Want to start tuning my ECU, need a step-by-step help please

[vascorama]

I want to start exploring my wrx´s ecu capabilities but i´m a bit lost and i need an expert help. I never did this before, but i´ve worked on some shops over the years, and i´m confortable with computers and flashing(although never flashed a car´s ecu).

Why i don´t want to go to a pro tuner? 2 reasons. The closest one(trustworthy) to me is more than 200 miles away, and the second reason being i like to learn how to do it myself.

I tried understanding how to do it by reading a lot of posts, but you guys are in this for years, and use words i don´t even know(poor english, my bad).

I´m running my stock ecu, so my first goals are(assuming stock ecu can be tuned wich i believe it can):
- Download my current ROM and save it in case i need to flash it again.
- An open-source ROM to start playing

My questions:
- What program to use and where can i get it
- With the program(assuming it will be EcuFlash) and a laptop, is it just plug&play into the obd2?

Thank you for your time.

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[jon7009]

Unfortunately the romraider site is down right now. You'll need to download:

OpenECU
Romraider

definitions for romraider
definitions for openecu

Bad Noodle has a tuning guide as a sticky at the top of this subforum. You can also google Cobb's tuning guides. They are in .pdf format, so you need something to read them if you don't already.

Unless you're putting in aftermarket parts, the most you'll probably change is timing and wastegate duty.

What is your vehicle? Mod list if any? plans?

[vascorama]

Hi Jon, first of all thank you for a quick reply. So what i need is:

OpenECU (+ definitions)
Romraider (+ definitions)
Tactrix Openport 2.0 (this is very expensive on ebay, around $300, do you know where i can buy a cheaper one?)
*do i need a wideband? (i assume i do...)

Having the above stuff, will i be able to read data like this: https://youtu.be/dkDa7-ZbDBw?t=1m2s ?


Now regarding my car, i thing the ecu is a stock one, but it´s modified for sure(i´ll get back to this ahead), this is a picture of it: http://s12.postimg.org/3y092z0jx/20150906_164141.jpg

I can´t really know for sure what´s inside my engine, but believing the previous owner this is a sti engine(i believe it´s rather a hybrid).
He told me has a forged cranck, rods, pistons and it was rebuilt around 5000 miles ago.
I can see it has an sti intake manifold, a larger than sti top mounted IC, a TD05 20g turbo, decat exaust, and basically that´s what my eyes can see.
I looked at the fuel pump and it looks stock, can´t really tell because i never saw a walbro to confirm if the top of it is different.

Now, the ecu must be tuned because the car is doing 280hp at the flywheel(don´t ask me how they measure this, i assume the dyno made the convertion from whp to hp somehow, i wish i had both values but i don't...) and it runs great, no knocks, no farts, good fuel economy. Turbo does 1.0 bar pulling straight.

The thing is i´ve been reading and i see people out there talking about 300'ish whp with similar setups, far from what i have, really far...

My plans for now is to get the required equipment to start reading at first, and then start tuning with the help from people from this forum
I don´t want to go much further on hardware(maybe just a fuel pump and injectors, if needed), i just want to take the best out of what i already have, 300whp would be a good goal for me, this car is my daily driver.

[Shawn06SpecB]

You'll have to pull the map and compare to the stock 2002 WRX map to see if the car you thought you bought is actually the car you own

[vascorama]

How can i do that(hardware and software)? Is the hardware on my previous post enough?

[dsx2]

i'd strongly advise against self tuning right now, only because you have a non-stock car and aren't even sure whats under the hood.

But to compare the maps, you can read your map from your ecu, and download the 02 wrx map from somewhere on the net, open them both in romraider and use the "compare images" feature under the edit tab.

Also wideband is a must for an accurate tune

[vascorama]

Originally Posted by dsx2

But to compare the maps, you can read your map from your ecu

How can i do this? I understand this must be simple to you guys, but this was the main reason why i opened this topic

[dsx2]

Originally Posted by vascorama

How can i do this? I understand this must be simple to you guys, but this was the main reason why i opened this topic

ah sorry, old mate above forgot to mention that you need to download EcuFlash as well as Romraider (i missed that and assumed you had it).

Once you have ecuflash installed its as straight forward as;
1- plug in tactrix to OBD
2- connect diagnostic jumper (the 2 green plugs under the dash that should be disconnected - only ever connected when flashing/reading ECU)
3- use Ecuflash to read image and follow instructions on screen (which is only flicking the ignition to on)

Do you know much about diagnostic mode?

EDIT: you also need a reflash i think since your bio says you have an 02. I have an 06 and don't need one so im not too knowledgeable on this but its just another plug afaik

[vascorama]

Alright, so i´m ordering a tactrix, it will take a while to get here...is this one ok: http://goo.gl/wyLyFN ? Or do i need anything else?

[dsx2]

reflash adapter

[vascorama]

dsx2, can you provide me a link to that? Thank you

[ShinjiML]

Originally Posted by vascorama

dsx2, can you provide me a link to that? Thank you

Actually you can even use paper clips. I just used automotive wires, crimped quick disconnect connectors on both sides and connected the flash plug

[martin028]

According to these links:
http://www.rspmotorsports.com/subaru.html
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hlight=bonanza
http://www.scoobypedia.co.uk/index.p...patibilityList
You have an EDM 2003 wrx ecu.

Also posted all of my links for future users of the search function.

[vascorama]

This is my ecu: http://s2.postimg.org/c5po0kneh/20150906_164141.jpg (don´t know if it helps, i dont see any other number on it)

Now for the weird part, on my timing belt cover i have this serial number: EJ205NW3B9-1EF 25189 SH10

Since day 1 i doubted my engine was an STI, although the previous owner told me it was, and looking at that number(ej205) i was almost sure it was a WRX, but i made myself look stupid saying i bought an engine on the internet, called subaru, and they told me this is an STI engine! (everything on the internet says otherwise)

The engine:
http://s28.postimg.org/qjeguoejx/20150923_180450.jpg
http://s13.postimg.org/98tua9gc7/image.jpg

Can someone confirm me this?

[bludgod]

your ECU "AH750 5141" is from an 03 EDM wrx as mentioned above - could be it was modified already to work with your engine/setup but you can't know until you download the existing settings using the ECUflash software.

I normally use paperclips for the flash block, there are 2 types of flash block depending on the year of the car so look under the dash for either a 4 pin socket or a 2 pin socket - it will be white and usually hangs out near the green test mode connectors (two single pin green sockets that join together). If it's a 4pin then join the terminals with 2 paperclips (join them top to bottom). If it's a 2 pin connector then even easier and you only need one paperclip.

I like to make a switch on a length of wire to use on the test mode connectors so you don't have to fart about under the dash when you want to read or write to the ECU.

That tactrix you linked to looks like it's most likely a fake/cloned unit. It may work OK, or it may leave you stranded due to a bad flash. When you buy a genuine unit you know your getting a quality tested part with support from tactrix if anything goes funny on it. OK it costs a little more but it's still cheaper than going for a protune somewhere plus you can use it for your day to day logging/diagnostic jobs too so it's well worth the money.

What kind of injectors do you have fitted, can you get a picture of them? Could be that the car is still running WRX injectors and that's why it's been tuned for the lower boost target. Normally a 20g would put out much more power but it would also be at a higher boost level. 1 bar is more like wastegate pressure - what way is the boost solenoid setup (snap some pics of the turbo compressor nipple/wastegate nipple vac lines and what they are connected too).

[vascorama]

Alright, a little update on this.
"by accident" the previous owner saw a facebook post i did mentioning i was about to buy a tactrix, and he then told me the owner before him had the ecu reprogramed and it´s now password protected.

Is this possible?
Being possible, does the password protection allow me to at least read from it?(i assume a password protection can have read and write permissions, or only read/write)

Thank you

[quazimoto]

There is no "password protection" per say, but the ECU can be locked by Ecutek or Cobb software.

[vascorama]

Is there a workaround that?

[bludgod]

although you may not be able to read the current ECU you may be able to flash over it with your own tuned file. Problem is you'll be basically starting from scratch.

Check out the epifan ecuEdit software - sometimes it can help with a locked ECU.

[point78]

Another option for you, once you figure out if/how to connect to your ECU.

You can get a E-tune, then look at the changes the tuner makes to your maps-usually it takes several revisions. That way you can see the process with less worry about blowing up your engine.

[tunermt]

Almost 10 years later may i ask what did you end up doing for tuning and how did it all work out for you? Hope to hear you've owned the car all this time loving it daily

With the Cobb green speed changes now coming full circle it seems like Cobb has decent solutions for all 08+ STI and 15+ WRX. There has also been some GREAT standalone ECU packages released for the EJ and FA the past 3 years. WRX/STI ecu tuning world has never looked brighter IMO can't wait to see what's to come in 2025.

[benflynn]

Yeah, trust Cobb again if you want to, maybe they will sell. You something on Monday, snitch you out and turn it off on tuesday