ecu modifications

[safemode]

I'm having a big problem. I like not having a speed regulator and having shift points be more aggressive But I also like having double digit mileage per gallon. I cant seem to find a chip that just removes the speed regulator and leaves the rest intact, or at least lets you turn on the race mode or not. I dont want it to alter the transmission fluid pressure until i change the spring to the overflow whatever valve as mentioned in the auto transmission thread.

Basically, are there any ecu upgrades for the 2001 that lets you turn the performance mode on and off ? I use the car for long term driving too.

[peeps]

Originally posted by safemode
I'm having a big problem. I like not having a speed regulator and having shift points be more aggressive But I also like having double digit mileage per gallon. I cant seem to find a chip that just removes the speed regulator and leaves the rest intact, or at least lets you turn on the race mode or not. I dont want it to alter the transmission fluid pressure until i change the spring to the overflow whatever valve as mentioned in the auto transmission thread.

Basically, are there any ecu upgrades for the 2001 that lets you turn the performance mode on and off ? I use the car for long term driving too. Your best bet would be to get the DHP PCM and keep your core. Then just switch em out as needed.....

[peeps]

Originally posted by peeps
Your best bet would be to get the DHP PCM and keep your core. Then just switch em out as needed..... actually, if you are really electrically saavy, you could wire both of them up and just have a switch that changes which PCM you use......

[Craig99SE2]

R-I-G-H-T! My Mom said that smoking crack is kinda cool!

[peeps]

Originally posted by Craig99SE2
R-I-G-H-T! My Mom said that smoking crack is kinda cool! I assume you are referring to me....

I am not saying you could switch it while driving as it would need to do a security relearn between switching them, but I don't see why you could not do it with some know how and another PCM wiring harness.....

Of course it would be just as easy to bend your ass down there and switch em out....

[Craig99SE2]

Heh-heh...my question is why bother? That is WAY TOO much work for nothing! All he needs is a JET chip. Buddy, go look in the For Sale section and buy the JET chip!

I definitely would not recommend it for full-time use, but if you want a "switch" ... it's your only option.

[peeps]

Originally posted by Craig99SE2
Heh-heh...my question is why bother? That is WAY TOO much work for nothing! All he needs is a JET chip. Buddy, go look in the For Sale section and buy the JET chip!

I definitely would not recommend it for full-time use, but if you want a "switch" ... it's your only option. yeah, but still does not remove rev-limiter.....

[safemode]

Yes, i could do that but the DHP pcm does a lot of other stuff that is kinda useless. I dont have my transmission setup to make use of higher fluid pressure and i'm not sure how that will affect the longevity of it during normal highway use.

I guess basically i could set them up on a toggle and whenever i want to go into one mode i turn the car off, flick the switch, turn it on and go to town. Ooooh that sounds fun. And an air fuel regulator tuner would help me get more miles per gallon on the long cruise control drives to school and back.

Hah, I'm majoring in computer engineering and i'm in my junior year so setting that stuff up is easy, plus my friend is majoring in electrical engineering so we could do a really spiffy module with LED's and such to make it all official like. Just wish it wasn't so hard to work inside the dash.

By the way, any idea how hard it is to change that spring in the auto transmission so that higher transmission fluid pressure is actually taken advantage of?

[safemode]

everytime you switch them you need to go through a relearning procedure? I thought that was only needed to reset the PCM without removing it.

[safemode]

Cant i just wire it so that the pcm thinks it's plugged in even when it's output connections are disabled during the off mode of the switch ? Like cant i make the switch just toggle the outputs of the two PCM's, connecting the outputs to the car only when i want that pcm enabled? That way both would be constantly on and no relearning would be needed.

[peeps]

Originally posted by safemode
everytime you switch them you need to go through a relearning procedure? I thought that was only needed to reset the PCM without removing it. that is just a relearn, not a security relearn...

The security relearn means that when you switch the PCM, you will not be able to start the car for like 11 minutes....

[safemode]

Would just keeping the pcm powered make it think ilke it's plugged in but the car is off ? Because i'm pretty sure that is doable so long as it doesn't require complicated logic in order to trick it.

All i'd really need to do is leave the contacts that keep it powered when the car is off and have all the sensors and outputs on the switch. That way each pcm thinks the car is off when it's not currently "active". I'd just have to make really hard to trigger the switch while the car is on, because that would be very bad.

I'm sure there is some little wire that turns on only when the car is on and stays on, I could piggy off of that in order to make it impossible to change the mode the car is in while that is active.

[Craig99SE2]

The big problem is that the DHP is not a "chip"! It is an entirely new CPU! So, in order to switch between the 2, you'd need another PCM connector, a custom PCB with as many analog switches as their are wires to the PCM and a "clean" switched trigger to fire the switches without getting "contact chatter". Then like peeps said, you have to do a song and dance with the ignition key,rub yoour belly, pat your head, and then AND ONLY THEN can you start the car. So, my point is ... WHY? If you want a custom chip, buy a custom chip from DHP or ASE.

Another "tuneable" option is the Apexi VAFC computer. Take a look at that...

[safemode]

The custom pcb isn't a big problem at all, It's procuring the other pcb connector that would be the problem. And starting the car shouldn't be a big deal at all, each ecu would think the car is just off while the other ecu is enabled and the switch can only be done while the car is off. If i can get the ecu connectors I dont think this would be a hard thing to make at all. I'd only go ahead with the dhp if i can get a hold of the other connectors at a junkyard or something. All the ecu replacements that get rid of the speed regulator and change shifting ratios and such dont allow you to turn that high performance mode off and this is not good if you actually drive your car.

Also, just to make it clear. I wouldn't be using analog switches for all the interconnects. I'd use a a series of chips with and gates on them, with the type depending on the logic of the chips (active low or high) and i'd only need one analog switch (my toggle) to activate the "switch-over". I'd connect the failsafe (line going into something that tells me the car is on) into the chips to make sure a switch-over cannot occur while the car is on. That kind of pcb work is very simple, as long as i can find 3 ecu connectors.

[Craig99SE2]

You misunderstood me! An analog switch is NOT a toggle switch. An analog switch is an IC that is controlled by a logic signal. You cannot use strictly logic since you cannot pass the required voltage/current required by the PCM.

This is what I was referring to: http://www.analog.com/UploadedFiles/Data_Sheets/35268413adg333a.pdf

Anyhew, still not worth the time and effort! I have the ASE, I drive my car daily and only lost a few MPG tops! (2-3...)

[Licit]

Originally posted by Craig99SE2
The big problem is that the DHP is not a "chip"! It is an entirely new CPU! So, in order to switch between the 2, you'd need another PCM connector, a custom PCB with as many analog switches as their are wires to the PCM and a "clean" switched trigger to fire the switches without getting "contact chatter". Then like peeps said, you have to do a song and dance with the ignition key,rub yoour belly, pat your head, and then AND ONLY THEN can you start the car. So, my point is ... WHY? If you want a custom chip, buy a custom chip from DHP or ASE.

Another "tuneable" option is the Apexi VAFC computer. Take a look at that...
What is the Apexi VAFC computer? I hadn't seen it mentioned before. As for the topic I wish you luck safemode, I did a computer science degree and attempted to go custom setup with the GAGT. I ended up deciding to just go with other mods but I'm glad there are people still giving it a go.:thumbs: If you get it working you can share with us that won't put all the time in.:)

[safemode]

hrm, so ase says i'll be doing around 190hp and 220 lb/ft torque and the dhp chip says about the same. ASE says it works best on the stock engine with no modifications, the dhp says it works with a bunch of different modifications (how, i dont know). ASE makes chips that just remove the speed governer and dont touch anything else. Both increase transmission line pressure without mentioning the adjustments you need to make to that spring. ASE can't be flashed and is mostly undetectable at the dealership whereas dhp can be reflashed and all that. Other than that, it seems like they both offer the same features. Why do people think dhp is better then?

[blckgagt]

the gains they state are way off. The DHP increase ur hp throughout the rpm band, so its a consistant rise, unlike the ase. Im sure someone will give u better info.

[safemode]

I plan on getting a borla exhaust system with new exhaust headers too and despite the advantages of the ase chip, it doesn't seem to be programmed to play nice with a modification like this. :( electrical upgrades are gonna be about 150-200 bucks, ecu is 300-350, exhaust is 600, headers is 750. That puts me up at around 1800 dollars not counting any money i need to spend in order to use a lift to get easy access under the car. I think that's about as much as want to spend on modifying the car this summer. Since the ecu upgrade is a good amount of money i want to be sure it's not going to be obscolete with the new exhaust system or spark plugs.

[Craig99SE2]

I beg to differ on the ASE. I had the ASE on a stock Grand Am with SLP exhaust and cone filter intake. The setup ran WAY rich!!! Now, I have the RSM ported & polished heads, intake, and 62mm TB. The ASE chip NOW FINALLY runs at the proper air/fuel ratio. So, the ASE will work fine with mods if not better than without them! As for theri claims ... Yeah ... RIGHT! You'd be lucky to see 10HP and 10 ft-lbs from either chip! Both are almost the same, but I would go with DHP because it is cheaper and there is no 1 week downtime like there is with ASE.