Apexi boost controller(no boost)

[2fast4you]

I've installed an Apexi boost controller on my S2,but cant get it to work. I went try the instructions over and over but no boost. Before I installed the Apexi i had an HDI boost controller and it was perfect, but decided to go with Apexi thought it would be better,but for now its only pain in the ...! Has anyone installed an Apexi controller? can you help me?

[JP]

I assume the Apexi AVCR. Which in my humble oppinion is the best controller out there.

Providing

1) You connect up all the functions
2) You spend the time to carefully set it first at low boost to get used to it's setup parameters before going for high boost.

You will need the following signals taken from your ecu loom in the passenger footwell

1 - RPM
2 - TPS

Then from the speed sensor output on your gearbox take a speed signal for the gear judge/learning (2pin plug above n/s passenger driveshaft) experiment out of which of the two wires gives you a signal.

Then connect the map sensor and boost solenoid as per the wastegate diagram number 2 on page 44 of the manual found here http://www.apexi-usa.com/content/pdf6115.pdf


then you have to go into general settings and configure the car data so it reads the throttle position sensor correctly (up arrow) the correct rpm range and a useable speed range (this wont be correct but it can still be used as a programming reference).

After which unfortunately the only easy way round it is to sit next to someone and show them as there is loads of setting up tricks that make life really easy. However if you read the following instructions very carefully from another forum it will get 90% of the way.


originally sourced from here http://www.dentistmapped.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=54

Originally Posted by Sam
Setting up an apexi avcr boost controller.

I get a lot of people asking how to set up the apexi avcr boost controller, some even think it is quite difficult to set up and in extreme cases, some may think it is not as good as other out there on the market. I personally think it is a great piece of kit. Although it has been around for some years now, it has not really undergone any major changes apart from a different colour scheme recently.

Here is goes, this is from memory so bear with me.

First you will go to

ETC

Car Select- Cylinder, Vehicle Speed Pulse, Throttle Type setting
Set these to 4 4 arrow up don’t ask why just do it It is the same for an evo or a scoop the same.

Sensor Sel - Pressure Sensor Type setting
Use 1

Gear Judge - Gear Judge setting
In order for the AVCR to determine gearing, the Gear Judge feature must be set.
Choose the gear you want to set, on the right side you'll see the ratio (RPM/Speed) which the AVCR uses to determine which gear its in.
- Choose which gear you want to see using the Up/Down keys. Press the Next key to choose that gear
- Drive the car in that gear at a moderate speed 3000revs is more than enough for each gear. Press Next to set that gear
- Press the Left key to return to gear selection and repeat for the other gears in your car speed.

Grph Scale - Graph Scale setting
Bs: Boost range.
Ne: Maximum RPM of your car
Sp: Maximum speed of your car

Sensor chk - Input Signal check display

VFD Bright - Display Brightness

Initialise - Initialise all data to default, don’t press this one unless you really want to wipe everything you have ever done. !!!!!!!!!!


setting up the boost


now this part is done, the avcr is set up correctly, it will be able to determine which gear it is in and have boost in closed loop mode ( feedback.)
Now the important bit of setting up the boost you desire to run. You need to take a methodical approach to this so we are not throwing some numbers and hoping for the best. I am not saying that this approach does not work, but it can be rather inconsistence.

This is the menus that you have

Boost/Duty - Setting Boost and Duty cycle levels
Scramble - Scramble Boost Setting not really used
NE-Point - Engine RPM Specific Boost Control . NE Points are used to specify the RPM points at which boost and duty cycle can be adjusted in Boost/Duty above. 8 NE points are available in the range of 1500rpm - 9500rpm in increments of 500rpm
make sure you can control boost all the way to 8000revs
F/B Speed - Feedback Speed Setting
Learn Gear - Gear Based Learning
Start Duty - Initial solenoid valve duty cycle for boost control in gear based correction

First thing to do is to switch off

Learn gear
F/B SPEED

This will mean you are not running closed loop mode ie the controller is not going to try to adjust things for you. You are on your own!! But that is a good thing

You want to make it easy for the controller by actually putting the right figures in there in the first place.

Now with duty cycle alone use 4th gear to set the duty cycle to give you which ever boost you want. So lets say you managed to get 1.5bar at 60% duty in 4th gear and the boost is nice and stable. At this point you don’t want to programme a lot of boost spikes or anything of that sort you just want the right duty cycle to give you the correct boost in 4th. You may find that you will need to adjust the boost with rpm you will need to add more duty at higher rpm depending on what actuator you are running. With the standard actuator you may get a duty cycle of 60% till 5000revs but going up to 80% at 7000revs to keep the desired boost held.


Doing it this way you know have got the right duty cycle in 4th gear which means you avcr will need to do very little work to achieve you desired boost.

Next step will be to turn the f/b speed on, you want to figure out how much F/B SPEED you can add. You want the highest number that will not cause fluctuations. The rule of thump is you will need more f/bspeed in the lower gear than the higher gears. So if you use 2 in 4th use 1 more in 3rd and 2 more in 2nd and so on.

Test the car in all gears and make sure that you are getting a stable boost in all gears. If the boost fluctuate in any gear just drop the f/b speed by 1 till it is stable. You may find that you are not going to hit the same boost in all gears. You will get less boost in lower gears than higher gears. This is where the start duty comes into play

If you are experiencing less boost lets say in 1st gear than 4th then add 5-10% in first gear till you get near your target, do the same thing with 2nd and 3rd you will find that you will probably need less % the higher the gear to get the same boost. You may even use a negative 1-2% to maintain this same boost in 5th gear. something like 15-10-5-0-(-2) is probably correct for a 5 speed box running standard actuator


So now in theory you should have solid boost in all gears, what you now need to do is switch the learn gear in 4th and 5th on. Don’t bother with the lower gears as you go through them so quick if the avcr adjust the duty in let say 2 gear the duty will be too high for 5th .


The only reason you are switching the learn gear on is to keep the boost stable in the higher gears in different conditions.

this is how i would do it, different people will do this differently but i guarntee if you follow this method you will get consistant results.


i hope this helps


sam

[2fast4you]

Yes everything done by the book. I also found this thread I read it carefully Connected the throttle the RPM. the general settings for a car selection is 5cyl 4 sped and arrow up. I don't know I'm going crazy with the controller for days now.

[JP]

Bought second hand or new? If second hand you may have a faulty solenoid valve or maybe you plumbed the solenoid valve incorrectly? I've never had a problem with the AVCR's so without having it infront of me it is difficult to help beyond the above.

JP

[Rusty]

Not really looked into boost controllers in the past due to the issues of getting them sorted with motronic, however, if I'm getting a silly aggressive map then I could use one of these to simulate a large WG spring but also be able to knock it back for daily driving... :mischeif: