ECUTEK = Adjustable Traction Control
 

ECUTEK = Adjustable Traction Control

Feature
Any of use who enjoy pushing the lateral limits of traction... will appreciate the Ferrari-style adjustment of slip angles available via the Cruise Control adjustment button. Let's you slide the car, without really crashing!
(It has saved me at least once on the track)

Adjustment
Up on the cruise control speed adjuster adds more intervention... down = more sideways. The oil temp gauge us used as a meter to determine your current setting.

For the smart-asses...
I mentioned this in my previous review, but thought the importance of adjustable TCS intervention levels merited its own thread / discussion.

Thoughts and comments welcome,
~ Lateral-Guru

When was this added? My tune is about 2 yrs old. I have race rom, but I don't think I have this.

Are there any other functions that could be adjusted via the Cruise switch with EcuTek?

It was added a while back, it does have to get dialed in though. ECUtek gives you a "base" for instance. I had to tweak mine after the Stillen SC went on. It's controlled via the Race Rom Controller (RRC)

You can also choose one of 4 tune maps with a long press of the Cancel button, and pick with the cruise up/down button.

So is the Ecutek TC good enough that on corner exit you can just stand on the gas and let the car figure out the max throttle to use? If it's really that good then I might have to consider switching to Ecutek.

Closest thing you will get to a motec or a similar standalone

The traction control intervenes more gently than the OEM counterpart. So, turn down the setting to your liking and GO!

It very noninvasive! I don't have any issues with exit other than in second gear because the tq comes on way to strong lol. You shouldn't have any issue being NA. Also, it seems deal with the ya sensor and abs as well. I have had no issues with trail braking at the track as well.

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My question is less about how invasive is it and more does it act like a proper motorsports tc system. ie I can stomp on the gas and the ecu will adjust the throttle to use every bit of traction available without me trying to figure out the exact point between maximum acceleration and spinning.

I had issue with trail braking last track day as I spun it but that was probably due to tired/sloppy driver trying new line at end of day lol oops.

I don't believe so but can't say for sure as I don't slam full throttle out of turn and haven't had it kick in on the actual track. I have had it kick in on the little skills section (like tight auto x turns) and it is very invasive there even at full minimum. It doesn't seem to work like the motec that just prevents you going over x rpm until traction gained but has a more noticeable fuel cut. It's not useful at all for auto x I would say as it upsets the car balance.

I'm not sure if it's exclusive to EcuTek Connect (bluetooth/smartphone interface), but it's surely more accessible via EcuTek Connect

I just got my hardware in. You do have to fork over for the BT module, but if you did it with Seb he'll probably just carry your last tune so it's compatible with the new system's features.

It's hard to swallow if you don't need a new tune, but at the same time for logging and diagnostic purposes it beats the laptop by MILES (well, for me). There are more user settings (throttle, boost, fuel trim, etc) which you have to unlock through your tuner.

Kinda bonkers. I'm not sure if tuners will typically open up all those features to end users because of liability concerns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6N-Ia12afKI

Seb added this feature last month when I got re-tuned, but hadn't had a chance to use it until this morning when it was raining. I adjusted the TC and could immediately tell a difference. As Hotrodz mentioned, it kicks in much smoother, and it's nice being able to fine tune it on the fly. It is not exclusive to EcuTek Connect.

The only time I have had this happen is when my rev match was disabled. It was pretty scary to say the least. I don't use very much tc on the track as well, I keep it turned down low.

Hmm, maybe this is what is happening to me when getting on the throttle on second gear turns. Either way, wheel spin and have the fuel and rpm cut results are the same...slow exit speed! I just make those turns in third gear to avoid the issue. I still have not felt an issue during trail braking even at Auto Club coming into turn #3 and braking from 120 to 130 down to 30 or 40 mph or so.

This is good all good stuff to how everyone is experiencing these situations. Also to note, I have a big a$$ wing and a front splitter that helps out a lot on mechanical grip so I'm sure that also plays a role in braking and so cornering.

I was joking on the trail braking, that was all me screwing up. But yes all you have to do is find an open parking lot and do a tight turn and slam the gas as if you wanted it to step out a little and power out. It will immediately cut throttle and the car will lurch and jerk through the turn even at minimum intervention. So I have to use map 4 which is like oem off=off in order to get the rear to step out a little but then there is nothing there to save it if I go too aggressive.

When I first tested it the instructors thought it was me slamming the throttle on and off through the turn and said to be more gentle on the throttle which I explained it wasn't me letting off but the traction control doing fuel cut so then I even tried to go lighter on throttle to not have it kick in and it just never worked in that situation. It does prevent you from spinning though so that's probably a good thing for actual track usage.

Lol, that is funny! So yeah, I just stay in third gear and accept the few tenths of a second being slower out of the turn. It's nothing for me to worry about now as I am not that good......yet! :p

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Ha well I was only just bumped to group b right before my last session where I did my impressive spin out. Was worried they would demote me after that one lol. So I'll hold on to the not good title for a bit. I'm not TT either and it's still more than enough car for me as I still can't quiet get myself to hold flat out throttle over the hill turn one at leguna. Getting closer though, but I'd bet TT boost hit would scare me more and cause me to hold back even harder.

Do you have the yaw kill switch? I didn't have any issues trail braking at 100 mph with it activated.

I do not have the kill switch as I have not had any issues so far. In fact when I was at Auto Club I was coming into turn 3 at about 125 and my instructor, Steven Doherty (Nissan Challenge Winner) wanted me to trail braking into that slow left handier and I was carrying a little to much speed I thought so I applied the harder than I had planned and the car snapped (not violently but under control) to the left and planted and he was like that is what I'm talking about. I was totally expecting the yaw sensor to jack me up but it did not try and correct the car as far as I could tell. So after that I have been practicing the technique without fear.

I know we're all on different setups power and tire-wise...

but what setting are you all running for traction control?

For normal driving around, I have mine set on 180-degrees on the oil temp gauge. N/A with 305s in the back.

From 120 to 140 all the time unless rain. Re-11 19 305/30 street and r888 18 295/30 and nt01 18 315/30 for track.

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How do I check for this option and add it? I have race rom, the cable and the access software. I don't have the bluetooth obdII dongle.

Just push up on the cruise control toggle and watch the gauge on the oil temp. It will move up to were the tc is set at and then fall back to what the oil temp really is. Press it up again and when it rises and stops, press down on the toggle and stop when it get to the setting you desire.

Questions. Does the VDC off and a Yaw sensor kill switch makes any difference in operation of this TC?

Yes, your TCS must be disabled by the standard button for this to function.

My TC seems to be pretty progressive. Need to check with Seb but I don't think I have the option of adjusting it myself without the bluetooth setup as I have a G37 (no oil temp gauge) but it does allow for some wheelspin/sideways shenanigans coming out of a corner but not at the behest of forward momentum.

There is a bit of counter steering involved and then a bit of steering correction when the tires gain 100% traction. But if you let the tires slip long enough (I think it's wheelspin percentage based), it'll kick in by quite smoothly. Granted, I do not have forced induction and I would be willing to bet that's more of a challenge for the TC system.

I've never felt anything like a hard fuel cut. I always thought it was timing or throttle-based.

Ultimately it isn't as good as a full-on Motec setup. It doesn't cost $10K to install and set up either though.

Do you still have the stock VLSD? This issue went away for me when I installed the OSG LSD. Car is more controlled and TC cutouts have reduced greatly when on. I really have to sling it around to have an issue. I normally run with TC turned off and the car is very predictable. Ecuteck would help me greatly.

Yep, same thing for me when I went with the quaife LSD. Just goes to show how bad that VLSD is.

Yea I'm on stock vlsd, maybe a qualify or wavetrace in my future but no immediate plans to change.

considering i'm N/A, i've found it very hard to feel the need to install the variable traction control feature. Are you guys seeing any definite benefit on track? I could only think of it being helpful in the wet on a low grip track, otherwise it seems more useful for the boosted folks.

It's more for the amount of kick to it.
On is almost like hitting a wall when it kicks in.
Off is usually too late for it to do much but it's not completely off.
It would be nice to have some choice of middle ground or completely off with out cutting wires and installing switches.

Hell I see the benefit on the street. Like 2011 Nismo#91 said, the stock system intervenes too soon and with all the finesse of a sledge hammer. It slams the rear brake on and cuts power. The EcuTek's traction control is just smooth. I can't imagine how much better it must be with a quality limited slip.

:iagree: After getting my lsd it was such a huge benefit I advocate that it should be one of the first mods after an oil cooler if you are serious about getting power to the ground, NA or boosted. It give you so much more control especially with the car wants to step out. Predictability and confidence take a huge leap forward and I have no problem running with very little tc dialed in because of it.

Checked and nothing happened. Is there somewhere in the software to turn this on\off? I tried with factory traction control on and off.

This wasn't part of what you and I did a couple of years ago. Seb added it to my Z a few months ago when I got re-tuned.

Yeah all functions only work with vdc off and cruise control off. Yea would know if you press the toggle up. Also if you have Bluetooth dongle it would be in the menu on your phone!

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Super old thread but actually one of the first results if I search on Google (and not seeing much newer here)
I wanted to add my experiences with my Z which is currently being tuned by Eugene on the rotrex kit, and traction control.

For background, I always tracked my car with TC off, run an OSG LSD, and have also been tracking/autocrossing a 2007 Exige S with Lotus OEM traction control that behaves very similarly to motorsports TC, but my year didn't get the adjustment knob for controlling slip. So it's always targeting what feels like 0 slip.

The Ecutek TC is a huge step up from stock. Where stock would cut power for what feels like a full second and be extremely jarring to the car, to the point of inducing lift-off throttle effects, the ecutek TC actually behaves like a sort of ok mimic of the Lotus TC.
However, it is a bit slow to react. It seems to be easy to blow by, RPM wise. Like in 2nd gear with the SC, the car will pretty much spin up to almost redline before TC kicks in.

In 3rd, the TC usually has a chance to intervene in a meaningful way, and does an ok job at limiting slip while still allowing power.

4th, I haven't gotten wheelspin yet, but have only been testing on the street in a straight line.


The real test will be how it behaves out of corners. The Lotus TC, I can peg the throttle, car car will cut spark/fuel as necessary to keep the tires from slipping, and I can get a corner exit maybe 90% as good as optimal with minor slip. Better than I could get while I was still learning the car.