ECU Master Energy-Management Subaru

PMU
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1

Hi everyone,

We are currently rebuilding a 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car (mixed surface use) and are now planning the complete electrical system / power management setup.

The car already has a Link ECU WRX6X plug & play ECU, and we are considering moving the whole power distribution and control side into the ECU Master ecosystem.

Current concept:

  • PMU 24 DL as central power management unit

  • CAN Keyboard 12

  • 5" Display

  • Possibly steering wheel panel / controls

  • Full motorsport wiring loom from scratch

The goal is to run as many systems as possible through the PMU:

  • ignition / main power logic

  • fans

  • fuel pumps

  • auxiliary lights

  • wipers

  • heaters / demist

  • launch / stage functions

  • warning strategies / failsafes

  • rally-specific switching logic

We have experience with AiM-based systems, but this would be one of our first larger ECU Master-based integrations.

We would appreciate feedback from people with hands-on experience:

  1. Is the PMU 24 DL the right choice for a rally car with this level of integration, or would you recommend another setup?

  2. How well does the PMU communicate with a Link WRX6X ECU via CAN? Any ready-made templates or known challenges?

  3. Best display solution: ADU / 5" display / PMU DL only?

  4. For a rally application, what sensors / functions / logic have you found most useful inside the PMU?

  5. Any lessons learned regarding reliability in vibration / moisture / gravel rally conditions?

  6. If starting from zero today, what ECU Master components would you definitely use again?

We are looking for a robust, serviceable and professional motorsport solution, so real-world experience is highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

JP

2

Link is a good system but yours is a bit on the older side now so it is no comparison really.

Your list of equipment is good make provision for drive by wire and center dccd control from day one. You should also make provisions for a sqwential gearbox.

Provisions like these start with a sensor and pin out plan. Slow speed sensors like fuel pressure. Oil pressure and oil temp can be connected to the dash to free up analog inputs on the Ecu.

Things like the antilag switch can change the dash layout from a road display to a stage display. Don’t clutter the stage display with un needed info. Instead setup warning overlays. This can also be used to trigger logging when you switch one stage mode.

Make sure you convert the engine to the newer trigger (36-2-2-3)

You will not regret moving away from the aim systems. They are stable but lack luster and the simplicity of using one ecosystem is invaluable.

I use their stuff in many many different types of rally cars.

Not sure what else to say at this point.

3

Thank you very much for your detailed reply — really appreciated.

Just to clarify: we would actually like to keep the Link ECU for engine management, as it already fits the car well, and use the PMU 24 DL as the central unit for everything else (power distribution, switching logic, warnings, displays, auxiliary systems, etc.).

So the idea would be to combine the existing Link ECU with the ECU Master ecosystem around it.

From your experience, do you have any additional ideas, recommendations, or things we should pay special attention to when building a setup like this around the PMU 24 DL?

Especially regarding CAN integration, sensor allocation, rally functions, or general system architecture.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience — very helpful.

Cheers,

JP

4

You can absolutly keep the Link ecu, in the ADU and the PMU there are DBC files for link to help you setup canbus communications. You current ask is very basic of the two devices.

I tipically grab the software from here https://www.ecumaster.com/testVersions.html but you can grab it from these forums also. Download them and play. using a single PDM for a rally car is more than doable but needs to be planned, EG, not all outputs work for wipers and you need the input for the park feature. So start a project and start setting up the fixed features (like wipers) and anything else and use it to help plan what pins do what/go where.

for things like fans or the starter solenoid you need to make sure you have them on pins that are night enough current or like me pins that can be paired for the additional power requirements.

Things like electronic power staring do not belong on the pdm…

Depenidng on the version link ecu you have you will have an ethrottle conector, if it is an older one you can get creative with the pin assignments and add ethrottle, it is worth the effort single you are making new hardnesses etc.

The additional item should be to convert the car to COP using a set of new STI gray coils, you will not regret it and again as you are creating a new harness it makes sence to drive into that at the same time.