Bob Rawle

Race Rom has been in development for nearly a year, I, amongst others, have been beta testing various iterations during 2010, one of the reasons that I bought my Hawkeye STi UK was that it was a drive by wire vehicle.

I get asked the same questions regularly these days, hopefully, what I post in this thread will answer most of them and allow discussion which will help lead to the answers for anything else.

1. What is Race Rom?

Race Rom is the collective name for a set of enhancements that can be applied to the factory ecu. It’s a software “patch” which when applied to a normal ecu rom file, provides access to the enhanced functions.

Only drive by wire vehicles can be enhanced, any vehicle that uses a cable operated throttle is not suitable, it should be available for all compatible Subaru models.

2. What does it do?

Current plans are to implement the following enhancements: -

Flat Foot shifting
Launch Control
Auto Blip
Full twin maps, fuel, ignition, cam advance, throttle mapping, target afr’s as examples. There is more.
Gear by gear rpm limits
Gear by gear boost control, wastegate duty and boost targets

Note that antilag is not yet available but is on the wish list of further enhancements.

3. How does it work

There are two settings, “Road” and “Race” which denotes the two map sets.
All enhancements are available in both Road and Race mode.

Enhancements are enabled in either or both modes at the time of mapping by the tuner concerned according to customer request.

Switching between the two modes is straightforward and can be done in three different ways depending on model and model year of vehicle.

a. Use full throttle and activate the demist switch
b. By switching to Sport S# mode
c. By activating the ECO mode switch

When Race mode is engaged the CEL will flash eight times, when Road mode is engaged the CEL will flash an extended single flash. This may change in the future but I have found it very clear.
Modes can be changed either when driving or when stationary with the ignition on and engine off.

4. How is it applied and when?

If you have a vehicle that is already remapped and its one of the applicable models then the patch can be applied to the rom file that was last used on your car and the flashed back in by the tuner concerned.
A remap session will be required to set it up. The time required to do so will vary according to which enhancements are enabled. If one of your requirements is to be able to use a different fuel type (either higher or lower octane) the that would require a full remap session, for example.

If you are being remapped for the first time then the option will be available to you at the outset and so the mapping session can accommodate your requirements at that time.

5. How much will it cost?

The simple answer is ‘I am not sure”. EcuTek have not yet clarified how this will be implemented to their dealers. Map adjustments will be required to implement it and so there will be a tuner cost involved, beyond that we will see. As soon as there is clear information available then it will be made known.

6. When will it be available?

There is no declared implementation date right now BUT EcuTek are putting a huge amount of effort into getting to the release point. Currently I am evaluating release candidate version 6, there are frills to sort out to help us tuners but right now, its my view that this is easily good enough to go into a customer car. Dealers will require new hardware to use it as the suite of tuning software developed to support it is totally different to anything prior to.


So that’s my starter for ten … I have only briefly covered the ground so feel free.

Cheers

bob

Bob Rawle

In my previous post I omitted to mention one of, what should be, the main benefits of Race Rom, and that is the ability to use the ecu as "speed/density".

Basically that means that the maf is not used, the factory ecu then works in the same way as most aftermarket ecu's such as Motec and Syvecs, there are distinct advantages to doing so not least the elimination of what can be a risk area.

Its possible to select a variety of conditions under which this can be done.

The maf can be removed completely.

The maf could be used for light throttle use and speed density for 'on boost" conditions.

There are many combinations that can be set, the tuner will determine what needs to be done dependant on the customers requirements and, to some degree, the modification level of the vehicle concerned.

I have been testing RC9 today, lots of tweaks and some nice tuning features are now in the software.

cheers

bob

Tone Loc

iTrader: (1)

This does sound really good.

If speed density is used does that require a whole new set of base maps or would the work that's been done in getting good base maps in the past still be relevant?

And can Easy ECU be used with this (btw do you know if easy ecu is the same price as deltadash or is this extra functionality extra cost... and is it available for the hatch STi too?)

Cheers,

Tony.

Bob Rawle

A car thats already been remapped and is of the right model and model year (thats essentially a drive by wire car) can have the Race Rom features added to it, whats already been done will be incorporated into both Race and Road, then it needs the second map set and the speed density related maps adjusting to suit the individual car. If I have already mapped the car then I have the rom file thats in it so thats used as the base. As long as your tuner also has the file thats in the ecu then the same should apply. There are several things that could affect the speed density settings which is why the car will need adjusting to fine tune the result.

Easy Ecu is marginally more expensive than Deltadash customer version, but it comes complete with Deltadash Professional. Normally it includes a licence as well which adds further since the intent of EasyEcu is to allow customers to upload map updates supplied by their tuner. You cannot use it to modify rom files yourself. So without a licence the costs are very close and, in my view, worth the small amount extra.

Are you asking if EasyEcu is available for the hatch? I will check, I suspect not since the ecu architecture is canbus and has required some heavy hardware to work with. That should change ongoing since the new hardware system is very much simpler.

best regards

bob

Tone Loc

iTrader: (1)

Cheers Bob.

My car still has the standard map, i was weighing up the pros and cons for open source and EcuTek but i think the RaceRom features swing it for EcuTek.

I was thinking that as speed density is a new feature that EasyEcu would be handy to have post initial map so logs could be provided to the chosen mapper and settings refined over time if required via modified e-mailed updated roms (it may be spot on first time but i would imagine a bit of learning is required at the start). But if EasyEcu isn't yet available for the hatch then the option doesn't exist

phil739

iTrader: (30)

this looks interesting
i have a my02 sti uk and already have the 2 boost settings through demist switch . the car was brought like this not sure if any of the other features are enabled


am liking the sound of antilag ...

Bob Rawle

Easy Ecu is currently available for Subaru vehicles from MY01 to MY07 and Evo's from 5 to 9. But not with the Race Rom enhancements

Once RaceRom and the new associated hardware are considered to be stable then Easy Ecu will be made available to accommodate the new enhancements and this will include the MY08 cars onwards.

Definitely one of the big benefits of Easy Ecu is as you describe. And it will become available with Race Rom as I mention above.

best regards

bob

Bob Rawle

phil739, your car being a MY02 STi is not drive by wire and as I mentioned in post 1 the ecu is not capable of using the Race Rom enhancements. As you state a UK vehicle can have twin boost levels/maps and launch control. A MY01 to MY05 JDM Sti can have two full sets of fuel/ignition and boost maps including gear by gear settings if "megarom" is used. Megarom isn't always suitable for the MY06-07 JDM Sti's though.

EcuTek do have a forward plan to further enhance the software that is available for the cable throttle cars from MY01 onwards but that will not be looked at until the current work load is complete and securely in the market place.

best regards

bob

phil739

iTrader: (30)

thanks bob

gutted now....lol

looks like it will be an aftermarket ecu then for me

crf450r

iTrader: (1)

i take it then my04 uk sti cant have this either then

LegacySTi

iTrader: (13)

no cars with cable throttle

Bob Rawle

Hi, you are right your car is not in the group that this can be applied to.

As per post 1

"Only drive by wire vehicles can be enhanced, any vehicle that uses a cable operated throttle is not suitable"

sorry

best regards

bob

vulnax999

iTrader: (7)

Any further news on release candidates, availability to customers, new features of Race Rom Bob?

Neil

Bob Rawle

Hi, just been testing RC14 which is not really changing any features or functionality but rather sorting out some hardware driver problems some testers have been having relating to older laptops. For me there have not been any issues of that sort.

The feature list is fixed for release, anything extra will come at a later point in time, its working well as far as I am concerned.

Once I am back from holiday I will convert my car to run mafless in earnest. So far I have only skirmished due to being just a tad busy in the run up to my break.

best regards

bob

stuart69

iTrader: (1)

Bob,i have a 2005 jdm spec c,i do the odd track day,i would deffo be interested in this.


stu.

vulnax999

iTrader: (7)

Stuart - is your car a drive by wire model, if not Race Rom won't be suitable for you.

stuart69

iTrader: (1)

Doh...............yea mine is cable

Bob Rawle

While I was on holiday Ecutek decided enough testing had been done to warrant the release of Race Rom, so it is now available for customer use.

RC14, which was the release candidate I tested as I went away, forms the basis for the release. I have now tested both the MY06 and MY07 Hawkeye Sti rom files in my own car as well as taking the opportunity to test the MY08 onward cars as and when I had them to map.

Speed density is now the focus of my attention, everything else is working well.

So anyone who has lodged an interest please get in touch and we can discuss requirements and implementation.

cheers all

best regards

bob

wrx9181

iTrader: (2)

Hi bob
Off topic but are you planning and map days with Harvey in the coming months ?
You mapped mine previously and I'm after meth map next
Cheers Mick

greg320

iTrader: (15)

had this applied today, all i can say is flat foot changing is awesome

steve71

Hi bob could my 01 bugeye use this race rom cheers steve

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Steve,

No, Racerom can only be applied to cars with drive by wire throttle (Hawkeye STi onwards I believe)

Bob Rawle

Race Rom is for any Drive by wire car, typically MY06 onwards and its not just limited to the Impreza I would add.

Steve your car can have launch control and two boost settings though

I am in Slovenia at the moment, two of the six cars mapped over here are now using it, one of them, a MY07 Sti running mods good enough for 430 bhp and about 600 Nm torque, using launch control off the line then flat shifting through the gears was quite an experience especially as we were testing on an unlit road in the dark last night.

The other car had uprated pistons in it using the std turbo etc.

The 430 car had Sti Grp N engine mounts and gearbox mounts. The other car still had the std mounts, the off side engine mount shattered when we launched that to test it, so just a word of advice to say I would suggest strongly considering changing the std mounts for the grp N mounts if you are going to use launch control regularly.

Finally just to say a massive thank you to the guys at EcuTek, the 430 car had been previously tuned using some american system, the EcuTek software didn't recognise the rom file due to that, I was able to read it out though, emailed it to EcuTek who looked at it then mailed me back a modified programming exe file which enabled me to force the correct rom file back into it again, once that was done I could convert it to Race Rom and map the car. One very happy customer here now, the tuner had not bothered to even install a three port boost solenoid correctly, all it would run was actuator boost which sort of defeats the objective given he has paid thousands of Euro's to uprate the car and not got any sort of result.

So great support once again.

cheers

bob

vulnax999

iTrader: (7)

Btt

The group buy on here ( being organised by Winstone ) may be moving a bit forward... may be 3 people in the Northwich area needs racerom / std remap etc!!!

johnb4

hi bob i have an 04 jdm bl5 legacy b4 that has both drive by wire and the eco button so i take it this is suitable for mine.... any idea on prices,car has already been ecutek mapped by jolly green monster

bengo

iTrader: (17)

Bob,

Do you work with OpenECU as well? If so, how does the ECUTEK speed density ROM compare to the OpenECU Group N ROM (S/D, ALS, LC) on 16 bit ECUs? Can the ECUTEK ROM still control the TGVs or do they need to be removed?

Ben

SoNiCa

Is live tuning available with a race rom?

Bob Rawle

Hi all, as a released product most of the EcuTek tuners are probably working with it, for myself I have been testing the speed density system in my own car with good results, there is work to do on a car by car basis which is dependant on a cars modification state.

I had not used it on a customer car up to that point.

Recently I applied it to a car running an uprated 2.5 engine with some heavyish mods, the car has been sat around 520 bhp for some time and needed a blow through maf to cope. But that had caused some idle and drivability problems. So the speed density system looked like a solution.

Speed density solved the drivability and idle with immediate benefits being seen, after the required map adjustments had been made the car drove better than its ever done since the blow through was installed.

Boost up to 2 bar is used, again the speed density system handled that without issue, I did identify some bugs in the software along the way which were fed back to Ecutek but a v fast response fixed them and the car in question was not affected in any way.

So, for me, happy to use the speed density system when its needed.

To answer the live tuning question ... "no not yet".

Open source, the rom file is the rom file, what led you to ask about the tumble valves ? They can be left or deleted with the relevant alterations to the rom file being made, I will be deleting mine, my secondary air system has also been binned and adjusted for.

The Group N rom is the Sti file that has been available to and used by Ecutek dealers since pre 2005. The open source file isn't "new" in that respect but I guess someone pulled it out of an ecu and added the definitions. Its not for dbw cars. yes its map based, but it has NO knock control so not to be used ad hoc.


cheers

bob

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Hey Bob,
You have mail!

I'd be up for going Mafless if you think my car would benefit maybe could be done when investigating the phantom knock theory! Two birds with one stone so to speak.

Best

Paul

Bob Rawle

Another car mapped to speed density today, previously was running at or about 390 bhp using the standard air box system, that was removed and a mafless intake installed using an inner wing filter. As the car was already using Race Rom I did not touch any of the existing fuel maps, adjustment of the map conversion table to align the existing maps to the correct afr's negated the need to redo both map sets.

End result was the same with slight increase in torque up to 5200 rom, thereafter the speed density mapping yield an extra 25 to 30 bhp to the red line. The car was also more responsive.

RB320 with a 2.2 built engine at 9.2 to 1 compression.

Paul, if your intake system is changed you could get some gains however as your car is its already breathing well which is what David at API intended when he spec'd it out for you. Its not a click of the switch to turn on speed density I spent nearly two hours on the RB320 so best we focus on one area at a time.

cheers

bob

It does illustrate the potential though, giving the ability to de-restrict the intake side.

The maf was completely removed in this case and a charge temp sensor plumbed into the intercooler using the old maf air temp sensor input for greater safety.