My Experience with EcuTek - Page 2 - Perth-WRX.com

BOMB3R · #11 15-01-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUES

Wouldn't you agree that your case would be the exception rather than the norm considering all of the Ecutek'd cars in the world? (I am not trying to justify the company's actions BTW).

My Autronic SM4 ECU board fried itself for no reason (kindly replaced by workshop/Autronic without hesitation) - sometime bad shit just happens.

Fred I would definitely call mine the exception rather than the norm but as you said the way it was dealt with left a very bad taste in my mouth, who knows how many other out there have been in the same position though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nauli

I will not speculate on cause/effect etc, just say that most aftermarket ECU's have had problem cases at some stage...yes, even MoTeC...so I just reiterate my original comment...you play, you (could) pay (a lot).

Sure can I have already had issues with my MoTeC which were solved without any drama's. Something to do with the MoTeC deleting all the old data when Sean saved new data. Don't quote me that is exactly what it was but similar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nauli

Hmmm...that is a long bow to draw Jaron.....who would really know...

True I can only make judgement on the explanation that was given

jEstEr? · #12 15-01-2009, 05:22 PM

i didn't even know ecutek did logging o_0

trusti rex · #13 19-01-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PIGSTi

Had a few PM's so seeing as I am not bagging a workshop I don't see any reason not to post this anymore. Started a new thread so when people ask I can point them here rather than trying to find posts over different forums to jog my memory.

The car started running like a bag of shit all of a sudden, it was stalling and backfiring and [B]using a truckload of oil.[/B] I booked the car in for a tune and checkup.

I took the car in and got a phone call saying the car is running extremely lean and it now won't start. I replied that no other workshop had touched the car and it had been running fine with that tune for 3-4 months, the car had also only done 40,000kms and not all those were modded km’s.

They obviously worked out it was a problem with the Ecu that they couldn't solve here. They flew my Ecu to MRT over east and had MRT fly an Ecu over from a car with similar mods running EcuTek. They put the new Ecu in and the car started and things were looking great. My program was then downloaded to the Ecu and the car wouldn't start again. In the meantime MRT couldn't see anything wrong with my Ecu. The logged files were then sent to MRT and there were no obvious issues with them either.

The Ecu was then flown to EcuTek in the UK where they diagnosed it as being a corrupted log file. There are holes with that explanation.

The Ecu I received back from the UK worked fine and the car was running again. It was still using alot of oil and gradually blowing alot more smoke.

Upon Inspection I was told I was up for a full rebuild. Do you think EcuTek would take any responsibility. Fuk No, the workshop certainly wasn't going to offer warranty on something that wasn't their fault either. So many hands went in the air very quickly it was amazing. The workshop were definitely prepared to help me out with the rebuild and look after me.

I don’t blame the workshop at all I blame EcuTek. Moral of the story is, you play you pay, just be careful you play with the right tools. Don’t expect warranty even when it is offered.

This is only a personal experience and other people have run EcuTek for years with no issues. Steve for example.

these are signs of mechanical damage, not ecu related. no ecu or program could have run over mechanical damage

tooslow · #14 11-02-2009, 12:21 AM

anyone else done the ecutek? im seriously thinking about getting one for my MY00 through maximum motorsport.

BALISTC · #15 11-02-2009, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trusti rex

these are signs of mechanical damage, not ecu related. no ecu or program could have run over mechanical damage

Are you serious? You don't think that an ECU could cause mechanical damage as described??

MKVIGTI · #16 11-02-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tooslow

anyone else done the ecutek? im seriously thinking about getting one for my MY00 through maximum motorsport.

I am very happy with my tune. Original re-flash done by MMS but since then Lane from Race Torque has tweaked it to suit further mods.

I would recommend RT over MMS as unless you go a stage 3 custom tune MMS will just use a tune they have on file to suit the mods you have. Lane always throws the car on the dyno to check and if its not what he expects will tweak it a bit. Doesn't charge extra for it either. Just gives himself peace of mind that the car is right when you get it.

At least that was the go when I had mine done originally and one of the reasons I am now a RT client.

tuna · #17 11-02-2009, 07:09 AM

i would never opt for "off the shelf" maps.

no two cars are ever alike, there are so many factors that make them different in tuning.

which is why factory ECU's have such a conservative tune on them.

BOMB3R · #18 11-02-2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trusti rex

these are signs of mechanical damage, not ecu related. no ecu or program could have run over mechanical damage

Yes they certainly are. Caused by an Ecu fault..........what do you think runs the mechanics of the car?

nauli · #19 11-02-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackSTi

MMS will just use a tune they have on file to suit the mods you have......

ABSOLUTELY untrue...a suitable base program goes on and then it is checked and adjusted where neccessary on the dyno. Depending upon how far you want to go with the tune and depending on the appropriate supporting mods will decide the further dyno time required and thus any increased cost over a more basic (dyno) tune. These days to talk about Stage I, Stage II etc is a bit of a misnomer as the "difference" between various states of tune is really a continuum.

For the record, I have had 2 cars done with ECUTek by MMS...the current MY06 STI which was done 3 years ago and has had no issues, then before that MY02 STi which ran ECUTek for almost 3 years without any issues.

I am sure that Race Torque would also do an excellent ECUTek tune if you went there.

MKVIGTI · #20 11-02-2009, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nauli

ABSOLUTELY untrue...a suitable base program goes on and then it is checked and adjusted where neccessary on the dyno. Depending upon how far you want to go with the tune and depending on the appropriate supporting mods will decide the further dyno time required and thus any increased cost over a more basic (dyno) tune. These days to talk about Stage I, Stage II etc is a bit of a misnomer as the "difference" between various states of tune is really a continuum.

For the record, I have had 2 cars done with ECUTek by MMS...the current MY06 STI which was done 3 years ago and has had no issues, then before that MY02 STi which ran ECUTek for almost 3 years without any issues.

I am sure that Race Torque would also do an excellent ECUTek tune if you went there.

Not my experience with MMS nearly 3 years ago. They insisted they didn't need to do anything except whack a level 2 tune in and send me on my way.

Said they had it completely sorted for the mods I had and it was a waste of money to put it on a dyno. I suspect Steve was pretty busy at the time and the trip out to use PSI's dyno ( their only option at the time ) was all to hard.

Took it out to Barbs the weekend after having the work done and had boost cut issues. MMS was to busy and wouldn't look at it for nearly 6 weeks ( after just offloading me of 4 Grand ) Race Torque looked at it on the Monday.

Turned out that it was more complicated to fix than just the tune but MMS's attitude was bullshit considering the money I had just spent and their insistence that dyno time was not necessary. ( The solution to the boost cut was a turbo with a bigger exhaust housing as with the 3in TBE even wiring the waste gate fully open would still result in boost building till it hit the cut out point for those that are interested )

I try not so slang them off cos I was happy with the work they had done to my classic but would never go back after the attitude I got that day.