The Nissan SR20DET and DE engine
SR20DET Turbo
SR20DE Aspirated
Haltech ECU Options
ECU Model | Plug In Available | OEM Functions Not Supported | Suitable Installation Type | Support Sequential and/or Direct Fire Ignition |
Platinum Pro S15 | S13X,S14s2,S15AUDM,S15JDM
S13 with wiring modifications | - | Standalone | Yes |
Elite 550 | No | | | Yes |
Elite 750 | No | | | Yes |
Elite 950 | No | | | Yes |
Elite 1000 | Yes | - | Standalone | Yes |
Elite 1500 | Yes | - | Standalone | Yes |
Elite 2000 | Yes | - | Standalone | Yes |
Elite 2500 | Yes | - | Standalone | Yes |
Recommended ECU Models
Platinum Pro S15: For those looking for a budget ECU that runs all factory functionality but does not require the latest ECU features.
Elite 550: For a basic installation to just run the injectors, ignition, and maybe a couple of outputs. More used for a cheap engine conversion.
Elite 750/950: As above however Long Term Learning of Fuel, Datalogging to internal memory, or flex fuel are required features.
Elite 1000: When a plug in adapter kit is used or when all of the vehicle needs to be supported.
Elite 1500: As above with added advanced functionality
Elite 2000/2500: As above but looking for more injector outputs or just more outputs in general.
Cylinders | 4 |
Displacement | 1998cc |
Firing Order | 1,3,4,2 |
Cylinder Orientation | Cyl1 front, Cyl4 rear |
Model Variants
There are various models of the SR20 engine.
SR20DE refers to naturally aspirated variants. These all have distributor ignition and come with either red or unpainted rocker covers.
SR20DET refers to turbocharged variants. These come in common variants listed below.
Common Turbo ModelsSR20DET Variant | Identifiers |
S13 Silvia/180SX | Red flat rocker cover. Direct Fire ignition. |
U13 Bluebird | Red flat rocker cover. Distributor ignition. Small intercooler attached to engine over intake manifold. |
N14 Pulsar GTIR | Red flat rocker cover. Distributor ignition. Larger intercooler covering intake manifold and rocker cover. ITB intake. |
S14 200SX | Variable cam with humped rocker cover. External igniter module. |
S15 200SX | Variable cam with humped rocker cover. Smaller ignition coils with internal igniters. |
Crank/Cam Sensor (CAS)
There are a couple of different types of triggering systems found on SR20 engines. There are the Distributor models most found on NA car, and there are the CAS type units found on Direct Fire equipped engines predominantly turbocharged.
There is also a different way the patterns can be described. Nissan often calls the 360x signal a "1 degree" and the 4x signal a "180-degree". Interestingly the 1 degree signal has 360 slots for 720 crank degrees.
S13, S14, S15 CAS

Pin | Description | Haltech Connection |
1 | Signal Ground | Signal Ground (Blue in Trigger 4-core) |
2 | 12V+ Switched | 12V+ (Red in Trigger 4-core) |
3 | 360x (Home+) | Home+ (Yellow in Home 4-core) |
4 | 4x (Trigger+) | Trigger+ (Yellow in Trigger 4-core) |
Trigger/Home Wiring Hack
For applications where there is a dual Hall Effect pickup in a CAS or Distributor there is a quick wiring hack that allows the Home+ signal to be incorporated in the Trigger 4-core shielded cable. This can make the wiring much cleaner and easier.
To do this we will be relocated the wiring at the ECU Connector so that the unusued Trigger- wire is instead placed onto the ECU pin for Home+. This means that the Trigger 4-core cable now has 12V+, Ground, Trigger+ and Home+ all in the one cable. The GREEN wire that is labelled at Trigger- is now actually the Home+.
For Elite 550/750/950 models
1. Unplug the Main Connector at the ECU end.
2. Unlock the connector by pushing in the large white tab on the connector until it clicks. This will cause the two smaller white tabs to pop up on the other side.
3. Remove the Yellow Home+ wire from pin 32. Insulate this wire, it will not be used.
4. Remove the Green Trigger- wire from pin 33 and move it to pin 32. Push it all the way until you can see the metal pin clearly from the pin side of the connector and it looks the same as all other pins.
5. Lock the connector by pushing back down the 2x white tabs until they click into position.
For Elite 1000/1500/2000/2500 models
1. Unplug the smaller 26-pin Main Connector at the ECU end.
2. Unlock the connector by pushing in the large white tab on the connector until it clicks. This will cause the two smaller white tabs to pop up on the other side.
3. Remove the Yellow Home+ wire from pin 2.
4. Remove the Green Trigger- wire that is in pin 5 and move it to pin2. Push it all the way until you can see the metal pin clearly from the pin side of the connector and it looks the same as all other pins.
5. Lock the 26-pin connector by pushing back down the 2x white tabs until they click into position.
Trigger Configuration - Direct Fire Models
Distributor
There is more than one type of distributor. Some have an internal ignition coil, others have an external coil.
Internal coil type wiring
Pin | Description | Haltech Connection |
1 | ECU Ignition Output #1 | Ignition Output 1 |
2 | Power Ground (To Head) | --- |
3 | 360x | Home+ (Yellow in Home 4-core) |
4 | 4x | Trigger+ (Yellow in Trigger 4-core) |
5 | 12V+ | 12V+ (Red in Trigger 4-core) |
6 | Signal Ground | Signal Ground (Blue in Trigger 4-core) |
Pin | Description | Haltech Connection |
7 | 12V+ Switched Coil + | --- |
8 | No Connection | --- |
Trigger/Home Wiring Hack
For applications where there is a dual Hall Effect pickup in a CAS or Distributor there is a quick wiring hack that allows the Home+ signal to be incorporated in the Trigger 4-core shielded cable. This can make the wiring much cleaner and easier.
To do this we will be relocated the wiring at the ECU Connector so that the unused Trigger- wire is instead placed onto the ECU pin for Home+. This means that the Trigger 4-core cable now has 12V+, Ground, Trigger+ and Home+ all in the one cable. The GREEN wire that is labelled at Trigger- is now actually the Home+.
For Elite 550/750/950 models
1. Unplug the Main Connector at the ECU end.
2. Unlock the connector by pushing in the large white tab on the connector until it clicks. This will cause the two smaller white tabs to pop up on the other side.
3. Remove the Yellow Home+ wire from pin 32. Insulate this wire, it will not be used.
4. Remove the Green Trigger- wire from pin 33 and move it to pin 32. Push it all the way until you can see the metal pin clearly from the pin side of the connector and it looks the same as all other pins.
5. Lock the connector by pushing back down the 2x white tabs until they click into position.
For Elite 1000/1500/2000/2500 models
1. Unplug the smaller 26-pin Main Connector at the ECU end.
2. Unlock the connector by pushing in the large white tab on the connector until it clicks. This will cause the two smaller white tabs to pop up on the other side.
3. Remove the Yellow Home+ wire from pin 2.
4. Remove the Green Trigger- wire that is in pin 5 and move it to pin 2. Push it all the way until you can see the metal pin clearly from the pin side of the connector and it looks the same as all other pins.
5. Lock the 26-pin connector by pushing back down the 2x white tabs until they click into position.
Trigger Configuration - Distributor Models
Ignition Coils
There are also a number of different ignition coil types that were used on SR20 engines. All use Constant Charge with a Falling edge.
S15 with internal igniter
Pin | Description |
IB | ECU Ignition Output |
G | Ground (to head) |
+ | 12V+ Switched |
S13 and S14 with external igniter
Pin | Description |
- | Igniter Module Trigger |
+ | 12V+ Switched |
E | Ground (to head) |
S13 and S14 Igniter Module Wiring
Pin | Description |
i1 | ECU Ignition Output #1 |
i2 | ECU Ignition Output #2 |
G | Ground to Cylinder Head |
i3 | ECU Ignition Output #3 |
i4 | ECU Ignition Output #4 |
e1 | Coil #1 -ve |
e2 | Coil #2 -ve |
e3 | Coil #3 -ve |
e4 | Coil #4 -ve |
Dwell
Suggested dwell time for Nissan Coils
Throttle Position Sensor
There are two common types of Throttle Position Sensors found on these engines. The 3-pin type and the 6-pin type.
3-pin type
Pin | Description |
1 | Signal Ground |
2 | Signal |
3 | 5V+ |
6-pin type
Use the brown connector for direct wiring to ECU
Grey
Pin | Description |
1 | 5V+ |
2 | Signal |
3 | Signal Ground |
Brown
Pin | Description |
1 | Signal Ground |
2 | Signal |
3 | 5V+ |
MAP Sensor
These engines do not come with a MAP sensor. Some vehicles have a pressure sensor for a gauge however this is not wired to the ECU and cannot be used.
Use the internal MAP sensor that comes with your ECU. For higher boost levels an external MAP sensor should be used instead.
Idle Valve
SR20 engines come with a 2x separate 2-pin BAC idle valves. These only require a 12V+ power source that is switched with ignition power, and any spare ECU output.
Only the larger solenoid is connected to the ECU, and this is a duty pulsed type solenoid where more duty opens the valve to give a higher idle speed.
The smaller solenoid is a switched type that is used anytime the A/C clutch is engaged. This is not wired or controlled by the ECU.
Solenoids are not polarity dependent
Pin | Haltech Connection |
A | 12V+ Switched |
B | Any spare ECU output |
See base maps for configuration information
Coolant Temperature Sensor
Wiring is not polarity sensitive
Calibration: Use "Temperature - Nissan S15 Coolant.cal"
Created for Haltech ECUs using a 1k pullup to 5V
Air Temperature Sensor
Most SR20 engines do not come with an ATS. Only the GTIR engine has this sensor from the factory. A sensor needs to be installed when you are using a Haltech ECU
Haltech 1/8" NPT Air Temp Sensor
Wiring is not polarity sensitive.
Calibration: Use "Temperature - GM Air Sensor.cal"
Created for Haltech ECUs using a 1k pullup to 5V
Knock Sensor
OEM Knock sensors are polarity dependent. They also internally link the ground to the engine block which is bad for signal ground integrity and it is recommended to exchange the sensor for a Haltech unit. In the Nissan wiring there is no connection to pin 1.
Pin | Haltech Connection |
1 | No Connection |
2 | Signal (Knock 1) |
MAF Sensor
Although most users of Haltech ECUs will be deleting the MAF, it is possible to use a MAF if you prefer.
S15 MAF
Pin letters are written on the sensor
Pin | Description |
A | No Connection |
B | 12V+ Switched |
C | Sensor Ground |
D | Signal 0-5V |
S13
S15