Can I use Ecutek? help

RadioFlyer

Awesome, so there you have it folks! Thanks for chasing it down to a final answer.

Did you happen to ask if it can be done by sending in both ECUs? Or does the 09-11 ECU have to be in the car when the reprogramming is done? Just wondering if this can be a service that a shop can offer.

hooey_b

I didn't ask that directly, but I'd imagine no. You'd have to program the vehicle's VIN into it, as well as the key..but you don't need the older ECU. 2008-2010 are interchangeable, just as long as you have a base map .rom file loaded to it and the NATS disabled/bypassed/fixed. That all can be done with the Nissan Consult Remember, 2011 and later you need to swap the entire harness and modules along with the ecu.

I'm assuming it'd be easier to either go to the dealership with it and say your ECM is acting screwy and you want it all re-programmed to work, or you can find a local guy who knows how to do it.

I think I'm going through Tony in Florida to purchase AND re-program the ecu...all I'd have to do is get Ecutek flashed on (and probably reprogram the key). I found a guy local to me who can do the reprogramming part, but as with any service, I couldn't find a track record of the guy's work, so I'm leaning toward pulling into the dealership, swapping the ecu in the parking lot, and tell them that my ish don't work when I walk in lol.

hooey_b

I asked him, and actually got in touch with his tuner too. It IS an 08 with the 2010 IPL ECM, so technically a 2008 IPL

familyguy4756

Thanks hooey_b for the info. Also thanks to radio for his detailed email/review on the stillen SC.

What exactly are we missing out on if we go with uprev on an 08? (no flat foot shifting, no flex fuel, no launch ctrl)?

Is it the general consensus that ecutek just runs better especially in FI applications?


Now which money pit to throw some cash at? The G or a down payment on a house

hooey_b

No problem mayne.

As far as I know, the main selling points that got me were the boost by gear control (eliminates need for boost controller), flex fuel that adapts to ethanol content (inline ethanol sensor tied to the harness to provide live input on ethanol content for adjustment), and also they have the true values for the VVEL, so you can actually change your intake cams' timing. I dunno by how much, but you can. UpRev has a "virtual cam" that pretends to mess with the intake cams- that's when I made the choice with Ecutek.

And yeah, there are the other benefits you've mentioned, the flat-foot shifting (i dunno how much that is actually needed), map switching on the fly, TRUE 2 STEP (UpRev, from what I understand, you have to have 2 maps, one that cuts fuel @ specified launch rpm, then you have to switch maps AS you launch. stupid IMO.) That, and majority of the reviews I've read (if not all of them) mention smoother throttle control, and usually an average of about 10 hp increase over UpRev with the same modifications.

If you're worried about it becoming a money pit, don't worry. I've got a latina gf who dictates the budgeting lol. If you're not too particular about who tunes, I know of a shop down in Texas called Dynotronics, they're selling an e-tune package that includes the license, tuning suite kit, and the initial calibration (tune) with unlimited revisions to keep up with Ecutek updates. $660+ tax, free shipping. That coupled with the cost of the ECM swap will more than likely even out to what the average cost of an Ecutek tune will cost you ($700-$850), probably no more than +$200 more. I'm expecting to pay around $1k for the entire thing, ECM swap, reprogramming, and tune.



Anyone else, please chime in if I'm wrong or missing anything

Chuck33079

Tread carefully with Dynotronics. He did quite a few members here wrong.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

hooey_b

I was hoping that someone would chime in if I mentioned them enough...thanks mayne.

I couldn't find any reviews on their services. I knew he sounded a lil "too happy" when I asked him why they were so cheap.

Looks like I'll be going with Jon P. of Z1 then.

Chuck33079

There's a failed group buy he tried here, and he boned a bunch of guys. He's mainly a Mazda tuner, and he doesn't have a glowing reputation there either.

I talked to him a while back, and he was evasive as hell on details and was just blowing smoke up my ***.

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2011 MB Touring-Sport-6sp-Nav/GTM TT/FI TT TDX/JTran/Kosmic/Eibach/Hotchkis/SPC/CSF/RPS/SoThatsWhereAllMyMoneyWent

Kojack

This is a very interesting finding. I guess this is good for 6mt but for us with 08' 5speed auto wont work due to 09' and up are 7spd so it's not compatible.

familyguy4756

Just curious, how exactly would you explain to the service tech that you need everything reprogrammed? Especially when they ask how you got it there and ask for symptoms? Lol.

Labor couldn't be too bad to reprogram it? 1-2 hours shop time sounds about right? ( want to be sure to call them out on overpricing, my local dealer sucks. They tried to scare me into a new transmission on my 35 when I went in for a simple transmission flush!)

I may take the lead on this, I have been checking into secondhand ecu prices and really want to get the ball rolling on my tune even though I only have a few bolt ons. FI isn't really in the cards for another year or so but I CAN'T STAND the MASSIVE throttle lag / surge I have been experiencing. Seriously sucks the fun out of this car...

JARblue

Like Chuck said, Joe is mostly a Mazda guy. I wouldn't recommend his e-tune services due to the experience a number of forum members had. But I dropped my Z off at his shop personally for a drive tune, and I was very happy with the experience and results

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chuckie311

Saying there is a 10hp increase over uprev is false..every car is different and some will see about the same gains as uprev like I did! There was a car that switched over and lost power...

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Tuned by (Seb@Specialty-Z)
2011 G37 Cam'd FBO 347whp 280wtq Corn Fed 4.08 Gears

hooey_b

make sure the donor vehicle matches your drivetrain as well. I'm used to it, but I only get the lag up till about 3.4k rpm, so I just hang out in the higher rev range till I get this tune thing sorted out.

familyguy4756

IDK if its just me, but it seems like some days are worse than others and the lag isn't always there. I have found myself doing the same lately, MPG is quickly going down...

hooey_b

you tried cleaning your intake manifolds/TBs?