Which swaps work
The pin swap moves an existing Elite harness onto a Nexus S series ECU by relocating terminals in the connectors, so you keep the loom that's already in the car.
| From | To | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Elite 2000 or 2500 harness | Nexus S3 | The main swap this guide covers |
| Elite 1000 or 1500 harness | Nexus S2 | Same approach, but the S2 has no IGN 5 to 8, INJ 5 to 8 or Knock 2 |
If your Elite 1000/1500 install is a four-cylinder with a single knock sensor, the missing channels on the S2 won't matter. On anything bigger, look at the S3.
Functions that won't be connected after the swap
A handful of Elite pins have no direct home in the swap. Those wires are simply left unconnected on the S series side. If you were using any of these functions, you'll need to wire them to a suitable spare input or output on the Nexus:
- AVI11
- SPI5 and SPI6
- The internal wideband
- DPO6
- CAN2
Go through your current Elite map before you start and note what each of those pins is doing. A spare AVI is harmless to lose. A second CAN bus running a dash or a wideband that lived on those pins is not.
The stepper and DBW output catch
This is the difference most people miss. The Elite has six outputs that can run in half bridge mode: four stepper outputs rated at 1 amp and two dedicated drive-by-wire outputs rated at 5 amps. The Nexus S series has four half bridge outputs (HBOs), each rated at a much stronger 8 amps.
So you gain current capacity but lose two outputs. If the car uses a four-wire stepper idle valve and electronic throttle on the Elite, count up what you actually need before committing. Drive-by-wire alone uses two of the four HBOs.
Label every wire as it comes out, check each terminal is seated and locked when it goes back in, and do a full sensor and output test with the engine off before first start.
The pin tables
The swap itself is done from a pin-for-pin table showing where each Elite terminal goes in the Nexus connectors. Work through it one connector at a time and cross each pin off as you move it. Need this diagram? Ask us and we'll send it over with advice for your build.
Useful reading while you're in the loom: how to crimp like a pro for any new terminals, and ECU grounding dos and don'ts. Not sure the swap suits your car? Book a free 30-minute consultation.
