Hi to all.
I am new here, a have done some searches and found interesting themes, but i can't see anything for total newbies, some kind of tutorial to explain what exactly do we need to start playing with ECUs (I mean what hardware, software and so on). Also, what are procedures, what we have to pay attention for, what are critical procedures that can damage something and so on. Sorry if that allready exists, I think that all information possibly exists somewhere in topics...but it will be very usefull to collect all things and put everything in one place.
I'm not unfamiliar with cars or electronics (have experiance with microprocessor programming), I know what ECU is and how engine and ECU works and what is purpose of ECU reprogramming, but don't have experience in ECU remaping or reprogramming. I also have USB to OBD adapter so I can read and clear errors stored in ECU....so not totally newbie in this area.

However, some things are bothering me, so as I can't find any tutorial that will answer my questions, maybe I can ask that questions here and answers (if any) can be part of some future tutorial that will help beginers to start with ECU playing.

So, here I go....

1. Assume that I'm interested only in OBD2 cars that have standard OBD connector and ECUs that can be read/write without removing chip; can standard USB or serial ELM327 interface (which works with engine diagnostics software) be used also to read/write code to ECU or we have to use special adapters? If need adapters, which one works best and with what ECUs? Can it be custom made at home ? Is there any electronic schematics of this interface?

2. Which software to use for read and write code to ECU? Maybe some compatibility list with ECUs, cars, interfaces...

3. What is realy read from ECUs? Complete code (like OS in PC world) but without bootloader (like BIOS in PC world)? Or only some parts of working code?

4. Next step is I suppose to open downloaded code with some editor to make changes...so, what softwares to use and what ECUs are supported by them?

5. How to find maps that are we interested to modify? Is there any documentation anywhere...or what? How to find eg. EGR map or VGT map...

6. How to know what values to modify and what are valid values? Is there any calculations to do when modifying maps (like increasing injection time should possibly be followed by increasing some other parameter(s)...)

7. What to pay attention for when saving and uploading modified code back to ECU? Like, checksum, ECUs original HW and SW numbers...or so on?

8. I read on internet that there is lot of tuners that just download some allready tuned codes from internet or some other tuned car and they upload that codes to ECUs without modifying it...is that even possible without doing some checksum or HW/SW number modification for destination ECU? Or it is safe download one code from one car and put it on another (assuming that car models are identical, ECUs are identical)?

9. What are a failures that can occurs if something gone wrong with programming? Like communication drops or invalid code for that type of ECU and so on.... Is there recovery procedures to load original code?


I have sure lots of more questions...but this is first ones that bothers me as "new kid in the hood".
And no, I'm not a kid :) Allready have over 34 yrs...

Thanks for patience for all of you that gone so far with this post to read it to end...

:wave:

Hi I'm a newbie too, certainly more than you are, and I think it would be very helpful that forum had an area for tutorials, expecially for the newbies. Newbies come with a lot of questions at once that might be answered just with a starting tutorial. I hope someone with enough knowledge answer you.
Regards,
elgasmad.

hi guys , i m a very newbe too and i d like working whit ECU , if someone of you can give a guide or link for getting more info , i think
everyone will be grateful whit you , thanks :wave:

i think that all newbies need this kind of information

Hi guys, Could'nt agrre more, that the initial info that I nedd as a newbie.

Thanks for all

hello. and I'm a beginner looking for such information

I agree
I been in trade for 26 years and I'm now starting doing remaping via slave machine
I'm also interested in ecu repaire and immo off
But every wear I go I get a closed door this is not a nice feeling
Considering the amount of trainees I have trained and help in my other field :shock:

me too new to this and would like to start modifying maps..

It should have a DIY/Tutorial area, it's a very good help to who want to start.

My idea is like:

DIY/Tutorial

- How to identify ECU's
- How to flash the map to your PC
- How to work with the interface (basics)
- How to read mapps (main basic tasks to identify sensors)
- How to start safely
....

BUT(!!!) without teaching how the best values to that map so everyone will have a hell of power and would be a lot of equal projects. Just teach the basics to you could understand what value is that, what it does there and changing it what it interfering with.

Don't know if its all idea too but for me, it's the fairest to all. And the forum has a dictionary, words that you don't know you could start from there ;)

Hi guys

I'm also a newbie and would welcome help (that's why I joined the forum :) ).

I have looked round the site and there are obviously some very knowledgeable people here, and some very interesting information. But it is very difficult to find what I need and many newbies are often wary of repeating the same question.

I think that it would be great to have a beginners area with everything in one place ( basic engine principles petrol/diesel, engine management systems, engine tuning principals etc. etc...) Some of the sections could just contain links to already published reference material but others would need to be put together in a structured way so as to be useful to a beginner.

I know that something like this doesn't happen on its own and needs some kind people to donate their time and effort to help share their knowledge with others. So, my request is if there are any existing forum members (or perhaps Admin?) out there with the time and energy to do this then please help. I for one would be very very grateful. :)