cobb makes some great products but DAMN are they slow.

 

any more news on the release?

 

It'll get released two days after the apocolypse. Cobb is about as fast as cold molasses.

 

Just curious for those that are familiar w/the accessport..

Let's say I get my car tuned by a local tuner via ecu reflash. Is it possible to carry that tune over onto the accessport?

I plan on getting tuned within a few weeks (probably ecutek tune), but I plan on getting the accessport down the road, so I can switch maps (so i can still stay on the stock ecu).

Any chance I can keep the tunes I already have, but just use them through the accessport?

 

No, its all proprietary stuff, so they don't want them to be compatible. Its going to be a really hard sell with Open Source out there for practically free.

 

I HIGHLY disagree...EcuFlash, although free software, requires a laptop and tatrix cable. I personally don't have a laptop nor do I need one.

It's inconvenient in the sense that if you want to change your map on a regular basis, you have to have the laptop/cable in the car. The AccessPort is the size of a key fob.

People are willing to pay for the convenience of swappable dyno proven maps and an interface that you can stick in your pocket.

 

Not to mention the fact that it can clear codes, which allows it to replace another piece of equipment.

 

Although this is offtopic, there is some talk about creating a loader so you can load and save maps without a laptop. No clue on where this info came from as I recall someone asking about it awhile back. It makes sense to offer this device as you can save a stock map, and load new maps into the ECU using a handheld device only.

I do see the value that the AP will offer *IF* they get the live tuning and other features in there. If not, then its no better than yeat another exclusionary reflash tool.

 

The accessPORT will offer 2 tuning solutions to their users:

#1 is the StreeTUNER software which anyone can buy along with the AccessPORT unit.
#2 is ProTUNER, this is only available to CERTIFIED COBB Dealers.
Both are real time tuning solutions.

I have been using the Version 1 AP on my scooby and I absolutely love it.

The Version2 has the following features:

» On-the-fly map switching
» Monitor vehicle sensor data and display in analog or digital format
» Vibrant color graphic display with First-Ever full 260,000 color OLED, high-resolution screen
» Read/Clear engine trouble codes
» Preloaded with performance, economy and convenience maps
» Update via the Internet
» Measure 0-60 and ¼ mile times
» Adjustable on-screen Shift Light functionality
» Estimates horsepower and torque
» Displays current and averaged fuel economy
» Drag race simulation with reaction time and “time slip” data
» Built in on-screen help mode function
» Multi-Language support
» RoHS compliant (Lead Free design)
» Custom performance tuning for your specific vehicle and modifications as provided by an
authorized AccessPORT ProTUNER™ center, or upgrade to the StreetTUNER™
software package for do-it-yourself tuning


I have seen accessport handle 500+ AWHP Subies without a problem. What makes it super nice is that the AP retains all of the factory capabilities of the ECU. Among many other things, the car will control the boost and adjust to weather- making it a hands free operation

Hope this helps


Rich

 

As for the delay,

Having been @ SEMA right next to COBB for an entire week I have had numerous conversations with Trey Cobb.

They put a LOT of research and development into their products- they want to make sure it safe to run!
Yes, it takes them a long time and most of the time they push the release date back but its well worth the wait.


AccessPORT Demo Vid from SEMA 2006

You guys should seen their Dry carbon STI Time attack car

 

The features above are what give it the value, at least the street tuner, map switching, and real-time tuning..

As soon as your forced to reflash the ECU for every change, then its value diminishes, so this is great news..

So far we have heard alot about the WRX products because it has been out for awhile, the Evo is a different animal, so it makes sense its taking awhile, but I hope that the followthrough is as good as the press release..

 

The best thing about AP to me is the street tuner. The Cobb Subaru base maps SUCKED. Every last WRX/STi I've dyno tuned running a base map was ridiculously conservative to the tune of at least 30whp. The target boost values don't hit their mark, the fueling actually went off the WBO2 range it was so rich, but the timing was pretty close.

I understand their reasoning for doing this, they don't want to get sued by some idiot who is more than willing to blow his car up by plugging and playing a map they've never verified on the dyno. But the power being left on the table is way too much in a base map.

The swappable map thing is nice, but there are a lot of Evo piggybacks on the market that can do that, and with a ton more resolution than any reflash.

The old Cobb interface was so slow, and took FOREVER to marry, flash, save, write...... grow old, divorce, die.... You get the point. The new stuff looks tons more promising.

For the price of an AP, you could procure a Tactrix cable and a good used laptop! ***No matter what interface you use-including Cobb ST/Protuner/AP, a custom tune is the best way to go to get the most reliable+safe power from your car. BOO on shelf maps.***

I'm not saying OpenSource is the only way to go, but the allure of the AP is not going to strike the Evo community like it struck the Subaru community in the past.

 

I agree, the Evo community have has been using OPEN ECU technology for much longer but I think there are plenty of pople who will use the product.

As for their maps being conservative, they have to be. Look @ it this way. Subaru tunes the car VERY conservative fromt he factory and even with that you see some cars (especially the 2004 STIs) drive better than the other and some even have missfire issues from the factory and mechanics can't figure it out.

It all has to do with the manufacturing tolerances on the engine componenets and when put together virtually no two motors are the same. On top of that you also have to accomodate for the difference in fuels across the states- hence the reason for off the shelf maps being so conservative.

That is the reason why I beleive tuning is the single most importand thing for your car!

Evos get away with it little more than WRXs. at my previous job I have witnessed many wrx get tuned. They would run great and make perfect reliable power on IL 93 oct and as soon as they go back home to a diffrent state display problems which were caused by difference in fuel that they have in that area.



Cheers

Rich

 

Rest assured Cobb has been hard at work. I am currently running a preliminary version of their stage 1 map for the 2003 & 2004 Evos (9.8cm^2 hotside). High exhaust backpressure seemed to open the wastegate at higher boost. So boost for stage 1 remaind exactly as stock. All gains were >5,000 RPM, and were achieved by leaning out from the stock 9.5 AFR and advancing timing a bit. I've seen the plot for the 2005 Evo they tuned (10.5 cm^2), and the numbers were as stated in the other AccessPort thread.

I have driven stage 1 for about a month and couldn't be more pleased, pulls to redline like never before, performance is MUCH more consistent.

They also developed a Stage II map, using a prototype Cobb Turbo Back Exhaust. The reduced exhaust back pressure allow for 2-3 PSI above stock across the board, with much larger gains across the rev range. I have yet to try the stage II.

Numbers are from a Mustang Dyno @ 4500 ft elevation, awhp, smoothed plot, peak numbers are a hair higher.

Baseline =

• 222 HP
• 231 Ft-Lbs

Stage 1=

• 239 Hp
• 231 Ft-Lbs

Stage 2 (tbe)=

• 260 Hp
• 255 Ft-Lbs

PM me for plots, can anybody host them?

I've been very happy working with Cobb, they are very professional and don't set peak numbers as their priority. They left plenty of margin in the tune for bad gas or lots of road course time.

 

+1. I just got done talking to my local tunner, whom i just gave my consent to beta the AP for evos. Im sure im not the only one obviously (see above post) but i do have an 05 MR so maybe its going to be a different version than for previous year evos? I was told it will get to us here in chicago in about 1 week, and after it has been sucessfuly beta'd they will officialy release it to the public.