Honda PCM/Tuning Help Needed

NYSpeed Automotive
1

So a friend and I bought this:

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/tjZ06/Rail/indunes.jpg
indunes.jpg800×600

It’s running a '04 Pilot 3.5L V6 (J35A4) that is stock other than the headers/exhaust. The PCM is marked with “37820-P8E-A51” and “1131-100593” which checks out as a '99 Acura TL computer. I guess that makes senses since they had optional V6s (J32A, J32A1 or J32A2). The local “expert” Honda shop said this PCM is not tunable.

Out on the dunes it’s hitting what feels like a rev-limiter at ~4,500rpm. If the PCM isn’t tunable then it’s curious how it limits at 4,500. I wonder if maybe it’s some weirdness having to do with not having the auto trans hooked up? We’d like to get it on the dyno and see what it’s really doing, but we want to be able to tune it first (my buddy that I bought it with own/runs the shop that built my car etc, he has literally thousands of LS tunes under his belt but no Honda stuff).

FWIW compression and leak-down test both checked out well. What are our options for tuning this thing as-is? What about if we turbo it? Basically I don’t know dick about Hondas (and yes I bought one anyway) so I’m looking for some advice and insight.

Thanks,
TJ

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/tjZ06/Rail/IMG_0645.jpg
IMG_0645.jpg1024×768

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t252/tjZ06/Rail/IMG_0644.jpg
IMG_0644.jpg1024×768

2

VTEC dune buggy :tup:

Maybe you could just throw an SAFC on there :gotme:

3

Did you try asking the last owner? Its hard for me to believe that there is a Honda/Acura ECU out there that isn’t tunable?

Maybe not -
http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2729723&highlight=tuning+Acura+TL

4

maybe you can get a different computer? Hard for me to believe someone did all that beautiful work and put a non modifiable engine in it.

5

probably hitting limiter because of limp mode. alot of modern vehicles and ecu’s need to see vehicle speed and abs/traction control. etc etc. your not getting into vtec because the stock ecu isnt liking something, if possible i would pull the engine codes and see what comes up.

6

^ ding ding.

Hondata makes a ecu for tl’s, you could remove speed cut etc, perhaps look into a OBD1 conversion, which ios very common with those who drive 96-00 civics. Chrome Pro, Neptune and EC tune to name a few are popular tuning methods for OBD1, and have proven to be very good.

www.hivelocitytuning.ca