Hackish ECU Reflash Review
Jan 5, 2010, 10:19 AM
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Hackish ECU Reflash Review
After roughly two months of back and forth emailing I now have installed the reflashed ECU. I know there's been a lot of banter on the ECU so I present to you my honest opinion of it.
Today's Date: Jan 5, 2010
Location: Boston. Ma
Temperature: 29 Degrees
Humidity: 53%
I figured I list the weather as that may have an effect on the ecu learning process.
Car: 2004 RA 5spd
Mods:
RRM UDP
RRM V1 SRI
Ceramic Coated OEM 4-2-1 Header with RRM v1 downpipe.
2.25 exhaust piping with Apexi Ws2 muffler.
Currently running Bridgestone Blizzaks (tires have way less grip than my Sumitomos)
Removed Mods:
RRM Timing Box (Per Hackish's recomendation)
After installing and going through the ECU re-learn process (6-8 minutes of just idling). It was time for the road test. I drove through city for about 3 miles just to see how the ECU acted under stop and go conditions. There was no bogging ect. just on occasion there was random idle fluctuation, but it was very minor. I will attribute that to the learning process.
On straight city roads I punched it, after a few times I was confused, b/c it felt like my car had much less low end torque. But the main test was the highway, when I finally got there I opened up the car....all I will say is holy crap. Yes multiple pulls on the highway told me that I lost some low end tq, but now there's more usable tq throughout the entire powerband...all the way through 5th gear. The car felt more lively once you open it up, it even sounded slightly different, it sounded more mean.
Reflashed ECU Major Configuration:
Tuned for 93 Octane
Rev Limit raised to 7k rpms
Mivec has not been changed (really no need to change it)
I'm not sure how many degrees the ECU timing has been advanced for 93 Octane requirement.
Everyone's car will respond different to the reflash given many variables, so I base this review on my car only. I have not done any calculations on changes to mpg, although Hackish stated there would be no affect on mpg. Having winter tires on definitely affects me from feeling full affect of the relfash, but this review gave you a basic understanding of what to expect.
Overall I give the reflash an 8/10. Nothing's perfect, it would have been 9/10, but he's in Canada so that slows down the process a little and I had to chase him a little to make it for me.
Today's Date: Jan 5, 2010
Location: Boston. Ma
Temperature: 29 Degrees
Humidity: 53%
I figured I list the weather as that may have an effect on the ecu learning process.
Car: 2004 RA 5spd
Mods:
RRM UDP
RRM V1 SRI
Ceramic Coated OEM 4-2-1 Header with RRM v1 downpipe.
2.25 exhaust piping with Apexi Ws2 muffler.
Currently running Bridgestone Blizzaks (tires have way less grip than my Sumitomos)
Removed Mods:
RRM Timing Box (Per Hackish's recomendation)
After installing and going through the ECU re-learn process (6-8 minutes of just idling). It was time for the road test. I drove through city for about 3 miles just to see how the ECU acted under stop and go conditions. There was no bogging ect. just on occasion there was random idle fluctuation, but it was very minor. I will attribute that to the learning process.
On straight city roads I punched it, after a few times I was confused, b/c it felt like my car had much less low end torque. But the main test was the highway, when I finally got there I opened up the car....all I will say is holy crap. Yes multiple pulls on the highway told me that I lost some low end tq, but now there's more usable tq throughout the entire powerband...all the way through 5th gear. The car felt more lively once you open it up, it even sounded slightly different, it sounded more mean.
Reflashed ECU Major Configuration:
Tuned for 93 Octane
Rev Limit raised to 7k rpms
Mivec has not been changed (really no need to change it)
I'm not sure how many degrees the ECU timing has been advanced for 93 Octane requirement.
Everyone's car will respond different to the reflash given many variables, so I base this review on my car only. I have not done any calculations on changes to mpg, although Hackish stated there would be no affect on mpg. Having winter tires on definitely affects me from feeling full affect of the relfash, but this review gave you a basic understanding of what to expect.
Overall I give the reflash an 8/10. Nothing's perfect, it would have been 9/10, but he's in Canada so that slows down the process a little and I had to chase him a little to make it for me.
Last edited by Ralliartize It; Jan 6, 2010 at 08:03 AM.
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Jan 5, 2010, 09:33 PM
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There was a man that did the Wichetec Ralliart we have all seen.. sadly the man passed away so im told and did not share the knowledge of how he did so.. leading us the the knight in shining armor we call Hackish.
so there you have it.
i may or may not be wrong but thats the way i know it to be atm.
But i like hackish's ways anywho
Jan 6, 2010, 12:58 AM
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Jan 7, 2010, 07:28 AM
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Day 3:
I've driven about 35 miles on the relflash. The idle fluctuates VERY slight on occasion when I'm in traffic or at a stop light, I attribute that to the learning process still. So far all my electronics have worked fine and there have been no CELs. Car feels much more powerful as it adapts to my current mods. Hopefully I get some highway driving done this weekend and open her up.
One thing I forgot to mention is that the Mivec transition is very smooth yet it's very pronoucned.
I've driven about 35 miles on the relflash. The idle fluctuates VERY slight on occasion when I'm in traffic or at a stop light, I attribute that to the learning process still. So far all my electronics have worked fine and there have been no CELs. Car feels much more powerful as it adapts to my current mods. Hopefully I get some highway driving done this weekend and open her up.
One thing I forgot to mention is that the Mivec transition is very smooth yet it's very pronoucned.
Jan 7, 2010, 07:43 AM
#14
Glad you like it Ralliartize. Just to be clear with everyone, I'm not a vendor here and don't contact me asking to buy it on this site. Ralliartize and others who bought the product had contacted me via other means. (Don't want the mods mad at me for selling stuff here before I sign up as a vendor).
I'll see if I can get the idle to oscillate on a car here. I matched the ECU with one of the same year but maybe there is a manufacturing difference between build dates. I could easily flash your performance map on your stocker and send it back to you for another swap... The ECU does learn how to maintain idle so you could try disconnecting your battery for a minute, then reconnecting it, start the car, let it idle for 5-10min without touching the gas pedal, then shut it off and turn it on again.
-Michael
I'll see if I can get the idle to oscillate on a car here. I matched the ECU with one of the same year but maybe there is a manufacturing difference between build dates. I could easily flash your performance map on your stocker and send it back to you for another swap... The ECU does learn how to maintain idle so you could try disconnecting your battery for a minute, then reconnecting it, start the car, let it idle for 5-10min without touching the gas pedal, then shut it off and turn it on again.
-Michael