What is ECU Remapping

ECU Out Remapping

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OBD Remapping

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Cgon Unit

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What Is ECU Remapping

To answer the question “What is ECU Remapping?” we need to break it into two parts:

What is an ECU?

The term ECU stands for Engine Control Unit ( ECU ) sometimes referred to as the Power train Control Module ( PCM ) is an electronic device, normally incorporating a single chip computer / micro processor that is tasked with controlling the operation of your vehicles engine in terms of:

  • Air / Fuel mixture ratio
  • Ignition timing
  • Idle revs / speed
  • Variable cylinder valve timing
  • and many other engine operating factors

The general operation of all engines ECU’s is to monitor input signals provided to it from various sensors located within and attached to the engine. Software embedded within the ECU takes these signal input levels and compares them to values stored within a data table within the ECU and decides what, if any actions / adjustments need to be carried out to maintain the performance of the engine. This data table is often referred to as the map.

 

What is Remapping

As we have seen above the map of an ECU is generally a data table of parameters that the ECU uses to compare against its sensor inputs prior to making decisions on making real time adjustments of the engine.

ECU Remapping, in general terms is the process of modifying the data held within the ECU’s lookup data table ( the ECU map ) so as to adjust when the ECU makes engine adjustments.

Practical ECU Remapping

Our technicians link to the vehicles ECU or brain with our Specialist remapping equipment via the vehicles on-board  diagnostic socket (OBD) and read the current engine management software which is then sent to our files office and custom optimised for your vehicle. The technician programs the new optimised file into your vehicle and you then have the opportunity to experience the amazing results for yourself.

On some vehicles it is not possible to carry out this function via the diagnostic socket so in this instance the ECU is removed and either a chip change or boot loading function is carried out direct into the ECU. The final effect is exactly the same, only the process is different. Depending on the vehicle the remap normally takes about 1 & 1/2 – 2 hours to complete. You can choose to visit our head office in Exeter or, dependent on the area we can visit you at your home, office or anywhere of your choice.

Here are some Examples of different types of remapping solutions:

 

  • OBD II ECU remapping
  • BDM Motorola MPC5xx
  • J-TAG NEXUS MPC5xx
  • J-TAG RENESAS SH705xx
  • Bootloader Mitsubishi MH72xx/MH8xx
  • Bootloader Infineon Tricore
  • Bootloader ST10

 

Key Points:

All our ECU remaps come with a lifetime software guarantee. Additionally, if you do not experience any improvements stated, we offer a seven day money back guarantee. We also offer our customers a ‘Optional Extra’ this is our Mechanical & Electrical 12 month or 30,000 mile Break Down After Remap Warranty’ which gives you total peace of mind for Qualifying Vehicles!

Our philosophy is to provide our customers with the best possible aftermarket ECU tuning solutions for their vehicle coupled with outstanding customer service. We pride ourselves on giving our customers world leading ECU remapping solutions, giving you the performance advantage. Just look at our ‘Customer Testimonials’ to find out why are customers are enjoying the benifits that our ECU Remapping service provides.

This is known as the chip-in your vehicles ECU. Stored on the chip is data or maps which control fuelling, ignition timing and turbo boost settings amongst others. When we carry out ECU remapping we are basically altering these maps to optimise the engines performance. The biggest Power, Torque and MPG gains can be achieved from Turbo Diesel and Turbo Petrol engines.

After every Radical Remap we like to accompany you as you test drive your car. We believe the best way to show you our confidence in ECU Remapping is to be with you when see the results for yourself. It’s this part that makes our job worthwhile, and we truly enjoy knowing you are 100% happy with the changes before any payment is taken! Please feel free to ‘Contact Us’ if you have any questions or enquiries.

The Hidden Dangers! of Diesel Tuning and Remapping. A few things to Consider before Purchasing a Remap.

 

Radical Remaps guide to professional Custom ECU Remapping. I have included this information on our website due to the huge increase in our company repairing sub-standard Remaps. We our now repairing more and more Ecu’s due to cheap substandard remapping being carried out by so called professional remapping companies.

We normally repair 2-3 ECU’s a month because people are getting sailed down the river when it comes to Custom Remapping. Some of the work that we have seen lately has been unbelievably BAD. I will give you an example of a customer who contacted me and explained that he had his car remapped by a well known remapping company 2-3months ago and the vehicle seemed to be going into limp mode and loosing power and producing lots of smoke!

He explained that he had taken the vehicle to a diesel repair specialist to determine the problems they then started to try and eliminate the defects by changing different sensors, EGR Valve and so on. This was unsuccessful the problem still remained. We said that I would need to take a copy of the file that was installed on his ECU so we could determine if the Remap he had done was suitable for his vehicle.

We took the copy and found that the Remap had many defects that were, contributing to the bad running and performance of his vehicle. We found that the turbo boost was turned up, but the Turbo limiter was not adjusted! The Torque limiters where turned up to far as much as 45% to much. Fuelling was not adjusted the list went on. We had to totally Remap the vehicle so all of the problems where sorted out and we put the ECU software back to the tolerances to suit the vehicle CUSTOM REMAPPING.

The up shot of the above example is that the customer had to spend more money trying to chase down the problem by changing sensors and so on, with no success he had to pay for another Remap as well. The original price for the sub-standard Remap was £200. The cost of changing engine parts £550. The cost of our custom Remap fix was £275 the total cost is you can see was very expensive.

There are many other examples but I hope that this information will help you the customer to make a informed decision and choice before you Remap your vehicle by someone that is just too cheap! A normal Custom Setting file price for a given vehicle can range from £100 to £160 this is the cost to any legitimate tuner before they do any tuning. The setting file gives the tuner access to the vehicles ECU. So if someone quotes you £100 – £150 for a full custom Remap there is something wrong!! Given the ‘Setting File’ costs, advertising costs, fuel costs £150 will not pay for the latter. So how do they get around this, well its easy give the customer substandard re-used maps thus negating the setting file cost, now he is in profit of £100-£150.

What is a Setting File? ‘ECM Titanium’allows the user to work on injection, ignition (real degrees of advance), boosting parameters, correction maps, rev./speed limiters avoiding problems tied to map locating. This is possible by the “SETTING FILES” which locate the data set areas containing all the important parameters controlling the engine workings

It is prudent to ensure you are getting good backup and after sales support. Simple things such as:

  • 7 day no quibble trial period so you can test in your own time.
  • Lifetime warranty on the product against corruption or other defect.
  • A Optional Comprehensive Machanical & Electrical after remap Warranty.
  • Easy access to your original calibration file if you need it.
  • Fuel economy improvements guaranteed if turbo diesel powered.

Finally, your installer should be able to give you the telephone number of the actual file calibrator if it isn’t himself.

That way you can call him and get some information as to their credentials. Please take care out there… don’t be the next customer whom comes to us to get their ECU working properly again after someone has damaged it with cheap tools, ECU tuning inexperience and Cheap re-used files.