Please forgive me for the newby questions. I feel like I'm a little late to be jumping into this, but here it goes.
I've been doing some reading on the different tuning options. What do you experienced guys like to use? Cobb AP vs. Evoscan/ecuflash vs. something else???? What are pro's and con's of the differnt options.

I've been wanting to log data for maintenance and trouble shooting. I'm an engineer and I like numbers and graphs. I don't plan on doing anything extreem with my evo. I just want to get the most out of what I have and keep it running good.

Thanks for any input and insight.

 

I personally like the Cobb Accessport. There's several readily available off the shelf maps you can run based on the mods on your car, it's super easy to switch maps and all you carry with you is a cell phone sized unit that plugs into the OBDII port. You can also run datalogs right on the Accessport unit, and if you like tuning things yourself, the AccessTuner Race program is a free download and it's almost identical to ECUFlash.

 

http://www.cobbtuning.com/info/?id=4214
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I assure you, if you like looking at data and making tweaks, there is no way to get more data, more information, or more expandability without being locked down by a hardware / software limited package than by using ECUFlash and evoscan.

If you just want to flash a map and be done, the AP might be right for you.

 

I had the AccessPort for about a year and loved it. I recently switched to ECU Flash and Evoscan. I'm still learning about ECU Flash so here are my initial impressions, but it all comes down to what you want (which ever option) it to be able to do for you.

AP Pros: easily monitor all OBDII outputs
easily switch maps without a laptop
easily to log
easy to read/clear fault codes
easy to use interface (great for brand new users)
instant 50+ hp on stock car with no tuning knowledge

AP Cons: tables are basic and not as much control as ECU Flash
only monitor one engine function at a time
pain to view the logs

ECU Flash Pros: complete control of ECU
custom gauge displays (can monitor as many engine functions as will fit on the screen)


ECU Flash Cons: can't switch maps yet without having a laptop (Valet was really nice when having your car aligned)
have to carry a laptop to get full potential
can't read/clear fault codes yet
very easy to mess something up (simple as hitting a wrong key while typing)
hard for newbies to understand without A LOT of research

ECU Flash continues to get better and better for the X and the support is great. I just feel, being a brand new user, that it is pretty overwhelming, but I am reading more and more (on here) and learning how to get the most out of it. So if you really want to learn about tuning and how your car reacts to different parameters, then ECU Flash is for you. If you want to load some different maps and play around in a safe environment while monitoring some of the car's basic functions AP may be the best choice.

 

This is taken from a thread over at EXFs that I think sums things up nicely.

 

yay! i was tempted to repost here

 

COBB's allows anyone to log using the ATR's "dashboard" interface. In this case, you can log any number of parameters simultaneously. Also, live tracing.

 

To expand further since it was brought up...

I don't really see how the AP offers any serious advantage over just paying a tuner to flash a rom with ECUFlash. It seems like the "extras" are moot points. For the cost of the AP you can easily get a sweet netbook, OP2.0 cable, and a professional tune (although this won't include updates to maps, but we are pretty advanced at this point).

I might just be jaded because I bought the AP for my IX when it came out, and not only were there basically no maps for my $600+ investment, tuners around me stopped using it because they were wasting tons of dyno time just trying to get it to work. Basically, after I sold it I wound up out $250 and 4-5 months behind in where I could have been. My reasoning for getting it was mostly the laptop issue, but I see now how foolish that was.

There is alot to learn with ECUFlash if you want to, but you don't have to learn very much to get a good basic tune. Base flashes are pretty cheap from most vendors, and you have the ability to research and update to your hearts content based on that.

 

The only reason I still have my AP is because I run E-85 and Require the ability to swap maps in case of emergency (i.e. no E-85 around). Now when Tephra's mods come out, that reason gets thrown out the window.

btw: I'm not carrying a laptop in my car 24/7.

 

Wow! Thanks for all the help. Even a GURU looked in. Thanks.
I'm getting the feeling that the Cobb AP is the direction I'm heading. I like the "off-the-shelf" aspect to it right now.
This may be the wrong place to ask this, but is there anyone in the Pittsburgh, PA area using one. I've been reading about this but I would like to talk to someone to get their impressions on it.

And thanks again to all. I was thinking that I might get just the "my way is great, your way stinks" responces. But, you all gave me good info to think on.

 

I keep seeing people say this.

I bought the cable $170.
I have a laptop. But let's use the average cost of a netbook $280
Now you're at $450

Where do you get a pro tune for $150 and why doesn't he have his own cable and laptop?

BECAUSE if you are going to datalog and adjust the $150 "pro tune" you are going to need the module and wideband O2 sensor ($180) as well A/F and Boost guages with pod to keep an eye on things when the laptop isn't attached ($350).

Please enlighten me. I want to believe in the opensource solution BUT there appears there's a heck of a lot more to it cost wise than buying the cable.

I know my writing style is direct. Please don't take it personally.

 

Not personally taken at all, its a valid point.

I'm excluding the wideband and boost gauge because 1) you should get them anyway and 2) they are not needed if you are going to a tuner, only the wideband for a mail-in and 3) If you are going to tune the AP at all yourself you will need them anyway.

I regularly see netbooks for ~$160 on woot or less on craigslist, and only mention that aspect because people want the ability to carry something at all times to switch maps if they need to. If that is not the case or you already have a laptop, eliminate that cost (...not to mention you can actually use it for other purposes).

Many people have provided base full bolt on tunes or different stages of tune for free... and the forums are always willing to help. Often local guys will help out with finalizing it for free or next to nothing.

A real tune, for your car, will be better suited to your specific car than an off the shelf tune, period. If you are willing to just use an off the shelf map, then your tune will be cheaper anyway. There are alot of maps now (where there weren't before) for the AP, I will give you that... but if there isn't a map for your part combination you are out of luck. Many of the parts specified are more expensive or not what I would want. Whether you have an AP or not, and IF your tuner has an accesstuner license... it will basically cost you the same amount for that tune.

For someone who is really looking to log, the AP may not provide enough function for you. For someone who really wants to tweak, it simply can't. If you just want an off the shelf map to set and forget, base flashes can be had at most tuners for less than $200, no cable or laptop needed.

 

Good reply. Thank you

In the end I think for the VAST MAJORITY the better solution is the Cobb and their off the shelf tunes. You get a degree of insurance that way that the tune isn't going to detonate your engine and you likely don't need the boost/afr guages. For that matter do your mods then get a pro tune on a dyno. Usually they will update your tune for a nominal fee if you make any setup changes down the line.

Myself, I'm committed to the Tactrix route for several reasons BUT I will be doing my best to inform others trying to decide which route to take that buying the cable is not going to be the only expense. There is an additional $5-600 in hardware involved to safely tune and accurately log not including a laptop and you still are probably going to want to buy a base tune or pay a pro tuner to dyno tune your car anyway.

I think the community would do well to push that information also. No sense having people taking unreasonable chances with their engines and they aren't going to contribute anything to the knowledge base without WB anyway.

 

a custom dyno tune is always going to be safer than an off the shelf tune...

-unless- you ask the tuner to lean on it..

 

Excellent insight from arguably the finest open source tuner on the planet. I think that's too often forgotten. If we do a better job of outlining the real costs of open source perhaps we can help others make the best choice. I just don't want people taking unnecessary risks thinking they're saving money.