I'm planning on getting a vishnu Stage Sub-Zero ECU reprogrammed chip, and want to know what have you experienced with this chip. Any pro's and cons? Would you not/mildly/highly recommend it?

 

It's a safe EcuTek reflash that gives a noticeable increase in driveability (mid-range torque) and an increase in peak horsepower. Along with other reflashes and piggyback add-ons, this is the safest way to add power without a significant decrease in reliability.

The owner of Vishnu Performance Systems, Shiv Pathak, has been tuning turbocharged Subarus for a few years now and constantly tweaks the existing off-the-shelf maps to refine them. The off-the-shelf reflash maps will always be a little more conservative than a custom dyno tune, though. You didn't fill out your location field in your member profile so I don't know how close you are to Vishnu Performance in Pleasanton CA. If you have more specific questions, call their shop.

By the way, when you purchase the EcuTek reflash license, you aren't buying a 'chip' - Vishnu Performance and other EcuTek partners will reflash or re-program your factory ECU with a different fuel and spark map. I have been told that some customers actually open up their ECU and send in the circuit board guts but this is completely unnecessary - the EcuTek reflash plugs in either at the ECU connector or under the dashboard at the OBD-II port. The reflash itself takes mere minutes although a custom dyno tune takes about an hour.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

thanks! i'm lookin foward to gettin the reflash by vishnu

 

SPT_TRBO_AWD,

I would be very interested in knowing how you like your Sub-Zero when you get it back. I have also considered it. I would like to add a little punch to my WRX, but can't afford for the car to NOT be reliable.

Thanks.

 

Have you looked into the Cobb AccessPort upgrade option. It also reflashes your stock ECU but you don't need to send it out or anything like that. it runs the same amount of $$ and carries several differnet modes including upgraded maps and a reflash back to stock...Also suppose to give the same horse power increase...

When I go to that upgrade, that's the way I'm going only because I don't want to send away my ECU...But I would think both Cobb and Vishnu are very reliable...

Chris
Newark, DE

 

Suppositions don't make your car faster

Shiv
________
Extreme q vaporizer

 

Resetting the ECU does not affect a reflash map. They are two distinct operations. An ECU which has been reset will not lose the reflashed performance tuning map. If for some reason Subaru feels the need to actually reflash your ECU then, yes, the performance map will be gone. They would only do so for a specific reason though, like with the early MY04 STi which had a detonation problem in some cars.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

I highly recommend the Stage Sub-Zero. I got it and I'm very happy with it. The reflash only took about 10 minutes total (including Shiv's test drive). Noticeable torque improvement in the mid range and pulls real nice on the freeway. Too bad I didn't wait a little longer cause the price dropped from $750 to $650

Also, you can implement a valet/conservative ECU map by pressing the accelerator WOT and pressing the defog button and vice-versa

-Buzz

 

Just a little info on the subject.: My friend, 05 STi (stock, except for short throw, SSR's, and suspension mods), me 05 STi (stock except for K&N Typhoon). Ran last week, dead even in all gears till about 5600rpm and then I pull on him in all gears to redline by about a fender. This week he added Cobb Stage 1; I pulled on him in every gear by about 1/2 to a full car. We were both shocked, he actually got slower!!! Anyway, he will be at Cobb Stage 2 soon incl./AccessTuner and I will be at Vishnu V370 after this weekend with Dyno tune by Shiv. I will post results when we meet again! : )

 

how odd...losing instead of gaining =X watch out for that cobb stage 2, he might get even slower haha

 

I have only one problem w/ Vishnu's setup. Its pulling my ECU out of my only car(which i need everyday) and mailing it to Cali. I am located in Hawaii so this is will take at least 2-3 day round trip at minimum. No way i could live w/o my car for 2-3 days. Dont even suggest a rental. Out here a rental for 2-3 days is at least 100$.

At least w/ Cobb it only takes a few minutes to reflash the Ecu and i can drive my car. To me that is worth the xtra money and the slightly lower hp.

Also there is no AWD dyno here so tuning it myself w/ a tuner is not an option.

 

V370 Update: Shiv tuned my car 2day. 309hp / 321ft/lbs. on 93 Oct w/Typhoon and catted turboback! Love it!!!!!

 

I just had my completely stock 04 WRX wagon reflashed 2 days ago with the subzero and dyno tuned. The mid-range is noticeable stronger, I couldn't be more pleased. It keeps on pulling all the way through. I gained about 30hp at the wheels. I'm waiting for shiv to post the results.

 

i had my 05 WRX reflashed by Vishnu.....it droped my stock time from a 14.6 to 14.1......noticable change, i had it reflashed for exhuast but have yet to recieve it. If your looking to get a reflash i would say Vishnu but i have heard a lot of good thing from the ecu tech...the downtime is about 20 minutes for the Vishnu reflash