NEw to WRX ned help w/ UTEC
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NEw to WRX ned help w/ UTEC
Okay, everyone is telling me to get a utec, like Turboxs, but I have no idea what it does. People are telling me that it controls the engine but isn't there already an ECu in the stock one.(difference between ecu and utec?) Can someone please tell me what the utec is and how I will use it after I install it?
Will I be able to run a vf34 and fmic without buying a utec.
PLEASE HELP!!!
(I have no idea how to and what it does?)
Will I be able to run a vf34 and fmic without buying a utec.
PLEASE HELP!!!
(I have no idea how to and what it does?)
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Grand rapids Mi
Car Info: 2002 wrx
I would definatly get a utec!
if you are going to upgrade the turbo and the injectors there has to be a way to track it and manage it.
I just installed my utec this week, and have a pretty conservative map on it and it still totally brought the car to life.
if you are going to upgrade the turbo and the injectors there has to be a way to track it and manage it.
I just installed my utec this week, and have a pretty conservative map on it and it still totally brought the car to life.
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From: Bike Lane
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the UTEC is a piggyback ECU. it intercepts the ECU's signals and tweaks according to what kind of map you run. a reflash changes the stock map to a new one. if you want to change it you have to have to go back to where you got it reflashed to get it reflashed so you can take advantage of your new mods. the cobb accesport allows you to switch between different maps like a UTEC would let you, but doesnt work like a piggy back. also, to get new maps you download them from the cobb site, like turboxs w/ the UTEC, but you cant tweak them. essensially, you can blow your engine w/ a UTEC if your not careful.
Last edited by DLUX WRX; Apr 17, 2004 at 07:54 PM.
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Originally posted by DLUX WRX
the UTEC is a piggyback ECU. it intercepts the ECU's signals and tweaks according to what kind of map you run. a reflash changes the stock map to a new one. if you want to change it you have to have to go back to where you got it reflashed to get it reflashed so you can take advantage of your new mods. the cobb accesport allows you to switch between different maps like a UTEC would let you, but doesnt work like a piggy back. also, to get new maps you download them from the cobb site, like turboxs w/ the UTEC, but you cant tweak them. essensially, you can blow your engine w/ a UTEC if your not careful.
the UTEC is a piggyback ECU. it intercepts the ECU's signals and tweaks according to what kind of map you run. a reflash changes the stock map to a new one. if you want to change it you have to have to go back to where you got it reflashed to get it reflashed so you can take advantage of your new mods. the cobb accesport allows you to switch between different maps like a UTEC would let you, but doesnt work like a piggy back. also, to get new maps you download them from the cobb site, like turboxs w/ the UTEC, but you cant tweak them. essensially, you can blow your engine w/ a UTEC if your not careful.
The UTEC has always taken full control of the timing side of the ECU and with the recent releases of 4.X firmware the UTEC now is tuned from it's own fuel map leaving the ECU doing what it does best (AC enrichment, fan and relay control etc etc) while the UTEC is controlling the fuel and spark, I would say this is more parrallel management than piggy back (this is how most TEC implementations are done albeit with a lot more resolution with the TEC)
You can most certainly blow your engine with the UTEC, although the same can be said of using a reflash or access port just not as easily but that is the price you pay for control.
kokob/WRC_Scooby - To be honest if you want a car that is setup in a certain way and have no inclination to tune/try and tune I would go with a reflash as it is a nice set it and forget it setup.
Mike
(510) 487-4447
www.mpjperformance.com
www.gb-motorsports.com
Since Im not a tuner and Im not taking my car to the dragstrip every weekend Ill be buying the accessport http://cobbtuning.com/wrx/accessport.html It depends on what you plan on doing with the car. If you want to have more controll go with utec but if you want something easy that will give you good power go with accessport. Accessport has a vf34 map and Cobb is very helpful. If you have any questions call them up.
Last edited by MO REX; Apr 18, 2004 at 04:01 PM.
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Originally posted by MPJ Performance
The only part of the UTEC that is piggy back is it's connection method.
The UTEC has always taken full control of the timing side of the ECU and with the recent releases of 4.X firmware the UTEC now is tuned from it's own fuel map leaving the ECU doing what it does best (AC enrichment, fan and relay control etc etc) while the UTEC is controlling the fuel and spark, I would say this is more parrallel management than piggy back (this is how most TEC implementations are done albeit with a lot more resolution with the TEC)
setup.
Mike
The only part of the UTEC that is piggy back is it's connection method.
The UTEC has always taken full control of the timing side of the ECU and with the recent releases of 4.X firmware the UTEC now is tuned from it's own fuel map leaving the ECU doing what it does best (AC enrichment, fan and relay control etc etc) while the UTEC is controlling the fuel and spark, I would say this is more parrallel management than piggy back (this is how most TEC implementations are done albeit with a lot more resolution with the TEC)
setup.
Mike
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I'm plannign on buying the vf34 so if I buy the cobb accessport, ill need to change the map? WHat do you mean buy map? Is this something i can do with my friends or a shop has to do. What do you mean by reflash? Sorry i'm new to turbos?
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Lets say I purhcased a cobb accessport, how do i retrieve these "maps" and would I have to install like a switch to change the settings whenver i want? When you buy the accessport, does it come with the settings all ready?
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Originally posted by DLUX WRX
..... you can blow your engine w/ a UTEC if your not careful.
..... you can blow your engine w/ a UTEC if your not careful.
You can blow your engine without engine managment at all let alone any poorly tuned engine managment system.
Just like Mike at MJP said earlier, if you do not know how to or are not going to do any tuning to it yourself, then save the money and get the UTEC.
Last edited by Dallas P&P; Apr 20, 2004 at 08:12 AM.
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Originally posted by kokob
I'm plannign on buying the vf34 so if I buy the cobb accessport, ill need to change the map? WHat do you mean buy map? Is this something i can do with my friends or a shop has to do. What do you mean by reflash? Sorry i'm new to turbos?
I'm plannign on buying the vf34 so if I buy the cobb accessport, ill need to change the map? WHat do you mean buy map? Is this something i can do with my friends or a shop has to do. What do you mean by reflash? Sorry i'm new to turbos?
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a key fact about the utec is that it is largely non-learning.
in other words, it will pull timing due to perceived knock (which it is very good at, btw) but it will not retain the information. that is up to YOU, the USER part of User Tunable Engine Computer.
contrast that to the OEM ECU, which can and does store data as to which load cell causes knock. reflashes also take advantage of this autolearning capability. it is both a blessing (since you don't have to do anything) and a curse (since it is always a dynamic system it is very hard to have high repeatability).
i have a utec, and i have a lot of fun tweaking it.
jm2c
ken
in other words, it will pull timing due to perceived knock (which it is very good at, btw) but it will not retain the information. that is up to YOU, the USER part of User Tunable Engine Computer.
contrast that to the OEM ECU, which can and does store data as to which load cell causes knock. reflashes also take advantage of this autolearning capability. it is both a blessing (since you don't have to do anything) and a curse (since it is always a dynamic system it is very hard to have high repeatability).
i have a utec, and i have a lot of fun tweaking it.
jm2c
ken
Originally posted by kokob
Lets say I purhcased a cobb accessport, how do i retrieve these "maps" and would I have to install like a switch to change the settings whenver i want? When you buy the accessport, does it come with the settings all ready?
Lets say I purhcased a cobb accessport, how do i retrieve these "maps" and would I have to install like a switch to change the settings whenver i want? When you buy the accessport, does it come with the settings all ready?
Last edited by MO REX; Apr 22, 2004 at 05:43 PM.