Was thinking how do chips work and why do you need one to map modern cars? Aint it do able to just read the ecu change the bits you need then reload it without need to buy chips or box of tricks each time for each car? am i being dumb again

 

You're right in a sense. Modern technology easily facilitates in circuit programming, whether that be an eeprom, flash memory, or a processors built in ROM. Additional hardware is needed for in circuit programming rather than programing the "chip" itself. Manufactures goto great lengths to stop the data on the chip being read/tampered with, and so heavily encrypt it. In a modern ECU, there is a way in (ie access to I/O) throught the legally required diagnostic port. Also, manufactures often reprogram the chip will small updates when you got for a service.

If the data can be decrypted and understood, then changes can be made without replacing anything - eg the bluefin.

On something like a cossie ECU, there is no hardware as standard to enable in circuit programing. The chip is taken out, reprogrammed, then soldered back in. In order to allow live mapping, an eeprom emulator is used. Basically, the ecu thinks its talking to an eeprom, but really it's talking to a laptop...

 

When a tuner maps a car, they need some way of putting the data into the ECU to state the new values.

In the old days they did it by writing a new chip, on modern ECU's they just upload the data to a rewriteable chip in the ECU.

It still gets called "chipping" in much the same way peopel still say "wing mirrors" when in fact they are on the door, or people say "choke" when in most instnaces they are an enrichment device on the fuelling not a choke on the air flow.

 

Still ain getting the idea of chipping does it take over from the ecu memory, completly replace it or just modifys signals? The bit you mention taking a car for service they update bits of the ecu without adding chips and things i foundout ford use something named ids or wds? Anywys can you sort of do what a bluefin do without a bluefin say if you had cables which will communicate from ecu to pc? im confusing my own head now

 

http://www.motorsport-developments.c...whatdoiget.htm

Some info there.

As Rick says, with Cossies and RST's the original chip is replaced (RST require soldering, Cossies are on a removable socket). The relevant maps (fuel, boost, ignition etc.) are modifed, burnt to a new chip and replaced in the ECU, then the ECU operates as 'normal' but with the new maps for increased power etc.. so Cossies/RST's the chip is a replacement for the original.

On something like a Pectel/SECS/Autronics ECU, which are more modern, you normally get mapping software and the ability to plug into a laptop to directly change the relevant data.

A common method of 'chipping' (generic term, as per Chip-3dr) a Japanese car in the past, was to fit some kind of 'piggy back' device which intercepts the std ECU signals and modifes them in some way. This was largely because tuners didn't have the ability to read/modify the std ECU's.

 

that make sense

 

This should help, one of our oldest and most popular topics. All about mapping.

https://passionford.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=93911

 

Ta got me head around mapping & how engine works now my head is stuck on how you get at the data in the first place this guy of said i should use a program called Tweecer i looked into it seems very iffy

 

Buy Dave Walkers Engine Managment Manual (Amazon etc). It is perfect for beginers and well worth the effort.

 

Hmm... the link i gave you explains, and even SHOWS exactly how we get at it...