DIY ECU Re-Map

I've just found an ebayer selling ECU remapping software and hardware link Has anyone ever tried these out? I've previously chipped items like games consoles and I guess these have no complications like re-soldering chips but then I'm not talking about a £200 games machine.

You better start burning £50 notes.

Mapping is a job for people who are qualified in terms of experience. We examine cars that have been mapped with thei own ideas by people who know quite a bit more than a newcomer in this respect and they got it wrong and then wonder why they did it their particular way.

To understand why you should get frightened of doing it yourself without professional assistance you need to go first on a professional course for at least 2 days.

Not recommended unless you have a good idea of how to map and the appropriate extra hardware (wideband, EGT monitoring, etc.). I've mapped quite a few cars, and like CPH have seen some interesting maps (and wondered why the cars hadn't blown up yet).

Even when you know what you are doing you can't instantly do another kind of car as lots have their own individual strange requirements - ie certain rpm range that has to be rich, or a limit on a standard component (JTD gearbox for instance) that you only find out from those that have got the t-shirt, or by breaking it yourself.

Is it all that bad if you're just flashing the ROM with a pre supplied file? It would seem that this is all some of the companies do once they've backed up the cars original code.

I certainly wouldn't look at editing parameters myself as I'm no engine technical but the flashing the ROM side wouldn't worry me.

I can see the justification for prices charged if unique code was written for each car but I don't think this is the case. I'm happy to stand corrected of course.

is it worth it for the sake of £200 to map your car?mapping a car takes trial and error so if you cant afford the error i wouldnt do the trial bit i take it you were planning on getting the car rolling roaded straight after you mapped it with wideband lamda?

No I was just enquiring as to if anyone else had done a DIY job. Most the remapping people look to offer a mobile service and therefore the don't offer a rolling road as part of there service. Certainly the company that did my mates GT didn't and that's probably who I'd be using if I do decide to have mine done. The biggest appeal to me would be the ability to return to factory default at my convenience. That and I like playing.

if you want to run it back at base level and have another map you should be able to rig it by having a multichip holder in the ecu and wiring a positional switch into it to jump between each setting.or you plump for a motec ecu

Originally Posted by wseed

No I was just enquiring as to if anyone else had done a DIY job. Most the remapping people look to offer a mobile service and therefore the don't offer a rolling road as part of there service. Certainly the company that did my mates GT didn't and that's probably who I'd be using if I do decide to have mine done. The biggest appeal to me would be the ability to return to factory default at my convenience. That and I like playing.

If your car to be has got an EDC16 ECU (which I believe) then you can forget it in any case doing it yourself.

Even if it has got 'only' an EDC15 ECU you might run into serious problems if you haven't done it. All you need with the laptop is a momentarily voltage drop before reaching 70% of download and you will be in serious problems.

So if you guy don't recommend the DIY route who is recomended and why?

hi mate not had mine done yet but i think i would use http://www.angeltuning.co.uk/ a few of the guys here have used them and now love their Bellas even more



oooops is it ok to put the link in?
i dont work there or anything!!

Are there any remaps available for the 3.2 Brera? 2nd gear could do with a bit of a lift out of corners.

yeah buy a lighter car

Hi, i had a professional remap done,ended up having to put a new
clutch in,and even yet if i give it to much throttle the clutch is
struggling with the power,so my advice is tread carefully with a DIY
remap,kevin

Originally Posted by KEVIN RHODES

Hi, i had a professional remap done,ended up having to put a new
clutch in,and even yet if i give it to much throttle the clutch is
struggling with the power,so my advice is tread carefully with a DIY
remap,kevin

Hi
I too feel the clutch on my jtd 147 is on the absolute limit with a psi box I have.Particularly noticible is when pulling hard in 5th gear-I expect down to a heavy vehicle and masses of engine torque transmitted to the driving wheels Cheers steve

Kevin/ alfa1953
Are these turbo diesel cars? Remapping can have very large torque increases on these which be may why the clutch is overloaded. I was referring to petrol engines where the power increase is far more modest (under 10% usually) and so less likely to cause problems.

Cheers,wish you all the best,im sure there somthing out there for the
diy remap,lets us know how you get on.kevin

Originally Posted by Friggertool

Kevin/ alfa1953
Are these turbo diesel cars? Remapping can have very large torque increases on these which be may why the clutch is overloaded. I was referring to petrol engines where the power increase is far more modest (under 10% usually) and so less likely to cause problems.

Hi
Yes,diesel and you're right about the torque.Hope you have success with your project cheers steve

I’ve been re-mapping Alfa diesels for over 7 months using the Forge Motorsport system and have yet not had a problem. There is some issues with mass air flow meters and sometimes hoses with higher mileage cars. The main problems we come across is when a man with a laptop just writes a map to squeeze every last once out, with over fuelling and over boasting. Stick to the more sensible power increase figures from a brand name and the problems will be far less. It’s better to be driving and smiling than standing in a garage reception feeling sad

From the advice here, I've already decided that if I do get a remap I'll have it done by a pro.