ECU tuning question

[wannaBgroupB]

Has anybody had any experience altering the factory fuel, ignition and boost settings via the actual ECU?

I see a lot of support for the Unichip, but I'm interested in modifying fuel, ignition and boost maps without resorting to a piggyback device or stand-alone engine management.

Does the factory ECU have a removeable EPROM? If not, can it be modified with a socket to accept a removeable EPROM chip? Does anybody make such a chip? Or has anyone had any luck in just straight up hacking the ECU?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

-Noah

 

[msp35]

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=113261

This guy has a Jet-Chip flash or something.... maybe pm him for more info?
Other than that the Unichip is the only plug n play management unit.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

Thanks for the tip, that sounds promising.

 

[low_psi]

An ECU was sent to Flyin' Miata a few years ago to be hacked. It was sent back a year later w/ a note that said "don't hold your breathe." Goodluck trying, but Mazda spent A LOT of time encrypting their software. No one has cracked it yet.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

so how do you suppose the guy that msp35 was talking about managed to get a reflash? Now I'm just confused.

 

[Aricjm15]

the only way to change the settings on the ECU is with a WDS setup, and with only the WDS machine you can only change the timing (advance/retard), to change the fuel mix you would need whatever software mazda uses and the WDS.

 

[dominoy2k1]

because maybe he is bullshitting or he got lied to.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

Well I PMed him, so maybe we'll find out. Returning to the other part of my original question though, if the PROM can't be hacked so the factory maps can be adjusted, is it possible to remove the chip, socket the board and replace it with a whole new chip? If so, has anybody made a chip for this purpose, or would I have to burn my own?

 

[wicked]

.or he's talking about the factory fix,the TSB flash?

 

[wannaBgroupB]

http://www.jetchip.com/i_intro.asp

Guess these guys are who he's talking about. If the ECU is as uncrackable as Flyin' Miata seems to think, then these guys must be replacing the chip (or it's all bs). Gives me hope that it might be possible though.

 

[wicked]

not sure,because it is the same basic ECU as the ford focus,and JET has been all up in that one for a few years.
so if anyone can do it,I think JET can.

the problem though is JET is not a very good tuning company.good at cracking,not tuning.

 

[low_psi]

Nope, the EECV board can't be "re-chiped." Jetchip has has results with Ford vehicles using the EECV because they've broken Ford's software encryption, which is obviously a lot easier than Mazda's code.

You're gonna spend alot of time and possibly money to gain the same results you can readily buy from various vendors on this site. Not worth the effort IMO. Its been pursued before, and nothing was accomplished.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

For a race effort, it could be worth it. Piggybacks are just an inherently sloppy solution. And standalone EMS is not allowed under the rules I'm playing by. That means modifying the ECU.

And why would it be necessary to break the software encryption to re-chip the board? At that point, wouldn't you be supplying a whole new set of maps on a custom burned PROM, not relying on Mazda's maps as a starting point?

 

[Mallard]

What racing rules are you going by?

 

[wicked]

For a race effort, it could be worth it. Piggybacks are just an inherently sloppy solution. And standalone EMS is not allowed under the rules I'm playing by. That means modifying the ECU.

And why would it be necessary to break the software encryption to re-chip the board? At that point, wouldn't you be supplying a whole new set of maps on a custom burned PROM, not relying on Mazda's maps as a starting point?

you have to have mazda's codes,because the codes are what the EEPROM is written in.the ECU won't understand anything else other than mazda.

 

[msp35]

The Jet chip invovled sending the ecu to them and having them program it for the specific mods being done to the vehicle, it was mazdaspeed specific and a half hour phone conversation was had with a tech before they set it up, seems to work great. As far as the n20 goes thats kinda what i figured, have seen plenty of people pop their motors around 12 lbs but handt heard anything about people using juice, better safe than sorry, just throwin it out there.

From his post.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

Ah, gotcha. So it's actually a data language, not just encryption of data is what you're saying.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

and ustcc is the rulebook I'm concerned with.

 

[Mallard]

and ustcc is the rulebook I'm concerned with.

I'm not familiar with their rules. Can you link me to a set of rules, or maybe just tell me what you have to stick to and I'd be able to help you out.

 

[wannaBgroupB]

http://www.ustcc.com/pdf_doc/USTCC_2005_rules.pdf

I've been speaking with one of their administrators about classing the car, and I'll likely be allowed a small boost increase. I'll also want to modify fuel and ignition curves. It seems to me, reading the rules, that only piggyback controllers or a modified factory ECU are allowed. No standalone. Any help or advice would be appreciated.