CAN-bus. We've all heard the term before, but just what does it really mean? Today's new vehicles are engineered using a multiplexed wiring system known as CAN-bus. The on-board communications protocol called CAN (Controller Area Network) is an electronic communications network that interconnects electronic components within a car, allowing data to be transferred quicker and more efficiently than previous systems using an on-board diagnostics system (OBD) for engine monitoring, and one or more separate systems for vehicle electronics. Using a unique signal-processing or "bus" system, the CAN system continuously communicates with the vehicle's electronics from one module/sensor to another.
Depending on the type of car and driving applications, owning a CAN-bus-equipped vehicle has its shares of pros and cons. The plus sides of CAN-bus systems include significant weight reduction from less wiring, and a more intelligent diagnostic system that can easily pinpoint problems from sensors or wiring shortages, using a CAN reader. A negative aspect to owning a CAN-bus-controlled vehicle is a system that's more sophisticated and complex in circuitry, preventing simple DIY or roadside repairs by the average consumer. Because a CAN-bus operates off a networking system, simply removing the factory ECU in favor of a non-compliant aftermarket fuel management system will override key devices, preventing certain parameters from functioning properly, such as air conditioning, cruise control, ABS, or gauge cluster display. This cause-and-effect scenario often drives the price of stand-alone fuel management systems incorporating CAN-bus well into the $2,000 range.
Spending thousands of dollars to properly support an aftermarket turbo kit or high-horsepower engine with a stand-alone management system is discouraging. But before desperation and thoughts of burglary cross your mind, Design Craft Fabrication of Garden Grove, CA, has discovered a more affordable solution to pricey standalone management systems, using an AEM F/IC-8 (fuel/ignition controller). When asked why Design Craft decided to integrate the F/IC-8 unit into an Infiniti G35, shop owner Gary Castillo had this explanation, "With the G35 using a drive-by-wire system, the idle and CAN-bus characteristics were not lost or compromised when the F/IC-8 was used in conjunction with the factory ECU. The only other option would have been buying an expensive stand-alone fuel management system which costs four times the amount of an F/IC-8 and would have to be programmed from scratch."
To test the capabilities of the AEM F/IC-8, we installed the device on a fully-built, twin turbo G35, along with an AEM Peak & Hold Injector Driver Module to control a set of RC Engineering 1,000 cc/min injectors. Using the supplied AEM plug-and-play G35/350Z-specific jumper harness, the F/IC-8 was integrated with the factory ECU and calibrated for additional fuel and timing, while controlling the vehicle's sensors. With many off-the-shelf piggyback management systems offering limited tuning capabilities, the F/IC is PC-programmable, allowing users to retard timing by three channels, with the capability of adding additional fuel to virtually any engine, even on variable cam timing engines including VTEC, iVTEC, VVTi, and MiVEC.
Timing retard control is optimized by intercepting and delaying the outputs from the cam- and crank-position sensors to the engine, with no adverse affects on applications equipped with variable cam timing. The F/IC also has the ability to retard timing from the factory system based on engine rpm and load inputs. Our turbo G35 used the F/IC-8 to recalibrate/clamp the mass airflow sensor (MAF), eliminating a common problem among factory MAFs designed for naturally aspirated engines. Using the F/IC's on-board manifold absolute pressure sensor (MAP) allows proper fuel and ignition control in boosted conditions without affecting the signal to the ECU.
With the G35 using a drive-by-wire system, the idle and CAN-bus characteristics were not l
Simply slapping on two turbos without addressing additional fuel delivery is a recipe for engine failure. The F/IC-8 fuel delivery control is engineered to intercept the signal to the factory or aftermarket injectors, allowing the user to modify pulse-width by +/-100 percent. AEM engineers state, "The F/IC can decrease injector pulse-width, allowing the user to drive larger aftermarket injectors while still maintaining proper air/fuel ratios." The F/IC-8 can also be used to independently control up to eight injectors-an added bonus for those looking for big power.
In the end, a few key strokes on the laptop and some knowledgeable tuning enabled improved throttle response, along with a boost in horsepower and torque from our G35, for the affordable MSRP of $638.00 (optional AEM Injector Driver $333.19)-a savings of over $1,000 dollars compared to stand-alone fuel management systems.
Depending on how large of an injector is needed to fuel your vehicle, performance injector companies sell saturated injectors that can flow up to a maximum of 750 cc/min. Injectors larger than 750 cc/min. require a peak-and-hold design. Since the AEM F/IC management system and factory ECU were designed to run on saturated injectors, an AEM Peak & Hold Injector Driver Module was integrated into our system to control RC Engineering 1,000 cc/min low-impedance injectors.
The F/IC-8 is able to control two additional injectors by intercepting the factory injector signal to control additional injectors with its own dedicated pulse width. Outdated injector controllers would simply turn an injector on or off, offering limited control of injector flow.
The F/IC fuel maps can be individually adjusted by cells or groups. The X- and Y-axes on the graph represent rpm and manifold pressure, respectively. Tuning with the fuel map eliminates the use of adjusting the MAF map, making the F/IC-8 respond more like a stand-alone fuel management system.
The F/IC gauge display can be set to read rpm, boost, O2 sensor, and two additional channels. Displayed on the gauge screen are the before-and-after input and output signal voltages from the MAF sensor and O2 sensor before the signal is sent to the ECU. This feature is helpful when tuning the car's MAF or MAP sensor maps.
As an alternative to using the fuel maps, the F/IC can also work as a voltage modifier on the MAF, for smaller fuel changes if the user decides he doesn't want to get into the more technical side of controlling the injectors.
Here, the MAF X- and Y-axis graph is scaled relative to MAP sensor voltage and rpm. The F/IC is able to control frequency controlled MAFs used on vehicle such as the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Toyota Supra.
Newer, factory ECUs that enable their own wideband sensors create a problem with fuel trims from the F/IC being overridden when too rich or lean. To eliminate this problem, AEM incorporated a unique feature in the F/IC map, offering the ability to clamp the factory O2 voltage at any given rpm on the factory wideband, tricking the factory ECU into thinking everything is fine, thus allowing the F/IC to run as rich or lean as the tuner wants.
The RC Engineering low-impedance 1,000cc/min injectors require an injector clip that is available through RC.