 - 13/4/17 at 09:47 PM

The standard place on a westfield is under the scuttle, passenger side on a drop down tray for access.

Works well and keeps it dry.

Not sure I have a pic of mine, but if I find one, I'll post it up.


kingster996 - 13/4/17 at 09:55 PM

Here you go, just visible on the left

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