This is my understanding also - however I am just trying to accurately disclose the nature of the feature

Its a handy tool - but again - but better for someone who is looking to do ocassional map switching - say once a week or so - not someone who wants to switch maps several times a day for example

Al

 

The reason I would go with a UTEC or similar platform is the very fact that you CAN change maps or correct on the fly ANYTIME you want.

With a reflash you have to send your ECU out, get it flashed, and then WAIT for it to come back.

With this approach you can have multiple maps on your laptop and change at will.

What I didn't know, however, is that there are a limited number of times you can flash the stock ECU. For the life of the car, and for most people for that matter, this shouldn't be a problem. But, for the '05 Evo owners it's a known fact that the dealer can detect a flashed car. Being able to go back to start is very nice.

The next logical step (hopefully) would be the ability to get some new mods - give Al a call then have him email you the knew flash so that you can flash the car yourself.

Now that would be awesome.

 

No what I am doing is incorporating new capabilities into my previously existing service - and at no extra cost to the customer

 

if i went with a feature like this i would change the maps every other week or so. my understanding as metioned in these quotes is that for the life of the car by user 5yrs or so, you should not run into any chance of running out of space.. am i right?

 

Actually with the new equipment the custiomer would no longer have tio send in a ecu at all for a mail in flash

I could email or fed ex his maps on a CD along with install directions

I think the safer and more prudent route is with the standard mail in the ecu option as I have very secure bench flashing equipment which has flashed thousands of ecus without even one failure to date. I would suggest leaving the flashing to those who I have personally trained and shown the proper saftey steps on how to properly flash the ecu.

In any event, going forward the mail in flash will be available both as a true mail in install service where I install the flash in your ecu and fed ex it back (as I have been doing) and as a emailed service where you keep the ecu and I send you the softwear, cable and tuning calibrations on a disk to install yourself.

As far as the UTEC itself

Its not a very good unit

Wh at it does is eliminate the multi million dolloar factory knock control and ignition set up and repplace it with a ratrher crude user defined knock protection and off board ignition board. The bottom line is that the UTEC is really not of much use on cars which have good reflkashing options. The facvtory ecu is vastly superior to the UTEC.

 

In all reality the fact is you will prob have no problems

I just have to mention this stuff or some fan boy of another vendor will chime in with a smart *** remark and try and make me look like a buffon

In my own evo I flashed it over 2,000 times and the oem ecu worked fine

Also you can find many used ecus out there and swap it right into your car with a few adjustments re the imobilizer so its not a big issue

 

I agree. I was just using the UTEC as an example.

As for the flashing part. I agree as well. There are certain precautions that should be taken when working with embedded systems. I work with them daily. That's what I do.

I like the fact that I can do it myself now - at my leisure. It's not really rocket science, but like Murphy says - shizzle happens.

I also agree that the factory ecu is superior to almost any standalone or piggyback option.

I just rather not have ANY downtime at all.

Having the option to flash between a race fuel map and a daily driving map is a very very nice feature.

That's what I meant about stepping up to the plate.

And to those saying that Al is just jumping onto the bandwagon now that the ecu flashing software is readily available are missing the point. This was bound to happen. If I had more time I would have devised something myself. But, the truth of the matter is this - you can have a million flashing type software available, but you still need someone skilled in tuning to make the maps for you.

He is providing a more user friendly service to the customer.

 

I have the same question as Luxury Broker. Since I just got tuned from you about a month ago, would I have to pay for another tuning session or wait for you to come back?

Also, how would we go about flashing ECUs on IXs? Would we be using the cable from Tactrix and wait for software to be available for IXs or do you have that available to the customer.

I am very excited that you are offering this service. I love my custom tune from you.

 

But you are using openecu's software and cable, right? What you are trying to imply with this thread is that you have come up with this revolutionary programming system when in fact you are just using openecu's freeware and the cable from tactrix. Nothing to be embarrassed about Al. No one expects you to be a code hacker. You're just using a currently available tool. A tool that any tuner or end-user can use themselves on their own car with their own laptop. Unless I'm mistaken, they can even view and email your (or anyone elses) ROM files to anyone else using the system. So, in effect, you're giving away whatever little IP you already have. Until, of course, they realize that they can do it themselves for free. In fact, it looks like they can download this software for free, purchase a $90 cable, find a dynoflashed car and read and save the ROM file. Wouldn't this pretty much make you obsolete, no?

 

The IX is not able to be flashed with this set up as of this writing, however, I am confident that it will be added very shortly

As for the dual map feature - it must be custom tuned on the vehicle with actual race gas in the tank - otherwise its just a unsafe waste of time

I am offering it going forward to new custom tuned customers - again at no extra charge

Those who get tuned at Pruven in CT where I am I will have the race gas on hand going forward and you will get both maps - softwear installed on your lap top - flashing tutorial and your dyno sheets all for free with the normal reflashing service

Al

 

What I offer and have offered is the process of tuning an ecu - professionaly. My experience lies in thousands of individual evos reflash tuned under varying locations, conditions, altitudes, fuels and modification combinations.

There is no doubt that I have tuned, driven and diagnosed more Evos than any other reflash tuner in the world.

What I am doing is incoprating the new functions of the free ware product within my existing service as a added benefit to my customers.

If you think that having a very experienced tuner with a lot of hands on experience setting up your maps has no value then of course you are free to tune it yourself and so is anyone else.

Not to mention the huge investment in proper equipment which I have collected all of which aides me in creating a professional result.

I am very confident that many of my customers will continue to seek my services to properly tune thier reflash maps.

People have been free to tune SAFC, Exede, UTEC, AEM, etc themselves from day one and yet most of them seek out the services of a professional tuner to properly tune and calibrate those end user tuneable devices becuase they very wisely realize that it is more cost and time effective to just have the car set up properly and safely by a trained professional than to undertake a lengthy learning curve which requires the investment of several hundreds of dollars in logging equipmnent to do properly.

In fact, I have even re-tuned dozens and dozens of customer who had been previously tuned by other so called "professional shops" but who's cars did not perform properly.

What I am doing is about offering a service to get the customer's car tuned in a expert manner by a trained and experienced professional.

While there will be many end users who choose to do their own flash tuning with this device, I feel that many will continue to seek professional tuners to set up the flash files.

Finally, as for your comment about having the ability to basically steal maps of other tuners for use in other vehicles. I am sure that there are many customers who would engage in that kind of action - even though it is illegal and imoral. However, luckily in most cases maps for other cars have little or no use unless both cars have the exact same modifications, fuel and altitude. Of course you ask a basic question at the core of the business of any form or intelectual property, be it books, movies or softwear or in this case a tuning map. Why pay for something when you can just steal it for free by copying it ?

In any event, I think your thoughts are off topic to the conversation at hand and I would ask that you take them else where.

The thread is about offering a new function to my customers who are getting a custom tune - its not about stealing free tuning maps and sharing them with your pals.

Thanks

 

Thank You Al!! Can't wait to hear when the IX option will be ready.

Guys, Al just bridged one of the gaps the Suby guys have had on the Evo. This is as good as the famed Accesport. You can now have 2 fully tuned custom maps availible to you at your fingertips! This is arguably one of the BIGGEST advancements to the Evo community in some time.

Side question Al - will this cable allow you to datalog via a free program? (similar to how the AP cable will let you log with it and a free logging program?)

Girlie

 

Hey Al,
I am back over here in Iraq for a couple of months, I just got here yesterday. I will be calling upon your assistance upon my return. I am going to be needing a retune with all of the awesome goodies I just ordered. I will be needing the switchable tune maps If you have them available for the Evo 9, one for pump gas an the other for race fuel. Your gonna S**T a brick when you see all this stuff for my EVO 9. I plan on having the fastest and quickest EVO MR in the world by the middle of September of this year. This is going to be sick just sick

 

Al,

What high octane (around 100 octane) fuel do you recommend for the high octane flash?

VP Motorsport 109 looks appealing:

Motorsport 109 TM
Produces more power than any other unleaded fuel.
Recommended for higher boost applications with CRs
up to 11:1 or naturally aspirated engines up to 13:1.
COLOR Clear
MOTOR OCTANE 101
RESEARCH OCTANE 109
OXYGENATED Yes
SPECIFIC GRAVITY .722 at 60° F

Thank you,
Phillip

 

On the stock turbo anyway just about any fuel with 100 octane or above is going to max you out

The main thrust is to come to get tuned with the same fuel you will normally use

Going from c-16 to 100 unleaded for example makes a huge variation

The fuel you listed there looks great