Ecutek Save Tune?

[Battlerobot]

Hi, I recently bought a BRZ with a perrin bigmaf intake, and Ecutek tune. It failed visual inspection for smog, so I need to swap out the intake for a stock one. My ECU already has a license, but I don't have a cable. If I was able to borrow a cable, would I be able to save my current tune for later use? Also, where would I find a stock tune for my '16 BRZ?

[Kodename47]

You can't save a tune off the ECU. Anyone with a cable and dongle will have the stock files as they're downloaded with the program.

Have you tried just fitting the OEM airbox? I know it's not an ideal solution but it may be enough to just pass it.

[Khánh]

the car is so new.. do the dmv required you to smog?
if you fail visual, just put the stock intake back on and you should be fine

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Battlerobot

Hi, I recently bought a BRZ with a perrin bigmaf intake, and Ecutek tune. It failed visual inspection for smog, so I need to swap out the intake for a stock one. My ECU already has a license, but I don't have a cable. If I was able to borrow a cable, would I be able to save my current tune for later use? Also, where would I find a stock tune for my '16 BRZ?

you could swap out your tuned ecu for a stock ecu


as long as you get same transmission type ecu ie auto or manual any 2013-2016 ecu will work in your car


eg for a manual its only $75


http://www.ebay.com/itm/ENGINE-CONTR...lXrP8A&vxp=mtr




then just swap it out as per this procedure , you wont need to flash e3cu with correct calibration as it should be ok.


then just swap your tuned ecu back in when smog test done


procedure here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102810




.

[Battlerobot]

Originally Posted by Kodename47

You can't save a tune off the ECU. Anyone with a cable and dongle will have the stock files as they're downloaded with the program.

Have you tried just fitting the OEM airbox? I know it's not an ideal solution but it may be enough to just pass it.

Yeah, I think I'm going to try this, but I'm worried the maf scaling is going to cause the engine to run too rich with the stock airbox, but I think it should be fine for just smog.

Originally Posted by Khánh

the car is so new.. do the dmv required you to smog?
if you fail visual, just put the stock intake back on and you should be fine

Yes, I bought the car out of state and since it has too many miles to be considered new, I have to smog it in order to register it.

Originally Posted by steve99

you could swap out your tuned ecu for a stock ecu


as long as you get same transmission type ecu ie auto or manual any 2013-2016 ecu will work in your car


eg for a manual its only $75


http://www.ebay.com/itm/ENGINE-CONTR...lXrP8A&vxp=mtr




then just swap it out as per this procedure , you wont need to flash e3cu with correct calibration as it should be ok.


then just swap your tuned ecu back in when smog test done


procedure here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102810


.

Interesting... I think i'll try this if I can't pass by just changing the airbox. Thank you so much!

[phrosty]

The *intake* is causing you to fail a smog test? Wow.

[Battlerobot]

Originally Posted by steve99

you could swap out your tuned ecu for a stock ecu


as long as you get same transmission type ecu ie auto or manual any 2013-2016 ecu will work in your car


eg for a manual its only $75


http://www.ebay.com/itm/ENGINE-CONTR...lXrP8A&vxp=mtr




then just swap it out as per this procedure , you wont need to flash e3cu with correct calibration as it should be ok.


then just swap your tuned ecu back in when smog test done


procedure here
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102810




.

Also, lets say I get a '13 frs ecu for my '16 brz, would I need to reflash it or anything to work with my car, or will it just be plug and play?

[Battlerobot]

Originally Posted by phrosty

The *intake* is causing you to fail a smog test? Wow.

Yeah, they wanted the EO# for CARB approval, but the Bigmaf 3" version isn't carb approved.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Battlerobot

Also, lets say I get a '13 frs ecu for my '16 brz, would I need to reflash it or anything to work with my car, or will it just be plug and play?

2013 ecu should work without reflash in 2016 car as long at transmission type same.


you don't need to change vin in ecu to get car started either

[Battlerobot]

Originally Posted by steve99

2013 ecu should work without reflash in 2016 car as long at transmission type same.


you don't need to change vin in ecu to get car started either

Sorry to bother you again, but I saw in another thread that the ECU had to be neutralized before being used in another car? Will there be an issue with the smart key and getting it to start? Again, thank you so much for the info.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Battlerobot

Sorry to bother you again, but I saw in another thread that the ECU had to be neutralized before being used in another car? Will there be an issue with the smart key and getting it to start? Again, thank you so much for the info.

Done a couple of these ecu swaps with secondhand ecu all ok.


even swapped a usa manual ecu in Australian auto (had re reflash correct calibration ) and all ok




you might have to swap out header or at least istall a o2 spacer when running stock tune else you will throw a P0420 cel code which may fail smog not sure

[Kodename47]

I'd have thought the fuel trims would work well enough to prevent you failing. Without checking I don't know how different the BigMAF scaling is, but surely it's less than the 30% that will trigger a rich CEL. @steve99 any ideas. Just trying to save the guy some cash.

[steve99]

Originally Posted by Kodename47

I'd have thought the fuel trims would work well enough to prevent you failing. Without checking I don't know how different the BigMAF scaling is, but surely it's less than the 30% that will trigger a rich CEL. @steve99 any ideas. Just trying to save the guy some cash.

Yeah the perrin big maf is 3" tube (stock 2.5" I think) so the trims are going to be pretty high, over 30% increase in cross section area, but the perrin scaling for 3" 20 % or more increase but guys using that scaling found it was still off a fair bit like 10% . Perrin supplied scaling at end of this post http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64790


Not sure on how strict they are on checks but his tune likely disables P0420 so its going to fail a couple of readiness checks, not sure if that's an issue as well.


If its only a visual inspection as the OP states then he should be ok just swapping out the perrin for stock and just reset the code if it triggers.


Im assuming he not turbo or SC :-)

[Battlerobot]

Update to anyone that cares, just passed smog using my sister's stock intake. The car didn't throw any codes but was running for less than 40 mins total.