I am getting ****ed! Is there going to be an ECU upgrade? It would be nice if we could get JWT to make one. Plus, I noticed on maximadriver.com there was a mention that UPRD was working on the ECU upgrade. Does anyone know how that is going? The site says that it hopes results will come in 2001.

 

there is call jet chip! they have it but u have to send them ur ECU its 315 from stillen based on 399 from them so if u order it do it from stillen! have fun and if anyone else knows of any let me know please i am interested as well!

 

Brian Catts told me JWT already has the software for it. However, they have to figure out how to keep it from erasing once battery is disconnected. Basically, they need to make a piece of hardware/daughter-board that reloads the software anytime the ECU loses power. I wouldn't hold my breath though.

I bet they would be interested in knowing how many of us are ready with CASH in hand.

 

Hey I have my cash waiting in my hand. So is this ECU stuff a long shot? I am dying for it and I am going to start holding my breath. How much do you guys think a modified ECU can give our cars and how much will it cost? We should start a letter to send to JWT showing that we are interested.

 

I'd bet 20-30whp alone with typical mods such as an intake/Y-pipe. It depends on the tendency of detonation the Max can handle and a lot of other factors though. I've heard JWTs' ECU upgrades really smooth and flatten the torque band, making the car feel a lot more solid.

The real benefit would be the ability to CUSTOM tune mods for more power like the SC and it could even open the door for a turbo setup. Plus, eliminating the top speed limiter and increasing REDLINE would be GREAT!!!!

P.S: Which is faster stock, the Max or 2000 GT?

 

I can't really tell. Both are 5 spds. The max is modded and the Eclipse is not. The max feels faster. Here is the big difference that I feel between them. The Maxima charges to the redline and feels like it will go further, the eclipse runs out of gas at 5K (redline@6100) and takes forever to get up to the red. So stock I would say MAXIMA. I am ****ed that we got the eclipse because suspension sucks, can't see over left shoulder when changing lanes, uncomfortable sometimes, peels out like crazy, can't handle turns, no ABS, interior falls apart.
It is a chick car. Looks like a sportscar but that's it, just looks like one. I still like it, but it isn't what it should be. Maxima wins.

 

We can already do this! Racer's Group (www.racersgroup.com) has something called the Program - a piggy back to the ECU called unichip. However, it has to be individually tuned to the car. They can change all kinds of variables, remove the speed limiter and increase redline, and can be used to control s/c and nitrous.

However, to my knowledge no one has gotten it for a 5th gen. IIRC the unit was $500-700 but tuning in your area will probably get you AT LEAST that if not double.

They claim something like 20 hp but that was on a 4th gen. I recall someone on 4th gen forum getting it but not being happy and returning it. Results will depend on the tuner more than the ecu.

I wish someone would try it!!

 

To my knowledge, 3 people have gotten the UNICHIP (The PROgram):

MadMax (the original from the previous forum) - still has it
Vapors SMX - returned it because they couldn't tune it with the sc
SteveChicagoSC - returned it and got a S-AFC

 

So the only N/A running the program that we know of is the original MadMax.

Somebody ought to get it and try.

Any takers?

 

I don't like the idea of reprogramming the stock ECM. The reason, very simply, is because there's no way that you're going to get a reprogrammed ECM past Nissan. The minute they put the Consult II on it, they're going to know something's wrong. And because the ECM controls so many aspects of your engine's operations, I'm concerned that Nissan will void your warranty if they find your ECM has been messed with. At a minimum, they'll probably flash the ECM back to stock before doing any warranty repairs. And if they do that, you'll end up with a VERY expensive stock ECM.

I guess the best of all possible worlds would be to get a second ECM and have that one reprogrammed by Jet or JWT. But I think a stock ECM runs around $700.00. By the time you add the reprogramming cost, you'd be up to $1,000.00 or so.

 

I simple raising of the redline would be great. 7000 would be good. I would like one for the TCM too. One that changes the shift point to 6500 or higher, if the redline is raised. This combined with Don's valvebody would be awesome.

 

What? I thought the GXE guys wanted a new ECU for fuel economy reason.

 

Them is fightin' words! LOL.

 

The loss of a warranty won't bother those of us who are past the mileage limit already.

 

Right. I wouldn't do it until after the warranty is up. I don't think Kevin is concerned about that though.

 

That's one true thing!

 

Because ever since car makers in the 90's adopted the OBD-2 into their ECU's it's very hard to do any kind of software upgrades and bypass any original programs. Some of us including myself triggered the stock ECU by putting on an aftermarket intake, and that's just a filter. I'm with y2kse on the idea of a second ECU, I would get it for warranty work. But I wonder how much hp we would get?..10-15hp max? but that's my guess. And since our aftermarket support is not that large for the 5th-Gen, I don't see it happening soon. The OBD-2 F**ked up everything.

 

I'm willing to bet that swapping in a Fed spec ecu will give some nice results.

I have Cali spec by the way.

 

Just wait, OBD-3 will be out soon

 

No! No! Evil! Die, die, die! (I wouldn't have an attitude if it did more than monitor the pollution bullcrap in my car.)

I really wonder how much it *really* costs to implement OBDII and OBDIII. How much lower would cars retail for if it wasn't for the complex electronics, sensors and the engineering that goes into it. Not to mention all the false alarms and what the dealers are making on that "Check Engine Light..."

We've reached the point of diminishing returns on pollution controls. We'd be better off now to go and stop those cows from farting.

 

great point. How much further can one go with reducing emissions on gasoline combustion engines?

 

Well, that's what is attractive to me about the Unichip - it IS NOT a reprogramming of the ECU. It is a piggy back that can simply be unplugged and return the car to stock. Simple as that.

The only difference between the unichip and a reprogrammed ECU is that you need a tuner to do unichip and your results will only be as good as the tuner. The tuner has to set the all the maps and timing. The chip allows the tuner to do that. At least that's what I've read about the technology.

If you have a good tuner (and racers group has recommended tuners all over the place - except near where I live) then you ought to be able to get good results.

So, who's gonna do it. It's just money! LOL

 

How do you know that?


I take cash or credit. Please PM me for more information.

 

I'd love to see Desert Pearl give that a try. He's already converted his exhaust system from Cali-spec to Fed-spec. But he kept his Cali-spec ECM. He didn't achieve much of a performance increase in doing the conversion, so the next logical step would be to swap out his Cali-spec ECM for a Fed-spec ECM. Only problem is, a Fed-spec ECM is an awful lot of money to spend on a hunch.

 

Both ZACH, Mr. Burner, and Adam, 2000MaxSe, have FED-specs and they could swap the ECUs to see what difference it makes. I doubt it would be that simple though. You'd probably throw a check engine light, plus it would take some time for the ECU to re-learn. Basically, it would run like crap for a hour or two, until it learned the new engine.

Also, the wiring harness should different, since you have two more 02-sensors on the CALI spec. Not necessarily PLUG-AND-PLAY.

 

You're probably right, IceY2K1. But it would be interesting to experiment. After all, if it turns out that only the O2 sensors are involved, perhaps the answer is as simple as leaving two of the sensors unplugged when you install the Fed-spec ECM. You'd have to know which two sensors to leave unplugged, of course. But that might be simply a matter of consulting the Service Manual.

 

doesnt the cali spec intake manifold have an additional valve or something that closes at idle to cut down on emissions also? From what heard a while back, this valve is another restriction in the intake path.

 

The Unichip (aka The Program Piggyback ECU) has achieved excellent results. The only problem, as you've pointed out, is that it's very expensive to install and tune. But I'm real good at watching other people spend their money. So I'll ask the same question you did, Max Gator. Who's gonna do it?

 

Actually, I noticed on two FED-spec AUTOMAGIC Maxs' that they have an EGR/BPT looking valve right near the throttle-body that my CALI-spec doesn't have. What's that? I'm guessing Exhaust Gas Recirculation valve.

y2kse, I wish it could be that easy, but from experience any slight variation in configuration USUALLY causes them to make a completely different harness. Basically, different ECUs' means different harness, otherwise there is a chance they could get mixed them up in production. At least that's what I see EVERY day at work.

 

I'm actually still thinking about it. If there was one of their recommended tuning shops less than 2 hours away, I'd more seriously consider doing it. As it is, there may be one in my area that is not on that list - so we'll see.

Have you dyno'd your mods as a package or run at the strip? It seems you have almost every common mod.