anyone happen to have pics of their utec install? Apparently it didn't fit as "perfectly" as they say. It was piggybacked correctly, there's nly one real way it'll bolt onto the factory ECU brace but it just couldn't fit....get the top bolt on, can't get the bottom in, vice versa. I finally just hooked up the top bolt and fabricated an extension for the bottom bolt to steady the unit some more......I know I couldn't have mounted it wrong....eitherway it was bumping either the motor for the dash vent.... T I G H T is the word....anyone shed some light on this?

Oh yea.... 03' Enthusiast (unless there's some design diff i don't know about)
Injen CAI - converted to short ram recently
Stillen Cat back exhaust
Turbo XS UTEC
Stillen engine damper
Stillen grounding kit
Greddy air diversion
DEPO LIghts (soon TBA)
AZA 18x8.5 - 18x9.5 (arriving soon)
Pioneer DVD- NAVI
Kenwood WOOx

 

Thing is it does fit perfectly, as there is no room for error. You might have to fudge it a little to get in, but it does.

 

**** that, i just put it up there without the brackets, much more room and it works perfectly...

 

plumpZZ wouldn't happen to have pics of that would you? The way i saw things....that vent motor was in the way, there was no way I was getting it to fudge anything. Even with the extension piece, it was still tight...

 

It is very very tight and you will scratch a small part of the utec getting it past a bracket ... I ended up laying upside down all strung out in the car and finally got it in there ...

 

Well, i guess I must've been too damn dizzy being upside down like that and found it way easier just to fab a extension for the bottom bolt..LOL....
My head was gonna POP....

 

I may have to install one soon and , impossible installation and Head Popping is not something I'd wanna hear..

 

As long as its connected, why does it needs to be mounted? I have so many wires back there dont know if anything else will fit.. I'm going to be in the market for one in the near (hopefully) future.

 

try using the brackets guys coz they let the ecu and the utec have better grounding.

 

Its like squeezing a square peg thru a round hole. Once its thru, it fits great, but getting it thru... your gonna have to flex some muscle.

 

yeah my tuner had to literally push it in to place. And yes it scratches the corner, but as stated above, once its in your good.

 

Hey Guys, there is a much easier way to accomplish this. If you look at the rearward most attachment point and cut the bracket open, so it is no longer a closed loop, but shaped rather like an open ended wrench. Then you can slide the bracket right into place, with minimal wrestling.
I will try to take a pic later and post it for you guys.

For the meantime, Zealous has the mod I am referring to on his threads. He has lots of pics posted, but if you have a second to scroll thru, you can see the specific cut I am speaking of.

 

Get a bigger hammer

 

It fits, but it goes in tight...but if bolted up 100% correct like the manual says it does fit..

 

square peg....round hole.......HAHAHAHAHAHAHA......

Well, I would've tried the idea rrmedicx suggested or fabing a bracket like I did...too damn late to "squish" it in cuz mine's in, and it's staying....God help me if I have to remove it anytime soon to tune it for the turbo kit...that's no time soon...

Maybe in the future when 7-11 is closed and i can't get a slurpee for a wicked brain freeze , I may just go upside down again and try to get dizzy squishing the utec back in without the bracket ....
LOL thanks

 

I had a hard time putting it in at first, but one you realize you need a little a bit of force it should only take a few minutes. I scratched mine too putting it in.

 

Regardless of what bending/streching/cutting, my unit refused to fit, unless I remove part of the carpet behind it and slot out the bolt hole. I called TurboXS and they said that some models in 2003 were slightly different that would cause for this odd fitment. Here are a few pics that I have posted before:

I hope you can figure out the different camera angles and install angles:

 

I agree with the 2003 being an extremely tight fit. I ended up taking a box cutter and removing a very small portion of the insulation on the inside of the firewall. I then pushed like hell and it went in. I did scratch it, but just a tad. Not nearly as bad as the first one I tried to put in.

 

DRUMMA022 - YOU SEE...........I KNEW I WASN'T CRAZY!! It's Miller time!

 

agreed - in my situation the wiring harness pushed so hard against the insulation and even now it is still a very tight fit.