My tuning stuff

[charliex]

All of them are available by arrangement, some would be custom 1 off's and priced so, others not so much (cams,fans.obd 2 codes etc the common stuff).

Unfortunately the cost of the custom programming will probably be quite high, there is quite a lot of work attached to adding features or stuff thats not been loaded on a few cars and its mostly just man hours.

the list is for a few reasons, namely to let people know whats going on, i got fed up seeing the latest tuner on the block give disinformation, and for people to maybe think of things i hadn't that may use the existing stuff on the list for different means and make even more things no one wants

[charliex]

Lotus decided to disable the CAN bus diagnostics in the 2006 ECUs, thats what that recent flash update was, they're probably going to keep doing it on the newer cars, and if you get your old car reflashed it'll also go away. the extended diagnostics of the 06 ecu that are fed out every frame are gone too, instead its basically the same as the 2005 car now.

So all thats left currently is the cluster from the CAN.

This doesn't really affect me or my reflashing stuff, but it will kill off anyone using the can bus for diagnostics data. It can be reenabled, but everytime they update the program at the dealership it'll be disabled again.

They really do not want you self diagnosing or watching any of the cool diagnostics stuff in the car. The OBD II is barely compliant, and will fail on many scantools, of course lotus will say its the scantools fault, and the scantool maker will say its lotus. The 2-3 second update rate is terrible for a modern car.

Basically you'll be limited to the dealer and the tech3 and any obd2 readers that do work.

they may even have disabled it in the 2005 ecus too, i haven't checked that, i think i did see the updated firmware for them too.

[Westrock]

When I got my car inspected (for yearly inspection) the tech guy said he "had a hell of a time getting it to pass", even though there were no CEL's or anything. Could that have been what he was talking about (mine has not been serviced/updated recently).

Changing subjects.....

I have some questions about WOT.

At WOT, does the ECU base the fuel map on the actual MAF reading? If so how much "extra" does the stock fuel map have built-in? Meaning that if we add various parts that allow the engine to breathe better the ECU is going to see an increase in that MAF reading....will it automatically adjust the fuel output for that?

And on that idea, the "learning" feature. Poeple "say" that the ECU can tune out aftermarket mods and keep the power around stock levels (over time). How can it do that? If there is an increase in air, there has to be an increase in fuel to stay safe. Thus the ECU can limit ignition timing or it can limit the camshaft timing. I was thinking it could limit airflow with the drive by wire (DBW) throttle, but many 05'ers seem to report it as well and they aren't DBW.

So does the ECU have some type of a "target" value that it goes for? Does it want to see a certain MAF reading at WOT which would equate to a certain HP level and as needed changes the cam timing to limit air flow? It can't limit fuel because that would just be dangerous. Can we make it so that if sees a certain MAF reading it follows a fuel map period?

[proudpop]

Charlie, I'm here in Vegas and need some tune help. Can you please contact me sometime....

My problem is this...

I installed a Tubular exhaust and sport cat a couple weeks ago. After install there was tons of extra power, no doubt about it. About a week after install I got a CEL and the extra power is not there anymore. Hoping you can help me out...

[charliex]

The ECU has a target AFR is aims for yes , the short term/long term is only used for low end/low load situations like most cars, beyond that its different, a GM ecu seems to have the ability to cater for aftermarket parts by allowing ( i'm told, my ecu is on the way to me ) 20% or so deviation, the lotus ecu is much tighter on this and will do what it can to get back to those AFR's.

I'm still working on some of the higher end fuel strategies for the lotus ecu, there is an awful lot of stuff to map out, recently we've been altering the AFR ratio target instead of the base fuel maps so that it'll allow the learn to function as it should. the learn does seem to continue at WOT because we see it fighting against the tune one the dyno, typically we're turning it off during tuning.


proudpop, sure thing come alone to the next club meeting contact dave livesnd@cox.net he'll tell you where/when its at.

[proudpop]

Thanks Charlie. Message sent to Dave. Hope to meet up with you all soon.

[charliex]

cool theres only a couple of elises/exiges turn up usually , me , ritcci and a couple others.

i'm in southern highlands, theres a few owners around here, you'll usually see me buzzing up and down the roads around here with the laptop connected, data logging different stuff.

[Westrock]

Originally Posted by charliex

the lotus ecu is much tighter on this and will do what it can to get back to those AFR's.

So how does it do that. It has to provide enough fuel to stay safe so it only has a few options;

• Change the camshaft angle to let less air in
• Retard the ignition timing to kill power
• Modulate the throttle body to restrict air (possible on e-throttle but not cable throttle)

So then if it can't use the stock narrowband O2 sensor to tell whats going on at WOT, what else could be using to find the target? The MAF is the only thing I can think of thats consistant.

I'm not mad or arguing or anything, you seem to be one of the few poeple who actually knows what going on in there, so I'm looking for insight as to what were up against

[Buz]

Does the ECU control the AC compressor cut off at wot? If so could it be set to disengage at 50 percent throttle instead of 100 percent?

[charliex]

yes it does, and yes you could.

let me map out the mixes at WOT and i'll list out the factors that affect it, as i said i'm still studying how the learn works so theres nothing ins tone yet , other than it does not have much room for change.


the trims go to 0 after you hit a certain load/rpm, and narrowbands have no sensitivity at extremes.

[Westrock]

Cool, that will be good info to know.

[mark.r]

Originally Posted by charliex

sounds like a problem with the target idle setting, the car is going to try to find an idle of 1100 rpm, if its swinging +/-200 RPM then its way off and makes big adjustments and throws a code, this can also cause a stall, from memory it wants to get within +/- 50 RPM of the target idle to be happy. sometimes when we're tuning we just raise the target idle which is easier for it to find, or if memory serves a small change to the A/F ratio also fixed some idling issues we'd seen on other cars.


there is a new reflash for the cars that supposedly fixes idling issues, but i'd imagine it just makes it better, i had it installed in my car a few days ago but i haven't picked it up yet.

Charlie, how do you or what is the best way to raise the target idle of and '06 car? I got my car back last night and it runs pretty good. It needs to be warmed up to 160 degrees + before it really wants to idle to anything close to normal and at that point it is still is fairly "choppy". Ironically enough if you turn on the AC it raise the target idle to the point were the car idles almost like normal. Any ideas?

[MikeW]

Mark.r
just wondering what rpm it's idling at. You'll have to use a scan tool as the Lotus tach isn't precise enough. Perhaps the idle speed is high enough but the quality of idle is bad because of a/f ratio or timing. Eventually you'd want to get it right, but I can see raing the idle speed temporarily to make it driveable.

[Buz]

Does the ECU control the alternator or is there a separate voltage regulator?

[mark.r]

Originally Posted by MikeW

Mark.r
just wondering what rpm it's idling at. You'll have to use a scan tool as the Lotus tach isn't precise enough. Perhaps the idle speed is high enough but the quality of idle is bad because of a/f ratio or timing. Eventually you'd want to get it right, but I can see raing the idle speed temporarily to make it driveable.

I'd have ask Tim at the shop what speeds it is bouncing around at since he as had the scan tool on it. That said, because of this idle issue and our working with DRS and FF we have made NUMEROUS adjustments to a/f, timing, and fuel acceleration (I believe that is the name) to address the idle issue and the lazy throttle. This is what got us to where we are today which is A LOT better than before. My goal now is to compare notes with another '06 FF w/stand alone owner and see what his/her car is doing.

[charliex]

i haven't seen anything related to the alternator, i'd imagine its self contained.

mine idles around 890 rpm when cold, if somethings funky like a vacuum leak or wrong mix, bad o2, bad maf etc it swings around from around 2000 to 700 rpm.

on a car that idles badly i usualy just trim out the af mix at idle.

switching on the AC changes mix and spark advance ( on the regular ecu ), which in turn raises the idle rpm

i'm not sure how you guys have it setup but if the stock ecu is still controlling anything at idle, there is an idle learn that if you change stuff under it, it usually changes the base, its always fighting against your changes i've found, when we dyno tune the cars i usually turn off the learn otherwise it is in a constant state of flux.

the only reason i've changed the target idle was on cars that had problems finding that one sweetspot.

[mark.r]

Originally Posted by charliex

i haven't seen anything related to the alternator, i'd imagine its self contained.

mine idles around 890 rpm when cold, if somethings funky like a vacuum leak or wrong mix, bad o2, bad maf etc it swings around from around 2000 to 700 rpm.

on a car that idles badly i usualy just trim out the af mix at idle.

switching on the AC changes mix and spark advance ( on the regular ecu ), which in turn raises the idle rpm

i'm not sure how you guys have it setup but if the stock ecu is still controlling anything at idle, there is an idle learn that if you change stuff under it, it usually changes the base, its always fighting against your changes i've found, when we dyno tune the cars i usually turn off the learn otherwise it is in a constant state of flux.

the only reason i've changed the target idle was on cars that had problems finding that one sweetspot.

We have definitely made adjustments to the AF as instructed by DRS at idle.

Thanks for clearing up the point on the AC, it makes sense.

As far as the learn feature and changing stuff under it, how do we make changes to it and control the learn. I though you were the only one that had mastered that. I am actually being serious.

[charliex]

Originally Posted by proudpop

Thanks Charlie. Message sent to Dave. Hope to meet up with you all soon.

If you want your car custom tuned we now have a place to do it in Vegas.

[charliex]

Originally Posted by mark.r

We have definitely made adjustments to the AF as instructed by DRS at idle.

Thanks for clearing up the point on the AC, it makes sense.

As far as the learn feature and changing stuff under it, how do we make changes to it and control the learn. I though you were the only one that had mastered that. I am actually being serious.

i dunno how you'd do it with the Efi usa, presumably the stock ecu isn't involved in the AF mix ? i just think the stock ecu is getting confused or mixed signals and 'trying stuff out' the DBW's ecu is very picky about whats going on because of the obvious safety aspects.

You'd have to tell me what the piggyback is doing in relationship with the idle mix.

[mark.r]

Originally Posted by charliex

i just think the stock ecu is getting confused or mixed signals and 'trying stuff out' the DBW's ecu is very picky about whats going on because of the obvious safety aspects.

You'd have to tell me what the piggyback is doing in relationship with the idle mix.

I think this is exactly the case. As to what the EFI doing in relationship with idle . . . Sorry, I wish I could answer that.