PimpX ECU
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 128
Likes: 9
From: Louisville, Kentucky
PimpX ECU
Anybody using the PimpX ECU in their 1988 F150 with the 4.9L engine? I’m still trying to find a way to manage the engine and eliminate the perpetually rich condition. I believe I have tried everything with no success and have had two reputable, or maybe not, repair shops try to fix this problem and both shops gave up.
If anyone is suing the PimpX ECU, I would like to hear about your experience.
If anyone is suing the PimpX ECU, I would like to hear about your experience.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 904
Likes: 115
From: Laurel, MS
I'm using it on my '91 F150 with 5.8L. It shouldn't care whether you're using it on a V8 or an I6, since you give it all that information when you're doing the "required fuel" settings during initial setup.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 128
Likes: 9
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Mikulh:
How long have you been using the PimpX? How difficult was it to set up? Any issues? Any improvements? Did you use the OEM wiring harness?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 904
Likes: 115
From: Laurel, MS
I did an engine swap from 4.9L to 5.8L in the fall of 2020. I went to PimpX at that time, so I've been running it nearly 5 years on my daily driver.
Here's a write-up I did at the time. It has links a couple of videos from a Fox Body Mustang guy named Brew2L on Youtube.
After watching his videos on how to setup MegaSquirt (which is what PimpX is) I felt like I could do it.
I didn't have any big problems. I can't say whether it made an improvement or not because I never ran my 5.8L with a factory ECU... I went straight to PimpX when I did my engine swap.
I did use an OEM wiring harness (I had to find a junkyard OEM wiring harness for a v8 and swap to it).
Honestly, the biggest hurdle is getting it to idle...once you do that then you can turn on "auto tune" and drive around and it will tune itself.
My truck is a 5-speed, so I didn't need the version with transmission control (PimpXShift)... So I can't comment on that. But @Scndsin and @EllieMae probably can.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...x-install.html
Here's a write-up I did at the time. It has links a couple of videos from a Fox Body Mustang guy named Brew2L on Youtube.
After watching his videos on how to setup MegaSquirt (which is what PimpX is) I felt like I could do it.
I didn't have any big problems. I can't say whether it made an improvement or not because I never ran my 5.8L with a factory ECU... I went straight to PimpX when I did my engine swap.
I did use an OEM wiring harness (I had to find a junkyard OEM wiring harness for a v8 and swap to it).
Honestly, the biggest hurdle is getting it to idle...once you do that then you can turn on "auto tune" and drive around and it will tune itself.
My truck is a 5-speed, so I didn't need the version with transmission control (PimpXShift)... So I can't comment on that. But @Scndsin and @EllieMae probably can.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...x-install.html
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 128
Likes: 9
From: Louisville, Kentucky
Thanks Mikulh
I will check out the link you provided. I think I am heading in somewhat of the same direction. I have a donor 1992 F150 5.0 engine with an AOD trans that I expect to rebuild and have ready to replace the 4.9L engine and C6 trans I have in the truck now. That 4.9L has been a HUGE disappointment and I really wanted it to work. I rebuilt that engine and kept everything absolutely stock and it has been an unreliable gas hog that I cannot allow my wife to drive. I figured I would use the PimpX ECU if I make the switch and may even opt to pick up a PimpX wiring harness if I make the switch.
I would be better off if I sold the 1988 and got something else that was not a POS; however, that 1988 has some sentimental value and it actually drives great if I ignore the engine issues.
I will check out the link you provided. I think I am heading in somewhat of the same direction. I have a donor 1992 F150 5.0 engine with an AOD trans that I expect to rebuild and have ready to replace the 4.9L engine and C6 trans I have in the truck now. That 4.9L has been a HUGE disappointment and I really wanted it to work. I rebuilt that engine and kept everything absolutely stock and it has been an unreliable gas hog that I cannot allow my wife to drive. I figured I would use the PimpX ECU if I make the switch and may even opt to pick up a PimpX wiring harness if I make the switch.
I would be better off if I sold the 1988 and got something else that was not a POS; however, that 1988 has some sentimental value and it actually drives great if I ignore the engine issues.
Hotshot
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 2,448
That 4.9L has been a HUGE disappointment and I really wanted it to work. I rebuilt that engine and kept everything absolutely stock and it has been an unreliable gas hog that I cannot allow my wife to drive. I figured I would use the PimpX ECU if I make the switch and may even opt to pick up a PimpX wiring harness if I make the switch.
Anybody using the PimpX ECU in their 1988 F150 with the 4.9L engine? I’m still trying to find a way to manage the engine and eliminate the perpetually rich condition. I believe I have tried everything with no success and have had two reputable, or maybe not, repair shops try to fix this problem and both shops gave up.
If anyone is suing the PimpX ECU, I would like to hear about your experience.
If anyone is suing the PimpX ECU, I would like to hear about your experience.
You checked and resolved any Key On Engine Off (KOEO) fault codes and then any Key On Engine Running (KOER) codes? Fuel pressure is 50-60 psi? The fuel pressure regulator diaphragm hasn’t broken allowing unmetered fuel into the intake manifold? You narrowed down the problem to the computer but when you opened it up everything inside looks good? Why not replace it with another stock replacement? You’re missing something in the diagnostic process…
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Aug 2014
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Anybody using the PimpX ECU in their 1988 F150 with the 4.9L engine? I’m still trying to find a way to manage the engine and eliminate the perpetually rich condition. I believe I have tried everything with no success and have had two reputable, or maybe not, repair shops try to fix this problem and both shops gave up.
If anyone is suing the PimpX ECU, I would like to hear about your experience.
If anyone is suing the PimpX ECU, I would like to hear about your experience.
do you have an A/F meter?
hows your exhaust ?
what spark plugs do you run?
do you have the correct computer?
just jumping in to a tuneable computer will not fix any mechanical electrical issues that you probably have.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 904
Likes: 115
From: Laurel, MS
Now with the 351W I have double the horsepower and still get 16mpg.
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