Doing your own remap!!!

Westy

Westy

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There are a lot of companys now that offer a mail order facility for mappings where they will send you a device loaded with a generic map for your car to upload to the ECU. This facility is for those people that are unable to get to a tuner to have their car mapped on site. Now.... if anyone knows, how easy would it be to aquire a generic map and load it using a laptop and the appropriate cable/software?

The theory sounds good but not sure of the practical!
 
I'd be interested to know if this is possible as I live in Dubai and there are no tuners here that will do it. If anyone has done it, is it as good as the live mapping done at a garage.
 
Would be interesting.

Ive seen cables/software on ebay which claims to be able to flash your ECU, but i saw some bad ratings where some people had fried their ECU.

I also remember downloading lots of remap files but couldnt make any sense of the exact models they were for so never had the balls to go and do it.

Would be interested in your research. If i had a spare ECU id give it a go:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KWP2000-ECU-Flasher-Chip-Tuning-Remapping-KWP-2000-OBD2_W0QQitemZ310117421151QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Diagnostic_Tools_Equipment?hash=item310117421151&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
 
14 quid!! if it were that simple I think we'd all be on the gravy train.
 
Time = money. You pay for the hours on the rolling road.

Very possible to map yourself.......DTA, megasquirt etc and now bosch. I mapped a mk2 golf with a mate.

It is hugely important to have lambda, and EGT displays, otherwise you are wasting your time.
 
i bought a bluefin from superchips for the misus mini, did the job it needed to no problem..... cant say what a custom map would do in comparison though
 
I think i've found a tool that will allow me to read the ECU and make a backup of its info. It will also let me upload map files. I am still doing investigation so I'll let you know how it goes.
 
there are some major issues to consider here,

1.even the smallest of tuning companies invest ££££'s in tools to re-flash cars, there's a reason for that.

2.do you know how to recover an ecu that's crashed halfway through a flash?

3.when you purchase your tuned file do you know who tuned it? do you know if they've even seen that engine? how will you know you're not just buying a stock file?

4.if it was that easy why are tuning companies in buisness??

just a few things for you to consider
 
Yep i agree which is pretty much why i didnt bother. Too much risk for me as i dont even really want/need a remap.

But at the same time its obviously possible. There are many many blokes on ebay willing to travel to you and flash your ECU with a generic map and ive also spoken to people who haven't had to spend lots to get the equiptment. But for me its not worth it and would rather a reputable company do it, at least that way someone is accountable.
 
I have bought a kwp2000+ and i have found a company, tunefood, who offer maps for £65. You have to make sure you dont let voltage drop on the ecu while you are flashing it. Now I also agree that if you have a few extra mods on your car and feel you would get the benefit of rolling road time then that may be for you. But if you are tuning a normal car, Especially a turbo diesel then this could be the way for you.

I had no previous experience on cars, However, I am an industrial sparky in the whiskey bottling industry and have to connect my laptop to machines worth millions every day to reprogram/remap them. I took the plunge, deciding to read my current map first! Knowing that connection errors are root cause of many failures! Once i had read original map, and saved it, fired the new map down and woo hoo.

Obviously you pays your money and takes your chances.

Most of the tuning companies, even ones with rolling roads, just put their generic map on your ecu anyway.

www.tunefood.com
 
I too have thought about doing the same and tried to get hold of a generic map file (which was nigh on impossible to get hold of btw) but when you look at it would you be prepared to take the consequences if it all goes tits up and you severly damage your engine.

Can you really trust something like this, at least if you go to a dealer you have somewhere and someone to point the finger at.

I'd sooner save some pennies and go somewhere who make a living out of it.

If you do go ahead with something like this good luck with it, i'd be intrested to hear the results, hopefully all good though.
 
To be more helpful...., Bluefin is a device produced by Superchips, they sell you the device with a generic map on it. It then exchanges the map with your original. Storing the orginal on the bluefin. You can swap back and forward to standard as often as you like.

Revo have a device, which i don't know so much about how it works, but it allows you to alter between lots of different power settings. Friend of mine has this in a mkiv golf turbo. Changes the car completely good fun.
 
Superdoug said:
To be more helpful...., Bluefin is a device produced by Superchips, they sell you the device with a generic map on it. It then exchanges the map with your original. Storing the orginal on the bluefin. You can swap back and forward to standard as often as you like.

Revo have a device, which i don't know so much about how it works, but it allows you to alter between lots of different power settings. Friend of mine has this in a mkiv golf turbo. Changes the car completely good fun.
Click to expand...

To be even more helpful (and accurate)..... Bluefin is NOT a device sold with a generic map on it. You upload your own car's map to SuperChips and they send you the remapped version of your own car's settings.
Revo (totally different company) put their generic map onto your car but you can buy the SPS+ device which allows you to tweak the settings to your liking.
Having had both I feel qualified to comment - they are very different in every single aspect I can think of.
 
Iggu said:
To be even more helpful (and accurate)..... Bluefin is NOT a device sold with a generic map on it. You upload your own car's map to SuperChips and they send you the remapped version of your own car's settings.

Revo (totally different company) put their generic map onto your car but you can buy the SPS+ device which allows you to tweak the settings to your liking.
Click to expand...

and to be even even more accurate (no offence iggu) it isn't a generic map; it's software and tuning built to a specific ecu id that can then be fine tuned by your dealer or youself(using a select+) to give your car it's optimum performance whilst allowing you to make it feel the way you want it!

:)
 
On the Bluefin, i beg to differ. Thornley motor sport who develope the maps for the Bluefin for Vauxhall Vxrs, send the device out premapped having never seen your particular car.

Thank you for elaborating rather than than trying to put someone else down without any explanation.

xxx
 
V.I.P_UAE said:
I'd be interested to know if this is possible as I live in Dubai and there are no tuners here that will do it. If anyone has done it, is it as good as the live mapping done at a garage.
Click to expand...

You could buy another ECU and have that benched by the tuner of your choice. Once it's running in your car then you could resell your original ECU or hang onto it if you ever sell the car. No downtime.

Custom-Code and other tuners probably can defeat the immobiliser so installing in your car won't be a worry or involve a dealer.


Cheers

Gavin
 
audi upgrades
Thanks for all the comments and ideas.

I am aware of the complications and risks involved with something like this which is why at the moment I'm just doing some research and knocking a few ideas about with you lot.
I have found info on a tool called SPI-Wizard 2 which allows you to read and program ECUs (see 2 links below:)

http://www.evc.de/en/product/spiwizard/
http://www.kgt-tuning.de/

This tool is only sold to dealers/garages apparently and costs 500 euros for a license. I can only find the tool on german sites, anyone had any dealings with?

As far as verifying where the map came from, I have a friend who has a mapped golf 150TDI. I would read his ECU, save the file, then upload to another friend who has a standard golf 150TDI (they are both willing to do this). If that works and neither of them have killed me then I will look into the S3.

This is all just theory at the moment, this sort of thing interests me so I thought I'd look into it.
 
From what i understand, There can be protection on maps, I could be wrong. However if you can establish comms with the ecu of the standard car. Back up the program and go for it. Read what you can on the subject. Turn off fans hifi anything that can draw power.

I have no experience of the tool so let me know how you get on. I used the kwp2000+ tool.

If you have any questions pm me and i'll share my weak wisdom.
 
Ok my brain is starting to hurt now. Been reading up on http://www.chiptuners.org and http://www.chiptunawarehouse.com/ecutools/ but it doesn't seem as easy as plug and play like the Superchips BlueFin or the Pocket Power. The SPI software I was playing with turned into a dead end because they supply their license built into their 500 Euro cable in the same way that Ross-Tech do.

Thanks to Superdoug I have been investigating KWP2000+ but am struggling to find a copy of the software.

If anyone else has any more info on this subject or fancies helping me investigate knock yourself out. Now I see why everyone goes to a tuner with £500 in their hand!
 
audi upgrades
KWP2000+ works for the pre canbus cars which is about 2004 and before. To do the new cars you need a Galletto 1260. With both of the the software is included. If anyone wants a look at the kwp2000+ I could send it to you. But without the leads you cant do anything with it you can't really get around it till you establish comms. If your spending your money for the first time you would probably be better with the Galletto 1260. It will do the older ones too.

I had to pull a fuse and select the slow speed communication to connect. But the software told me everything including which fuse to pull.
:blackrs4::thrashi:
 
I agree KWP2000+ works GREAT!! remapped my 2000 S3 pre facelift, although i did have to remove ECU on mine and use an additional ECU cable, dude i bought it from was TOP guy as he gave me a manual (you do need to follow precautions!!) and also the ECU cable, and i just took it from there.. done a Golf 1.8t MK4, Bora 1.9TDI, Money WELL spent!!!!
 
HTC

Not to my knowledge mate. Had a quick check on web and looks like a no no. I am unsure how them aem thing works. BUt let me know how you get on with it.
 
me3 is pre-obd2 compliance (2000) so not re-flashable

some motronic5's are re-flashable
 
Kwp2000+, 1250 and 1260 work with the ME7 ecu, i have found some Ecu's need removing, but to tell you the truth it is SOOOO Easy, MOST REMAP Companies use generic maps anyway!! I am lucky to have a mate who used to work for a TOP remapping company who is able to supply me ANY map (as used by the company!!) :arco:
 
Forgot to mention, my ME3 ECU has had the original chip removed and a holder soldered in so the chip can be removed. I also believe it's flashable now directly at the ecu pins (not diagnostics plug). I may give it a try. Anyone know the make of flashing software the tuners use?
 
HTC said:
Forgot to mention, my ME3 ECU has had the original chip removed and a holder soldered in so the chip can be removed. I also believe it's flashable now directly at the ecu pins (not diagnostics plug). I may give it a try. Anyone know the make of flashing software the tuners use?
Click to expand...

I have bench leads to do that Kev, into the standard chip.

Gavin
 
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