The Mega (MS3x) Journey

[DrLeadFoot]

I finally took a dive off the deep end and pulled the trigger on MegaSquirt3x. I'll document my process as best as I can. This is going to be a huge learning experience for me so go easy.

I have a built, turbo S52. I'm currently doing a head gasket on it due to the MLS gasket not holding up to my terrible tune.

Link to build thread: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=303817



And go:

Where are the directions for this thing??!







If you look at the first pic you can see where the connector was digging into the MS3x.

[mikeday]

Are you going to make a plug and play adapter or splice into the stock harness?


I just went with ms3x on my turbo m50, its fantastic. I'm still learning, but if you have any questions let me know.

[CorvallisBMW]

sub'd

[DrLeadFoot]

I'm going to cut the inners out of a red label 413 and use that as the connector

[DrLeadFoot]

Waiting for my expansion pigtail then I'll get down to business.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[DrLeadFoot]

IAT bung welded up.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[DrLeadFoot]

And they're off!





First one done! I think this fuel relay one was supposed to be on a relay. I'll figure it out soon enough.





Got a good chunk started. Also have a lot of questions.






Wire 27x on the expansion board harness goes to pin #7 on the monotronic side for the VVT. Still going through the question marks one by one.

[binnavert]

GAHHHH! I so do NOT have the patience for such an undertaking. Guess I will remain unblown.... errrr Turboless

[DrLeadFoot]

Turned my attention to the grounds. I might take a different approach by making a separate grounding block that connects at the common chassis ground. I'm fearful that I might be overloading some pins by attaching more than one ground wire. Thoughts?

I still need to wire the coil drivers so there are 6 more grounds there.







On to the crank signal wires with the shielding. I cut an old cable wire from the ceiling of my basement and cut/pealed the shielding to re-wrap the signal wires after I soldered them.





Not too pretty but I'll wrap it in electrical tape to clean it up and secure it.




I need to get some 18 & 20 gauge wire and solder in my coils. Any input on how to ground all these wires would be great. Thanks for looking!

[DrLeadFoot]

Coils are all wired up. I need to see if I need to run them to grounds coming from the harness or if I can just run them directly to the chassis ground. I'm leaning towards running the grounds to the harness.

I disconnected the grounds from the MS3 and Expansion board from the pins. I'll run these to the chassis ground for sure. I don't want to overload those pins.

I still feel like I'm winging it so please help with any input.

A wired up coil.


From DBurt86's build thread:

http://s314.photobucket.com/user/dburt86/media/coil%20driver_zpssqcdevwu.png.html

All sealed up.

[nando]

You're going to want a heatsink for those coil drivers. I would also tie everything to the MS ground plane, and then ground the MS itself very well (use every single ground pin there is, which is a lot). the last thing you need while learning are ground issues, differential ground planes, etc.

looks good so far. soldering all those pins is a pain!

[DrLeadFoot]

You're going to want a heatsink for those coil drivers. I would also tie everything to the MS ground plane, and then ground the MS itself very well (use every single ground pin there is, which is a lot). the last thing you need while learning are ground issues, differential ground planes, etc.

looks good so far. soldering all those pins is a pain!

Do I just glue the heatsink on to the metal of the coil?

I'm not too familiar with ground planes but doesn't the preassembled MS3x have that built in? Should I ground the coil drivers to the harness pins and the MS to the common chassis ground?

Thanks for the input!:)

[nando]

No, the coil will be hot. you need it somewhere that it can cool. an aluminum strap would work, but those drivers look like they were meant to be soldered to a PCB which would have a large copper ground plane. you might want to look into how those drivers work a bit more to be sure they won't fry the first time you crank it over.

yes, ground everything to the MS, and then ground the MS to the chassis.

[DrLeadFoot]

No, the coil will be hot. you need it somewhere that it can cool. an aluminum strap would work, but those drivers look like they were meant to be soldered to a PCB which would have a large copper ground plane. you might want to look into how those drivers work a bit more to be sure they won't fry the first time you crank it over.

yes, ground everything to the MS, and then ground the MS to the chassis.

This is what they are resting on when in the stock 413 red label ECU. I could use this as the heat sink and bolt it to the cover to dissipate the heat. What do you think?

[Beau B]

Sub'd looks good so far!