Choosing the right TCU first time is important to save time and confidence. Please read this part with an open mind to help you choose wisely as sometimes the cheapest option is not the best one and may end up costing you more. There are two choices that you can make. Which product and options and which hardware class is required for that specific product and its features. Work through each point and narrow down your optimal choice.

Product Choice:

1. You need to consider your budget, Spitronics has the economy Orion and the high quality Mercury2. Mercury2 being the more expensive due to protected drivers, epoxy filled enclosure and consisting of more input and outputs. Some applications are only available in Mercury due to the complexity of the number of sensors and drive items. Orion also has a bootloader and can be reprogrammed with firmware without the need of a programmer.
2. If you have people installing the unit that does not have lots of experience, Mercury2 is definitely the choice. It does not damage easily if short circuits are made. If installed properly, Orion performs just as well as the Mercury2.
3. If you are abroad or far from Spitronics’ home base, it is also best to go for the Mercury2 option. Courier and time lost could be far more expensive than the money saved with the low cost products.
4. If you require the unit to be installed under harsh conditions like an off-road vehicle with lots of vibration and dampness it is best to go for the Mercury2 unit. It is epoxy-filled for vibration and moisture. Orion can be epoxy-filled by yourselves after tuning and setting the jumpers inside should you require to do so.
5. If it is a complex transmission with lots of drivers and sensors the economy range may not be adequate and you’d need to consider the Mercury2. Browse through the product comparison chart to see if the product will be sufficient.
6. The Orion unit, depending on the type of damage, are repairable as these units are not sealed. We do have a one year reduced exchange rate guarantee should any of the ECU’s or TCU’s be damaged. See the pricelist for more info or contact our dealers.
7. The best way to choose your product is to see is if the unit can handle the transmissions and if there is firmware available for it. Transmissions differ more than engines and some have complicated operations. They also have different harnesses that has built in components to make installation easier for the customer.

Hardware Class Choice:

1. Only the Orion is sold in Standard Intermediate or Advance configuration, to make a low cost solution for the very common transmissions like A343E found on the 1UZ. The Standard can do 4 solenoids and does not have a speedo output for speedo calibration. The Intermediate can do 6 solenoids and speedo calibration. Advance can measure oil temperature and do line pressure compensation for temperature.
2. Mercury2 can do up to 12 solenoids with speedo calibration. It is only sold in Intermediate and Advance firmware.
3. Make sure that firmware is available for your application regarding the specific TCU. Some firmware requires the abilities of Mercury2 and is not available on the Orion.
4. Should you plan to do upgrades in the future, the Advance TCU is the obvious choice. You may also consider the programmer to change the firmware in the future for Mercury2.
5. Higher class TCU’s will operate with lower class firmware for the same product. So if you buy an Intermediate TCU, you may start off with Standard firmware.
6. These hardware classes could be changed over the internet in the future following an upgrade payment. So you may buy a Standard TCU and upgrade it later to an Intermediate TCU. You may also consider the programmer to change the firmware in the future for Mercury2.