I think my 1997 2.0 XSi needs an ECU download. Has anybody had a download that did make the car perform better, and how much roughly was it (my local dealer was too busy to answer their phone today!).
Cheers.
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Just a passing thought....
Many of us on here will regularly update PC software online (or Sky Boxes or phones etc) of much greater complexity. Has any one started a support site carrying latest release of car ECU software for home updating. There must be a great business opportunity here.
Does the ECU software carry relevant version info so that installed version it is easily identifiable? Perhaps we need more ex IT professionals working in the motor trade. OK some specialist firms carry out remapping or chip upgrades, at high prices, but straightforward reloads/updates should not be too difficult to achieve. After all most ECUs now have a limp home / retraining mode, so by installing a CTRL/ALT/DEL button ( maybe achieved as disconnection of battery) aborted updates could be overcome. (Just think of the potential insurance nightmare.... declaring 'location 0FEA now holds 87F3').
The blue screen of death could suddenley become a chilling reality!!!! Or just think of Bluetooth updates, as your Nova suddenly out burns a DB8 from stationary at the traffic lights!!!
Sorry this started as a short post, but lateral thinking mode took over.
pmh (was peter)
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Hi Peter,
Yes, version control of ECU software is in place.
The software upgrade process can be a bit stressful. On our old 1996 Astra, during the update, the new software wouldn't go in. The ECU wouldn't accept it. The stressful bit, is that the first thing that happens is that Tech2 deletes the old software - not moves it, not copies it, deletes it!
So, for some time our car didn't know it was a car, its ECU was a blank. I was 150 miles from home on a Sunday afternoon, and was beginning to worry! We eventually found an earlier version which did load OK.
On our newer 53 plate Astra, the process went really well, and the electronic throttle now behaves, and the car is much better to drive.
On a tangent, I'd really like to see some source code for modern engine management strategies - I think they are now quite funky, especially with features like misfire detection, etc.
number_cruncher
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Totally unrelated to cars, but I had a similar problem with a lighting console. Tried to update the software shortly before a major performance to try to fix an irritating bug - imagine the shock when the desk announced that it was deleting the old OS, and then followed that up with a little message saying "CRITICAL ERROR - CONSULT DEALER"...
Makes you wonder who gets the job of writing these software upgrades.
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Having done some web research, it appears that most info on line is very 'car model related' and the specialist private manufacturing companies (for obvious commercial reasons) wish to mystify the process. They also restrict access to code to people with their specific hardware. It is also generally aimed at the performance upgrade market, rather than the to update to latest specn concept.
I like the idea of one specialist who (for a TT, I think) offers you as a free test, a time limited software upgrade which allows 5 hrs of use before stopping? (or reverting to safe mode?). More info is available on Merc and BMW than most smaller family models. But manufactures seem releuctant to give on line prices for hardware/software.
American suppliers seem mor prevalent, but for American models only?
If you do a comparison with the web sites that once proliferated for pirate satellite analogue decryption software to reprogram smart cards, (and there are many more technically aware car users out there than satellite Geeks). There must be a huge opportunity aimed at the home updater.
I will continue to browse and when I find the £30 multi manufacturer hardware solution with reliable shareware software source, will post the results. Manufactures parts/manuals CD are easily avaiable on Ebay, there is no reason why in the future software upgrades couldnt be equally easily available.
pmh (was peter)
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