scheides
10-03-2007, 03:39 PM
Well having open source applications for loading and tuning the stock ECU is getting REALLY fun! Obviously having control over fuel, timing, boost control, maf scaling, etc is insanely cool as it is....I mean my car picked up ~30whp over the stock tune after some time at DB.
I have not touched the ecu on the car since January, as I am a computer geek but NOT a tuner! This mod just came out though that I had to have, so I went though and figured out what needed to be done to do it. I have to say it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I already have a laptop that I use for logging the car w/ the $80 tactrix cable so I had everything I needed.
This is the patch I'm talking about:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=297825
Basically you get 3 features built-into a stock ROM:
WHAT YOU GET:
Knock CEL - exactly the same as my previous patch
Valet/Security Mode - This allows YOU to enforce a pre-set rev limit on the car without reflashing, great for when handing the keys over to parking attendants or even when parking in unscrupulous areas.
No lift to shift - This allows YOU to change gears without lifting off the throttle, making gear shifts slightly faster and more importantly holding more boost between each shift.
HOW DO YOU USE IT:
KnockCEL - Shouldn't need explaining!
Valet/Security Mode - Turn the ignition to ON but DO NOT start the car, hold the TPS @ 100% for the pre-set amount of time (default 10 seconds), CEL will flash when system is enabled. Same proceedure to disable.
NLTS - The system will enable when you reach the preset TPS and Speed thresholds AND press down on the clutch. It is setup to use the TOP clutch switch so you need to be very affirmative when getting on and off the clutch otherwise you will look like a tool
I have to say that all I really wanted out of this was the KnockCEL patch. I have been playing around with various boost levels on my new setup, and while its fun to log log log everywhere I go and try different things, it'd be nice to know precisely when I am getting knock (i.e. oh noes!!! pull out pull out!!!).
The valet thing I will probably never use, but it will be fun for a few practical jokes here and there I think (i.e. letting swifty use my car to go get more buns at the dyno day ;) ) but other than that it will be pretty much pointless. Easy to use if I ever need it though.
Lastly, NLTS. I thought for sure this would be totally something that I would never use, but I enabled it anyways just for grins, see how well it worked. The way this particular system is designed is totally off the charts compared to some other xfer-case blowing setups I've seen. It is well-implemented because the lowered rev-limiter is based on the rpm at which you put the clutch in.
So if you shift at 6000rpms, the NLTS rev-limit is set to 4500rpms.
If you shift at 7500rpms, the NLTS rev-limit is set to 6000rpms.
The amount which it is dropped is tunable, as well as how much throttle you have to stay above for it to be active. I have mine set to a 1500rpm drop (default for 5-speed) and only active above 90% throttle. Driving normally (aggressively) the car behaves exactly the same as you would expect. However, doing NLTS, you maintain a good amount of boost--I see about 14psi in-between shifts and right back up to 25 or whatever.
Does AEM's NLTS work like this? Or is it a static rpm like the old TMO chips, where you have to shift at the same RPM every time?
I have not touched the ecu on the car since January, as I am a computer geek but NOT a tuner! This mod just came out though that I had to have, so I went though and figured out what needed to be done to do it. I have to say it was not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I already have a laptop that I use for logging the car w/ the $80 tactrix cable so I had everything I needed.
This is the patch I'm talking about:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/showthread.php?t=297825
Basically you get 3 features built-into a stock ROM:
WHAT YOU GET:
Knock CEL - exactly the same as my previous patch
Valet/Security Mode - This allows YOU to enforce a pre-set rev limit on the car without reflashing, great for when handing the keys over to parking attendants or even when parking in unscrupulous areas.
No lift to shift - This allows YOU to change gears without lifting off the throttle, making gear shifts slightly faster and more importantly holding more boost between each shift.
HOW DO YOU USE IT:
KnockCEL - Shouldn't need explaining!
Valet/Security Mode - Turn the ignition to ON but DO NOT start the car, hold the TPS @ 100% for the pre-set amount of time (default 10 seconds), CEL will flash when system is enabled. Same proceedure to disable.
NLTS - The system will enable when you reach the preset TPS and Speed thresholds AND press down on the clutch. It is setup to use the TOP clutch switch so you need to be very affirmative when getting on and off the clutch otherwise you will look like a tool
I have to say that all I really wanted out of this was the KnockCEL patch. I have been playing around with various boost levels on my new setup, and while its fun to log log log everywhere I go and try different things, it'd be nice to know precisely when I am getting knock (i.e. oh noes!!! pull out pull out!!!).
The valet thing I will probably never use, but it will be fun for a few practical jokes here and there I think (i.e. letting swifty use my car to go get more buns at the dyno day ;) ) but other than that it will be pretty much pointless. Easy to use if I ever need it though.
Lastly, NLTS. I thought for sure this would be totally something that I would never use, but I enabled it anyways just for grins, see how well it worked. The way this particular system is designed is totally off the charts compared to some other xfer-case blowing setups I've seen. It is well-implemented because the lowered rev-limiter is based on the rpm at which you put the clutch in.
So if you shift at 6000rpms, the NLTS rev-limit is set to 4500rpms.
If you shift at 7500rpms, the NLTS rev-limit is set to 6000rpms.
The amount which it is dropped is tunable, as well as how much throttle you have to stay above for it to be active. I have mine set to a 1500rpm drop (default for 5-speed) and only active above 90% throttle. Driving normally (aggressively) the car behaves exactly the same as you would expect. However, doing NLTS, you maintain a good amount of boost--I see about 14psi in-between shifts and right back up to 25 or whatever.
Does AEM's NLTS work like this? Or is it a static rpm like the old TMO chips, where you have to shift at the same RPM every time?