Thanks to Stephen Done for a copy of the Delta Dash beta release to try with some log files. He says it will be released soon. Don't ask me for copies please.

It is VERY good. It provides digital and graphical displays of just about everything the ECU knows about - which is a lot. Just about every relay or switch of any significance to the engine or ancillaries has its status available.

The graphical options are two dimensional autoscaling (neat!) real time fast update displays and work really well.

The useful bits amongst others for fiddlers and pros will be the lambda, injector pulse width, timing and knock correction, idle properties, wastegate solenoid duty cycle, intake air temperature, MAP sensor, atmos pressure sensor, and the ability to reset the ECU, temporarily adjust timing (only until the next power down) and adjust idle speed. A features galore zone certainly!

The software is easy to use even without instructions, and is very compact and should run on pretty low spec laptops quite happily. It never accessed my hard drive once after I received the email, and there were no waits at all, everything is instant.

I have no commercial link with this project, but hope this mini-review is interesting.

[Edited by john banks - 3/15/2002 4:51:54 PM]

John what ECU's will this work with ?
I have an early impreza

Mark A

Eventually it will be a lot more, but it started with MY99/00. In the demo software there are other model years listed, P1, MY01 etc etc. Looks like it will be pretty comprehensive soon.

Sorry to butt in :-)

99MY Subarus onwards.

Tested so far with:
UK Turbo 99/00/01/02
STI 5/6/7 & STI Type UK
P1
Legacy & Forrester Turbo & non-turbo.

Cheers

Steve

John, I wondered if you know if this software is available and at what sort of price?

Sounds like just the sort of thing I have been waiting for.

Cheers, MD.

I've already placed my order :)

MD the details are available at www.ecutech.com under delta dash.

Sales are sales@ecutek.com, single car price is £199

[Edited by paulwadams_my99 - 3/15/2002 9:34:07 PM]

Paul, just been to the site...wow.

So thats another thing on the list then :D

Cheers, MD.

Mark

They just forget about us guys with the early cars :( ;)

Not a problem though, our cars are lighter and hence don't need so many horses to go as fast :)

Steven:

Can you re-set/read fault codes on the my01- cars

Rich

You bet !

What's that noise I hear ? Oooh, it's the sound of wallet opening & taking out credit card :eek:

Sounds very good John & Steve ... really look forward to the release version.

Theo

Trouble is you will get GIGO with your Unichip? :P Some of the data will still be useful though ;)

Some data will be GIGO, but things like IDC's etc should be useful.

Ultimately, if it works well I could delete the Unichip from the setup ?

This is diagnostic software - like the select monitor, but better. It is not reprogramming software. Though we have that too :-)

Steve

The software for Delta Dash does not have any options for reprogramming the ECU. Perhaps that will be a separate package?

Sorry x-posted with Stephen.

[Edited by john banks - 3/16/2002 11:31:00 AM]

What are the chances of developing one for older scoobys ?
If not what's the problem, and will changing the ECU alter this ?

Mark A

Older scoobs use a different (and slow) diagnostic protocol. Given the choice of doing the Evo 6/7 or older scoobs next, I know which I'm gonna choose :-) My available time is the limiting factor.

Changing the ECU isn't really an option, they're completely different from 99 onwards.

Flash programming is a seperate package. I'll finish that one next. PE have access to the only copy.

Cheers

Steve

Still waiting... :) :)

J

I am a bit puzzled about the "Delta Dash download" ECU reprogram some are referring to. Am I right in saying there are three distinct Ecutek/PE options:

1. Remap AE802 to AE800 or 801
2. Generic performance map "one size fits all" ? What does this cost? This with decat seems to be getting similar results to decat PPP.
3. Custom remap that we all know about.

Hi John,

I know of:

1) AE800 , AE801, AE802 download to an ECU. (approx £150???)

2) The Delta ECU download from Ecutek that is based on a MY99/00 with Decat exhaust and seems to give 270BHP / 260lb/ft Torque on 97Octane. (approx £700)

3) P.E normal offering of other products

Hope this helps


J

Unfortunately I have just had to cancel my AE800 download ECU due to an unexpected, no-notice, all expenses paid tour of the less delightful parts of the Middle East.
I am, however, going to reward myself with a Delta ECU upon my return :D I'm also very interested in the Delta In Car setup too :)

Is this Delta dash even for people that have very little knowledge and get all muddled up with electronics like myself? Or is it for people that have some idea. I wouldn't even know what the figures would mean.

Cheers,

Wrexy.

Is number 2 a send away/swap ECU option or is it mapped to your car? Seems almost the price of 3 which is the PE/Ecutek full remap? Is the 2 a PPP rival?

EcuTek offer 3 basic packages:

A Driveability remap. This is for ae802 ECUs only, and puts back the favourable characteristics of the ealier ECUs. This is available mail order. £150 mail order from EcuTek including P&P. £150+VAT fitted from PE. You don't get dyno runs in this price - it's the same price as a new tyre !

A Performance Remap. This is another fixed map, which runs higher boost (like PPP) and produces more torque. This is not available by mail order yet (only through PE) since we want to see a good number of cars running well on it, before we make it 'fit & forget'. 625+VAT fitted from PE with before and after dyno runs.

A Custom Map. Exactly that. Start with our performance map and go from there. Only from PE at the moment. Same price as performance map, plus any extra dyno time costs you require for mapping your changes.

Cheers

Steve

P.S. Having data logged all original & PPP ECUs, I thoroughly recommend that you never use 95 RON fuel. Just like it says on the filler cap.

Hi Wrexy,

The software is for Subaru dealers, tuners and enthusiasts. As we progress, we'll be putting lots more info on the web site, though it is expected that someone using the software knows their knock sensor from their EGT, and their wastegate from their dump valve.

If you are interested in how your car works, then it will help you learn (by watching). If you're new to engine management, wash down with a fine text. Everyone I've given a beta to so far has said that it was very intuitive to use, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that people will really like it.

I'm sure you'd know what the figures meant ! If you don't want to go too technical, you can use it to measure your in gear acceleration times. If you want to delve a bit deeper, you can log your lambda and boost to make sure your Dawes is running within you car's limits. If you want to get really nutty, you can work out a new set of wastegate duty cycle aims to accurately control your boost pressure - then you just have to get it programmed into your ecu ;-)

Cheers

Steve

Steve, will you be releasing software for enthusiasts to reprogram their own ECUs or will this only be available as a remapping service through PE? I would be *VERY* interested in this. Package with Delta Dash :D ?

I know it says "wider audience" on your site, but is it going to be cost effective for the individual user or are you thinking megabucks for tuning shops?

[Edited by john banks - 3/17/2002 10:12:41 PM]

Hi John,

It will be available through other tuners in the near future. I don't think it will be made available directly to enthusiasts. It is far too easy to destroy an ECU by putting a byte of data in the wrong place, or by pulling out a cable by mistake during programming.

You've seen the way it works - people are very quick to blame and post nasty comments. You can post all the warnings and disclaimers you like about a product, but if someone fries their ECU, they'll make it their mission to rubbish your name & company. It a shame, but that's the way things would go. I'd really like to release the software to enthusiasts. It probably will be given to a responsible few, but not on general release. Can you imagine the number of phone calls - people ringing up asking what duty cycle map they should run with an IHI vfxx and an xyz FMIC. That's the tuner's domain - we produce the software to make the tuning possible. It's not economically viable to provide user support to 100's of 1st time tuners.

See the problem ?

Steve

Steve,

Thank you very much for spending some time to answer my question. Very interesting, I think I will go for Delta Dash in the near future. Seems very useful. Doesn't seem to be as complicated as I first thought.

Regards,

Wrexy.

P.S. Having data logged all original & PPP ECUs, I thoroughly recommend that you never use 95 RON fuel. Just like it says on the filler cap

I know this is good advice, but can you elaborate just a bit on what exactly you saw (I'm not asking for secrets) in the ECU that proved this point to you ? Knock retardation all over the place ?

Theo

Yes I see the problem Stephen.