Why so many ECU codes?

[red zx2]

Is there a thread on here that explains ECU's and the codes? I'm wondering why there are so many different ones and if all these chips can improve performance and gas mileage why didn't Ford program the ECU that way in the first place?

[DOUGIESTYLE]

The improvements with a chip or flash negate some emissions values that auto manufacturers designed that "dumb-down" cars in an effort to save the world from exhaust fumes. There are so many codes, because they wanted everyone to be confused.

[red zx2]

There are so many codes, because they wanted everyone to be confused.

It worked.

[blue99fordzx2]

S/R computer for performance... 2003's computer for emissions/ maybe better mileage worst performance though

[daggit2005]

its because they update them every production year and for each region. cali emissions, federal emissions, performance (S/R). so there are 2 to 3 ecus for each year mtx and 2 to 3 for each year atx.

[red zx2]

Thanks everyone for your answers.

[red zx2]

So when I read about chips that improve performance and improve fuel economy does that mean EITHER improve performance OR improve economy depending on which setting you use?

[TracerZX2]

no, it is possible to do both, there are some areas where manufacturers keep plenty of safety margin in the setting or tune, but by pushing into these areas (timing advance, f/a mix, etc) you can get both better mileage and performance. Also, the knock sensor on the zx2 is oversensitive, by removing it from the equation you stop retarding the car constantly for situations that are not knock related. On the other hand some tunes are purely better performance or better mileage.

I drive an '03, and I am getting way better mileage using an older ECU vs the HDB2 that came in it, so not sure on that one.

[blue99fordzx2]

think it might be better if you tell us you want better mileage or more power, then we can point you in the right direction on what to do and where to go.

i personally believe the "saying" from chip companies of "better economy & power" is bunk... whatever you can say to get a mass genre people to fork cash is win for them & generally no one complains.

my belief is that you can tune for power or you can tune for mileage... and generally cars are tuned 50/50 to keep things balanced out

[blue99fordzx2]

like tracey said, a small tweak here and there

[red zx2]

I drive an '03, and I am getting way better mileage using an older ECU vs the HDB2 that came in it, so not sure on that one.

Yeah the '03 just seems bogged down compared to others I've driven, even without running the a/c.

[red zx2]

think it might be better if you tell us you want better mileage or more power, then we can point you in the right direction on what to do and where to go.

i personally believe the "saying" from chip companies of "better economy & power" is bunk... whatever you can say to get a mass genre people to fork cash is win for them & generally no one complains.

my belief is that you can tune for power or you can tune for mileage... and generally cars are tuned 50/50 to keep things balanced out

I would like better performance without losing economy. Better economy would of course be a plus.

[red zx2]

I drive an '03, and I am getting way better mileage using an older ECU vs the HDB2 that came in it, so not sure on that one.

What code are you running now?

[blue99fordzx2]

i know only s/r said he gets better mileage and fairly similar performance on a superchipped lxq1 in his s/r compared to his cwq3.

these cars get pretty good mileage for the most part and ive not really seen much of any dip in mpg's with any mod i have done yet on either of my two zx2's, just gains in throttle response and torque & ive always averaged ~30-32mpg mixed hwy & city.

are you setting this car up for you or your mom? id just leave it stock if your giving it to her... no sense in tweaking it out making it too different.

[TracerZX2]

What code are you running now?

I am running an LXQ1