Stock EVO ECU Mods! NLTS, KnockCEL, Valet mode

**scheides** · 10-03-2007

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:

Quote:

Originally Posted by tephra

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?

TalonFiero · 10-03-2007

Be sure and send a donation to Tephra!

I think the dynamic NLTS may be better than the way DSMLink does NLTS.

I need to get my ecu updated with this latest patch. Problem is the cable someone gave me at work doesn't seem to work, it worked for him on his IX MR just fine.

Schiedes, maybe we can get together and I supply the beer and you show me how to get this done!

Jim

**scheides** · 10-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalonFiero

Be sure and send a donation to Tephra!

I think the dynamic NLTS may be better than the way DSMLink does NLTS.

I need to get my ecu updated with this latest patch. Problem is the cable someone gave me at work doesn't seem to work, it worked for him on his IX MR just fine.

Schiedes, maybe we can get together and I supply the beer and you show me how to get this done!

Jim

Sure thing man! It takes a total of about an hour to do, at the most. Do you happen to know what your standard base ROM id is? 88590015 I think is for 2006 IX's...

How does DSMLink to NLTS?

TalonFiero · 10-03-2007

"How does DSMLink to NLTS?"

Not sure if I understand your broken English?

With every purchase of DSMLink since version 2 I believe, they came with a bit of wiring that you would use to tap into the signal from the cruise clutch switch (engages as soon as you put pressure on the clutch pedal).

Then you would set up the activation triggers. Basically set at what mph you want NLTS to be activated and you then enter a "fixed" NLTS RPM say 6500.

DSMLink NLTS if you shift at 7,000 RPM your NLTS revlimiter is set to 6500 then shift RPMS try and drop to 6500, if you shift at 8,000 it trys to drop to 6500, if you shift at 5,000 it will rev up to 6500.

Evo setup NLTS if you shift at 7,000 RPM and your NLTS revlimiter adjustment is set to 1000 it will try and drop to 6,000, if you shift at 8,000 it will try and drop to 7,000, if you shift at 5,000 it will try to drop to 4,000.

T

**Goat Blower** · 10-03-2007

I had NLTS with my old TMO setup, it actually worked pretty good the few times I used it. I don't remember the settings for it, it's been years.

TalonFiero · 10-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

I had NLTS with my old TMO setup, it actually worked pretty good the few times I used it. I don't remember the settings for it, it's been years.

TMO! I don't think some of DSM owners on this site were even alive when the TMO chip was released!

**scheides** · 10-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TalonFiero

TMO! I don't think some of DSM owners on this site were even alive when the TMO chip was released!

Hey, I said TMO first! I was just jogging the old man's memory!

I think this implementation of NLTS might be the best I've ever used; there is literally zero drivetrain shock when shifting, and I think its even smoother than a standard shift. It has a very peculiar sound too, like slowly releasing the air from a balloon, but without the pttthhhhbbtttt sound.....just a slow weeeeeesssshhhhh but then you also have a rev-limit pop or two, depending on how fast you shift:

vroooooooooooom-bap-bap-vroooooooooooom-bap-bap-vrooooooooooooom!
...........................weeeeesh............... ............weeeesh..........................

niterydr · 10-04-2007

AEM ntls/anti-lag rally style is fully configurable.

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 10-04-2007

That Evo NLTS with the dynamic RPM is a great idea, I haven't heard of a implementation like that before.

**scheides** · 10-04-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by niterydr

AEM ntls/anti-lag rally style is fully configurable.

Can you pick how many bannanas it pops out of the a/c vents or what?

What do you mean? Does it work like this new evo patch or not? Fully configurable could mean you can select how much TPS you need to engage it and how what rev-limit it sets, or it could mean that you can configure how much drop there is in each gear, or blah blah blah! ...Just wondering, that's all.

**scheides** · 10-21-2007

GAHHH!!!! Soon after I installed this mod, I quit logging since I could now see knock show up right on my dash! Turns out I was foolish.

My car has been a bit down on power, and it showed up for certain when I attended the dyno day this weekend. When doing the NLTS mod before the fall cruise, I missed two values in two separate places (total of four values) that have to do with the high-end scaling the ecu will see and how much timing and fuel it will try and run in the engine. When it came down to it, I was running almost 10 LESS degrees of timing and running almost a full point rich.

Just goes to show you BE CAREFUL and check all of the little things!

Swifty1638 · 10-21-2007

hehe..I know how to turn off that valet mode smartass. Give me the frcken keys.

-A. Swift

**scheides** · 10-21-2007

Haha, I was gonna give you the keys w/ it in valet mode on sat, that would have been hilarious!

Swifty1638 · 10-22-2007

I knewhow to turn it off. Your face in shock would have been even better!

-A. Swift

**scheides** · 10-22-2007

You're right, not like I didn't expect you to read this and figure it out ahead of time

I'll just set the delay time to like 10 minutes, you'll give up after 3!

Swifty1638 · 10-22-2007

the hell I will! I LOVE driving your car, and I've always been good to it! Clutch still work?

-A. Swift

AwdGSX13 · 04-19-2008

Just got these couple mods installed thanks to Scheides last night. Very cool, especially the NLTS, took a few times to get used to the fact of not lifting off the gas

but pretty awesome. Also found out it has small cases of knock on a stock tune w/ an intake. Anyways cool program.

**Kracka** · 04-19-2008

Some knock is normal due to false readings. Unless its knocking a lot under WOT don't about it with your setup (minor mods, stock tune).

AwdGSX13 · 04-19-2008

thats what i figured, it was only showing like 3 or less counts of knock. Not all too worried about it.

mike55112 · 04-19-2008

So how much does this cost to get it on my evo?