Thread: Using the VE ECU?

Hello friends,
First of all, pardon me if this has been answered before. I have scoured the internet, yet I did not find much information on the subject.

My question is, as long as the motor has stock internals, is it possible to use the stock VE ECU? I see on this forum that everyone seems to go with a chipped B13 ECU or aftermarket management, even on mostly stock motors, and I am curious if it is because the VE ECU simply just is not plug-and-play, though I have not been able to find out why it would not be. If it does not work, can anyone please tell why?

However, if it indeed can be used after all, would it also be possible to use the VE ECU with the stock DE engine harness? Obviously the VVL solenoids would need to be wired to an RPM switch, though I would do that either way, since the OEM ECU activates them quite late.

Thank you for any information.

The stock VE ECU is rubbish. Tuned for the sluggish CVT and the cam switching points are all wrong for what you would want with a Manual Transmission set up. Even if the engine is bone stock the car will seem held back.

Go with the majority and get a chipped/tuned ecu.

If you HAVE to use the VE ECU for what ever reason, then yes it plugs into the DE harness.

Interesting. So performance aside, it will be plug-and-play and safe to use until I get a properly tuned ECU, correct?
I know some people use the B13 ECU with advanced timing, but I would rather not risk that. I was mainly curious if everything would function normally with the VE ECU while the motor is internally stock, so I could safely get by on it until I start having fun with upgrades.
Thank you for the information.

I know tuning the VE ecu seems to be bigger elsewhere than in the U.S. (Europe for one) but the general idea here is to get a chipped ecu. You can run a stock DE ecu if you swap out the injectors and use the SR20DE MAF until you get a chipped ECU.

I just did a VE swap and using the OEM VE ECU right now temporarily. Using it in a DE harness no problem, also using the VVL ECU output to activate cams.

Main issues:

- Limited to 180 Km/hr 111 mph
- 7200rpm rev cut
- 6200rpm cam switch

When you shift at 7200 it goes back under 6200 so you are pushed under the neo vvl powerband and have to wait until you get there again to activate cams lol

I know the engine will work with it's own ECU, but using the DE harness was what I wasn't sure about. Apparently it works out though (no harness modifications other than adding the cam switching solenoid stuff?) as @Nicoxis says he's done it.

The SR20ve ecu should work fine until you are ready to go chipped ecu. Just wire in the solenoids
As earlier pointed out, you will be limited to 7200 rpm rev limit and 180km/h speed cut.

However, even with the VVL ecu, you can install a rpm switch (you will need that anyways for the chipped ecu later on) and activate your VVL lower than the factory 5800rpm and 6200rpm. You can set them at 4600 or so to have more rpms worth of 'lift'

I ran a stock vvl ecu on my car before I got the chipped ecu and it was NOT lame. Felt pretty ok to me.

Peace

Has 4600 rpm been found to generally be the optimal point to activate the VVL? I noticed in threads on here that a lot of VE owners do set theirs at 4600 rpm.

I run a ve ecu on my B13 with a msd box..Start at 4800 and work your way up to 5100 to find optimal cam crossover for your driving style..5100 is my cup of boostello.irate:

I think I found something else with the stock VE ECU, it doesn't seem to cut fuel injection when you lift the gas pedal, anybody seen this?