I'm wondering if anyone has tried to use ECUflash to write to this ECU, and the sister program Evoscan to datalog it (for tuning purposes... also could use this to display realtime data from the ecu on a display mounted in the car)

I just emailed them with some clarification questions, and am looking to learn how to flash this ECU myself. I will definitely need some help from the car community as I'm not experienced in cars... but I'm experienced in computers so I'm not too worried about that end of it. I figured I would share my experiences here (good or bad) for others to learn from.

The short of it is:
1) Buy a cable to interface your laptop to your ECU. ($140-$240 ish)
2) Download ECUflash (free off their site)
3) Buy EvoScan (data logging program $25)
4) Get a compatible wideband (I'm going for the zeitronix zt-2 at $300 ish shipped)
5) Get a compatible USB hub and/or serial to USB adapter to adapt the cabling. (I have this laying around)
6) Get a 12v power supply to power the ecu for flashing... (I'll probably find some way of wiring this directly to the ecu on a switch... on for flashing, off for normal use)

Here is the website if you care to check it out: http://www.evoscan.com/technical-veh...hi-lancer-4g69

Let me know what you guys think (constructive only, please spare me the negativity or "you don't want to do this because ____" types of comments).

 

I think car comps run off of .5 of a volt

 

there a flash pin...and you shouldn't need a switch...

i don't know of anyone on here who has a successfully self-tuned their ECU using ECU flash...so good luck, but i won't be much help, you'll really need to let us know how it goes.

 

Unless the pinout that was on evoscan.com (link in original post), is wrong, then it most definitely runs off of 12v. 3 pins are dedicated for power: 2 are run by relays: one in order to turn the ecu on when you turn the key (and the other has similar relay functionality), while the 3rd looks like constant power.

 

Recieved a response from Hamish from New Zealand (evoscan.com). I've included my original inquiry:

Message:

I am seeing what appears to be conflicting information. I see in your tutorial on how to flash the ecu of a 2004 Lancer Ralliart 4g69, you use OpenPort 2.0 and MMCFlash. However, in your list of compatability for ECUFlash you list the same car as compatible. To confuse matters further, you say on the OpenPort 2.0 page, that it is only for EvoX (or something to that effect) and that for all other cars use the 1.3U cable.

Do I need the OpenPort 2.0 cable, or can I get away with the 1.3U cable.... also, do I need to get MMCflash, or can I just use ECUflash write my ecu?

Sincerely confused,
Tyson Jensen-


Date: 2012-10-06 08:03:47
Name: Hamish Ahern
Message:

to be honest I don't know either, 99% of my customers own Evo's

you are the first one I know of that is trying to reflash a 2004 Lancer. I am sure that being 2004 it will work with 1.3U, but openport 2.0 definately worked better on the lancer 1998. 2004 lancer will reflash fine with 1.3U and ecuflash. if you are going to try and use mmcflash as a second option, then that program works best with 2.0 because we only test mmcflash with openport 2.0

Regards,
Hamish Ahern.

I responded today with

Message:

Just to clarify, I should use 1.3U with ECUflash as a first option; then try openport2.0 with MMCflash as a second option. Do you think OpenPort 2.0 with ECUflash will work: could it possibly damage anything?

Preferably, I would like to be able to flash and read the ECU without removing it from the car (via OBDii): is this possible with either configuration of cables and software; or do I need to wire a custom switch for flashing?

I'll let you know how it goes (if you are curious) so you can provide that information to other possible customers in the future.

Thanks for your help,

Tyson Jensen.

It looks as though there are some options to flash this ECU. I'm willing to be the test platform for this method of tuning. More to come....

 

You need the 2.0 and the Mistubishi programming cable. Then once you read the ecu you will have to decode the rom and build a working definition.

 

Or pm hackish... he pulled it off.

 

yeah i was just gonna say pm Hackish! he's pro at this stuff..as per this forum, he already has a nice tune for our RAs

GO EVOM GO!!

 

I'm sure that hackish has a good tune for this car as he did put the RnD into it. My motivations come from not only wanting a better tune, but also knowledge on how to tune and the details behind it. To me, the easiest way to go about doing this is to DIY and learn along the way. I understand this will take time and effort: both of which I'm willing to invest.

 

for that, you need to be A. a programmer, or acquire the same skills and knowledge as one, and B. very knowledgeable in the architecture of many vehicle's ECUs, as well as the inner workings of all the sensors mechanics of of an EFI motor.

as far as DIY tuning goes, let the professionals decode the processor, and develop the software, and then learn to use every feature of the software, and know what everything does and the likely outcome of any change made within the software...that's DIY tuning.

 

Agreed. However, the software is already made (Evoscan/Evoflash) I have done some programming in the past, so although I'm rusty, I'll probably be able to figure it out given enough time. All that is left is writing a definition file (so ecuflash knows what this rom is), and learning about the settings in the ecu: which is no small task, but surely one that can be done over time.

Updates to come...

 

UVtune is already made as well, and so far it's quite user friendly...can't wait to see how the editor is setup...i'm hoping it will be similar to ECM link.

 

Looks promising, however with most things that are beta or under development... I won't hold my breath.