hi can anyone tell me or direct me to the right answers please... i want to know what does flashing my ECU does to my car? how could i get it done? also does anyone know of legit chips for FXs? thank you so much... i'm trying to gather as much information as i can before i start making any mods on my FX.. thank you all for all your help!! also whats does the chip actually do to my fx?
ecu flash and chips
- Thread starter Rubare
- Start date
The BIG BOYS here use Technosquare. Here's the info you need
LMS Intake and Technosquare ECU Reflash - InfinitiScene.com
ECU Reflash by Techno Square... - InfinitiScene.com
LMS Intake and Technosquare ECU Reflash - InfinitiScene.com
ECU Reflash by Techno Square... - InfinitiScene.com
P
Psiclne
Guest
- Location
- Boston, MA
Couple of important terms here that can be adjusted by a flash/tuning
Air/Fuel Ratio (AFR or A/F): Optimum ratio in a combustion engine is 14.7:1 at cruising speed and 12.8 to 13.1 at WOT (Wide Open Throttle, ie, when you go at it). That's 14.7 parts air to 1 parts fuel. Then the amount is lower, it's considered a "rich" mixture (ie, more fuel) and when it's higher it's a "lean" mixture (ie, air is more). As you do breathing, exhaust mods to your engine, this ratio gets leaner. Too lean or too rich causes you power & torque loss. ECU Flash/Tuning can correct this by adjusting the fuel amount thus making your engine run better, give out more power.
Timing (ignition timing): This is the time when the spark occurs in the engine. Increasing this will give you more power given that there's enough air & fuel. For instance, if you add a supercharger to your engine, the air and fuel amounts will significantly increase. Increasing timing in this situation will give you more power. Also, for Nissan engines, you can get your timing increased by +2 degrees. This will give you more low end grunt but you'll have to use premium fuel or you might experience knock.
Injector scaling: Your engine has 6 injectors that adjust the fuel flow along with the fuel pump. A flash can adjust the amount flowed by "scaling" the injectors. This is necessary if you are FI or if you have extensive mods to your NA engine. It's also useful even in normal modded engines since your tuner has more control on fuel.
Now, there are several alternatives for a flash/tune:
1) Technosquare: These guys are experts on our engines and if you're in or close to CA, you can go there and get a tune on the dyno. They will upload a new program to your ECU and you won't need anything else installed.
Advantages:
- Real experts on our engine
- Price is fine
- They do research themselves
- They can adjust the transmission pressure thus giving you slightly better shifts
- They can remove throttle limitations so when you go WOT, your throttle actually opens up completely (otherwise it won't)
- They can remove the speed limiter
- They can adjust the stock rpm red-line
Disadvantages:
- They are far if you're anywhere else
- They have mail-in tuning service but it won't be custom and may not be as effective as an on-site tune. Plus you'll need to take out your ECU and ship = down time
- They may not support your version of your ECU
- They have a speedy, cheaper limited tune but it only adjust the tranny pressure & removes the limiters (edited)
2) Piggybacks:
These are additional ECU units that plug into your stock ECU and adjust things by interfacing the signal. UTEC (edit: see TurboCad's post for more detailed info on UTEC), e-manage, Unichip are examples.
Advantages:
- Most are plug and play
- You'll have an easier time finding a local tuner that can tune a piggyback so that you'll have a tune designed for your needs
- Once installed, the only amount you pay each time you want to get a tune is the tune price, which is generally only around $100-$300 range
- No down time
- Can get one used on the forums for a good price
- You can monitor (graph as well) how your engine is doing by plugging in your laptop.
Disadvantages:
- Some units are too big to fit the places (search for utec on turbocad's posts) and may need to be partially visible
- Most overwrite the injector signals. The problem with this is that if you get a tune say when it's 80F outside, you'll have a set injector scale for that temp. But when its say 30F outside, your stock ECU may increase timing significantly thinking the temps allow it. This can result as a more increased timing (ECU+piggyback both increasing) which may result in a knock. This won't really have much affect on an NA tune but if FI, it can blow your engine.
3) Standalone ECU units:
These are units that completely replace the ECU.
Advantages:
- You have control over everything
Disadvantages:
- Very expensive
- May not be compatible
4) Remote flash services (UpRev Cipher & Osiris)
This is similar to TS tune. The only difference is that, they send you a program and a cable and you provide them data (diagnostics through Cipher) and they send you a flash which you upload yourself. Basically, you take your laptop and go to a dyno shop, plug in cable and run Cipher. Do the dyno runs and send the data from Cipher to UpRev. They form the flash for your needs and send it back to you. You take this file and upload it to your ECU using Osiris.
Advantages:
- No down time
- Quick & simple
- Custom flash for yourself given that you can provide them good data
- They have a service in which you can create your own flash
Disadvantages:
- Your tune depends on your dyno results which means you may have an average tune if you just do 2 runs
- They may not support your ECU (just like the TS)
guys, feel free to add and maybe we can make this a sticky with additional info from the experienced members here?
Air/Fuel Ratio (AFR or A/F): Optimum ratio in a combustion engine is 14.7:1 at cruising speed and 12.8 to 13.1 at WOT (Wide Open Throttle, ie, when you go at it). That's 14.7 parts air to 1 parts fuel. Then the amount is lower, it's considered a "rich" mixture (ie, more fuel) and when it's higher it's a "lean" mixture (ie, air is more). As you do breathing, exhaust mods to your engine, this ratio gets leaner. Too lean or too rich causes you power & torque loss. ECU Flash/Tuning can correct this by adjusting the fuel amount thus making your engine run better, give out more power.
Timing (ignition timing): This is the time when the spark occurs in the engine. Increasing this will give you more power given that there's enough air & fuel. For instance, if you add a supercharger to your engine, the air and fuel amounts will significantly increase. Increasing timing in this situation will give you more power. Also, for Nissan engines, you can get your timing increased by +2 degrees. This will give you more low end grunt but you'll have to use premium fuel or you might experience knock.
Injector scaling: Your engine has 6 injectors that adjust the fuel flow along with the fuel pump. A flash can adjust the amount flowed by "scaling" the injectors. This is necessary if you are FI or if you have extensive mods to your NA engine. It's also useful even in normal modded engines since your tuner has more control on fuel.
Now, there are several alternatives for a flash/tune:
1) Technosquare: These guys are experts on our engines and if you're in or close to CA, you can go there and get a tune on the dyno. They will upload a new program to your ECU and you won't need anything else installed.
Advantages:
- Real experts on our engine
- Price is fine
- They do research themselves
- They can adjust the transmission pressure thus giving you slightly better shifts
- They can remove throttle limitations so when you go WOT, your throttle actually opens up completely (otherwise it won't)
- They can remove the speed limiter
- They can adjust the stock rpm red-line
Disadvantages:
- They are far if you're anywhere else
- They have mail-in tuning service but it won't be custom and may not be as effective as an on-site tune. Plus you'll need to take out your ECU and ship = down time
- They may not support your version of your ECU
- They have a speedy, cheaper limited tune but it only adjust the tranny pressure & removes the limiters (edited)
2) Piggybacks:
These are additional ECU units that plug into your stock ECU and adjust things by interfacing the signal. UTEC (edit: see TurboCad's post for more detailed info on UTEC), e-manage, Unichip are examples.
Advantages:
- Most are plug and play
- You'll have an easier time finding a local tuner that can tune a piggyback so that you'll have a tune designed for your needs
- Once installed, the only amount you pay each time you want to get a tune is the tune price, which is generally only around $100-$300 range
- No down time
- Can get one used on the forums for a good price
- You can monitor (graph as well) how your engine is doing by plugging in your laptop.
Disadvantages:
- Some units are too big to fit the places (search for utec on turbocad's posts) and may need to be partially visible
- Most overwrite the injector signals. The problem with this is that if you get a tune say when it's 80F outside, you'll have a set injector scale for that temp. But when its say 30F outside, your stock ECU may increase timing significantly thinking the temps allow it. This can result as a more increased timing (ECU+piggyback both increasing) which may result in a knock. This won't really have much affect on an NA tune but if FI, it can blow your engine.
3) Standalone ECU units:
These are units that completely replace the ECU.
Advantages:
- You have control over everything
Disadvantages:
- Very expensive
- May not be compatible
4) Remote flash services (UpRev Cipher & Osiris)
This is similar to TS tune. The only difference is that, they send you a program and a cable and you provide them data (diagnostics through Cipher) and they send you a flash which you upload yourself. Basically, you take your laptop and go to a dyno shop, plug in cable and run Cipher. Do the dyno runs and send the data from Cipher to UpRev. They form the flash for your needs and send it back to you. You take this file and upload it to your ECU using Osiris.
Advantages:
- No down time
- Quick & simple
- Custom flash for yourself given that you can provide them good data
- They have a service in which you can create your own flash
Disadvantages:
- Your tune depends on your dyno results which means you may have an average tune if you just do 2 runs
- They may not support your ECU (just like the TS)
guys, feel free to add and maybe we can make this a sticky with additional info from the experienced members here?
Last edited:
- Location
- Southern California
great posts.
I want to add another "cheaper" option many here have done is the +2 timing. The technosquare flash would be best, but this mod has some good reviews. (must used super-unleaded)
basically you need someone that can plug into the ECu and advance the timing 2 degrees.
I forgot the name of the module, but I want one so I can adjust back when I want.
I want to add another "cheaper" option many here have done is the +2 timing. The technosquare flash would be best, but this mod has some good reviews. (must used super-unleaded)
basically you need someone that can plug into the ECu and advance the timing 2 degrees.
I forgot the name of the module, but I want one so I can adjust back when I want.
- Location
- Santa Clarita, CA
- Car
- 2005 FX45
Nice write-up there EG3, should be very helpful to the OP.
Added one addition, if you don't mind.
Added one addition, if you don't mind.
- Location
- Boston, MA
ooopss.. delete.. supposed to be a pm 
- Location
- Dallas, TX
- Car
- 2007 FX35 RWD
consult II i believe is what you are talking about. dealership uses it, as it can do alot more than just adjust timing.
- Location
- Boston, MA
I think he's meaning Cipher. With Consult, you have to go to the dealership each time, with cipher you can increase/decrease any time you want.
- Location
- brooklyn, ny
just to add that #1, the TS limited tune does not touch the AF ratio as you stated, just tranny pressure & throttle limit, & adjust other limits, no timing or fuel adjustments at all, this is intended for guys that want to run a piggyback but still want the advantages TS can do with there limited tune that you would not get with a piggyback alone.
#2, utec has 2 modes, one is mass air, modifying the MAF signal & the temperature differences that you spoke of are not much of a limitation in that mode because of the ecu still having basic control of the variables, then it also has a speed density mode that is more for highly modded or FI, that requires the addition of a MAP sensor. in this mode the utec can really work like a stand alone in that it can run open loop fueling completely bypassing the ECU in this mode, mostly done above 2k rpm's so the ecu can still maintain partial throttle response & drivability, an issue that is hard to deal with on a true stand alone. temperature is still monitored & can be a variable that is tuned for, but of course unless you can create all the different temperature environments for tunning will not be accurately tunable in the outer regions of temp extremes.
another thing to mention is that the utec has the ability of completely replacing the stock maps when desired & again working as a true stand alone, unlike other piggybacks that can only modify the factory signals & maps.
#2, utec has 2 modes, one is mass air, modifying the MAF signal & the temperature differences that you spoke of are not much of a limitation in that mode because of the ecu still having basic control of the variables, then it also has a speed density mode that is more for highly modded or FI, that requires the addition of a MAP sensor. in this mode the utec can really work like a stand alone in that it can run open loop fueling completely bypassing the ECU in this mode, mostly done above 2k rpm's so the ecu can still maintain partial throttle response & drivability, an issue that is hard to deal with on a true stand alone. temperature is still monitored & can be a variable that is tuned for, but of course unless you can create all the different temperature environments for tunning will not be accurately tunable in the outer regions of temp extremes.
another thing to mention is that the utec has the ability of completely replacing the stock maps when desired & again working as a true stand alone, unlike other piggybacks that can only modify the factory signals & maps.
- Location
- brooklyn, ny
also want to add that if your going to put togeather a sticky that's al abvout tunning, you might want to add some info from this thread:
tuning 101 - InfinitiScene.com
for those that really want to understand better what tuning affects & how it all works there is some very good info there, I learned & clarified in my mind some things from that info & have a better understanding because of it...
tuning 101 - InfinitiScene.com
for those that really want to understand better what tuning affects & how it all works there is some very good info there, I learned & clarified in my mind some things from that info & have a better understanding because of it...
- Location
- Boston, MA
+1. The only thing that comes into my mind different is that we need to have a sticky on tuning that goes from basic to complicated. When I read your posts I go dizzy John
edited parts on TS & UTEC, btw..
- Location
- brooklyn, ny
yeah, it is a lot to absorb. it's hard for me to really gage how much a novice would or wouldn't understand stuff like that... I do have a bit of knowledge already so I understood & apreciated that very much, but I'm not sure if the average guy might read it & just say huh? for those that already have some basic knowledge & want to know & understand more though, that is a great read...
- Location
- Boston, MA
That's why I'm suggesting to go from simple to complicated. If our beloved mods can say start from my post, add Jeff's and then add yours it'll be enough for now I believe. Then, people can add stuff and we/mods can edit it to come up with a good sticky.
- Location
- brooklyn, ny
sounds like a good idea to me...
- Location
- Los Angeles, CA
- Car
- 05 FX35 RWD
Great sticky idea & info. Good work
- Location
- Boston, MA
Dave had a TS reflash after installing the throttle body spacer I believe:
VQ Throttle Body Spacer Mod - InfinitiScene.com
edit: I think he just got the AF adjustment and rpm limiter removal.
Last edited:
My bro @ AMS (West Chicago) said there was a guy talking to one of the tuners there, asking for 350Z customers about flashes. The tuner guy mentioned my FX, so my brother is looking into it. I got a brand new UTEC for about $550, and a figure thrown out there for flashing was somethin like $900. To me that seems pretty steep for flashing the ECU and I'd be more than happy to stay with UTEC.
I'll update when I find out more.
I'll update when I find out more.