Thread: aem fic

Jus wanderin, does anyone use the aem fic to tune a boosted 03? Or anybody know if it works good or not? I've looked around on the forum, and some people say it does, and some say it doesn't. My dtec seems to gave up so.......

FIC6 will work on a 03 with Boost, But ur kinda better off with a JWT Reflash.

Im using FIC, it works alright but you need to make sure u bring it to a tuner that knows what he's doing with it cuz it's not a widely used system. Also a bit of a PITA to wire up if you dont use the plug n play harness that boomslang (i think) makes

Originally Posted by L8YBUG

Im using FIC, it works alright but you need to make sure u bring it to a tuner that knows what he's doing with it cuz it's not a widely used system. Also a bit of a PITA to wire up if you dont use the plug n play harness that boomslang (i think) makes

it absolutely hates 04+ specv's also.. I almost threw mine int he garbage trying to get it to work a couple years ago and just ended up selling it.

Originally Posted by specv118

it absolutely hates 04+ specv's also.. I almost threw mine int he garbage trying to get it to work a couple years ago and just ended up selling it.

Hey specv118, did you ever figure out what resistors needed to be used for the O2 wires?? That's the only thing i dont have hooked up right now and i want to..

Originally Posted by L8YBUG

Hey specv118, did you ever figure out what resistors needed to be used for the O2 wires?? That's the only thing i dont have hooked up right now and i want to..

I did at one point in time. I had a write up on tsvb.net going..but idk if I ever put that information in there or not.

aight i'll have to register there and search around a bit. sorry for the threadjack OP

That's alright. So i can't really tune it myself then or is it just perty hard to do? With a jwt re-flash it would be a set boost setting then right? A re-flash would be the best way to go then or what? I would sorta like to tune it myself, but i,m not a super good electronics guy. Sorry for all the questions, just trying to figger this all out. Thanks.

jwt reflash, then use an safc to fine tune if needed. reflash and forget about it!

One thing though, jwt probably would tune better, but, the ecu has a turbonetics re-flash, an their tuning was extremely rich. You can't even really drive the thing without the dtec, but now the dtec is sorta dead....

Originally Posted by risforroy

jwt reflash, then use an safc to fine tune if needed. reflash and forget about it!

Shucks, might as well get standalone then if i still need to get a safc after getting a re-flash. It would only cost a lil bit more.....i proly wouldn't get standalone tho....

02-03s have limited ways to tune, with the JWT relfash u can run from 5-over 15psi safely (im on the Turbonetics reflash pushing 16psi no issues) the JWT flash is cleaner than the turbonetics.

If you do the reflash u can run either the FIC or a SAFC to fine tune, the better choice would be to use a FIC to cap your MAF and run over 20psi if you want.

How much boost do u plan on running, what turbo are you using? HP Goals?

I sorta plan on about 18-20, idk. The turbo is turbonetic t3/t4, i think its a 50 trim. I dunno my hp goal really, lol, 400 whp, idk. So with the turbonetics re-flash, i should be able to just run a fic or safc, right? What i was sorta thinking is if i would get a fic i could change timing if i wanted to or if i re-flashed the ecu back to stock. How much boost can you run on a turbonetics re-flash without messing with timing?

i'd say ditch the turbonetics reflash, the jwt is way better. and you fon't HAVE to use an safc, but some use it to tweak the afr's (seanyx11 does on his car).

don't know much about the fic, but hear bad things constantly. if it were me i'd stick with the jwt flash and be done. i'm assuming you're on a built motor, etc?

Originally Posted by 03slvrtrbspcv

I sorta plan on about 18-20, idk. The turbo is turbonetic t3/t4, i think its a 50 trim. I dunno my hp goal really, lol, 400 whp, idk. So with the turbonetics re-flash, i should be able to just run a fic or safc, right? What i was sorta thinking is if i would get a fic i could change timing if i wanted to or if i re-flashed the ecu back to stock. How much boost can you run on a turbonetics re-flash without messing with timing?

the 50 trim turbo is at its max capacity at around the 20psi 400 whp area, depending on your engine (cams head wrk etc) Thats what i run @ 16psi now.

IF you already have the Turbonetics reflash just add the FIC and be done with it.

IF you are starting from scratch do the JWT flash and SAFC OR FIC. BOTH the Turbonetics and JWT have retarded timing and BOTH are set up to run with 630cc injectors, the main difference is that the JWt reflash allows you to raise redline up to a max of 7200 rpm (you must ask for it when you order the reflash) and the JWT is not as rich up top as the Turbonetics.

you DONT have to run a FIC or SAFC with the reflashes BUT the 02-03 MAF sensor starts to max out at around 12psi so anything above that psi your just kinda dumping fuel in with out too much control (if that makes sense? the car sees the same air @ 12 psi as at 16psi) so thats one reason why 02-03 reflashes run rich at higher boost pressures.

the 04+ specs have a different MAF sensor that can read much higher air flows (thats why i recommend using the FIC6 so you can clamp the MAF signal @ 10psi and from there up the FIC reads the added air flow) thus allowing you to run higher boost with better control.

Also above 15-16psi the 630cc injectors are reaching their limits @ 20 psi they are pretty much maxed out (so a change to 800cc injectors would be recommended for boost above 17 or so psi)

The FIC has had issues with the 04+ Spec Vs but tends to work well on the 02-03's

you can also get a FIC for about 300 bucks, even less than a SAFC Neo. Here: AEM Fuel & Ignition Controller Universal F/IC 6 : <font color="#ccoooo">FREE SHIPPING</font>

install is similar to both, but tuning is more advanced on the FIC.

I did ALLLLOT of research on how to get more power from my 02 Spec. Results were a Bigger Precision Turbo (capable of 500+ WHP) 1000cc Injectors, A JWT reflash with 7200 Redline and a AEM FIC6 to clamp my MAF signal and control the bigger injectors let me run 22psi or more and make things gravy.

04+ just run uprev and avoid all the shit we have to go thru.

Thanks a lot for all that info, man. That's the stuff i was needing to know. uprev would be sooo nice, tho. Ill proly get the fic then, maybe, i suppose it might be a good idea to get a harness then, eh? although it would be a lot cheaper to just hook it up to the factory wires, idk. I don't really know how much power i got, I've never dynoed it, but I was running about 15psi.

if you ask me, the 250 bucks is totally worth it for the PNP harness. I didnt know bout the PNP harness and Yes, the hookup was a PITA, but aside from the work itself i kinda wish the install was a lil 'cleaner' meaning that I wish i didnt have to chop up my engine harness but oh well she's done now and it works so yea lol

Alright, ill see if it looks sorta hard once i get it, lol. BTW, I got a fic coming my way from corn dogs link, (intense power). As long as it works that's the main thing, but i could see soldering a whole bunch of wires could end up bad for me, lol. I might try it tho, cause it would be a bit cheaper and also could learn a bit more about electronic stuff....idk.
Thanks a lot you guys!

oh its totally doable. myself and a couple others did the wire install, i just recommended getting the pnp for if youre to ever re-sell it, want it removed for some reason, but mainly to keep your factory harness intact

Yea, that is true, it would proly sell better if there's not a bunch wire's all chomped up. Intense power said it takes about 45 min to install it without the harness....