I'm considering buying and Apexi AVC-R and had a couple of questions for those "in the know"..

 

1. Where have people mounted this unit. I've seen it in the lower DIN slot and this would be favourite for me. A bit worried about it being visible to thieving scrotes though :confused:

 

2. Heard a few worries about reliability. Has anyone had any specific problems?

 

3. I've had the SE Boost upgrade carried out already. Will the controller simply override/replace this or do I have to do anything clever to disable this? Does anyone know what SE actually do to the car when they carry out their upgrade?

 

4. Does the unit operate/display in PSI? The manual and pictures I have seen (from Apexi's US site) seem to show everything in kg/cm2 :confused:

 

Any help/pics/advice appreciated!

 

Cheerz

 

Steve

3. I've had the SE Boost upgrade carried out already. Will the controller simply override/replace this or do I have to do anything clever to disable this? Does anyone know what SE actually do to the car when they carry out their upgrade?

 

The boost upgrade I had done, though not by SE, was to have the ECU chip upgraded to allow higher boost levels (and other things), and to have boost jets installed which allow a fixed higher level of boost to be achieved. The boost controller replaces the jets, and allows a variable level of boost.

 

I think thats the answer to that question. :)

Originally posted by cybernet

I'm considering buying and Apexi AVC-R and had a couple of questions for those "in the know"..

 

1. Where have people mounted this unit. I've seen it in the lower DIN slot and this would be favourite for me. A bit worried about it being visible to thieving scrotes though :confused:

 

2. Heard a few worries about reliability. Has anyone had any specific problems?

 

 

 

1. DaveW has it in the lower DIN, but he has it in a DIN pocket. So when he leaves his car he turns it around and puts it in the pocket. Looks like a grey pack of cigs from out side.

 

2. Again DaveW has a little problem with a ticking noise coming from his solinoid. Ended up being a loose wire I think. Either way it now something really minor.

 

There is a group buy being done of these things. Hurry up an you may be able to join it.

I'm thinking of joining this group buy. However, I have my own stupid question!

 

If I've read the documentation correctly, the AVC-R is a single solenoid design. There are two wastegates to control on the Z, done as standard by the two hoses going from the connection after the intercoolers to the wastegates on each turbo.

 

How are these connected with a single solenoid? Do they get joined together somehow or is boost still maintained independently for each charger?

Mike,

 

It's all to do with some clever stuff with a "t-piece" ..

 

All the instructions and explanation can be found here:

 

AVC-R Installation

 

CheerZ,

JB.

Mine's currently wedged in the lower DIN socket too. When I bought the car it was mounted on the top right of the windscreen but I found it interfered with vision too much.

 

No ticking noises here. However the AVC display does generate RF noise. Because it's right next to the radio, I can't listen to medium wave when the engine is on - so no footy on a Sunday cruise round the Lakes! No reliability problems so far (not with the AVC anyway...)

 

The main problem I've found is that it needs several good hard WOT runs to settle down. You get boost wobble until it has done.

 

The best feature is having two settings - I have mine on stock or thereabouts for driving around town and then 1 bar the rest of the time. The units are a pain, I agree, but then I also have a boost gauge in the A-pillar so I'm not too fussed. (And a conversion chart printed out which I keep in the glove box. :D)

 

Kirbz has got the Greddy controller now I think - might be worth asking why he chose that rather than the AVC?

 

Dunno what sort of upgrade you've got from SE - it might be the type where the wastegate is frigged in some fashion so boost is run a percentage higher than the ECU has actually asked for. Don't think I'd recommended trying to fool the AVC the same way, so I think you'd have to uninstall the SE boost stuff. If it's your stock solenoid that's modded then that won't be a problem, because installing the AVC bypasses that anyway.

 

You still need the uprated chip of course!

Just a quick one on SE's boost upgrade. It is PURELY mechanical.

I used to have my AVCR mounted in the glove box.

Now its on the dash, but I'm too paranoid to leave the car anywhere, ever.....

Many thanks for the replies fellas. Couple of further questions arise...

 

1. zevans - What is WOT - wide open throttle? When you say "boost wobble" do you mean a wobble in applied boost or just the boost reading?

 

2. James - will this "mechanical" work need to be undone before the AVC-R is fitted?

 

3. Is this the group buy on ScoobyNet?

 

4. Does anyone have a picture of this unit installed? Just wanted an idea of size and position...

 

Cheerz

 

Steve

Ahha! I found this particulary good one that Wazza posted up some time ago.. Looks like a fiddly job to do though :confused: :confused: Can you buy that din blanking plate and then cut the hole for the unit?

 

Steve

 

Steve,

 

Have kick started the dremmel mate.lol

Originally posted by jock

Steve,

 

Have kick started the dremmel mate.lol

 

Excellent! Get her warmed up - there's some fine adjustments to be made! :D :D :D

Originally posted by james300

Just a quick one on SE's boost upgrade. It is PURELY mechanical.

 

For the Zed it is much the same as the other models they do, timing retarded, colder plugs, vacumm tubing bleeding from each of the turbo's, which you should remove really with the avc-r

smithy :cool:

I had one and it was excellent for me, but I wouldn't buy again beacuse the warrenty was only 30 days which is CRAP and I didn't know before I bought the unit, although I was lucky... check this out.

 

Also...

I heard of some of the displays failing, perhaps a bad batch. (I think it was the supra forum that tried a group refund!)

The filter before the boost sensor can break open, it's cheap.

The pressure sensor needs water proofing, water can enter down the screw thread on the top. (jet sprays are good for this). (I used gasket paste to seal mine)

 

The solanoid was quiet on my car. If you mount it in the right place your's should be the same.

Originally posted by cybernet

1. zevans - What is WOT - wide open throttle? When you say "boost wobble" do you mean a wobble in applied boost or just the boost reading?

 

Yep, WOT = Wide Open Throttle - took me weeks to figure that out! :D

 

I meant actual wobble in the boost - I'd get about 12 psi then 15 then back down to 12 in a beautiful sine curve! I'm not sure my TPS is 100% though so that might not have helped.

Originally posted by zevans

Yep, WOT = Wide Open Throttle - took me weeks to figure that out! :D

 

I meant actual wobble in the boost - I'd get about 12 psi then 15 then back down to 12 in a beautiful sine curve! I'm not sure my TPS is 100% though so that might not have helped.

 

Thanks matey! :D:)

zevans - try setting the feedback to 3 in all gears.

(Or even 2 in 4th / 5th)

Ooo cheers Jez, I'll try that. I wondered if it had anything to do with it but had no idea what it "ought" to be set to on a Z until you posted!