Getting an ECU Upgrade/Tune in Melbourne

[bonski]

I thought I would start a thread as I've been chatting to Chriskan and we are trying to go through all the tuning options.

I thought we could see if there are any others that are interested as a group buy discount option is always a possibility.

1. AVO
2. STi Docklands
3. ECUTEK (HPF)

come to mind but there may be others so it would be great to hear from people planning it or that have done it.

[Sentinel]

hey bonski - yep interested. I'm new on the forums so just looking through the threads.

Is it just me or does there seem to be a pattern on this forum where there's lot's of wanting to get shit done, then talking about it, but nothing happens?

[cpitts]

Yep, the level of light mods I'm planning (intake, exhaust, no turbo) will let me use the stock ECU, so I'm going to look at an AVO reflash.

Have used them before and thoroughly trust them and their work.

Don't like ECUTEK as they fuk your ECU up by encrypting it and not allowing it to be retuned by ANYONE ELSE other than ECUTEK. Even if they do offer to 'roll it back to stock'. All that means is they put on a stock map, but you can no longer OpenECU tune it. (personal view of course)

w.r.t group buy, I'm not sure of my timings, so may not work. Also, I get a WRX Club discount which is pretty good from AVO on this mod.

[overl0ad]

i can confirm that ART has the ability to reflash/remap your stock GTB ECU without encrypting it.

pulled the maps off mine and reuploaded them today.

edit: i SHOULD have some graphs by this time next week.

[Sentinel]

overload - anu news mate?

[overl0ad]

they still working on it.

told them that i'll pick the car up on Sat.

i've giving them lots of time with it as i don't need the car anyways as i drive the prelude to work and back...

[swingn]

Don't like ECUTEK as they fuk your ECU up by encrypting it and not allowing it to be retuned by ANYONE ELSE other than ECUTEK. Even if they do offer to 'roll it back to stock'. All that means is they put on a stock map, but you can no longer OpenECU tune it. (personal view of course)

You can go from ECUtek to Open Source... But from what I understand there are a few tricks to doing it & obviously the ECUtek data cannot be read through the Open Source software.

[cpitts]

Don't like ECUTEK as they fuk your ECU up by encrypting it and not allowing it to be retuned by ANYONE ELSE other than ECUTEK. Even if they do offer to 'roll it back to stock'. All that means is they put on a stock map, but you can no longer OpenECU tune it. (personal view of course)

You can go from ECUtek to Open Source... But from what I understand there are a few tricks to doing it & obviously the ECUtek data cannot be read through the Open Source software.

Just basing the comments on issues seen by professional tuning houses when trying to reflash ECU's that have been returned to 'standard' by ECUTEK providers. This may be a Victorian issue only, I can't comment for those that have done it in NSW/QLD but the stories seem to be the same when I investigated it a couple of years ago.

Newer versions may not have this issue, who knows.

[3rspecb]

HPF are no longer supporting ECUTEK & or MRT products.

Below is an extract from the VIC WRX Website.

HPF will be using RomRaider/Open Ecu software aswell as we are also offering tuning using Flashtorques Ezy-flash units.
We are also finalising deals to become a Cobbtuning Authorised dealer and tuner. So when the Cobb Tuning Accessport supports the JDM/ADM model Subaru's (currently in the works) we will be able to offer that too as at the moment they only offer R35 GTR tuning support here in Australia.


Would like to make it clear, I have no affiliation with HPF.

[overl0ad]

ok,

quick update as they've asked for a few more days with the car.

some background on the car on items which could affect the dyno results

9/2006 MY07 GTB
50,000kms on the clock.
Apexi intake kit
perrin cat back
Group A Pitch Mount
18*7.5 CE28NF
Falken 452 225/45/18s <- crap in the wet
Tyre pressure: 38/35 <- last checked 5 weeks ago
Engine Oil - Motul 8100 5-40 approx 250kms ago
Gearbox and rear diff: Motul Type2 LLF LSD (or somethign like that) approx 250kms ago
Fuel: shell v-power (?, the red one anyways)
half a tank is about 3 weeks old
the other half was put in on tuesday


Stock run in S# = 127KW ATW
Current in S# = 140 KW ATW

the idea is to do the tune with the car as stock as possible or with minimal performance mods

[Sentinel]

overload, so by what I'm reading of your post, the intake and cat back essentially have given you 13KW ATW yes? What are you expecting with the tune?

Cheers

[overl0ad]

sorry if I wasn't clear.

nothing on the vehicle was changed between the 127 and 140 except for the current stage of tune by the team at ART.

I felt it was important to post all mods which could potentially affect the pre tune results.

[cpitts]

Don't spose you have power, torque, AFR and boost graphs?

Did boost remain the same? Or has it been moved up a bit?

[GTSPECB STI]

If you are trying to tune with minimal mods then I would put the stock box back on use a good panel filter. This will firstly help your tuner more than likely to get some handle on tunning can bus ecu. The MAF on our Gen IV cars can have some issues with aftermarket air intake systems.

140 kw at the wheel seems about right to me but as mentioned by cpitts I would be asking the tuner to tune the AFR safely in the 11's. Peak torque would also be helpful so graphs will help us comment further.

For me I wanted the car to be response on throttle and early as possible. My boost is on at 2200 and finishes at 3400...the result is a damn big kick in the bottom end and a torque figure 416. What does that mean? I can get the back end loose on dry pavement but top speed is not as good obviously.

good luck with the testing and tune

[Sentinel]

Went to AVO yesterday to discuss tune and some 'breathing' mods...

Intake, filter, tune was what we discussed. Reckons we can pick up about 25-40kw with Phats muffs fitted... Interesting bit was the tune for $1000, not generic. (A local bloke who does R32-34's quoted $700 for custom tune.) AVO intake stuff was about $450-$500 fitted.

Given that I'm new the whole 4 cyl turbo scene, I have no idea if that's good, bad or otherwise. AVO was very helpful and explained it to me which was good.

Who else can I go to get a comparison quote and chat about mods?

cpitts - you mentioned discounts at AVO, who does that apply to?

overload - who are ART??