HOW TO: Cipher +2 Timing Advance

fxlr8

fxlr8

Staff
Administrator
Here is the how to:

Make sure your car is running while doing the +2 or it won't hold!!

1
 
Just reposting this up with some updated info.

As stated by John (turbocad) your car must be running when doing the advance.
turbocad6 said:
everything went well, only problem I had was the instructions don't say the car has to be running but it does have to be running or the +2 won't hold... without the car running it'll still tell you sucess when you do the +2 but then when you go back in & check it's still at base timing, didn't notice this till like the 3rd one & had to go back & redo the first ones, then check & confirm it held, so yeh, car must be running.

we did a total of 6, 5 fx's & I had a freind with a 350z who I also did... cipher should ship out monday to canada...

also fyi, I had the +2 done on my fx over a year ago & have since reset the ecu several times & had my battery off several times. I hooked the cipher up to my car to see if the +2 was still there & it was, so this +2 is not volitable & won't just go away on you for just a dead battery or an ecu reset...
Click to expand...
 
The mod is quite easy:

1. Start car and start Cipher on your laptop
2. Plug in cable into the ODB2 connector and then into the laptop
3. Cipher program will state the cable is connected
4. Press Connect to ECU, a window will appear stating the ECU has been detected in green lettering, click OK
5. Click on Adjust Timing
6. Increase by 2 (You can increase higher but it will only do 2 degrees).
7. Save setting and turn the car off then redo steps 1 through 5 to verify it took.
8. Select clear learned fuel, then click the option to clear it. It will state Cleared. OK.
9. Turn off the car, restart it and take it for a drive.

You may notice the car feels a bit off or has lost some power, but that's because its learning the fuel maps all over again, but the next day you will start seeing quite the improvement. By the third day, my car way flying after this mod.
 
I heard that when you reset the ecu, the computer re-learns your driving habits. If you were gassing it more after the +2 mod, could that be a reason why the car felt/is quicker.
 
I'd recommend that you drive the car aggressively for the first few tankfuls at least, & and then drive it agressively on a regular basis after that too :tongue:
 
Noob here.. I'm considering jumping on the loan program. Where is the OBD2 connector? It seems simple to use this software. I wasn't sure if you hook cipher to the ECU, but I guess you hook it to the ODB2 connector. Any photos of where it is?
 
This may be common knowledge for some, but just in case.

Stock timing = 15 BTDC
+2 advance = 17 BTDC

I was questioning myself while doing the procedure. :tongue:
 
I thought +2 took us to +13?

OEM is 15 degrees before top dead center which means +2 degrees would be 13 (closer to TDC)? Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Last edited:
You guys are right. We are advancing the timing to 17 (earlier in the cycle), not retarding it to 13 as I thought. Here's the wiki definition.

"Timing advance" refers to the number of degrees before top dead center (Dead centre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) that the spark will ignite the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber during the Stroke (engine) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retarded timing can be defined as; changing the timing so that fuel ignition happens later than the manufacturer's specified time. If the ignition timing, specified by the manufacturer, was to be set at 12 degrees BTDC and it was adjusted to a number lower than 12 degrees BTDC, it would be retarded.

Timing advance is required because it takes time to burn the air-fuel mixture. Igniting the mixture before the piston reaches top dead center (Dead centre - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) will allow the mixture to fully burn soon after the piston reaches TDC. If the air-fuel mixture is ignited at the correct time, maximum pressure in the cylinder will occur sometime after the piston reaches TDC allowing the ignited mixture to push the piston down the cylinder with the greatest force. Ideally, the time at which the mixture should be fully burnt is about 20 degrees ATDC. This will utilize the engine's power producing potential. If the ignition spark occurs at a position that is too advanced relative to piston position, the rapidly expanding air-fuel mixture can actually push against the piston still moving up, causing Engine knocking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg" class="image"><img alt="Text document with red question mark.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png and lost power. If the spark occurs too retarded relative to the piston position, maximum cylinder pressure will occur after the piston is already traveling too far down the cylinder. This results in lost power, high Emission standard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="image"><img alt="Question book-new.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png, and unburned fuel."
 
We had a problem with one of the 06, Sports Package, US model. The cipher shows "Unable to identify ECU", but BCM and ABS parameters have been read without a problem. The cable and software was later tested out on my 03 without an issue. The other 06 Canadian version was done easily like breathing. I tried many times for that 06, Sport Package FX (VanFX's vehicle) still have no luck.

Anyone experienced the similar before?

Thanks,
 
If the ECU is replaced, it should still be readable, otherwise, the NIssan Consult at dealership will have problem accessing that ECU if is needed. The car was bought brand new by VanFX. I have no clue what was going on. That is the only FX I have heard that the cipher did not work on it
 
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