Plug and Play

Perhaps the most exciting recent development in the world of standalone ECU

replacements is the new breed of plug-and-play ECUs that come preloaded

with base maps.

Buy the least expensive system that meets your needs. If there’s a plug-and-play

solution for your car (they don’t exist for every model), go with it. It drastically

reduces the cost and time of installation and tuning.

The Power FC and the AEM are basically competing products that do the

same thing. Their technical specs might be slightly different, but they have

roughly the same functionality at the same price point:

-

 Base maps. The AEM starts as a more open interface because you don’t

have the locked-out sections that the Power FC has. The Power FC base

maps, in my experience, tend to be more reliable.

-

 Handheld controller. The Power FC has from the very beginning come

bundled with a commander unit. A company called Gauge Ware now

offers a Commander-style display for the AEM EMS.

-

 Professional tuners. Both Power FC and AEM have dedicated tuners

available to help with Dyno tuning the car.

-

 Factory ECU compatibility. Both the Power FC and the AEM unit can be

swapped with the stock ECU in minutes for troubleshooting or quick

trips into the local dealership’s service department for warranty work.

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