Tuning & FI

[poptopclk]

I am a IT specialist by trade and see that the car software world is a lot like the computer world with different brands of "tune"


We have for the most part :

• Microsoft
• Apple
• Linux

They all have pros & cons but I tell folks at the end of the day you still click an icon to open something


With all these different way of programming the car's ECU I have no idea which one to choose so,


I'll just get to the point I want to add a Jackson racing SC with stock exhaust and of course the car won't run without a reprogrammed ECU


Since many on here have added the same Jackson SC I see no reason to reinvent the wheel.


Can't I just download the most popular rom for that Supercharger?


Can the car's ECU have multiple rom's stored on it ? I saw a video where the cruise control toggles the rom. I'd like to keep the stock rom since I really want to run the SC only on the track and go NA for the rest of the time. I have a post about this in the FI sub forum


Thanks in advance

[jonbonazza]

The answer is a bit more complicated. First of all, every car is different, so while in theory you could use an off the shelf tune, it will not be optimized for your car.

Furthermore, various tuning solutions have different capabilities. If you are going FI, then the only real option out there (currently) for you is ECUTek. It's a fantastic system, but it is also extremely locked down. You need a cable to connect and a license usb key to even launch the software. Furthermore, you need to be a registered tuner to actually create a tune file and the file format is proprietary. Also, every tune, cable, and license is tied to your VIN and your license and tune is tied to your cable's ID. It really is a pain, but one we are forced to deal with until an alternative comes along.

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by poptopclk

Can the car's ECU have multiple rom's stored on it ? I saw a video where the cruise control toggles the rom. I'd like to keep the stock rom since I really want to run the SC only on the track and go NA for the rest of the time. I have a post about this in the FI sub forum


Thanks in advance

EcuTek supports map switching, but nothing else does yet.

Are you suggesting you're going to remove the SC for daily driving and reinstall it for track days?? You realize that's like a 7 hour job each time?

You can't just turn the SC off when it's still installed, and even if you could the airflow through it would be different enough from stock that the factory tune wouldn't be very good anymore.

[Circuit Motorsports]

Originally Posted by jonbonazza

Furthermore, various tuning solutions have different capabilities. If you are going FI, then the only real option out there (currently) for you is ECUTek. It's a fantastic system, but it is also extremely locked down. You need a cable to connect and a license usb key to even launch the software. Furthermore, you need to be a registered tuner to actually create a tune file and the file format is proprietary. Also, every tune, cable, and license is tied to your VIN and your license and tune is tied to your cable's ID. It really is a pain, but one we are forced to deal with until an alternative comes along.

Just want to correct a few items about the EcuTek system.

You will need an EcuTek Programming kit (cable and USB key) and license, but you do not have to be a registered tuner to create a tune for your car. EcuTek released end-user tuning capability months ago. You can tune your own car with EcuTek's FREE software that you download, and that software works with an EcuTek programming kit.

EcuTek cables and tunes are NOT tied to your VIN. Only the EcuTek license is tied to your ECU. A locked tune is tied to your USB key (part of the EcuTek programming kit). If you are making your own tune, you can lock it or unlock it.

So, for EcuTek self-tuning, you need the following:

• EcuTek Programming Kit (Can be shared with others)
• EcuTek License (one-time purchase, stays with your ECU for life)
• EcuTek FREE software (downloaded from EcuTek's website)

Optional:

• EcuTek RaceRom Upgrade for Self-Tuning (enables advanced RaceRom features - a must have for Forced Induction tunes)

We carry the full line of EcuTek programming kits, licenses, and software.

- Bob

[nelsmar]

Originally Posted by jonbonazza

The answer is a bit more complicated. First of all, every car is different, so while in theory you could use an off the shelf tune, it will not be optimized for your car.

Furthermore, various tuning solutions have different capabilities. If you are going FI, then the only real option out there (currently) for you is ECUTek. It's a fantastic system, but it is also extremely locked down. You need a cable to connect and a license usb key to even launch the software. Furthermore, you need to be a registered tuner to actually create a tune file and the file format is proprietary. Also, every tune, cable, and license is tied to your VIN and your license and tune is tied to your cable's ID. It really is a pain, but one we are forced to deal with until an alternative comes along.

End users who simply buy a cable and vehicle license are able to create their own maps. You don't have to be a licensed tuner. And not all tunes are locked to your key. Some tuners do. It lock their tunes. That is an option that ecutek gives as an option for security.

What's a pain is the lack of key bindings in rom raider. lol. Not to mention the lack of speed density in open source which is really needed to do a quality tune on a jrsc at high rpm as it tends to max the maf out

There aren't a ton of options out currently for tuning but luckily the ones out are quite sufficient for the needs of many!

[jonbonazza]

Originally Posted by Circuit Motorsports

Just want to correct a few items about the EcuTek system.

You will need an EcuTek Programming kit (cable and USB key) and license, but you do not have to be a registered tuner to create a tune for your car. EcuTek released end-user tuning capability months ago. You can tune your own car with EcuTek's FREE software that you download, and that software works with an EcuTek programming kit.

EcuTek cables and tunes are NOT tied to your VIN. Only the EcuTek license is tied to your ECU. A locked tune is tied to your USB key (part of the EcuTek programming kit). If you are making your own tune, you can lock it or unlock it.

So, for EcuTek self-tuning, you need the following:

• EcuTek Programming Kit (Can be shared with others)
• EcuTek License (one-time purchase, stays with your ECU for life)
• EcuTek FREE software (downloaded from EcuTek's website)

Optional:

• EcuTek RaceRom Upgrade for Self-Tuning (enables advanced RaceRom features - a must have for Forced Induction tunes)

We carry the full line of EcuTek programming kits, licenses, and software.

- Bob

Originally Posted by nelsmar

End users who simply buy a cable and vehicle license are able to create their own maps. You don't have to be a licensed tuner. And not all tunes are locked to your key. Some tuners do. It lock their tunes. That is an option that ecutek gives as an option for security.

What's a pain is the lack of key bindings in rom raider. lol. Not to mention the lack of speed density in open source which is really needed to do a quality tune on a jrsc at high rpm as it tends to max the maf out

There aren't a ton of options out currently for tuning but luckily the ones out are quite sufficient for the needs of many!

I stand corrected. Thanks. =)