MS Labs

Overview

The Basic MS3 is our first MS3-based plug and play ECU for the Miata/MX-5.

This ECU is the first step towards a motorsport-level performance vehicle modification, as not only does it handle everything needed by the engine to run smoothly and produce more power in the entire powerband compared to the stock ECU, but it also has many features required by a track-oriented car.

This includes launch control, anti-lag, pit limiter, failsafes, SD card datalogging and more.

The ECU-regulated alternator is fully supported. This ECU will also control the battery light and VICS (variable intake control system).

The Basic MS3 series is inherently plug and play, with no adapter harness needed. No soldering, wire cutting or splicing is required. It is however highly recommended that you remove the MAF and that you replace the stock IAT (Intake Air Temperature) sensor with an open-element IAT sensor if you plan on adding a turbocharger or a supercharger. This is recommended for 3 reasons:

• 1) The stock plastic sensor does not respond to temperature changes quickly enough during boost rise.
• 2) The placement of the IAT sensor before a turbo/supercharger means that the IAT sensor will not measure the actual air temp as it goes into the engine: the air temp changes due to the compression of the air, and the cooling effect of an intercooler/chargecooler.
• 3) The stock IAT sensor is not threaded, so placing it after the boost source means it will simply pop out under boost

Please note: This ECU can work with any 99/00 Mazda Miata/MX-5: This means both the 1.6L (available in Europe, Japan and elsewhere but NOT in the US) as well as the 1.8L. It will also work with cars equipped with a factory immobilizer system.

Product Features

All of our Basic MS3 series ECUs include:

• Sequential injection
• Wasted spark or Sequential ignition (Coil On Plug, Coil near plug)
• Advanced knock control with DSP and knock windowing
• Standard idle control (stock 2-wire idle valve)
• Tachometer output
• Dual cooling fan output (Cooling fan with idle-up, condenser fan [if available])
• Standard A/C control
• Electronic boost control with 2 boost tables, boost by gear, boost by VSS
• 4 digital (on/off) inputs (for switchable maps, launch control, datalog start/stop, boost high/low, etc)
• 3 spare programmable outputs (On/Off or PWM)
• 5 spare 0-5V analog inputs (with selectable 5V pullup)
• Externally accessible SD Card slot
• Internal MAP sensor for up to 21psi of boost (upgradeable)
• External MAP input
• VSS Input
• VVT Control
• Flex Fuel sensor input
• CAN Bus connectivity
• USB port
• Onboard RS-232 (serial) port

The 99-00 model also includes:

• Alternator control
• Battery light control
• VICS control

Product Specifications

• Operating voltage: 7.5-15.5V DC
• Absolutely maximum voltage: 18V DC
• Operating current: 150mA
• Number of processors: 1
• Processor type/speed: 16bit, 50MHz with XGate CoProcessor
• Enclosure: Extruded Aluminum, 6063 T6
• Length: 165mm
• Width: 169mm
• Height: 54mm
• Weight: 0.8kg
• Color: Black
• Operating temperature: -10°C to +75°C

Product Options

This ECU does not have any options available.

Product Photos

FAQ

This is a list of the most frequently asked questions we get. If you didnβΒ?Β?t find the answer you were looking for here, please contact us.

What is a standalone ECU?

A standalone ECU is a user-programmable ECU that fully replaces the OEM ECU. This is the opposite of a βΒ?Β?piggyback ECUβΒ?Β?, which works in parallel with (and requires the use of) the stock ECU.

What is the benefit of installing a standalone ECU in my car? How many HP will I get?

A standalone ECU will not give your car βΒ?Β?XβΒ?Β? additional HP just by installing it. Think of the standalone ECU as a tool that will help you unleash the potential of your engine, with any modifications you may have installed (such as a turbocharger, supercharger, cams, intake filter, headers, exhaust, etc), by fine tuning the air/fuel ratio of the engine and adjusting the ignition timing so that peak torque can be achieved throughout the engineβΒ?Β?s rev band.

Is a standalone better than a piggyback ECU?

This widly depends on the use of the car and the modifications it actually has. A piggyback ECU is some times easier to tune if the mods are basic intake/exhaust mods. However, many times the changes are not consistent over time. For example, you may find that a tune that was done during the winter is no longer good during the summer and vice versa. Sometimes this may happen the following day or even on the next engine restart. This is because the piggyback ECU doesnβΒ?Β?t have all the facts and only coarsely changes the injection duration and the ignition timing. This becomes much more evident when replacing the OEM injectors with higher-flow aftermarket injectors.

So how does a standalone fare better than a piggyback?

The standalone has absolute control over all the sensors of the engine, as well as full control over the injectors and the ignition timing. This means that the ECU knows whether the climate is hot, warm, cold or freezing, it knows if the engine just started, if it is warming up or heatsoaked, it knows how much throttle you are applying and whether you are in boost or not, of if the engine is knocking. It then takes all these inputs and calculates the proper fuel injection duration and applies the proper ignition timing.

That sounds complicated. Do I need years of experience to actually even get the car to start?

No. Our plug and play ECUs come with detailed instructions for an easy install, and with basemaps so that you can get started immediately. ThereβΒ?Β?s no need to go looking on the Internet for maps to loadβΒ?Β?the ECU will come preloaded with one. And if the stock basemap is not suitable for your carβΒ?Β?s specs, we will send you a basemap tailored for your car.

Downloads

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Manuals

The following product manuals are available for download:

• Manual for V4.0 of the 99-00 Basic MS3