Do NOT purchase an EcuTEK license for your 06 without reading this...

[Tea cups]

Originally Posted by RR-racing

(2) Open Source is flat out ripping and stealing their maps and software. They are not doing the work themselves.

Pure BS. No one in the open source community gives two craps about Ecutek maps or software. Nor is there any discussion about ripping off Ecutek. On the RomRaider site, we don't allow any commercial maps to be posted - Cobb, Ecutek, nor any discussion about hacking commercial software and the like - nothing even remotely close to it is tolerated. There have been many developments (such as new ECU tables and logger parameter support added) that don't even exist in the Cobb and Ecutek software and some of these that were later added to the commercial software at the request of pro-tuners who tune with OS and commercial. There are detailed discussions on the RomRaider site about ECU logic for which I've never seen anything remotely close presented by any commercial company. I have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours reverse engineering the factory ECU for RomRaider, so for someone who doesn't have the first clue what they are talking about to say we are not doing the work ourselves, pisses me off.

Back in 2006 or so, some dude not associated with the ROM editor development did hack Ecutek's table definitions and created a utility called xmlwrite which generated definitions based on Ecutek's table defs for each of the major ROM editors. These definitions were never included in any RomRaider or Ecuflash release, but the utility was used early on by users when there was little support. It was not known at the time how the definitions were created (or from where). However, it quickly became irrelevant as people began to work on the disassembly of the factory ROMs and the RomRaider/Ecuflash defs improved. And after it became apparent where the table definitions had come from and that it wasn't "ethical" to have this discussed or files of this nature posted at the RomRaider forums, we removed all traces of xmlwrite generated defs posted by users and anything remotely related to xmlwrite. That was back in 2006 or so. That is what Ecutek is clinging to when they make these claims about OS which are false. What they are correct about is that a program called Ecuedit, which is not open source and not associated with any of the open source editors or developers, is using xmlwrite definitions in their product to this day. The dude that creates Ecuedit lives in Russia and has a habit of lifting stuff from other software including logger descriptions lifted verbatim from Cobb's manual and even logger addresses straight from RomRaider. Ecutek tries to lump in Ecuedit with the OS editors (RomRaider/Ecuflash), for, I can only imagine, the purpose of trying to give OS a bad name since they lost a lot of market share in the U.S.

I have no problem with Ecutek "locking" their tunes. Cobb recently did the same thing. I think that is a good thing. By all means, protect it. But, even if they were unlocked, no one in the OS community is going to bother, nor care, about Cobb/Ecutek software/maps/whatever.

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[06STi]

Originally Posted by RR-racing

I realize that people are upset about not being able to reflash their ECU's with another source after its been Ecutek flashed... but you must understand Ecutek is protecting their intelectual property in a sense (although I feel there should be a work around for a dealer to take an ECU back to stock).

I've spoken to Ecutek several times about Open Source tuning. I am personally torn both ways. Their arguement are as follows:

(1) Ecutek spends significant time development the maps and software.

(2) Open Source is flat out ripping and stealing their maps and software. They are not doing the work themselves.

I also see comments on this and other forums blatantly discussing ripping of Ecutek software, which quite frankly are quite troubling that people quite openly, see absolutely nothing wrong with doing that.

On the other hand, I must say that I do not have a whole lot of experience with these ROM editors to say if they are simply editors that allow you to do what you want, or they really are blatant rips of Ecutek software/maps.

Rafi

Wow.. what a bunch of crap..

The only thing people talk about or even brag about on any forums is when they have **** canned Cobb or Ecutek off their own ecu. Other then that. Get real man. I have now seen Cobb, Ecutek, Romraider, Ecuedit,

1# Romraider would be number one if it had real time adjustment. Great surport. Great function, You can never be locked out.

2# Cobb would be second if Romraider had real time stuff. Locks you out but has race tuner software. Good surport. Tuners can have ego's

3# Ecuedit next as its close to romraider but little harder to install configure and get up to speed. ok surport, Not for simple people.

4# Ecutek Last... Old program, No real time anything, No real user adjustments for DBW cars. (oh...idle and add + 5* timing at idle) Ecutek surport sucks. Tuners have ego's


So why would anyone want to copy, hack, or do anything with a 4th place poorly surported program? Why would you..? I would not even bother knowing that Romraider is free......

[jim1969]

EcuTek's support leaves much to be desired that is for sure.

[mikeis300]

Originally Posted by 06STi

Wow.. what a bunch of crap..

The only thing people talk about or even brag about on any forums is when they have **** canned Cobb or Ecutek off their own ecu. Other then that. Get real man. I have now seen Cobb, Ecutek, Romraider, Ecuedit,

1# Romraider would be number one if it had real time adjustment. Great surport. Great function, You can never be locked out.

2# Cobb would be second if Romraider had real time stuff. Locks you out but has race tuner software. Good surport. Tuners can have ego's

3# Ecuedit next as its close to romraider but little harder to install configure and get up to speed. ok surport, Not for simple people.

4# Ecutek Last... Old program, No real time anything, No real user adjustments for DBW cars. (oh...idle and add + 5* timing at idle) Ecutek surport sucks. Tuners have ego's


So why would anyone want to copy, hack, or do anything with a 4th place poorly surported program? Why would you..? I would not even bother knowing that Romraider is free......

ecutek only believes that people are ripping their code because open source is always one step ahead of them, and if ecutek comes out with a option that isn't available via open source its not long before someone figures out how to replicate it.

here's a thought. how many programs does ecutek have developing software? how people have helped contribute to open source programs.
i don't have exact figures for either value, but i would guess that open source has had more programers contributing code than ecutek

[bluetaxi]

from what I read now in the USA the easyecu can flash the ecu(USDM) back to the real stock rom, where as in the rest of the world seem not an easy way yet?????.... ie to the JDM's ECU. 'coz a friend 2003 JDM STI, he ask the dealer to reflash back to stock rom, but he still cannot get it read or reflash by other OS tuning, So & the end he get a used stock ECU....... damn!!

So up to date hv any 1 try to use the easyecu to reflash the ECUtek JDM/EDM ECU?


offtopic:
BTW, I also seem/read some JDM ECUs from Japan, the Japan tunners don't even care to lockout the ECUs. Read all u want.... hehe...

[subydude]

Originally Posted by bluetaxi

from what I read now in the USA the easyecu can flash the ecu(USDM) back to the real stock rom, where as in the rest of the world seem not an easy way yet?????.... ie to the JDM's ECU. 'coz a friend 2003 JDM STI, he ask the dealer to reflash back to stock rom, but he still cannot get it read or reflash by other OS tuning, So & the end he get a used stock ECU....... damn!!

So up to date hv any 1 try to use the easyecu to reflash the ECUtek JDM/EDM ECU?


offtopic:
BTW, I also seem/read some JDM ECUs from Japan, the Japan tunners don't even care to lockout the ECUs. Read all u want.... hehe...

Bump for more info on this. I'm pretty much to the point of either installing a utec over top of my ecutek tuned ecu, or just finding another ecu to opensource tune. Anyone care to comment on other options?

[OHARA]

Originally Posted by subydude

Bump for more info on this. I'm pretty much to the point of either installing a utec over top of my ecutek tuned ecu, or just finding another ecu to opensource tune. Anyone care to comment on other options?

I'm in the same boat. Seems Like once you've installed Ecutek your screwed...

[subydude]

Originally Posted by OHARA

I'm in the same boat. Seems Like once you've installed Ecutek your screwed...

I'm hoping to find out sooner or later about the rumor that ecutek didn't lock the 16 bit ECU's. I don't have a tactrix cable, but as soon as I get a chance to borrow one I'll see if it's true or not.

[wrxsti.l]

Here is the only way to get your ECU unlocked that works (AFAIK). If you live in the USA and your car is supported by Cobb's AP then all you need to do is marry up the AP to your ECU, then unmarry the AP again.

It is that simple.

Once you unmarry it, the AP will load the stock, unmodded, ROM for your ECU and you will then be able to read/write with ECUFlash.

Leslie.


P.S. I was told that you can also send your ECU off to ECUTEK HQ and they can remove the licence from it and unlock it, but I have not read one post where a NASIOC member hyas done this or this has worked.

[wrxsti.l]

Here is the only way to get your ECU unlocked that works (AFAIK).

Basically Cobb and ECUTEK have come to some type of agreement where either can unlock the ECU from the other company's licence/lockout system. So if you live in the USA and/or your car is supported by Cobb's AP then all you need to do is marry up the AP to your ECU, then unmarry the AP again. Once you unmarry it, the AP will load the stock, unmodded, ROM for your ECU and you will then be able to read/write with ECUFlash.

It is that simple.

For everyone else who has an ECU not suppoirted by the AP, you're screwed and will have to source an unlocked replacement ECU from your car. (Edit: I was told that you can also send your ECU off to ECUTEK HQ and they can remove the licence from it and unlock it, but I have not read one post where a NASIOC member hyas done this or this has worked).

Leslie.

[subydude]

There are also rumors of using easyecu to unlock the ecu by flashing the stock ROM onto it. I'm hoping to test my theory of them not locking the 16 bit ECU's tomorrow. If that doesn't work I might try asking them to unlock my ECU.

[paul_p1]

I know for a fact that a certain well known ECU flashing/editing software will read and write to ECUTek locked ECU's. PM me for details, this doesn't have to be an issue to ECUTek users anymore, 16-bit ones at least.

[jmcsnw]

I have an 02 WRX with an ecutek tune. I'm having my engine rebuilt, so I need to get it retuned. The tuner I want to take it to doesn't support ecutek, and he said that he is locked out of my car. Is there a way for me to completely remove ecutek to allow him to tune my car? Do I have to buy a new/used, unmolested ECU and put that in?

[Karl S.]

Well, you can, as you stated, buy another "unmolested" ecu, or take it to an ecutek tuner, and he can remove the "lock" from your ecu, but he will put on a "stock" map. So you will lose your tune, and he will probably charge you to do it. Or you can find someone who knows how to remove the lock.
But honestly, the easiest and cheapest way is to buy a used WRX ecu.

[colby]

car-part.com is a good placed to find ECUs. i get most of mine there.

[jmcsnw]

My understanding is that even the original tuner cannot completely remove the ecutek because the 02 WRX had a 16 bit ECU. An ecutek tuner can flash it back to stock, but the Ecutek will still remain, and I won't be able to switch to a different tuning program. Is this true?

[Karl S.]

No, it is not true**. Removing the "lock" applies to 16 or 32 bit ecu. Once it is flashed back to "stock" (unlocked) you can flash it with any other program (OS, COBB***8230;etc.)
However the ecutek license** still remains on the ecu, and you can always go back to ecutek tuning without paying for the license** again. but going back will lock it again.

** this is based on my knowledge as of 1+ years ago. They might of changed things since then.

But these days, it makes much more sense to use OS, as it will do all of and then some more than ecutek does. Without paying $$$$$ for ecutek license. But remember, it is the tuner and his knowledge and experience with his choice of tuning software, and not the software alone that is the critical "factor" in tuning.

[jmcsnw]

I emailed Ben Dagenais at Ecutek looking for solutions and he responded, "it is not possible to remove the license completely."

I emailed him back asking for clarification, and he responded, "as I said in my previous e-mail, it is NOT possible to be removed."

I guess this could be a misunderstanding. In other words, maybe the license can't be removed, but I could switch to a different program. If so, he didn't make it clear and certainly didn't tell me how.

[Karl S.]

Of course that is what he will tell you.... after all he works for them. They are just trying to sway people to stay and use the stuff they sell.
If you have the "lock" removed, (like I said in my previous post) ecutek will put a "stock" rom on your ecu, (and removing your tune in the process) and it will "unlock it", but it will retain the ecutek license.
But "not removing the license" and you being able to tune /flash the ecu with something else is a totally different thing. Its not the license that is preventing you from flashing the ecu.

[Vlad]

I am resurecting this tread for the following reason:

Due to incomplete information couple years ago about Ecutek licenses, Ecutek flashed ECu's don't re-sell for the same value as those that don't have a license.
I will soon have a Used ECu that I want to sell.
I am looking for an update about the current status of Ecutek "unlocking".

If you don't really need to completely remove the license, just have an Ecutek dealer flash back to stock and the Open source works, then I can have that done.

Did the Open Source community progress in the time that has passed, to where at this point it really does not matter anymore that there is an Ecutek license on an Ecu and an Open Source user will have no problem flashing their map on it?

[kgb]

Figure I should post here and see if it leads anywhere:

JDM Ver8 swap, tried EcuFlash and gets a protocol error reading the ROM, and suspect it might have tuned with EcuTEK - do they do JDM Ver8 ECU (03 STi) ? I believe you don't need the jumper block to read the ROM off, and that the test mode connector doesn't switch on test mode. How can I tell? Nothing on my invoice for the swap says it was tuned with EcuTEK either and it was 3 yrs ago when it was done...

[Daluv]

I have heard the same thing regarding 16 bits ecu with ecutek.

Is there a way to totally remove ecutek from a 16 bits ecu? The ecu is a s202 so it is not THAT easy to source a virgin OEM ecu..

Mart

Originally Posted by jmcsnw

My understanding is that even the original tuner cannot completely remove the ecutek because the 02 WRX had a 16 bit ECU. An ecutek tuner can flash it back to stock, but the Ecutek will still remain, and I won't be able to switch to a different tuning program. Is this true?

[Samurai Jack]

Originally Posted by Vlad

I am resurecting this tread for the following reason:

Did the Open Source community progress in the time that has passed, to where at this point it really does not matter anymore that there is an Ecutek license on an Ecu and an Open Source user will have no problem flashing their map on it?

I can tell you from experience that it all depends on when your '02 was tuned w/ECUTek.

My '02 was originally tuned in late '04/early '05 w/ECUTek.
It was not locked.

It has since been completely re-tuned w/Open Source and works flawlessly.

Hope that helps.

[Paidfor]

Back from the dead just to clarify that we all conclude ECUTEK sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!Yeah im THAT bored.....sorry

[Visconti]

FYI-

02 ECUs can not be unlocked.. ever

Everything else can be unlocked, and is unlocked when flashed back to stock.

If anyone needs this done feel free to PM me.

-John