The Open Ecu Thread!!!!WRX/STI/EVO

[RayArroyo]

I figured with the big open ecu trend going on we should start a thread to compile information which can help everyone that is interested in flashing their own ecu. I will start off by stating that Open Ecu is not for someone with minimal to no knowledge of tuning, and can cause catastrophic results such as a blown car or even an accident.

I will try to update this thread as much as possible and help out as best as i can. If anyone has any information to put up please do so. I will talk to troll about keping this thread moderated and any unusefull information will be deleted.


What you will need
Tactix ObdII Cable
Wideband
Knowledge of modern engine management system
Logger (usually available with the open ecu program of choice)

BEFORE YOU BEGIN MODIFYING YOUR FACTORY ECU!!!!!!


1. Download the factory map into your computer and save it in a safe spot. if you fail to do this you will never be able to go back. make sure once you save it do not save anyother maps under the same name as you will overwrite the map.

2. do a couple pulls and log the factory map, this will show you how your car is running and allows you to base your changes from there.

3. DO NOT Download any maps online and flash your ecu before verifying that the maps are safe 1st.

4. DO NOT flash any one elses map on to your ecu, or a map from a different year car wether is evo or scoobie, doing so will kill the ecu.


VERY IMPORTANT
The factory ecu uses afr targets to tune fuel, Just because you put a value of 11.5 on one of the cells does not mean thats going to be your afr, there is a varriance between the afr target and the factory 02 sensors. Once again wideband!!!!!

TIP: when starting, take your time and make changes in little increments, log and go back, also use a pen and paper to help you remember what changes you made where. Take your time!!! stay away from knock sensors, they are there for a reason.


If you feel uncomfortable doing so, please have someone with experince tune your car, what ever they will charge could save you thousands in the future.

[sisforsurfing]

Good idea to start a thread about open-source tuning.

I plan to start this summer, it's just a matter of whether or not I have a wideband. Not having one has been what's holding me back, and I know tons of people tune their cars without one (or even without an EGT gauge ), but I'm not sure I feel safe. The itch to finally start tuning my car is really hitting, though.

[S4toSTI]

Everyone be careful thats all i am going to say. This is a very dangerous thing and i don't mean to scare people off but if you put in a few wrong values the consequences are huge.

[UnderPoweredRS]

Good idea, making a thread about this. I've been working with the development team for about a year now on enginuity testing new versions of the software and debugging new features. If you have any quistions about the software or are having problems with it. Let me know I can help out with software issues. I'm NOT the best tuner I don't get a ton of power out of cars but then again I haven't blown anything up (YET :-D)

[RayArroyo]

Ralph let me know if you want to help me keep this section here updated and together

[UnderPoweredRS]

Sure I check back with it. Jump PM me if anyone gets stuck with this.

[redline]

So pretty much I just want to hook up my laptop and the tactrix cable and select "Read from ECU" in the ECUFlash menu? I need to do this to send my stock ROM to Jestr to get an email flash for the time being. Also I just tried to upgrade to version 1.30 but It won't let me and I think I need this version because the site says it supports drivers for the AMD 64?

[RayArroyo]

Originally Posted by redline

So pretty much I just want to hook up my laptop and the tactrix cable and select "Read from ECU" in the ECUFlash menu? I need to do this to send my stock ROM to Jestr to get an email flash for the time being. Also I just tried to upgrade to version 1.30 but It won't let me and I think I need this version because the site says it supports drivers for the AMD 64?

read from ecu, the save the map to your laptop make sure when you save it name it whatever wigth .hex at the end

[redline]

Originally Posted by ray@turbotek

read from ecu, the save the map to your laptop make sure when you save it name it whatever wigth .hex at the end

Good tip! Thanks

[doug]

I wish there were more 07 guys here......

[RayArroyo]

Originally Posted by doug

I wish there were more 07 guys here......

i have 07 maps

[silver05bullet]

ive been using open source ecu flashing for a while now o the evo i still cant believe anyone is paying 600+$ for a tune with ecutek, when ecuflash is just as good, Malibujack along with some other people are working on creating switchable maps for the evo ecu, it was recently found that it can hold up to 8 diffrent maps in a few weeks we should see that incorporated into the program allowing for race gas, pump gas, valet and all kinds of other maps to be incorporated.

[markley02]

Originally Posted by silver05bullet

ive been using open source ecu flashing for a while now o the evo i still cant believe anyone is paying 600+$ for a tune with ecutek, when ecuflash is just as good, Malibujack along with some other people are working on creating switchable maps for the evo ecu, it was recently found that it can hold up to 8 diffrent maps in a few weeks we should see that incorporated into the program allowing for race gas, pump gas, valet and all kinds of other maps to be incorporated.

How will you be able to switch maps though? Wont you still have to connect the cable and laptop? You can store several different ROMs to your laptop and write them as you please now. What is the big deal????

[UnderPoweredRS]

Originally Posted by markley02

How will you be able to switch maps though? Wont you still have to connect the cable and laptop? You can store several different ROMs to your laptop and write them as you please now. What is the big deal????

Yea but it takes longer to reflash a map then to switch a map and the learning curve will start all over again.

[gsrboi80]

I have to get custom tuned mainly to get these cams idleing and more suitable for daily driving.

I really dont even care about jumping on a Dyno right now. Some road tuning will actually be
better in this case I think

Ive been back and forth through emails with Jestr and its better than it was but it needs to be better

My A/F's are ok at WOT but my fuel trims look like crap. I wish there was somebody local I could trust that knows there stuff

[peteyturbo]

Seperate maps are automatically switched over at a given boost pressure or load cell for that matter, it's not like you can just switch them..I'd rather just reflash the car to be honest..

[redline]

Originally Posted by peteyturbo

Seperate maps are automatically switched over at a given boost pressure or load cell for that matter, it's not like you can just switch them..I'd rather just reflash the car to be honest..

I plan to run 24psi on 93, 29psi on C16 with a AEM Tru-boost EBC. So what your saying is I will be able to turn up the boost 29 and the map will switch on its own I don't trust it, I am with you I would still run 2 sep. maps and switch them manually when needed.

[pinacup7]

Originally Posted by UnderPoweredRS

Yea but it takes longer to reflash a map then to switch a map and the learning curve will start all over again.

Kinda curious, I know on my sct xcalibrater package You can tearn the adaptive strategy off, and you are told to do so because the computer will try to correct the air fuel ratio back to 14.1 and can blow your engine. Is this not the case in the sub/evos?

[RayArroyo]

what he means by learning, is just like when you discconect the battery on the stock ecu it takes the computer some miles to adjust for optimum performance. it will not correct itself to factory parameters

[pinacup7]

Cool thanks for clarifying