Ecutek, ecutek, ecutek... is everyone here using this, or are there other like me?

with a UTEC?

Actually, I have no idea about what the ecutek is or does. someone link me.

 

Quick rundown of the three most comming engine management setups...

Ecutek: Custom tune, flashed to ECU, a bit pricy, needs to be re-tuned and re-flashed when you mod more.

UTEC: Piggyback ECU, sensitive to weather/altitude changes from what I gather, download maps and/or tune things yourself.

AccessPort: Reflashes ECU with any of the Cobb developed maps. Requires that you stick to certain mods. Can add on StreetTuner for tuning it yourself if you want to tweak performance and/or do other mods. Can be tuned by shops using ProTuner as well.


Basically, Ecutek is more of a do it and forget about it deal... as is the AccessPort by itself. AP with Street/Pro Tuner or Utec is more for people wanting to fiddle with stuff themselves.

 

http://www.ecutek.com/

 

a few of us on here including myself switched from UTEC to ECUTEK... one of the best decisions i ever made... car runs extremely smooth at higher boost without any knock

 

bump for ecutec, I get mine done in a couple weeks

 

yea..i also switched from utec to ecutek and i will never turn back..go go power rangers!!!

 

EcuTek here too...via Prodrive. Great stuff!!! (And even better when Prodrive unlocks the key :banana: )

 

Bump for AEM

 

With the AP, you have the option of unmarrying the unit and selling.

 

OK, thanks.
ECU reflash, eh? That makes me nervous. If I put on a part, I would like the option of just turning off the EM piggyback and go to stock until I can get dyno time.

Well, the UTEC is working for me now, so I'll hang onto it until I have a problem. Plus I can always sell it for what I paid for it (got it used for $650).

Thanks for the ECUtek info though. They have a much better website than turboXS does... their website sucks badly

 

yup..the difference in utec vs ecutek is night and day..ecutek is adaptable where as utec is pretty much tuned for the weather at the time of tuning so any changes in temp/humidity could mean knock, detonation, etc..plus utec is tuned by throttle position..the car itself could really care less what throttle you are at..its the variables you need to consider..temperature, humidity, a/f ratio, boost pressure and soo much more. It also retains the stock ecu learning capabilities so if you are prone to knock at a certain area in powerband it learns that and compensates accordingly with knock correction..im not bad mouthing utec..there are some that have had no problems whatso ever with it but my personnal experience, my car is soo much happier with ecutek vs when i had utec..it almost seemed the ecu and utec were "fighting" for control..

 

that would work until u go with some of the bigger mods like injectors and turbo

 

I would like to also ask if you could change maps on the fly like the utec can??

 

for the 02 and 03 u can switch between 2 maps... 04+ have only one map

 

how can you select the maps?

 

Ecutek:
http://www.ecutek.com/products/mapswitch/


Switching Maps

EcuTek Map Switching allows dynamic selection of two sets of performance levels. To switch between these performance levels, the driver simply holds full throttle and toggles the rear heated window switch from off to on. This may be done with the engine off or on, so long as the ignition switch is on. The performance levels may also be switched from DeltaDash using the User Tuning feature.

 

cool just two maps then right. would the stock ecutek program take care of the mods i have and still give hp?

 

theres 2 ways to get ecutek

1) go to a tuner like SOG or topspeed and have them tune ur car
2) get in touch with kingpin or another vendor... send them a list of ur mods and send them ur ecu... they will flash it with whats appropriate for ur level of mods

personally i recommend option 1... even with the same mods, different cars require different tunes... u will end up getting more power with a potentially safer tune

 

Swamplandrex, what year is your rex. If it is an 05, you will definitely want to get it turned locally. You will have to send your ECU out and not be able to use your car for several days. If it is a previous year, they will send you a new ECU tuned to your mods, and when you get it, you send your ECU back. Like Milo said though, you are best getting it tuned locally regardless of year.

 

my ride is an 03 wrx wagon

 

Then to do a over the counter reflash is easy, but I would still recommend SoG or Topspeed, both have great tuners.

 

sog got ecutek for 895ish what the price of topspeed?

 

Isn't top speed 850? I got mine there and couldn't be happier. I have my bill somewhere around here. I agree doug gets things done right and fast. You probably can't go wrong either way though.

 

We're $850 for the initial Ecutek. I include 2 hours of road-tuning with that. Some cars need one additional hour of tuning at $120 per hour...

Doug is great too. If I wasn't a tuner I'd have him tune mine

SS

 

where is Siegel Racing
racing located at i'm thinking bout it

 

Project WRX: Part V
Engine management without wires

Previous Installments
June 2002
Vishnu Stage 0, Exhaust testing

September 2002
Big brake kit and testing

March 2003
Vishnu Stage 1 and 2, SPT suspension

August 2003
DMS suspension, Enkei RPF1 wheels, Kumho Ecsta MX tires

By Josh Jacquot
Photography: Josh Jacquot

With Project WRX cranking out 240 hp at the wheels, while wearing a highly adjustable DMS suspension, huge brakes, sticky tires and 17-inch wheels, we feel like we're approaching the end of a good run with an old friend.

However, being the neurotic car-modifying freaks we are, we can almost always find reasons to fix what's not broken. That's what we're doing this month. The last time we dealt with ECU changes on Project WRX, we installed the Xede piggyback computer from Vishnu Tuning to control engine parameters vital to the hardware mods we made. This month, we may have found an even more elegant solution.


Vishnu now has an alternative for those who are less interested in tuning the car themselves. This alternative, known as ECUTEK, is actually a piece of software which allows Vishnu to "reflash" the stock WRX ECU using a laptop computer through the OBD-II diagnostic port. ECUTEK software allows control over every detail of Subaru's highly advanced engine management. The elegance of the system is multifaceted for the consumer.

ECUTEK is a smart solution for those who want big power as much because of what it doesn't do as what it does. Small nuances of engine calibration such as cold start, load compensation, hot restart and other difficult-to-tune or condition-dependent problems are virtually eliminated since Subaru has already done the job right from the factory. Vishnu tunes only the maps required for more power as determined by the many different upgrades customer's cars might have. In other words, every reflash is essentially a custom tune specific to that car's mods and the fuel used. Since Project WRX is fitted with Vishnu Stage 2 mods, tuning began from the Stage 2 baseline map for California's 91-octane pump gas. However, Vishnu has on file a sample pool of maps from cars with varying levels of modification and different octane (including 93- and 94-octane East Coast fuel), which streamlines the tuning process and allows ECUTEK software a huge range of application from mild, near-stock cars to 400-hp monsters. Project WRX is somewhere in between.

The tuning process begins with four or five dyno pulls on Vishnu's Dyno Dynamics chassis dyno to get the engine up to temperature and witness the adaptability of the stock ECU based on the car's mods. Once the range of adaptability has been verified, changes begin in the knock correction table to bring the engine as close to the knock threshold as possible. The base ignition map is fairly conservative, as Subaru's engine management is very adaptive and will advance ignition timing on its own. Therefore, most tuning changes are made to cells in the knock correction table. Power is maximized by manipulating the cells that tell the ECU how far it is allowed to advance ignition timing without reaching the knock threshold. This means the knock correction values are sometimes as high as 11 degrees advanced beyond base map values. According to Shiv Pathak, the owner of Vishnu Tuning, Subaru engines must operate as close to the knock threshold as possible to make maximum power. Therefore, allowing the ECU to determine the ignition timing is the best way to tune the engine. This results in a smooth power curve with immediate adaptability to heak soak, sustained thermal load or octane fluctuations.

Subaru's stock boost control is also highly advanced, relying on many sensor inputs to determine safe, yet effective, levels of boost. Unlike many aftermarket boost controls which are MAP based, Subaru's stock management determines boost based on engine speed, vehicle speed (which affects intercooler efficiency), altitude and temperature. MAP-based controllers can overspeed undersized turbos at high elevation, shortening their life. Multi-parameter based boost control is simply safer.

There are other benefits, as well. Subaru's stock ECU has several safety nets built in. Unlike many stand-alone systems that are only reactive, the stock Subaru ECU constantly observes average knock correction and can apply a global retard by switching fuel maps if average knock correction value reaches a preset limit. In other words, if the ECU sees crappy gas, it will switch to a crappy gas map automatically. This adds an additional margin of safety for highly stressed engines against bad fuel or other problems.

Once tuned, Project WRX made 240 hp and 205 lb-ft of torque on the ECUTEK reflash--comparable to the 239 hp and 216 lb-ft it made running on the Xede piggyback. The reflash is also marginally less expensive at $750 vs. the Xede's $795. The primary difference between the two is tunability, although any results produced with the Xede can be duplicated through the ECUTEK software, if that's the goal. ECUTEK is essentially for enthusiasts who don't need the ability to do their own tuning. Xede offers most of the benefits of a full stand-alone system for those who do.

Delta Dash
Since we installed the ECUTEK on our car, Vishnu has begun selling a software bundle called Delta Dash, which allows reflash users limited access to boost, ignition and fuel and other maps. This software isn't designed for complete tuning, rather it's an enthusiast-friendly interface to select parameters. Delta Dash doesn't allow access to individual cells in each map. Instead, only global changes can be made to base fuel, ignition and boost maps.

More importantly, Delta Dash can be used in race or valet applications to change boost maps on the fly by pressing the throttle to its wide-open position and pushing the defroster button at the same time. This feature could also be activated as a safety margin by hot-climate users on 100-plus-degree days to alternate between low and high boost--especially those of us in California who must run on 91-octane fuel. Delta Dash uses the parallel port on a laptop computer for connection to the OBD-II port in the car. All changes are made in real time. It costs $325.

found this today. hope it help ya out.

link to the above artical and some pics

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.com/projectcars/0309scc_projwrx/

 

I've been looking around for a Dashboard Display to put in my legacy. Anyone know where i can get one cheap or even used? They are quite a bit.

 

scott works at subaru of gwinnett... thats where he tunes

 

Scott at sog cool

 

Do i have to go back to the orginal ECUTEK tuner after initial reflash tuning?

 

no you can go to any ecutek dealer for additional tunning after the initial reflash.

 

yes... but ur original tuner has ur previous map... so the tune could potentially go through quicker

 

but you mat not agree with or like the tune you got in the firstplace and want to change tuners. :naughty: im just glad we have 2 great ecutek tuners in the atl. theres alot of bad ecutek tunes goin on in other cities. look at the ecuteck forum on clubwrx.net.

 

yea scott has been a really good tuner to everyone here..he needs to hire some extra help though..seems his workload is stacking up

 

interesting that you should mention the unlock issue. i spoke with simon @ prodrive this week and what he had to say was this "...I am in the process of bringing in a service were we replace the Prodrive licence with a std EcuTek one so your tuner would not "loose" a licence when tuning your car..."

he's out of the country now, but when he gets back in, i'll be talking to him some more about this regarding time-table, current owners (and what they need to do to get this).

just a heads up.

 

Yes sir! Excellent stuff. It shall be interesting...

 

ok fine...


you guys with your edukated information and stuff...

Actually, I've been kinda pissed lately about the stuttering of the car at mid throttle levels... I've logged the data when the stuttering happens and its when the UTEC switches to its fuel map at a certain boost or throttle level. so the car is either slow (low throttle) or fast (full throttle) because at mid throttle, the car is unpredictable... and having the AC on only makes it worse.

Does the ECUTEK ever do this?


So, when I get time, I'm going to sell the UTEC and go ECUTEK. but of course right now I just dont have the time... :hs:

 

never in my experience

 

im sure that some one here would mind giving u a ride in their ecuteked car, just finding one with similar mods may be hard, then again maybe not

 

Yeah, my mod list is short and sweet... UTEC and a rear swaybar. Heh. Even with more mods than I have I'll still be able to tell if its smooth when at part-throttle. just put it in third gear at 2500 rpm's and slowly give it gas until you can hear the turbo spooling, and hold it there...

 

i'll be glad to take u for a ride in my car... just remind me the next time we meet

 

Sounds like your UTEC isn't tuned properly. ECUtek, UTEC, Hydra, whatever.. they all have the potential to run great or run like crap. All depends on the tune.

For the record, my car is smooth as butter with the regular AccessPort Stage 2 map... not bashing ECUtek at all, mind you, but I think that it has such a good reputation mainly because of some good tuners. Might want to give Phil @ element a call and see if he does UTEC stuff still, he's supposed to be a god in that area.

 

:dunno:

 

Exactly, I originally thought it was normal because my previous car was a turbo mirage (DSM) and it would stutter all the time. but knowing that with an ECUTEK you dont get stutter at half-throttle, plus what you said about fighting for control made me think that its not normal.

i'm going to call SOG and find out what all I need...

My current plan is to collect all the parts I need and install them, then drive it off boost to SOG (if the price is right - come on down!!), and have it tuned.

current list of parts needed are:
16G
larger injectors (dont know which ones yet - open to suggestions)
fuel pump - walbro 255 lph
liquid/air intercooler - sitting on the shelf already
3" DP - with 3" electronic exhaust cutout
uppipe


that should keep me happy for awhile. are there any supporting mods that I am missing?


EDIT: Called Scott at SOG. I now have the information I need on the ECUTEK. Now, all I have to do is save up the $$$ for everything.

 

Street Tuner

I am running a street tuner for engine management. It seems to be the best of both worlds imo. You can save 10 maps to it and it uses your stock ecu so corrections when the weather changes should be fine. I think it is the best option of them all. It will cost more then an Ecutek though...Around 1000 dollars for the unit plus tuning. I like having multiple maps though.

 

i wish that i kept my Street Tuner. I know that COBB is little lazy with new products, but they constantly update their softwares/products for their customers.:bigthumb: :bigthumb:

 

Hey Andy!

TopSpeed is alot closer to you and did you know you can run the ECUtek OVER the UTEC as in together?

Check into that as you may like the outcome.

 

Chang,
Hey Buddy, I called you back this morning (on my layover from tuning in Canada), but no answer... Your first post is so happy, and now you seem a bit upset about this. I apologize about the 5th gear surge, going with the really small restrictor makes it harder to prevent surge, but all you need to do is stop in and I can have you back to smooth in no time (one hour at the most, at no charge of course) -

"My car is SUPER smooth now. The power comes on SOO smoothly and early, I barely feel the "BANG" that i used to get when the turbo kicks in. Peak boost is around 19psi and tapers down (just like most other other people). Ecutek pulls harder and smoother than my previous AP Stage 2 map. I love it!!!"

I want you to love it again. I can do you this afternoon, Wed. morning or Friday morning.

Give me a call.

SS