Laptop+soft instead of ECU

[Professor Nimnul]

Well - it's just interesting - I have info from my friend about Ford Focus ST. He said that he had seen a configuration that used Laptop & special software INSTEAD of stock ECU.

I was surprised - 'cause it looks like POSSIBLE thing.

I do not mean CHIP or stock ECU tuning or smth else - but only a proper connector with high speed connection to the laptop + special software emulationg ECU.

Has anybody seen smth like this for a Cougar?

[freednighthawk]

Dude, if he did have it, it was a custom built setup. And custom written software.

[ov3n]

No reason to do that when you have tuners like the SCT Xcalibrator. The ford ECU is a great ECU, just get a good tune and reflash it!

What happens when your laptop crashes? Your car would be dead.

[freednighthawk]

Not to meantion that laptops hate high G's and rattling/shaking. So you'd pretty much be screwed if you're racing.

[cpapashley]

Well - it's just interesting - I have info from my friend about Ford Focus ST. He said that he had seen a configuration that used Laptop & special software INSTEAD of stock ECU.

I was surprised - 'cause it looks like POSSIBLE thing.

I do not mean CHIP or stock ECU tuning or smth else - but only a proper connector with high speed connection to the laptop + special software emulationg ECU.

Has anybody seen smth like this for a Cougar?

Interesting concept professor, can you find out a little more, if it works with the focus, then it may work with many other Fords.

If you can find out more, let me know.

[bensenvill]

Not to meantion that laptops hate high G's and rattling/shaking. So you'd pretty much be screwed if you're racing.

not to mention heat and cold [esp for russia]. your laptop is going to bake in the summer and run the risk of shattering the hard drive platters on startup in the cold.

are you sure it was INSTEAD of an ECU rather than in addition to an ECU?

[BigBalledOX]

are you sure it was INSTEAD of an ECU rather than in addition to an ECU?

Yeah, I call BS on that too. I highly doubt Ford has millions of vehicles with an ECU and then one that just happens to not have one. ****, even if you could get the car to run without the stock ECU, I can only imagine the nightmare it would be to configure a laptop to run the car.

[Blackcoog]

Ahhh blue screen of death noooo!

I wouldn't recommend running Windows in that case. Linux might be the better option.

I'm curious.... why is it that our overseas members are so interested in tuning? You do understand that you won't gain anything from tuning unless you significantly change you current setup (different engine or forced induction)? On a stock or even slightly modified car it isn't going to be a major or even a noticable increase in power.

[BigBalledOX]

Ahhh blue screen of death noooo!

I wouldn't recommend running Windows in that case. Linux might be the better option.

I'm curious.... why is it that our overseas members are so interested in tuning? You do understand that you won't gain anything from tuning unless you significantly change you current setup (different engine or forced induction)? On a stock or even slightly modified car it isn't going to be a major or even a noticable increase in power.

I disagree. On my LS, for example, a tune on an otherwise stock engine gains about 17 HP and 17 ft-lbs of torque. The stock engine can definitely be tweaked for better performance.

[RuiNaToR_QC]

Would be great to have a Panasonic to act as a ECU :rolleyes:

The only laptop that would survive as long as a stock ECU mounted into a car. If someone can find a way to do this. Im in :tongue:

These Toughbook® computers are manufactured to endure 3-foot drops and to withstand violent shocks and vibrations. They are fabricated to operate at temperatures over 140° and below -20° Fahrenheit and function both at high altitude and under increased atmospheric pressure. See the incredible MIL-STD tests these machines pass in order to be Toughbook rugged.
MIL-STD tests (http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/df_test.asp)

[TrackCat]

Not to meantion that laptops hate high G's and rattling/shaking. So you'd pretty much be screwed if you're racing.

If Paul walker can do it his friend can do it. Remember to replace the floor with metal mats

[TrackCat]

Ahhh blue screen of death noooo!

I wouldn't recommend running Windows in that case. Linux might be the better option.

I'm curious.... why is it that our overseas members are so interested in tuning? You do understand that you won't gain anything from tuning unless you significantly change you current setup (different engine or forced induction)? On a stock or even slightly modified car it isn't going to be a major or even a noticable increase in power.

Thats correct you have to change the VE of the engine (Value metric efficiency)

[Blackcoog]

I disagree. On my LS, for example, a tune on an otherwise stock engine gains about 17 HP and 17 ft-lbs of torque. The stock engine can definitely be tweaked for better performance.

Meaning you went from 87 octane to 92 (additional timing) or was the air fuel was that far out from factory? This car was stock?

[Teebs]

Not to meantion that laptops hate high G's and rattling/shaking. So you'd pretty much be screwed if you're racing.

not to mention heat and cold [esp for russia]. your laptop is going to bake in the summer and run the risk of shattering the hard drive platters on startup in the cold.

are you sure it was INSTEAD of an ECU rather than in addition to an ECU?

I've had my carputer running fine in both the summer heat, and as low as -30F in the winter... Consistantly booting without problems for a year while I had it in there.... Now it sits on my desk as I mold the screen into the dash...

[Professor Nimnul]

Mmmmm.. I'd say that I was simply IMPRESSED - exactly as BigBalledOX wrote about millions vs. one car WITHOUT ECU (with a computer instead of it).

Actually I don't want to do it by myself or even make "standart" chip tuning - I'd rather concentrate on mechanical tuning

Blackcoog - haha - I also tried to imagine a blue screen of death or smth like "Access violation... addres 0x000000000" when I stomp a gas pedal :)

By the way - these fiends of mine are quite serious people - it's their project racing Focus ST - but I still can't get more info... I hope it's not their stupid joke...

[Gorman]

..maybe the laptop is not 'instead of' but like a constantly variable piggy back chip...G.

[shoult]

Well - it's just interesting - I have info from my friend about Ford Focus ST. He said that he had seen a configuration that used Laptop & special software INSTEAD of stock ECU.

I was surprised - 'cause it looks like POSSIBLE thing.

I do not mean CHIP or stock ECU tuning or smth else - but only a proper connector with high speed connection to the laptop + special software emulationg ECU.

Has anybody seen smth like this for a Cougar?

He's probably running an aftermarket standalone ECU like the MegaSquirt or MegaSquirtNSpark (* *MegaSquirt - Electronic Fuel Injection Computer by Bowling & Grippo * * (http://www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html)), Haltech (Haltech Engine Management Systems (http://www.haltech.com)) or others. They completely replace the factory ECU and are programmed using a PC. The standalone ECU's OS is completely invisible because the interface is provided by your PC. Most times the PC software is written for Windows, some also have ported it over for Linux.

I believe this is what you're referring to. Not replacing the OEM ECU itself with a laptop. Even a car with street tires could generate enough G's to kill a hard drive, mil-spec or not. Or at least to the point where the drive parks and is not recording the very points in time you want to record. Same problem exists with tape (MiniDV, VHS, etc, ).

[RuiNaToR_QC]

Not replacing the OEM ECU itself with a laptop. Even a car with street tires could generate enough G's to kill a hard drive, mil-spec or not

Again, here's something that would work in a race car:
Link to Solid State Drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive)
No moving parts...
A solid state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. An SSD emulates a hard disk drive, thus easily replacing it in any application. An SSD using SRAM or DRAM (instead of flash memory) is often called RAM-drive.

[ov3n]

FYI - Capaldi and Mumm's race cougars ran reflashed stock ECUs..

NO REASON TO RUN YOUR CAR WITH A LAPTOP!!!!

[Professor Nimnul]

NO REASON TO RUN YOUR CAR WITH A LAPTOP!!!!

I do agree, I do - it's just a question of possibility... :)

[ov3n]

Many things are possible.
Many things are also not smart. :)

[BigBalledOX]

Meaning you went from 87 octane to 92 (additional timing) or was the air fuel was that far out from factory? This car was stock?

Nah, LS runs on premium juice from the factory. I'd have to ask a few more questions of the tuner to get exactly what was changed, but he's tuned multiple different LS's, including his own one-off turbo kit, so he's no hack and he backs his tunes with dyno results.

[shoult]

Again, here's something that would work in a race car:
Link to Solid State Drive (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive)
No moving parts...
A solid state drive (SSD) is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. An SSD emulates a hard disk drive, thus easily replacing it in any application. An SSD using SRAM or DRAM (instead of flash memory) is often called RAM-drive.

Again, WHY? Just cause? Do you really want to DEDICATE a laptop to running your car? Add weight to your race car? There are already very good standalone ECU's. If it's a DIY thing, get a MegaSquiitNSpark kit for a couple hundred bucks and build it yourself, or just download the plans and scratch build it. Standalone ECUs typically have their own FlashRam with enough space for datalogging.

I don't see the upside to lugging around a laptop in your racecar with an HD or SSD. Plugging in the laptop to the standalone ECU in the pits, yes.

Just cause you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD.

[Professor Nimnul]

shoult, I have to thank you, 'cause you mentioned * *MegaSquirt - Electronic Fuel Injection Computer by Bowling & Grippo * * (http://www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html) - it looks like self made construction kit - but if I understood it correctly about a "half a car" should be rewired to make it work.. True?

So ANY standalone ECU is not a "plug-and-play" module into a stock socket?

[shoult]

shoult, I have to thank you, 'cause you mentioned * *MegaSquirt - Electronic Fuel Injection Computer by Bowling & Grippo * * (http://www.bgsoflex.com/megasquirt.html) - it looks like self made construction kit - but if I understood it correctly about a "half a car" should be rewired to make it work.. True?

So ANY standalone ECU is not a "plug-and-play" module into a stock socket?

Correct, standalones are DEFINITELY NOT PnP. Some are closer than others. Some require you to replace sensors with more generic sensors (usually GM style), others can work with what you have. It's been several years since I worked with them, but from a quick googling about it doesn't look like THAT much has changed. Typically the hardest part is getting the crank sensor set up. Oh, and deciding what type of fuel injection your going to run.

[hamill]

Why did I read the initial post thinking....this dude's running an OBD2 connection through a laptop.

EDIT: I've had mine hooked up a few times....to someone who doesn't know what it is, I can tell them I can control the AC with it :)

[c0alition]

I was actually wondering if there was freeware to reflash my ECU.. i couldn't find any.. i figured there had to be some open source deal out there.. but not that I could find.. anyone else find anything? Btw my toughbook works great in my car rofl.. works great when i'm checking live OBDII data with it sitting in my engine bay..

[Gorman]

Btw my toughbook works great in my car rofl.. works great when i'm checking live OBDII data with it sitting in my engine bay..what software are you using for that job ?..G

[c0alition]

was using a program called Scan Tool scantool.net had to buy an elm scan interface to use it.. but's it's the cheapest i've found so far.. now i'm using a program calld EasyOBD same features.. just not as graphic.

[fordrule]

from SCT the pro racer package is real time tuning of the ecu through the xcal2 connected to a laptop? thats why i got it. dont have to keep on paying for retunes....

[bensenvill]

Why did I read the initial post thinking....this dude's running an OBD2 connection through a laptop.

EDIT: I've had mine hooked up a few times....to someone who doesn't know what it is, I can tell them I can control the AC with it :)

yes same here, so my apologies to the professor. I also looked into the megasquirt many years ago [actually my friend used it on a homebuilt mini-truck type contraption he built for his mechanical engineering senior design project], so I have light exposure to it... but you've got me rereading up on this. ok, its quite a bit more powerful than I was lead to beleive.

but it boils down to you are entering a world of pain trying to implement the car with a stand alone solution such as that. For one you'll never be able to pass any emissions tests if you implement this.... so that rules out the option for just about all of us on this board. Second, I can easily see dropping a thousand hours or so just to get the motor running in limp mode. 3rd, attempting this and your completely on your own, not too many people are going to be able to assist you on this and I dont imagine my regular tuner is going to be able to assist me.

I could definitely see attempting this for fun, but there is no practical reason or any gain in doing so.

[tour96se]

i have several friends w/megasquirt. in the probe/mx6/mx3/626 forums...they have no tunning support from anyone else so megasquirt is all thats used there w/great results. you can run a full standalone system or piggyback

[cpapashley]

i have several friends w/megasquirt. in the probe/mx6/mx3/626 forums...they have no tunning support from anyone else so megasquirt is all thats used there w/great results. you can run a full standalone system or piggyback

Megasquirt, I spoke with one of the guys who is very active on their forum when he came up to my part of Australia a few months back. Mighty helpful and very knowledgeable. I think you would be surprised how many platforms run this little DIY tuning box.

I have gone with the emanage because our eecv's over in Australia are still short of being supported, and of course not one of the flash tuning systems here is one you can tune yourself, which made it a no brainer as far as getting something I could learn tuning with. No way I want to pay a tuner for something I can learn myself. But I guess I have the time so works out good. Getting someone else to do it is great when you do not have the time yourself.