Standalone ecu programming
Discussion
Hello chaps
Where is the best place to learn about ecu programming?
And to understand what the figures that are put into each map actually mean and what effect they have and so on.
I have bought books in the hope that I would get a basic understanding but most of it doesn't explain in detail.
So over to you guys
Thanks
Slideways
Where is the best place to learn about ecu programming?
And to understand what the figures that are put into each map actually mean and what effect they have and so on.
I have bought books in the hope that I would get a basic understanding but most of it doesn't explain in detail.
So over to you guys
Thanks
Slideways
Depends on MANY things. Boosted or nasp, brand of ECU and software etc but the core essentials are always the same, regardless of what hardware/software you use, which are:-
1) A complete understanding of how engines work: Crank, cam & valve timing, ignition advance, Air fuel ratios, fuel injection, ignition coils and dwell etc etc
2) Computers: How to setup the laptop, flashing firmware and using the software etc etc.
Mapping requires two mindsets. You must understand the mechanics and sometimes you need to forget the mechanics and think like a computer!
I learned 'on the job', so I can't point you at any specific learning resources. I just bought a DTA S80 ECU, wired it up, threw some basic numbers in and then tweaked it from there.
Tell us the engine you're using, it's configuration, the ECU you're using and we can probably advise a bit more.
1) A complete understanding of how engines work: Crank, cam & valve timing, ignition advance, Air fuel ratios, fuel injection, ignition coils and dwell etc etc
2) Computers: How to setup the laptop, flashing firmware and using the software etc etc.
Mapping requires two mindsets. You must understand the mechanics and sometimes you need to forget the mechanics and think like a computer!
I learned 'on the job', so I can't point you at any specific learning resources. I just bought a DTA S80 ECU, wired it up, threw some basic numbers in and then tweaked it from there.
Tell us the engine you're using, it's configuration, the ECU you're using and we can probably advise a bit more.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Depends on MANY things. Boosted or nasp, brand of ECU and software etc but the core essentials are always the same, regardless of what hardware/software you use, which are:-
1) A complete understanding of how engines work: Crank, cam & valve timing, ignition advance, Air fuel ratios, fuel injection, ignition coils and dwell etc etc
Do you know of any online resources that cover any of these subjects? I know the basics of what they are, but not the finer details (e.g. AFR and stoichiometric ratio, but things like e.g. at idle and closed throttle a richer mixture is required - is that right? Those are the sorts of details/theory I would be interested in).1) A complete understanding of how engines work: Crank, cam & valve timing, ignition advance, Air fuel ratios, fuel injection, ignition coils and dwell etc etc
You can go on a basic coarse from someone like Engine management acadamy (google it, the coarse are good) After that i recommend just buying an ecu, fitting it to your car and then playing with it. Almost all the mappers I know started this way (very few of the afermarket mappers have an engineering degree)
/\ As above. The latter option is certainly cheaper, providing you don't blow any engines whilst learning :-)
DTA do dealer training days etc, but it's not cheap.
The reason I asked about engine type and ECU model is because a lot of them come with 'base maps' for popular engines, or you can find a map for your engine on t'internet from other people.
Tuning companies who do mapping are EXTREMELY protective of their maps and techniques and won't give you much, if any, advice, so you're on your own to a large extent.
Choose an ECU that has a large user base and one a local tuner has experience tuning. Emerald and DTA spring to mind. Once you have it all wired in and ready to go, that's when we can start giving you some specifics.
This is a great website - http://www.max-boost.co.uk/max-boost/
It's based around tuning a Vauxhall C20LET engine, but the guy speaks a lot of sense and the theories and tricks can be applied to a lot of other engines.
DTA do dealer training days etc, but it's not cheap.
The reason I asked about engine type and ECU model is because a lot of them come with 'base maps' for popular engines, or you can find a map for your engine on t'internet from other people.
Tuning companies who do mapping are EXTREMELY protective of their maps and techniques and won't give you much, if any, advice, so you're on your own to a large extent.
Choose an ECU that has a large user base and one a local tuner has experience tuning. Emerald and DTA spring to mind. Once you have it all wired in and ready to go, that's when we can start giving you some specifics.
This is a great website - http://www.max-boost.co.uk/max-boost/
It's based around tuning a Vauxhall C20LET engine, but the guy speaks a lot of sense and the theories and tricks can be applied to a lot of other engines.
Thanks for the response guys,
I have a dta p8 pro all wired in to a twin turbo Tvr chimaera, I know computers pretty well and am getting round the laptop connection bugs at the moment, i had he car mapped professionally and it ran really rich to the point where i got in one morning and it just wouldnt start , plugs fouled so changed them, still wouldnt start.
So I checked and reset the throttle stops and idle screw got it ticking over lovely but only when fully warmed up.
When i checked the start fueling map the figures in there seemed completely different to sample maps provided by dta, There were also lots of fields in other maps that weren't filled in and some with rediculously high numbers that couldn't possiblely be right, which has led me here I want to learn more
I have a dta p8 pro all wired in to a twin turbo Tvr chimaera, I know computers pretty well and am getting round the laptop connection bugs at the moment, i had he car mapped professionally and it ran really rich to the point where i got in one morning and it just wouldnt start , plugs fouled so changed them, still wouldnt start.
So I checked and reset the throttle stops and idle screw got it ticking over lovely but only when fully warmed up.
When i checked the start fueling map the figures in there seemed completely different to sample maps provided by dta, There were also lots of fields in other maps that weren't filled in and some with rediculously high numbers that couldn't possiblely be right, which has led me here I want to learn more
Ah OK, that's an ECU I'm familiar with. Perhaps get yourself along to the DTA forum and introduce yourself :-) www.dtaforum.com
There is a broad range of skillso on there and almost certainly experience of mapping the RV8 engine.
If the startup is fouling the plugs, I would zero out the startup fuel map and slowly reintroduce fuel until it starts and runs more cleanly. Are you running an idle valve?
Are you running MAP as load, or TPS with MAP compensation? This is all stuff they will ask on the other forum, but at least there you can upload your map and we can take a look at it and give you some pointers.
There is a broad range of skillso on there and almost certainly experience of mapping the RV8 engine.
If the startup is fouling the plugs, I would zero out the startup fuel map and slowly reintroduce fuel until it starts and runs more cleanly. Are you running an idle valve?
Are you running MAP as load, or TPS with MAP compensation? This is all stuff they will ask on the other forum, but at least there you can upload your map and we can take a look at it and give you some pointers.
Dave Walker has written an excellent book on engine management, published by Haynes. It comes with a demo CD to load onto a pc that you can play with. The book covers everything you need to learn from basics and get a great feel for tuning and ecu etc. DaveW has written it using his vast practical knowledge and often dispelling many myths. Well worth the money and a great learning tool.
Take a look around here: http://www.efi101.com/schedule.php?cat=EFI&cou...
Evoluzione said:
Take a look around here: http://www.efi101.com/schedule.php?cat=EFI&cou...
It's a shame that's all US based or I would have been very interested. Something I'd like to get into also. My plan is to get a standalone system for m own car and take it from there.Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff