I Got My XEDE! Now what do I do?



Thank you for purchasing our XEDE system! We have taken many steps to ensure that it performs flawlessly for many years. The electronics, itself, have been through 4 levels of quality control at the manufacturing facility. And the entire complete system (XEDE unit with harness) has also been installed and tested in our own Lancer Evolution before it was packed up and sent to you. Getting up and running with your new XEDE is a quick and painless process. Nonetheless, following the directions carefully is vital for ensure proper installation and trouble-free performance. Failure to follow these instructions can result in any number of problems.

STEP 1 Make sure you have filled up with good fuel
Like all high performance turbo cars, the Lancer Evolution is very sensitive to fuel quality. If here is one area to save money, gas station selection isn¡¦t it! It is very important that you use only name brand gas stations and fill up with the highest octane they have available. In California and Arizona, where 91 octane is the highest grade fuel, it is especially important to be careful with brand selection. We have had the best luck with 76 brand fuels. Remember, we are trying to extract more power from you engine and the only way to do it safely is to rely on the knock-resistance provided by premium grade gasoline. For those who live in the other 48 states, please don¡¦t run anything less than 93 octane.

STEP 2 Download the installation instructions
Go to www.vishnutuning.com/xede_evo_instruction.htm Print this out. These instructions will tell you how to install the XEDE unit into your Lancer Evolution. It may look a little daunting at first. But it really isn¡¦t. In fact, we¡¦ve timed ourselves at 4 minutes and 23 seconds from beginning to end. Of course, installation is not a race so please take your time and do it right.

STEP 3 Make sure you have the correct map loaded into your XEDE computer
Most XEDEs leave our shop without a map loaded into them. Driving around with an unmapped XEDE will leave you quite disappointed. If this is the case, it is important that you upload an appropriate map. These can be downloaded from our website at www.vishnutuning.com/xede_evo.htm. Make sure you download the appropriate XEDE map, paying special attention to the octane fuel that it is designed to be operating on. Running a 93 octane map on 91 octane will result in inconsistent and sub-par performance. To upload a map into the XEDE, you will use a software program known as XUpdate. This download and viewing software can be downloaded at www.vishnutuning.com. Instructions on how to use XUpdate can be downloaded at www.vishnutuning.com. If your XEDE has arrived to you already pre-programmed, it will be labeled accordingly. Make sure what is loaded on to the XEDE is appropriate for you application. If not, upload the appropriate map using XUpdate.



Troubleshooting

When I accelerate hard, my engine cuts out suddenly for a moment!
If this is happening, the first thing to check is your boost pressure. If it is too high, you may be reaching your boost limit. This is a protection strategy that will activate a fuel cut when boost pressures are too high. With the XEDE, peak boost pressures shouldn¡¦t exceed 20-21 psi. If they are, check the vacuum line that goes to the boost control solenoid (the hose that once held the brass restrictor). Any tears or rips in this line will cause overboost conditions.

My boost is lower than stock!
The XEDE is in full control of boost so there are only a few conditions that can result in low boost conditions. One possibility is that the boost control wiring was not doing correctly. This can mean that the male and female joint could have come undone. Or it could mean that you pushed the blue wire into the wrong socket in the harness. Go over the instructions and double-check your work.
Another possibility is that you still don¡¦t have a map uploaded into the XEDE computer. Upload the appropriate map using XUpdate.
Yet another possibility is that you have not removed the brass pill as per the instructions. With this still in the system, your boost will be lower than stock.
Lastly, you may have a boost leak. This is especially likely if you have installed other parts (such as intercooler hose upgrades) at the same time as the XEDE. Double check your work!
Remember, depending on which map is installed in your Evolution, peak boost pressures should be between 20-22psi. Due to limitations of the factory turbocharger, boost pressure will taper noticeably towards redline. This means that, at 7000RPM, boost pressures may have fallen to 17-19psi. This is normal.

My check engine light (CEL) came on with driving!
Any number of things can cause this. From improper spark plug gapping, to over-boost, to catalyst inefficiency, to a loose wire somewhere in the ECU harness, to an open gas tank lid, etc., With so many possible causes, the only way to get to the bottom of it is to read the code with an OBD-II scan tool. Virtually every service shop (especially those what work on import cars) will have one. They should also be willing to read your code for a nominal fee, or even free of charge. It only takes a few seconds to do so.


Helpful Hints

1) Get a boost gauge! This will allow you to confirm that boost pressure is within specification. Every turbo car should have one! We sell ¡¥em, by the way ƒº
2) If you do decide to take advantage of the XEDE map-switching feature, make sure you install the switch in an appropriate place. That is, if you have other people driving your car, you may want to hide it.
3) Leave your XEDE unit expose for the first day or two (instead of tucking it behind the glovebox) to ensure that the LED turns a solid green when the engine is running. Nothing would be more pathetic that running the XEDE for a month before realizing that it was never operational due to a flakey installation, hardware troubles or a bad map upload.

 

shiv,

i must say it really shows you care about the quality of your product, as well as your customers. i will be following you stage mods all the way. keep em coming!!!!!

 

Two questions Shiv......Is the maximum boost level determined by; the removal of the restrictor pill, or the uploaded map...?
What is the function of the boost control feature if maximum boost is determined by one or both of the previously mentioned?

Oh, and on a sideline..are your Fidanza cam gears going to be color anodized?
Cheers...

 

Shiv,

Those are excellent install instructions on your site. Will there be cam gear install instructions as well? Thanks.

 

Hi guys,
The ReadMe file is now up on the website at:
http://www.vishnutuning.com/xede_evo.htm
The links are fixed so that they actually work now!

heshamnaim-- Thanks for the kind words. All of us at the shop like what we do!

limey-- Maximum boost is governed by the boost tables in the XEDE. The bigger the duty cycle number, the more boost. The removal of the restriction simply raises the boost potential of the system. FWIW, the boost tables in the XEDE are actually lower in value than that of the stock ECU. But with the restrictor removed, boost pressures are a bit higher with less taper. If we used the same duty cycle numbers as the stock boost tables, boost pressure (with the restrictor removed) would be 25+psi which is a bit too high

At this point, we'll be happy to get the cam gears asap from Fidanza. It's taking a lot longer than their initial projections. So no, I don't colors are going to be an option at this time. Maybe in the next batch after we get caught up with backorders.

weightless-- Yes, there will be instructions with the cam gears. However, it's not something that you may want to do unless you have done something like that before. A good shop should only charge you a couple of hours to install them for you, btw.

Cheers,
shiv

 

Shiv, I received my Xede this morning. Thanks.

I ordered mine with the Stage 1 map pre-loaded. Your site mentions that the Stage 1 map is designed with the cam gears in use. What if one doesn't use the cam gears. What kind of effect will that have on the driveability and reliability of the car?

 

Do you expect that the maps will need to be modified once we get into cold temperatures in the US? This question assumes that to date you have not been able to run a car in 40F or lower conditions.

 

I don't think temp swings will be an issue since all the factory temp compensations are still in effect with the XEDE. Unless the factory messed up somewhere in the mapping of these compensations (which is very unlikely since a goof up here would result in emissions noncompliance), there is no cause for concern.

Cheers
shiv

 

Shiv-

Do you think running an EGT gauge+probe in addition to the boost gauge would be a good safety meausre with the Xede, or is it not necessary?

-Seth

 

Gauges are always a good idea. Especially the boost gauge. Without it, it's nearly impossible to troubleshoot anything. The EGT gauge is nice too but, IMHO, not to helpful unless your going for an all-out bonkers kit or racing regularly at the track-- the real one, not the straight 1/4 one

cheers,
shiv

 

Hey Shiv,

I got my Xede on Friday afternoon. Thanks for the speedy shipping. I have a few minor issues. I PM ed you.

Thanks in advance

Rovman

 

So if someone installed the XEDE and removed the boost restrictor, and then uninstalled the XEDE (e.g., for bringing the car to a dealer), the car would boost to 25 PSI? How hard is it to install/remove the boost restrictor and is it the kind of thing you could do ten times without wearing anything out?

 

It's easy to reinstall and remove the pill as many times as you want. Another option would be to replace the factory vacuum line (the one with the pill in it) with a regular vacuum line (without a pill, of course) and then swap back and forth as needed.

shiv

 

Hi, I'm considering the XEDE but I'm concerned about restoring my vehicle to stock when serviced (I bought the extended warranty). Where is this vacuum line located? Under the hood? I assume installing/removing the XEDE is trivial; please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks, Mike.

 

Hi Mike,
The vacuum line is located in the engine bay, under the intake box. Real easy to get to, swap out and convert back to stock if the need should arise. Nothing about the XEDE install is non-reversible.

Cheers,
shiv