Quick Red ECM question-EGR Disabling

[rwiggins951]

Anyone know if the EGR functions are fully disabled when using the RED ECU? Asked another way, anyone using a RED ECM that does not have EGR at all?

I have a US-spec 98 Esprit. I am using the factory RED ECU. I have the plenum off to replace a sticky Idle valve and I noticed that the EGR pipe is cracked. This may be associated with the reason the my last IAC valve annoyingly only lasted a year. I would really like to remove the EGR system altogether. I understand that the early UK cars did not have EGR at all and the non-US cars show a small plug inserted in the EGR manifold that would appear to effectively disable the system. My concern is that I do not want to end up throwing a code if I remove the EGR pipe and plug both ports.

I assume the 'race only' and non US-specific nature of the Red ECM would dispense with such things as EGR in the same way it ignores the post-cat O2 sensors.

Can anyone confirm this?

Many thanks!

[mike_sekinger]

I ran the Lotus Red ECU on a UK non-EGR engine during a dyno session some years ago and it developed no EGR related codes.

Confirmed a few other things but no codes.

I would remove the EGR related parts - maybe even going as far as to blank off the LH exhaust manifold port as well.

Cheers,

Mike S

Edited February 18, 2009 by mike_sekinger

[superdavelotus]

Rod,

If you decide that you are keeping your EGR system and need a new and better pipe design then PNM Engineering make thicker walled stainless steel EGR pipes. The OEM ones are so thin that they are a common problem for failure.

Regards,

David Walters

[peter_england99]

I ran the Lotus Red ECU on a UK non-EGR engine during a dyno session some years ago and it developed no EGR related codes.

Hi Mike,

Any idea how the Lotus red ECU compares with the PUK & Johan's ECU?

Regards,

Peter.

[mike_sekinger]

Sorry - I never ran either the PUK or the Johan chipsets, so I can

[Paula&Marcus]

Hi,

the Lotus Red ECU (that was sold in Europe) does not support the EGR and also does not support the Air Injection System. Therfore you donot need all this (useless) stuff around your engine. Just remove it end blank the ports.

Cheers

Marcus

www.PUKesprit.de

[t70]

On that note.. will removing the air pump and egr set a code on the factory ecm then? (obviously if I disconnect the actual pump wiring it will.. but if the system simply blows air to atmosphere.. can the ecm pick this up?)

[rwiggins951]

Hi Mike,

Any idea how the Lotus red ECU compares with the PUK & Johan's ECU?

Regards,

Peter.

I had Johan's setup prior to the factory red. I must say Johan's felt a bit better for low-end torque and throttle response. A/F ratios are very similar at full boost. I thought that Johan had copied the factory map, so I may have been imagining the additional 'snappiness' in his chip. I did not do any dyno comparison. I had fried my Johan-modded ecu when I charged the battery and needed a new ECM anyway. Decided to just buy the factory red and be done with it. It was only a few dollars more.

Thanks for all the feedback on the EGR question. Can't wait to remove the whole lot! From the manifold on out. I have to wonder what sort of EGR flow the red ECU was actually managing through the EGR stepper motor on a US-spec car. I have to imaging EGR flow along with hot exhaust gasses under the plenum contributed significantly to the sticky IAC valve. It always stopped working after a hard pass.

Regards,