Our install checklist
| Tool | What you'll use it for |
|---|---|
| Multimeter or test light | Confirming power, grounds and sensor signals before anything is connected to the ECU |
| Screwdrivers and wrenches | Mounting the ECU, removing trim and fitting sensors |
| Wire cutters and pliers | Cutting, stripping and routing the loom |
| Crimping tool and terminals | Making reliable connector pins; use the correct crimper for the terminal type |
| Soldering iron and solder | Joining wires where a splice is needed |
| Windows laptop with USB | Running ESP to set up, tune and log the ECU (Windows XP or newer is the stated minimum) |
| A good timing light | Checking that the timing the ECU reports matches the engine |
Where people go wrong
Most install problems we see come down to bad terminations, not bad ECUs. A cheap generic crimper can make a pin that looks fine but fails under vibration. Our crimping tech tip shows how to do it right, and a proper tool like the Haltech dual crimper set pays for itself the first time you avoid chasing an intermittent fault.
Don't skip the timing light either. Until you've confirmed timing with a light, you don't know that the numbers in the software are real. See how to use a timing light.
Before you start, read before you begin. If you'd rather hand the install to us, get in touch.
