EcuFlash Tutorial

Compiled for the 3rd Generation Eclipse Community at Club3g.com

What is EcuFlash?
EcuFlash is a tool to read, edit, and reprogram Subaru and Mitsubishi engine computers.

What is required to use EcuFlash?

1. EcuFlash Software (v1.28 or newer found at !penE"# 2. !pen$ort 1.%M cable purchased at M&nes $erformance or 'actri( %. )n& *aptop made within the last 1+ &ears with at least one #S, port.

Ho

to install EcuFlash !oft are.

1. -ownload the newest version of EcuFlash at !penE"# 2. .f &ou do not have a .rar file archiver installed on &our computer, go to www.download.com and download /in0)0. %. )fter /in0)0 is installed, right clic1 on the 2ecuflash3setup(((.rar4 file and clic1 on 2e(tract to ecuflash3setup(((54 6. !pen the newl& created 2ecuflash3setup(((4 folder and clic1 on the installation file, 2ecuflash3setup(((.e(e4. 7. Follow the installation instructions, install to whatever director& &ou choose, and be sure to agree to the E#*) for the !pen$ort 1.%M cable drivers. 8. )fter successfull& installing the software, plug the !pen$ort 1.%M cable into a #S, port and allow &our computer to recogni9e it and install the drivers. :. ;ou are now read& to head out to &our car.

Hoo"ing #p EcuFlash Cable

#S, plug goes into #S, port on *aptop. ,lac1 !,-2 connector plugs into !,-2 port under driver side dash. /hite flash connector plugs into flash port to the left of the !,-2 port.

$eading from% and Writing&Test Writing&Comparing to the EC#.

'()*+$T,-T' ,efore an& of these functions can be performed< 1. "ar must be off. 2. 'he cable must be hoo1ed up properl&. %. 'he !pen$ort cable must be selected in the !ptions=$ort drop down menu. 6. 'he EcuFlash software must be opened without an& errors. 'he screen should loo1 similar to this<

7. .f there are an& errors, uninstall and reinstall the EcuFlash software. $eading from EC# 'his function allows the user to read and save the 0!M currentl& loaded on the E"#. )lwa&s 1eep a bac1up of ;!#0 stoc1 0!M. 1. Ma1e sure that all 0!Ms open in EcuFlash are closed. 2. "lic1 the 20ead from E"#4 button. ;ou will see a prompt that loo1s li1e this< )anual Cars, select 2++1>2++7 Mitsubishi %rd ?en=E@!:>8 ,uto&!porty Cars, select 2++% Mitsubishi Eclipse )'

%. "lic1 20ead4 and then follow instructions given b& the 2"onnecting to E"#4 prompt.

6. 'he software will then obtain the 0!M from &our E"#. 7. /hen EcuFlash is finished reading, &ou will see the 2EcuFlash success4 prompt.

8. ,e sure to save &our 0!M as a .he( file t&pe. Writing to EC# 'his function allows the user to load a 0!M on to the E"#. 'he 0!M previousl& on the E"# is written over and cannot be recovered. 1. !pen the 0!M (stoc1 or edited &ou wish to write to the E"# A/arningA 'he onl& 0!Ms &ou should ever write to &our E"# are &our stoc1 0!M or modified Stoc1 0!M. /riting a 0!M from another E"# will result in a no start and possible engine damage. 2. "lic1 the 2/rite to E"#4 button. %. -o what is instructed b& the 2"onnecting to E"#4 prompt. 6. 'he software will then proceed to write the open 0!M to the E"#. 7. /hen EcuFlash is finished reading, &ou will see the 2EcuFlash success4 prompt. Test Write to EC# 'his function allows the user to see if the E"# can be written to. EcuFlash goes through the process of writing to the E"# without doing an& actual writing. 1. 2. %. 6. !pen the 0!M (stoc1 or edited &ou wish to test write to the E"# "lic1 the 2'est /rite to E"#4 button. -o what is instructed b& the 2"onnecting to E"#4 prompt. 'he software will then proceed to chec1 to see if all of the reBuirements are met to write the open 0!M to the E"# and will displa& the results of the test. Co writing ta1es place. 7. /hen EcuFlash is finished reading, &ou will see the 2EcuFlash success4 prompt.

Comparing to EC# 'his function allows the user to chec1 to see if the 0!M loaded on the E"# and another 0!M open in EcuFlash have similarities. 1. !pen the 0!M (stoc1 or edited &ou wish to compare to the 0!M currentl& flashed to the E"# 2. "lic1 the 2"ompare to E"#4 button. %. -o what is instructed b& the 2"onnecting to E"#4 prompt. 6. EcuFlash will proceed to compare the two 0!Ms and will displa& the results of the comparison. Co writing ta1es place. 7. /hen EcuFlash is finished reading, &ou will see the 2EcuFlash success4 prompt.

.ie ing and Editing $+)s

/efinition Files .n order to edit a 0!M &ou must have its corresponding definition file. Each 0!M has a uniBue .- number and a definition file with that .- number must be used. 'he definition file tells EcuFlash where to loo1 to find the maps that are located within the 0!M. For e(ample< 'his is a section of 0!M D+D2+++D. 'he area highlighted in &ellow is the load a(is for the fuel maps. 'he definition file will tell EcuFlash that the load a(is for 0!M D+D2+++D is located at address +(86)+ and is 1+ elements long. /ithout this, EcuFlash would not be able to displa& the load values for this particular 0!M. 'his applies to all data that &ou would li1e to edit in the 0!M.

'hat portion of the definition file would loo1 li1e this< Etable nameFG*oadG addressFG86)+G t&peFGH )(isG elementsFG1+G scalingFG*oadG=I Jnowing how the definition file wor1s is not important to using EcuFlash. 'he important thing is that &ou have to have the definition file for &our 0!M in order use EcuFlash. )ll 0!Ms are different and have data in different locations.

)ssuming EcuFlash is installed in its default location with its default settings, all definitions should be 1ept in the folder< "<5$rogram Files5!penE"#5EcuFlash5rommetadata )ll definitions must be 1ept in this folder so EcuFlash can load them on startup. EcuFlash +ptions )enu -irectories o 0om File -irector& 'his is the director& EcuFlash references for saved 0!Ms. o Metadata -irector& 'his is the director& EcuFlash references for saved definition files. o "olor Map -irector& 'his is the director& EcuFlash references for saved color maps. #ser o #ser *evel 'his determines what parameters are visible. Set this to 2advanced4 to view all editable maps. Metadata o Show .nvalid 'ables Some parameters do not appl& to all vehicles. *eave this bo( unchec1ed to hide all parameters that are not defined. )ppearance o -efault "olor Map 'his allows the user to change the colors of maps. 'his is personal preference. EC# *arameters ),F !moothing Table o E(act function is un1nown ),F !caling o E(act Function is un1nown ),F !i0e o Si9e of mass airflow sensor in un1nown units ),F !ensor Filtering o E(act function is un1nown 1arometric *ressure Compensation o 'he E"# uses the pressure and rpm referenced multiplier in fuel suppl& calculations. 'his helps maintain a consistent air=fuel ratios as atmospheric pressure changes. ,ir Temperature Compensation

o 'he E"# uses the temperature>referenced multiplier in fuel suppl& calculation. 'his helps maintain a consistent air=fuel ratio as temperature changes. (n2ector !caling o 'his is the inKector value the E"# is using when ma1ing its fuel suppl& calculations. 'his is alwa&s a smaller value than the si9e of the actual inKectors in the car. )in Coolant Temp for Closed 3oop o 'he coolant temperature at which the E"# enters closed loop. +pen 3oop Throttle High 3oad o 'he 0$M referenced minimum throttle position (in volts that causes the E"# to enter open loop operation in high load conditions. +pen 3oop Throttle 3o 3oad o 'he 0$M referenced minimum throttle position (in volts that causes the E"# to enter open loop operation in low load conditions. +pen 3oop 3oad 45 o 'he 0$M referenced minimum calculated load percentage that causes the E"# to enter open loop operation. +pen 3oop 3oad 46 o 'he 0$M referenced minimum calculated load percentage that causes the E"# to enter open loop operation. ,ccel Enrichment o )n 0$M referenced multiplier that the E"# uses when calculating fuel for sudden acceleration. .ncreasing this value can reduce lean conditions when the throttle is suddenl& depressed. (n2ector 1attery .oltage 3atency Compensation o 'his batter& voltage referenced value determines when the signal to open the inKector is sent. )s batter& voltage decreases, the time between the inKector receiving the signal to open and when it actuall& opens increases. 'herefore, &ou must send the signal sooner to have the inKector open at the appropriate time. *arger inKectors need more time to open as well. High +ctane Fuel )ap o 'his is also referred to as a low detonation map. /hen there are low 1noc1 sum counts and a high octane value, the E"# uses the 0$M and load referenced value to maintain the proper air=fuel ratio. 'his is a target map and the units in this map are Kust that, units. 'he car will not alwa&s run at the air=fuel ratio in the desired cell. 0aise this value to lean out the fuel mi(ture and decrease this value to richen it. 3o +ctane Fuel )ap

o 'his is also referred to as a high detonation map. /hen there are high 1noc1 sum counts and a low octane value, the E"# uses the 0$M and load referenced value to maintain the proper air=fuel ratio. 'his is a target map and the units in this map are Kust that, units. 'he car will not alwa&s run at the air=fuel ratio in the desired cell. 0aise this value to lean out the fuel mi(ture and decrease this value to richen it. High +ctane (gnition )ap o 'his is also referred to as a low detonation map. /hen there are low 1noc1 sum counts and a high octane value, the E"# uses the 0$M and load referenced value to maintain the proper timing. 'his is a target map and the units in this map are Kust that, units. 'he car will not alwa&s run the timing in the desired cell. 3o +ctane (gnition )ap o 'his is also referred to as a high detonation map. /hen there are high 1noc1 sum counts and a low octane value, the E"# uses the 0$M and load referenced value to maintain the proper timing. 'his is a target map and the units in this map are Kust that, units. 'he car will not alwa&s run the timing in the desired cell. !peed 3imit o 'his is the speed at which the E"# cuts fuel to the motor and the speed at which it will return to running properl&. $e7 3imit o 'he E"# cuts fuel to the motor at this 0$M. (dle !tepper 3oo"8#p Table o 'he E"# uses the 0$M and throttle position reference value to set the step position of the idle speed control valve. High (nta"e ,ir Temp (!C. (ncrease o 'he E"# adds this value to the value of the idle stepper loo1>up table during high inta1e air conditions. High (nta"e ,ir Temp (dle !peed Target o 'his becomes the target idle speed during high inta1e air conditions. /esired (dle $*) ith ,C on o 'he target idle 0$M with the air conditioner on. /esired (dle $*)8/ri7e o ) temperature>referenced target idle 0$M when the car is in drive. /esired (dle $*)8-eutral o ) temperature>referenced target idle 0$M when the car is in neutral. /esired (!C. initial step position ith ,C on 9 neutral o ) temperature referenced initial position of the idle speed control valve when the car is in neutral and the )" is on. /esired (!C. initial step position ith ,C off 9 dri7e 8

o ) temperature referenced initial position of the idle speed control valve when the car is in drive and the )" is off. /esired (!C. initial step position ith ,C off 9 neutral o ) temperature referenced initial position of the idle speed control valve when the car is in neutral and the )" is off. (nit Code o 'his is some 1ind of 0om=E"# identifier. A/)0C.C?A .f &ou flash &our E"# with this value changed, &ou will loc1 &our 0!M and will not be able to read or write to &our E"#. (mmobili0er o 'his is the immobili9er code. 'he immobili9er code is contained within the E"#, immobili9er E"#, and the transponder 1e&. 'he& must all contain the same code in order for the car to start. 'he code stored in the immobili9er E"# cannot be changed.

Glossary
,ir&Fuel $atio :,F$; o 'he proportion of air and fuel present during combustion. Closed loop o -uring this operation, the E"# uses feedbac1 from the pre>catal&tic converter o(&gen sensor(s to help maintain an emission friendl&, 16.:=1 air fuel ratio. .f the mi(ture is too lean it will add fuel, if it is too rich, it will ta1e fuel awa&. 'hat process happens man& times a second. 'he E"# also 1eeps trac1 of how much fuel it adds and ta1es awa& b& modif&ing fuel trim values. /efinition File o ) file in .(ml format that tells EcuFlash where parameters are located in 0!Ms. 'his is also referred to as metadata and (ml files. EcuFlash o ) freeware piece of software used to read, edit, and reprogram Subaru and Mitsubishi engine computers. Flash connector o 'he white connector on the !pen$ort cable that plugs into the flash port and is also referred to as the 2!pen$ort initiali9ation connector4. Flash port o 'he white soc1et to the left of the !,-2 port. 3ean o )dding more air or less fuel to the fuel mi(ture. 1%<1 is leaner than 1+<1. 3ong Term Fuel Trim :3TFT;

o /hen S'F' sta& too rich or too lean for too long, the E"# will increase or decrease this *'F' value. 'his fuel trim value changes over longer periods of time and is global (affects fuel deliver& in open and closed loop operations in all load and 0$M conditions. +1/6 connector o 'he large, blac1 connector on the !pen$ort cable that plugs into the cars !-,2 port and is also referred to as the 2!pen$ort interface4. +1/6 port o 'he blac1 on board diagnostics port that is located under the right side of the dashboard above the driver side foot well. +pen*ort 5.3) cable o 'he cable reBuired to be able flash the %? E"#. +pen loop o -uring this operation, the E"# does not use an& feedbac1 from o(&gen sensors. 'he E"# uses M)F values, 0$M, compensation factors, inKector scaling, and fuel trim values to calculate the proper inKector pulse width to deliver the right amount of fuel to achieve the desired air fuel ratio. ,ecause there is no feedbac1, the E"# does not 1now if these values are correct or not. $ich o )dding more fuel or less air to the fuel mi(ture. 1+<1 is richer than 1%<1. $+) o ) cop& of the he(adecimal program that is stored in the E"#. 'his is also referred to as a he( file. !hort Term Fuel Trim :!TFT; o Low much fuel the E"# is currentl& adding or ta1ing awa& in closed loop to maintain its desired )F0. 'his value updates ver& Buic1l&.

10

11