JDM Speed limiter/Speedo converter

JDM Speed limiter/Speedo converter

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Discussion

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Sunday 29th September 2019
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Hello all.

I have a newly imported 2007 Toyota Century 5.0 V12, it went on the road in the UK for the first time last Friday.

It has the 180kph/112mph limiter, and I want it removed, as I understand it, my options are...

1. Some sort of piggyback/spliced in speed cut device (there are a few on the internet but my car isn't listed).

2. Speedo converter from kph to mph, effectively raising the limiter to 180mph (again, there are a few on the internet but my car isn't listed).

3. Getting into the ECU and simply 'turning it off', could this be done with Toyota Techstream software and a VXDIAG through the OBD port?

4. ECU remap.

Ideally I'd like to just take it into a JDM specialist for whom it would be a routine job as a known or given without any faff.

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

Edited by 21st Century Man on Sunday 29th September 22:15

TommoAE86

2,754 posts

134 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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Depends where you are, TorqueGT did it for me when they imported my cars before their MOT's. In my case a piggyback system was put in just before the cluster which converted it there so the rest of the car (ECU etc) remained in km/h.

I've heard that Toyota's are not friendly to speedo conversions so you may get charged more to make it work right as an FYI.

grudas

1,339 posts

175 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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my crown still is in km/h but I am not too fussed about it, got used after a while.

the speed limiter is a bit more annoying but I rarely tickle that so not fussed either! I can see why you'd be bothered, I'd go and seek specialist help or speak to an importer like torquegt etc who might be able to give you better advise as each car will be different.. all my previous imports have been converted.

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Monday 30th September 2019
quotequote all
Thanks.

I don't mind the speedo in kph, I just read that converting it to mph can effectively hike the limiter point upwards, so it would be two fixes in one.

I've messaged Torque GT, I don't mind a long drive to get it done right.

Does anyone know if Techstream can do it? I've seen that for some makes there is a menu to select from a range of limit speeds. I've actually got a connector and a disc with the software, but it's a mini cd rom and my laptop annoyingly can't see it.

captain_tripping

72 posts

65 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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I bought a HKS Speed Limit Defencer for my Toyota Altezza. Basically, you just splice it in to the correct wires going in to the ECU and it makes the ECU not see anything above 175mph I believe.

That being said I never used it. Just ordered a Link ECU so can't say how well it works

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
quotequote all
Yes, I've seen them advertised, along with the GReddy ones too, supposedly universal, and yet not suitable for a 1GZ-FE.

Torque GT couldn't do it, but have put me onto someone who is also by coincidence fairly local, so wish me luck!

terry237

75 posts

127 months

Wednesday 9th October 2019
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The Century has two ECUs I believe, one for each bank. Not sure if/how that complicates the speed limiter issue but I would have thought you could splice into the speed signal before it branches off to the separate ECUs (if using the HKS/Greddy solution). Just something to be ware of.

Edited by terry237 on Wednesday 9th October 10:10

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Wednesday 9th October 2019
quotequote all
Thanks.

I've consulted a couple of local mappers, they both connected up via obd and had a rummage around, couldn't find anything like a speed limiter module in there, yet both are used to delimiting the 155mph Germans, vans & commercials and so on. Next move would be to pull the ECU's and open up for a custom remap, I don't really want to go that route. I've also connected up to TIS Techstream, nothing apparent in those menus either.

Focusing on speedo conversion at the moment, but it seems the specialists aren't.

I'm really struggling for a solution, awaiting a couple more folks to come back to me.

I've also managed to scrape the chrome bright work at the bottom of the nearside rear three quarter panel to the rear bumper on a low wall. It's not like me to do a thing like that, so I'm quite upset cry

TommoAE86

2,754 posts

134 months

Wednesday 9th October 2019
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Could you not just get some custom clocks made up to show both mph/kmh? wink

cheddar

4,637 posts

181 months

Wednesday 9th October 2019
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I'm after the same thing for a Toyota Blade Master and drawing blanks too.

Get your Century on the Readers Cars thread, I love those things.

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Thursday 10th October 2019
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TommoAE86 said:
Could you not just get some custom clocks made up to show both mph/kmh? wink
I've got a standalone GPS speedo on the dash top, so no problem there.

designforlife

3,739 posts

170 months

Thursday 10th October 2019
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I left my Toyota in KPH, briefly thought about getting some mph/kph combo lockwood dials, but they were £85!

Pretty used to thinking in km and converting on the fly when i drive now... it doesn't take long to get used to.

I get that you would be keen to remove the 112mph limiter though... What about something like a HKS speed limit defencer?

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Thursday 10th October 2019
quotequote all
Some sellers haven't been able to tell me whether it would work or not, but some have said it won't.

I don't see why it wouldn't work though? They're generic in nature, but you do have to specify the make and model when ordering, Century is not listed so I'm getting a negative.

Same with the speedo converter too.


designforlife

3,739 posts

170 months

Thursday 10th October 2019
quotequote all
The other possible option is to take it to a good auto electrician and see if they can bypass the speed limiter manually... I know on my old mitsubishi mirage it could be done by snipping a wire into the ECU.

Just looked and I see what you mean, Century doesn't seem to be mentioned in the compatibility for the HKS SLD.




21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Saturday 26th October 2019
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I've had no luck with this, I'm quite surprised at the number of JDM specialists who said they'd look into it and get back to me. Out of about a dozen, none of them have. Customer service not a big thing then in JDM land? My first enquiry with Torque GT being the exception, although they couldn't help, at least they replied.

cheddar

4,637 posts

181 months

Saturday 26th October 2019
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It appears to be Toyota specific.

My chip tuning chap does all popular makes and models but can't crack JDM Toyota's.

TommoAE86

2,754 posts

134 months

Saturday 26th October 2019
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Second the above unfortunately, anyone I’ve spoken to has said that Toyota’s are always the most awkward to get done and it’s easiest to leave it.

Guessing you’ve tried any custom dash places? Local auto electricians?

swampy442

1,481 posts

218 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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Thread revival - Did you get anywhere with this?

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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Unfortunately no, but thanks for asking.

I will try again with another ring around in the New Year and chase up those who didn't get back to me.

Every now & then I come up against the limiter when I could do with a little bit more (usually as the lesser car is disappearing away into the distance).

21st Century Man

Original Poster:

41,764 posts

255 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
quotequote all
21st Century Man said:
I've also managed to scrape the chrome bright work at the bottom of the nearside rear three quarter panel to the rear bumper on a low wall. It's not like me to do a thing like that, so I'm quite upset cry
Low wall demolished and rebuilt out of the way. New trim obtained from Japan and fitted. I'm happy again smile