How to MegaSquirt Your Honda or

Acura

If you haven’t already, please read the ‘disclaimer’ at the top of the parent page here.
Simplified spark output and VTEC control circuit schematic

Models covered:
 All 1992-2000 Civics, Del Sols, and Integras
 1992-2001 Prelude
 1992-2002 Accord four cylinder models

Some, but not all, OBD0 Hondas also work with this article. This covers many of the popular Honda
four cylinder engines, including the D16 family, B16A, B18C, H22A, and F23A. It does not cover
later coil on plug ignition systems such as the ones used on the S2000 or D17 powered Civics.

What’s covered in this article

Note that our tech ‘Install Articles’ typically focus on the most confusing part of the install process for
the end user, and that’s taking control of the ignition system. This is the part of the process that’s
different from car to car and hence we chime in with specifics to help where we can. For the rest of
the details, the parts that are the same on every car like the coolant, intake, TPS, and o2 sensors,
see the wiring section of MSExtra.com

Honda’s distributor design

Honda used a similar set of electronics across their model range during the ’90s. These designs use
three separate VR sensors called CYL or CYP, TDC, and Crank or CKP. These produce 1, 4, and
24 pulses per camshaft revolution. Usually all four sensors are in the distributor, but some F and H
series motors locate the TDC and CKP sensors on the crankshaft instead. There are a number of
different ways you can use these sensors, but by far the easiest way is to use the TDC sensor and
simply ignore the other two. The colors Honda used for the TDC sensor vary from year to year and
model to model. The most common color schemes appear to be orange and blue for the positive
wire and white and blue for the negative wire, or green for the positive wire and red for the negative
wire. The factory wiring diagram will always show this sensor as the TDC sensor.
The ignition module in these cars lets current flow through the coil when the input is grounded. When
the coil is not charging, the voltage is slightly above 5 volts, which is reflected in the circuit shown
here.
If you are using a V2.2 board, it can be easier to use a GM HEI module for conditioning the VR
signal. V3.0 and higher boards can read the VR signal directly.

Using the MegaSquirt-I (MSnS-E) with the

Honda ignition module
This is a straightforward option with a V3.0 or V3.57 board.

MegaSquirt-I PCBv3.0 Mods Required:

 Build the VR conditioner circuit, as described in The MSExtra MS1 Manual. All our
preassembled Megasquirts with the V3.0 board come with this circuit installed.
 Jumper TachSelect to VRIN.
 Jumper TSEL to VROUTINV.
 You may need to adjust the VR trim pots, R52 and R56, when this is installed on a
running engine. A usual base setting is to turn them all the way counterclockwise.
 Run a jumper wire from the negative leg of D14 to IGN.

That’s it!

MegaSquirt-I PCBv3.57 Mods Required:

 Put the JP1 jumper in the 1-2 position and J1 in the 5-6 position.
 You may need to adjust the VR trim pots, R52 and R56, when this is installed on a
running engine. A usual base setting is to turn them all the way counterclockwise. Note
that the trim pots on these boards do not click – giving them 5 counterclockwise turns
will make sure they have been turned far enough.
 Run a jumper wire from PAD1 to the center hole of the Q16 slot.
 Remove R58.

That’s it!

External Ignition Wiring

 Wire the TDC positive signal to pin 24 on the Megasquirt, and ground the negative wire
from this sensor. On our preassembled wiring harness, you can use the shield on the IGN
wire as a ground.
 Wire the Honda ignition module input to pin 36 on the Megasquirt.

MSnS-E Ignition Configuration

  Configured for MSnS Spark Output using LED 17.
 In TunerStudio, you MUST set Spark Output Inverted to Yes.
 For dwell settings, start with a running dwell of 3.0 and a cranking dwell of 4.0.
 The Trigger Angle setting will depend on the physical location of the trigger pickup.
Often, an angle of 10 degrees will work. To set the timing with MSnS-E, go to the Spark
Settings menu and set Fixed Angle to 10 degrees. You can then set the ignition timing to
10 degrees with the engine running, using a timing light (Note: Some Honda engines
have a red mark for purposes of setting base timing along with a white mark at TDC.
Check your service manual to see exactly where your timing marks are located. If it is at
another angle like 16 degrees, you can set the fixed angle to that angle and line up the red
mark). Once you have set the base timing, set Fixed Angle to -10. This will tell MSnS-E
to use the timing map.

Using the MegaSquirt-I (MSnS-E) with a 7

Pin HEI module
If you happen to have a V2.2 board, using a HEI module can be easier than building a VR
conditioner input circuit on a board that never had one. MSExtra.com has detailed information
about how to set up Megasquirt to work with an HEI ignition. This write-up uses slightly
different pins.

MegaSquirt-I PCBv2.2 Mods Required:

 The input mods are to invert the input signal from the HEI module’s tach signal. The
HEI module will ground pin 24 to trigger a spark input.
 Remove D5, D8, and R10.
 Replace D8 with a 1.3 k resistor. You may substitute a resistor between 1.3 k and 2.0 k.
 Remove the jumper from XG1-XG2. Jumper XG1 to the right (non-banded) side of D5.
 Solder a jumper from the lower hole where R10 used to be (the hole nearest U4) to the
upper lead of R11. This will provide a 5 volt pull-up.
 You will use LED 17 and LED 19 as outputs.
 Solder a 1 k resistor from the negative lead of D17 (it’s marked with a small – sign) to
the right lead of R23 to provide a 5 volt pull-up on the output.
 Run a wire from the negative terminal of D17 to jumper X12.
 Now you will add the equivalent mod to D19.
 Solder a 1 k resistor from the negative lead of D19 to the right lead of R27.
 Run a wire from the negative terminal of D19 to jumper X11.
 That’s it!
External Ignition Wiring
 For this one, you’ll remove the stock Honda ignitor outright.
 Connect the positive terminal of the coil to the stock coil wire and to the + pin on the HEI
module.
 Connect the negative terminal of the coil to the C pin on the HEI module.
 Wire the distributor’s VR sensor to the HEI module VR inputs.
 The R pin is the HEI module’s tach output. Connect it to pin 24 on the Megasquirt, or the
Tach pin on the relay board. Note that the DIY Autotune wiring harness has a shielded
wire – connect only the inner wire to this pin!
 Connect the E pin to pin 27.
 Connect the B pin to pin 25.

MSnS-E Ignition Configuration

 Under Codebase and Output Functions, set HEI Ignition to “GM 7pin HEI” and the other
options to Off.
 Set LED 17 function to Spark Output A, and LED 19 function to Spark Output B.
 In Spark Settings, set the Trigger Angle to 10 degrees and set Spark Output Inverted to
No.
 To set the timing with MSnS-E, go to the Spark Settings menu and set Fixed Angle to 10
degrees. You can then set the ignition timing to 10 degrees with the engine running, using
a timing light. Once you have set the base timing, set Fixed Angle to -10. This will tell
MSnS-E to use the timing map.
 Under dwell settings, set dwell control to fixed duty and the spark output duty cycle to
“Minimal for HEI4.”

Using the MegaSquirt-II PCBv3 with the

Honda ignition module
MegaSquirt-II PCBv3.0 Mods Required:
 Build the VR conditioner circuit, as described in the MSExtra MS2 Manual. All our
preassembled Megasquirts with the V3.0 board come with this circuit installed.
 Jumper TachSelect to VRIN.
 Jumper TSEL to VROUTINV.
 You may need to adjust the VR trim pots, R52 and R56, when this is installed on a
running engine. A usual base setting is to turn them all the way counterclockwise.
 Jumper JS10 to IGBTIN and IGBTOUT to IGN.
  Install a TIP120 or similar switching transistor in the Q16 slot. You will not be using this
to drive the coil directly so you do not need a transistor meant for serving as an ignition
module, although an ignition transistor like a BIP373 will work too.

That’s it!

MegaSquirt-II PCBv3.57 Mods Required:

 Put the JP1 jumper in the 1-2 position and J1 in the 5-6 position.
 You may need to adjust the VR trim pots, R52 and R56, when this is installed on a
running engine. A usual base setting is to turn them all the way counterclockwise. Note
that the trim pots on these boards do not click – giving them 5 counterclockwise turns
will make sure they have been turned far enough.
 Jumper JS10 to IGBTIN.
 Install a TIP120 or similar switching transistor in the Q16 slot. You will not be using this
to drive the coil directly so you do not need a transistor meant for serving as an ignition
module, although an ignition transistor like a BIP373 will work too.

That’s it!

External Ignition Wiring

 Wire the TDC positive signal to pin 24 on the Megasquirt, and ground the negative wire
from this sensor. On our preassembled wiring harness, you can use the shield on the IGN
wire as a ground.
 Wire the Honda ignition module input to pin 36 on the Megasquirt.

Ignition Configuration:
 Trigger offset = 10 (this will vary, depending on the distributor orientation, see notes at
the end of the article)
 Ignition Input Capture to ‘Falling Edge’
 Cranking Trigger to ‘Trigger Rise’
 Coil Charging Scheme to ‘Standard Coil Charging’
 Spark Output to ‘Going High (Inverted)’

Set the dwell to 3.0 ms.

More information on setting Trigger Offset:
You must also set the initial position of the trigger (called the ‘trigger offset’), then check it
using the Trigger Wizard in TunerStudio (Tools Menu). The trigger offset setting will vary
according to your distributor position (where it is in rotation) but you’ll need to set it
properly… Basically you use the Trigger Wizard and adjust the ‘trigger offset’ and/or twist your
distributor until the advance number in the Trigger Wizard matches what you’re reading with
your timing light. The +/- buttons on the trigger wizard will adjust your trigger offset. You’ll
need to use these buttons and a timing light to make the number on your light, and the big
number on the left in the Trigger Wizard, match up.
Here’s the information on this:
Before tuning your advance table, be sure to use a timing light to verify that your ‘trigger offset‘
is calibrated. Changing the Trigger Offset in TunerStudio will not change the displayed advance,
instead, it changes the actual advance as seen with a timing light. Your goal is to make these two
match.
To do this, get your engine warmed-up (otherwise the timing moves as the temperature
increases) and idling, then use a timing light to verify to be certain your actual advance as
shown by a timing light equals your the advance display on the advance gauge in TunerStudio.
(8, in this case). (Note that positive numbers denote BTDC, and negative numbers denote after
TDC.)
Image courtesy of Bowling and Grippo

IAC Valves
These Hondas all used a PWM IAC valve. This valve runs at a frequency around 500 Hz, so in
MS1/Extra you will need to set the frequency to 20, while in MS2 Bowling & Grippo code you enter
the number 500 directly. V3.57 boards need no modifications to control this valve, while V2.2 and
V3.0 boards will need a TIP120 transistor, like the one included in our MK-PWMIAC mod kit.

VTEC control
While the ECU normally grounds devices to activate them, the VTEC solenoid gets 12 volt power
from the factory ECU. The easiest way to control this is to add a relay control circuit to the
Megasquirt and use a relay to power the VTEC control circuit. With Megsaquirt-I, you will just set the
RPM where it activates, while Megasquirt-II also lets you set a minimum throttle position at the same
time.
This circuit shows a more complex VTEC control circuit that does not use a relay:
The point labeled “To MS CPU” connects directly to any of the processor output pins used for spare
outputs.

Suggested parts
For a good basic installation, the Megasquirt-I V3.0 (or V3.57) will meet your needs. The Megasquirt-
II is a good upgrade if you want the latest and greatest, particularly if you’re running very large
injectors. You will be able to use your existing sensors except for the MAP sensor which is built into
the Megasquirt.
ECU options:

 Megasquirt-I V3.0 kit

 Megasquirt-I V3.57 assembled unit
  Megasquirt-II V3.0 kit
 Megasquirt-II V3.57 assembled unit

Mod kits discussed in this article:

 MK-Pullup for ignition mods

 MK-BIP373
 MK-PWMIAC for idle control
 MK-RelayCtrl for VTEC

Other recommended parts

 V2.2 Stimulator kit or assembled Stimulator

 12′ wiring harness or 18″ wiring pigtail
 6′ DB9 tuning cable
 USB adapter
 wideband O2 sensor system

If you are looking for an assembled unit with the mods in this article already installed, please contact
us directly.