The Ultimate Guide to Haltech ECUs

Haltech, one of the world's leading automotive electronic manufacturers, offers a comprehensive range of Electronic Control Units (ECUs) that cater to various applications.

Choosing the correct ECU for your specific needs can be daunting, so we have developed a detailed ECU Buyers Guide.

We aim to provide you with all the necessary information to make an informed decision and help you find a Haltech ECU that perfectly meets your requirements.

Whether you are looking for a basic ECU or one with advanced features, our guide will assist you in finding the ideal product that delivers optimal performance and reliability.

So, rest assured that with Haltech, you can make a well-informed decision and invest in an ECU that will exceed your expectations.

What Are You Using Your Car For?

Race Specification Haltech ECUs

When building a race car, it is essential to incorporate ecu features that enhance its speed, acceleration, and reliability.

Various competition functions that can be considered include Boost Control, Nitrous Control, Flat Shift, and Torque Management. These functions can be found in the "Race Functions" section of the ECU Buyers Guide table.

There is a wide range of features to consider when choosing which ECU to go with, and these will mainly be down to the series you are racing in or the setup of the car.

For example, suppose you are running dual wide bands and a 12-cylinder. In that case, the Haltech Nexus R5 is the best option as it has two onboard wideband controllers and 18 individual injection outputs and 12 ignition outputs.

The Nexus R3 and R5 also have inbuilt power distribution modules, saving you money and space, which will likely be a good option for a full-race build.

The Haltech Elite 1500 and Elite 2500 series ECUs may also be an option but check our table below to ensure it has all the functionality you need.

Road Specification Haltech ECUs

When building a road car, it's essential to consider your specific needs and requirements.

While a race car may require many racing functions, such as the Nexus R5 ECU, a road car may not necessarily require the same level of functionality.

In such cases, options like the Haltech Platinum Plug-and-Play ECU or Elite 1500 may suit your needs.

The Haltech Platinum Plug-and-Play ECU is an excellent choice for those seeking a full plug-and-play option. It is affordable and offers many functions beyond what a stock OEM ECU can handle.

This ECU allows you to use all stock sensors, and some come with onboard features like a 1.5-bar map sensor. It is also fully tunable, a great way to upgrade your car from a stock ECU and get it mapped.

If you want to upgrade your boost control or inputs and outputs to the next level, the Haltech Elite 1500 is the way to go. This ECU can come with plug-and-play harnesses for easy installation on multiple vehicles.

Alternatively, you can wire the plugs using terminated, universal looms or just plugs and pins.

The Elite 1500 is a significant upgrade from the Platinum range of ECUs and can accommodate engines up to a 12-cylinder or two rotors.

In summary, evaluating your requirements and selecting the appropriate components when building a road car is crucial. The Haltech range of ECUs offers many options catering to different needs.

Whether you're looking for a full plug-and-play option or an upgrade to your boost control and inputs and outputs, there's an ECU that can suit your requirements.

Check out our comparison image below for a complete list of features and upgrades across the Haltech range of ECUs.

How Are You Wiring The Ecu?

In the previous section, we touched upon the topic of wiring. However, when selecting an aftermarket ECU, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the available options.

Haltech provides two main categories of ECUs: Plug'n'Play and Universal.

If you plan to use the factory harness, we recommend opting for our Plug'n'Play ECU solutions. Our Platinum Pro Plug-in ECUs and Elite ECUs are excellent choices as they can connect directly to your factory harness or through a unique Plug'n'Play Adaptor Harness.

These options are hassle-free and can save you time and effort.

On the other hand, if you are planning to rewire your car, perform an engine swap, or build a race car from scratch, the Universal ECU range should be your go-to option.

With these ECUs, you can choose from several wiring options, including universal and engine-specific terminated harnesses.

As the name suggests, Universal ECUs are compatible with almost all engine types and configurations. They offer maximum flexibility and customization, which is why they are a popular choice amongst car enthusiasts.

Moreover, the latest Nexus Series VCUs come equipped with an onboard Power Distribution Module, which makes the wiring process faster, simpler, and safer.

This feature ensures a seamless experience when working with the Haltech Universal ECUs.

Plug And Play Wiring

Haltech provides a wide range of plug-and-play adapters that cater specifically to the Elite series ECUs, with options ranging from 750 to 2500.

These adapters are tailored to popular car models such as Mazda, Honda, Nissan, and Mitsubishi. The full plug-and-play capability of these adapters means that no prior wiring experience is required for installation.

They are ideal for those seeking a hassle-free ECU upgrade.

In addition, factory connectors on the other end of the adapters plug directly into your Haltech ECU.

Some of the plug-and-play kits even come equipped with an air intake temperature sensor, which proves particularly useful for aftermarket applications requiring deleting MAF sensors.

Each kit also includes plugs and pins, making installation a breeze.

Universal And Terminated Wiring

Haltech offers a range of universal harnesses and terminated looms tailored to your specific length and plug type requirements. This feature is handy if you require a personalised loom or wish to add or remove plugs from your factory harness.

 Haltech provides terminated, and universal looms for customers seeking custom looms for the Elite and Nexus series or with pins or plugs if you prefer to build your wiring from scratch.

Additionally, two options are available for universal wiring needs - premium and basic loom, which come in 2.5m or 5m lengths for complete customization.

The Universal Wire-in Harness is a versatile product that includes ECU connectors on one end and unterminated wires on the other. The unterminated wires are colour-coded and clearly labelled for easy reference.

To install, connect your Haltech ECU to the terminated end and follow the wiring diagram to connect the engine. Load your base map, and you're good to go!

Terminated looms, on the other hand, are the quickest and most cost-effective way to wire your race car or engine conversion.

With just a few labelled wires to connect, this plug-and-play product will have you up and running in just a few hours. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a novice enthusiast, Haltech's range of wiring solutions has something to suit your needs.

Haltech CAN Expansion Products

When it comes to Haltech ECUs, one of the best features is the ability to add expansion products through a CAN system easily. All you need is a CAN lead to plug them in and enable the corresponding parameters in the software.

The beauty of this system is that it allows each Haltech product to communicate with the ECU without the need for complex wiring, which saves time and effort during installation.

Essentially, the ECU can send out sensor data through a two-wire CAN bus, consisting of CAN low and CAN high signals, which all other products on the CAN network can receive.

Each product can then decide whether to acquire or ignore the data, depending on its specific needs.

This opens up a whole world of possibilities for customization and fine-tuning your vehicle's performance.

Many different CAN products are available, but the most popular ones for race or road cars include options such as:

• Haltech IC-7 digital displays
• Haltech Wideband Controllers
• Haltech CAN Keypads
• Haltech Power Distribution Modules

To keep your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently, consider using these products to monitor and expand its performance.

It's worth noting that Haltech also produces a CAN hub that can be helpful if you plan on adding more CAN products to your vehicle. You can combine multiple Elite CAN Hubs to connect multiple CAN devices to your ECU if you need more than four ports.

What Is Your Budget For An Ecu?

When considering purchasing an Engine Control Unit (ECU) and expansion products from Haltech, it is crucial to consider your budget. With a wide range of prices, it's essential to understand what each product offers.

The Haltech Platinum range, priced at around £1300 at the time of writing, is a great entry-level option for a reliable ECU with standard features. On the other hand, the Nexus R5, which costs around £3600, is a top-of-the-line product with advanced features, making it an excellent choice for professional racers.

The Haltech Elite 1500 range is a good option if you're looking for a mid-range product that balances price and performance.

To make an informed decision and select the right features for your project while staying within your budget, refer to the Haltech comparison table below. This way, you'll get the best value for your money while ensuring the chosen ECU meets your needs.

Haltech Ecu Comparison Table

Welcome to the Haltech comparison table, a highly informative resource that provides an intricate breakdown of each ECU's capabilities. Here, you will find a plethora of features that are essential for any car enthusiast.

These features include the number of injectors and ignition channels, which are crucial to any engine's performance.

Moreover, the table consists of advanced race-specific functionalities, such as nitrous staging control and flat shift, designed to enhance the engine's speed and power.

Using this comprehensive information, you can make an informed decision when comparing and contrasting the options available, ensuring that your vehicle operates at maximum efficiency.

Conclusion

Upon a review of the table and reading through our guide, you should have gained an extensive understanding of the various ECUs.

You can now confidently select the correct Haltech ECU and CAN expansion options that best cater to your specific needs, whether for your daily driver or high-performance race cars.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding this article or any other Haltech product.

Our team of experts has years of experience with Haltech and is always happy to provide you with any assistance you may require.

Furthermore, we highly value your feedback and comments on your experience with Haltech and the information presented in this guide.

So feel free to message us below with suggestions or let us know if we've helped. We look forward to helping you achieve your automotive goals!