1G Dynatec ARC-2 IGNITION for 91-94 cars,, INSTALL and RESULTS

[kottyking]

I didn't know this was that easy for a 1g. Also, VERY clean 1g.

 

[andy4g63]

Looks good Andy. As always your reviews are a pleasure to read and pics are top notch.

Thanks, man. Congrats on your marriage........ You know, I am THIRSTY !!!

I didn't know this was that easy for a 1g. Also, VERY clean 1g.

Extremely easy, just plug it, connect PoWER and GROUND and .....Done.

 

[99gst_racer]

I just got mine yesterday, and I'm debating whether I should mount it in the engine bay or not. I'd like to for the sake of simplicity, but I'm afraid the heat will prematurely kill it. I had originally planned to mount it in the glove box, but I really don't feel like hacking and soldering on that nice looking harness.

 

[steve]

IP.S. 1990's cars have a different plug, I believe, but nothing major/ think it has dual power wire for both coils and can be fixed easily if you have the right plugs and soldering iron.

The 90 four pin square connector is to provide the extra pin needed for the tach adapter output on the 90 coil pack since it's not part of the power transistor like it is in the 91-99 cars. So it's not an extra power wire.

On a 1G you should watch out for the condenser that's part of the coil pack. Most of the CDI boxes run the coils at a much higher voltage than the stock ignition (the ARC2 uses 500v instead of 12v) and the condenser will pretend it's a firecracker at that voltage. It should be disconnected from the power to the coils and attached to the 12v power to the CDI.

 

[JSchleim18]

ANDYYYYYY!!! What's goin on it's Jeremy. The kid who has the Galant VR-4 Bill has been working on since July. Beautiful looking engine bay and nice choice on the ignition setup. Looks like I'll have to check this out for my COP setup.

 

[nyTalonTsi]

Nice write up Andy. Now ive heard from two 1g owners who said the Dynatec was perfect for the money. Nice and sick engine bay.

 

[andy4g63]

I just got mine yesterday, and I'm debating whether I should mount it in the engine bay or not. I'd like to for the sake of simplicity, but I'm afraid the heat will prematurely kill it. I had originally planned to mount it in the glove box, but I really don't feel like hacking and soldering on that nice looking harness.

It makes sense to move it, to protect it from heat, but the way I installed mine, seems fine . You could allways put it under SMIM, but in order to do that, you have to REMOVE IT.

BTW How is your TT setup going, Paul???

ANDYYYYYY!!! What's goin on it's Jeremy. The kid who has the Galant VR-4 Bill has been working on since July. Beautiful looking engine bay and nice choice on the ignition setup. Looks like I'll have to check this out for my COP setup.

Definately, otherwise with COP, you are downgrading.

P.S. C'mon man, I know and remember you...

Nice write up Andy. Now ive heard from two 1g owners who said the Dynatec was perfect for the money. Nice and sick engine bay.

Thanks, man and YES, seems like we have a winner !!!

 

[99gst_racer]

It makes sense to move it, to protect it from heat, but the way I installed mine, seems fine . You could allways put it under SMIM, but in order to do that, you have to REMOVE IT.

BTW How is your TT setup going, Paul???

I'm just going to install mine where they intend it to be on a 2G. If the heat kills it, hopefully it will do it within the warranty period. Then I can simply have it replaced and relocated.

The TT set-up is finished. I just need to button the engine back up and drop it and the tranny back in. Just finished the interior this weekend but the front end still needs paint. It's getting there, though. It'll probably be another month.

 

[1gDSM4g63]

I bought the ARC2 a few months ago and I'm reluctant on completely rewiring '90 to make it work, but after hearing the good results maybe I install it. Hope the rewiring isn't disastrous !!!

 

[andy4g63]

I bought the ARC2 a few months ago and I'm reluctant on completely rewiring '90 to make it work, but after hearing the good results maybe I install it. Hope the rewiring isn't disastrous !!!

Nope, doesn't seem disastrous at all. There are couple threads on DSM Talk.

Ooops, here they are. Check them out.

Dynatek ARC-2 install for 1990 year DSMs - DSM Forums: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon Forum: DSMtalk.com

Dynatek ARC-2 on a 1990 turbo DSM - DSM Forums: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Plymouth Laser, and Eagle Talon Forum: DSMtalk.com

 

[seminoles2005]

Finally got my car up and running with this installed but still have some bugs to work out, so I can't tell the different between single spark or the restrike setting. What is the difference in the two settings?

What would make you want to choose one from the other? Is the restrike setting for cars pushing more boost or just a preference?

 

[andy4g63]

Single spark is only one very powerfull spark, instead of Restrike, which is a multiple spark and gives chance for a better combustion process and fuel being ignited more efficiently. Therefore, in my opinion, RESTRIKE option is better overall and is a MUST for cars pushing high boost.

 

[seminoles2005]

After installing a bunch of new parts on my car and starting it for the first time in a while it has been running very poorly. The car would fire up every time with no problems but i decided to remove dynatek out of the picture completely and run the stock ignition to the stock harness. (what a mistake)

Tried to turn the car on and it would only crank. Had no clue why it wouldnt turn on so i plugged and installed the dynatek system back into the picture but the car still would not turn on. Only crank.

Finally it hit me, removing that small black capacitor must of blown something when i tried to run the system the stock way. Swapped a good working coil pack with the capacitor removed and the car turned on finally on its first try but the car runs even worse.

Is it possible that i may have ruined anything else like my plug wires or anything?

 

[seminoles2005]

Finally got my car started. I think it was too flooded to start and my spark was too weak.

But i need advice as to what i should do.

Got the car started with dynatek uninstalled and it ran smoothly. Installed dynatek after the car running for a while and it seemed to make my car miss and it threw a code so i checked it only to see it was my "coil ignition".

I then removed dynatek again and started the car and it ran smoothly again with no codes thrown. I just e-mailed extreme asking if i had a bad unit or if i should go to dynatek to see if they will test/refund me a new one and they told me that dynatek was not designed for my 92 eclipse and its for 2g's only and that I probably was suppose to mode something on my car to make it run properly.

 

[andy4g63]

You don't have to MOD anything... It is all PLUG-IN.. I think, I mentioned that I removed the CAPACITOR/ it is a small black square thing, that is bolted to the factory coil, to absorb voltage spikes and stuff, you don't need it. Other , than that sounds, that you may have a bad unit. Someone mentioned, that some of the newer units are kind messed up and few people had problems. I will not e-mail, but call Extreme PSI and ask for changing the box, or call Dynatek and ask them. You have some warranty on that thing. Matter will be resolved, don't worry, call...

 

[SBR Joe]

Andy, NICE write up...i have been telling people for a while how great these ignition systems are. Im glad youre spreading the word! ALSO...i just have to say your engine bay is clean as a MO FO...nice touch on the plug cover too

 

[andy4g63]

^^^ Spreading the word, Joe.

 

[mitsumissile]

What's the spark plug gap should I set?

 

[Ibbanez]

THis is a great write up and love the thoroughness of it all. I have been thinking about doing this for some time.

 

[manrightchea]

I too think that I will look into one of these. I've been debating it, but they seem to be pretty solid. Thanks, and great car btw!

 

[ramsack]

i put one of these one my car. i'm impressed. not much of a gain in HP cause i don't have anything done, but you can just feel the difference. better driveability.

 

[andy4g63]

Exactly, I felt the same.. Plus id doesn't cost arm and a leg..
And thanks to all of the above:
--Manrightchea
--SLOWMARO
--Ibbanez
That includes everyone that replied, or didn't but viewed this thread.. Thanks again, ANDY..

 

[ramsack]

i take back my good words. the product is ok, but i don't think it's meant to deal with a daily driver. my arc-2 started cutting out cylinders 2 and 3 and if you tapped on it it would get better. now it doesn't work at all. my car has been sitting all day not running and the unit is pretty damn warm. i think if there was a way to keep it cooler it would stand up to daily driving, but mine didn't. same probably goes for any other cdi box, so i don't really recommend going this route unless it's a non-daily driver for short runs. it's just a good thing i didn't have to hack any of my wiring to do install this, unlike other cdis.

 

[Kapok6]

I am thinking about picking one of these up. Has anybody else had positive/negative experiences with this product? My 1G is not a DD, just a weekend warrior.

 

[SonySlave]

I know you've mentioned wanting to use the ARC-2 for the 2-step during auto stall up. While I don't have the ARC-2 (I have an MSD DIS-2) I have several friends that do. If you buy the 2G install kit, this box is 98% plug n play. You just have to wire up a power wire to the battery.

As far as functionality as a spark enhancer is concerned, it works well for all of my friends. No complaints. The 2-step feature works incredibly well also. There is a little knob that allows you to change the 2-step RPM in pretty fine increments. When using the 2-step with an automatic, the best way to activate it is to wire the 2-step signal wire to a relay that is activated by the brake pedal switch. Push and hold the brake pedal to activate the 2-step rev limit during stall up then once you let off the pedal, you rev limit reverts back to your standard rev limit. You'll have to do some stall up testing with the 2-step to find the best launch RPM. Finding the RPM point where your turbo is making about 12psi seems to work really well (and is usually easiest on parts according to Kiggly). For the 3076HTA, I'd guess you make 12psi at about 3200-3500RPM, so I'd start with testing at 3000RPM and see what the boost sits at during the 2-step and incrementally increase the RPM on the ARC-2 box til you're happy.

Now, a few years ago, I read about people having box failures on the forums but it seemed like Dynatek usually helped take care of people with new revised boxes at reduced cost. I haven't heard of any failures recently though. MSD boxes like mine have had the same issues but I've been using mine for 4 years now without any issues.