ECU flashing, mapping, etc.

[uberranger]

So, long story made short:

My friend bought a triumph daytona 675 (very very nice  ), and promptly ordered a USB cable to hook it up to his computer.  He then showed me some simple, FREE software that can be used to adjust Triumph fuel maps.  No power commander, just the ECU. 

I've looked into this a bit, and seem always to hit a wall. I read where people seem to just reflash all the time, to adjust for this or that, as though it's common knowledge.  I then see people, like myself, who are clueless to a degree. 

I've downloaded DucatiDiag, and am not entirely sure what is going on with that... 

All that said, how would one accomplish this (which my friends with other makes can do simply with free software on GSXRs, Triumphs, etc):

     -reflash ECU to remove immobilizer/allow aftermarket gauges
     -adjust fuel, spark maps to allow for aftermnarket exhaust, fueling, airboxes, bad running, etc.

Is there a solution for us like that?

[tlinkletter]

I'd like to know as well as my local dealer can't get my bike dialed in perfect on my 2000 M900ie. Says he can't make enough adjustment to the fuel with the stock box.

[He Man]

short story. Not without buying some expensive tools.

Those bikes can be done very easily because they arent locked in a special way. I tink the 675 uses tuneboy and its a simple plug and play deal with the right cable.

For the current series of ECUS (Siemens) you have to use a PCV. I dont think theres a way to unlock them yet.

for the previous gen. magneti marelli, you can unlock it, but to get the key from magneti costs about $250-$300. its almost like unlocking a phone apparently. you give them $250, and they give you a code that will work for your ecu only.

for the version before that, its easiest to just use a power commander to intercept the ecu signal and modify it that way.

[uberranger]

Well, I downloaded DucatiDiag a while ago but hadn't really messed with it, and just found this:

"http://www.ducati.ms/forums/92-hypermotard/119712-ducatidiag-must-have-every-hm-owner-2.html"

So, apparently you can do quite a few useful things (reset TPS, unlock ECU¹, and read/clear DTC) but cannot adjust the fuel map.

Can't seem to find anything further though- how sad.


¹:still needs the code from the card

[uberranger]

Correction:  It can edit the fuel map

• have to pay ~$150 for a license
• have to download maps from somewhere (I believe they can be found online pretty easily)
• Does NOT work for newer bikes (EVO, 696/796) I.E. the ones with the Siemens ECUs

[brad black]

there's a few options for flashing the marelli 5.9m/5am ecu.

tuneboy, which comes with the tuneedit software allowing you to make changes to the mapping as well.  works on a single user kit (cable has security interface dongle) or a credit based commercial basis.  files are encrypted comapred to a marelli file.

the one i have, which is not really available as far as i know.  cost me nearly $3k, but no limits or credit basis.  reads and flashes normal marelli files.

rexxer/pro tune/alien tech, now only available through rexxer for bikes.  powergate is the car version.  earlier alien tech units were unlimited, now rexxer ones work on credit basis for commercial use.  you can get a single use version for you own bike as such, but you read your original ecu file as a back up and load in a map as supplied to suit your bike.  back up is not a normal format afaik unless you have the master unit for commercial use.

ducati diag as mentioned.

these tools just read and write, except for tuneboy tuneedit.  there are some hex editor softwares available that are configured to specifically work with these sort of engine management hex files.  you get used to looking for patterns, etc, when using them.  also some more specific ones with configuration files to suit, alien tech had one that is now available via rexxer i believe.  probably around $3,000 or so.  the quality of the configuration files can be an issue.  the locations of 'maps', etc in the files can change from model to model, and you get situations where half is the same as other files, but then other stuff is moved.

for the siemens it's pretty much rexxer only at this point.  you can't read the file out without destroying the ecu.  again the rexxer is only write.  you can modify the files with a hex editor.

the issue with any of these is working out the access protocols.  the service style access is fairly easy, and doing things like tps reset, etc, deals with the eeprom, which is separate to the flash eprom where the map is.  working out how to erase and rewrite the flash eprom is generally much harder.

generally people who work it out or buy packages to do it (like me) do so in some sort of commercial sense, and as such need to have it make a financial return.  which is why it can be hard to find info on how to do it.

[uberranger]

It would seem then, after reading this, more on the web, and friends' comments that TuneEdit is the way to go...Just have to tread lightly I suppose.

I appreciate the in-depth info!  It makes sense that they can provide the low-level software for free because the cables 'marry' the ECUs in a similar manner to the way in which car tuners do.

I just hope that my 2V motor is supported like the 4Vs are.

[Meerkat]

I flashed my S2R1K to DP spec with JP's DucatiDiag writer. I had some problems getting things sorted out after the flash, but it seems to be working well now. (Note: I'm an idiot when it comes to things like this!) JP is very helpful if you can speak French or aren't afraid to use google translate to dig through the forums. All of the guys over there are very helpful though and can get you through any problems. My biggest problem was getting the trim set after taking off the fatduc and flashing the ecu...I had some very rough running problems for a while until I got it sorted.

As others have mentioned it's definitely not as simple as using Tune ECU for my daytona (which I also did), but if I can do it...anyone can. I picked up my cables from ebay for a total of $6 shipped (from China) and paid $122 at the exchange rate. So for $128, my seat of the pants dyno says I got 11ty billion horsepower increase!