Nissan ECU Tuning

Z90 · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 71 Location: USA

I've been lurking for a while and I've learned quite a bit from the available documentation and postings in this forum, however I have a few questions about software. Basically, what is available and what do you use? Here's what I've found so far, please correct me if I make any mistakes:

Editor Software

Romeditor - Free. Website currently unavailable so I haven't been able to try this personally, but from what I've read it's quite capable but not intuitive. Can't really comment since I haven't tried it yet.
Live Edit - Free. Website currently unavailable, but I was able to find the latest release here. Looks quite capable, however I was unable to locate a Z32 config file? Is this available anywhere? I played with the RB20DET config, but I don't see the water temperature based TP table? Unable to expand tables? No Acceleration enrichment capability? UPDATE: User Luk has posted a Z32 config file here.
MapEdit - Free. Tune R33, R32, Z32, SR20, CA18. Raw editing of data, a bit of a rough interface. Discussion thread here, download here
Zcontrol - Free. Nice program for viewing eprom data, but limited capabilities on what you can actually change. This is also missing the water temperature based TP table and acceleration enrichment table, and can't expand tables. Development appears to have ended in 2003?
Zemulator - $600, but full-featured. However from what I've gathered it requires permanent installation and you cannot transfer your final configuration to a chip. In other words, it's not an editor but an editable EPROM. Personally when I'm done tweaking I'd like to be able to burn a chip and remove the extra hardware.

Editors Under Development

Biki Rom Editor - Editor link
Nistune - By fellow Ztechz member darkhalf. Additional info provided in his posts below
Zworks - By fellow Ztechz member John Dixon. No link available, but some info provided in his posts below.

However, there are other editors out there that work on the same 27C265 EPROM (29C265 EEPROM), but lack the proper configuration file:

TunerCat - $70 and up depending on capabilites and definition files. Haven't tried it, but appears full featured.
TunerPro - Free editor, real-time editor = $30. Appears full featured as an editor, but lacks map tracing? Would need a companion map-trace program for real-time tuning. UPDATE: Did some toying of my own and created a Z32 config file which you can find here.

Again these appear to be missing only the definition file for our ECU. From what I understand this simply tells the editor "what" information is stored "where" in the EPROM data. The documentation on Ztechz explains the locations of the much of the data, has anyone created a definition file for any of the above editors? TunerPro config added above.

What other editors are out there? What editor do you use/prefer?

Editing Utilities
Small, but quite useful, programs which perform a specific function.

ROM Appender - For stacking two programs on a single EPROM. Available in the Ztechz download section.
ROM-Rescaler - From fellow Ztechz member Eric, this utility makes it easy to change injectors and/or utilize a dual intake. Simply choose (or specify) your injector size and whether or not you have a dual intake, and the Rescaler does the rest. Discussion thread is here, and version 1.1 is available here
ROMscan - Another useful tool from fellow Ztechz member Eric, this utility allows you to "browse" the ROM file. Discussion thread and download link are here

Diagnostic / Datalogging
The following software interfaces via the Consult diagnostic data link (DDL) port (grey plug near the hood release lever). I haven't tried any of these so I'll leave it to others to comment. For the options which are listed as "software only", you can build your own connector or purchase one. Options are listed below.

nProbe - ~$500 Includes DDA connector/cable. Full featured and runs on PC or PDA.
ConZult - ~$425 Includes DDA connector/cable. Full featured, runs on PC only. Also available as software-only if you decide to make your own connector, but neither US distributor lists it as an option on their websites. Conzult's home page lists the software-only for 150 Euros.
Data Scan - ~$20 Available from Blazt and PLMS Dev as software only, or ~$100 including DDA connector/cable.
Ztalk - Free from the author of the Zcontrol editor. Software only. Still under development and runs on a PC
OBD Scan Tech - Free, for PC only. Software only.
Calumsult - Free. For PC, software only. Under development by fellow Ztechz forum member Calum.
TECU - Free. For PC, software only. Under development by fellow Ztechz forum member pulstar. (Download)
PalmZ - Free. For Palm PDA only. Software only. Under development by fellow Ztechz forum member MezafitsII (see his post here)

Sources for datalink cables (for use with "software only" options above)

PLMS Developments - Australia, $100 (AUS) for the cable. Schematic available if you want to build your own.
Blazt - $71 for the cable
Atek - $19 for the cable according to their Yahoo Store. Is this correct? Seems out of line with the typical market price? May or may not include the necessary electronics (see Blazt link or the DIY link below for a good view of the required electronics)?
Build your own, courtesy of Zcontrol.net - Pictures, Components & Schematic, and Assembly Instructions thanks to the folks at Zcontrol.net
Homebrew connector using an ATX power supply plug courtesy of fellow forum member Chri

As with the editors, please correct me if I made any mistakes or missed any available options. Likewise with the data cables, if there are other souces beside the ones I listed above please let me/us know.

Edited 17-Mar-05 to make it easier to read and updated to include Diagnostic/Datalogger software & cable options.
Edited 21-MAR-05 to include the smaller editing utilities and the in-process editors mentioned below.
Edited 1-APR-05 to include MapEdit info, and links to Z32 config files for LiveEdit and TunerPro

Willy · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:09 am Post subject:

Can we make this thread sticky and post links to all software in here? Would be very useful.

TECU: http://homes.jcu.edu.au/~jc118216/tecu/tecu.zip

darkhalf · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 5:51 am Post subject:

well there is the BikiRomEditor, the software integrates an upped hexeditor like romeditor and consult display features along with hardware and calculated maptracing. this isn't available yet but the hardware looks really good, adapting a multiboard daughterboard (from Grid japan) with a 16 bit emulator using an Atmel controller (like the pocket romulator) with USB converter onboard and maptracing hardware.

im working on some software called Nistune. Basically uses ROM Editor address files (but it takes additional tables) and loads multiple binary images for comparison usage for maps, tables and constants and includes generic graphical representation with proper scaling display. hopefully i'll end up removing using raw data/hex value editing completely

currently has support for romulator and has consult capability included (including value display, downloading and maptracing for limited ecus where i have identified RAM TP. im currently finishing writing a SR20 disassembler and using an RB25 disassembler to drag TP RAM values out of those ECUs)

you can do diffs between binary files to know the changes as well as display the comparisons on the screen. it also has an imbuilt hex editor for changing those values on the fly which aren't in the tables yet. i really like the interface design of TunerPro howver apart from a few things and am looking to rework the design towards that but with a more realtime feel (ie all the tables/maps will be rom tracable)

i've spent about a year on it so far and theres a lot more work to be done on it. i havent even got close to an alpha version yet. in additon im trying to do consult hardware for R31, Z31 ecus and investigating daughterboard options for other ECUs where MCUs are used. its a lot of coding effort, and dont know if it will ever get finished!

Z90 · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 71 Location: USA

darkhalf, I searched for bikiromeditor but I didn't find anything about it. Sounds interesting along with your own project. I'm sure everyone hopes they come to fruition and don't join the list of abandoned and incomplete programs I listed above Sad

You mentioned TunerPro, have you used it for the Z32? Do you have a config file that you would be willing to share?

Thanks Wally, I too think this would be useful. One of the first questions I had when I first found this site was "what software do you use to do this?". Hopefully this list will help others, and I've already learned about two more programs in the works that I didn't know about Smile

Also thanks for pointing out Tecu, I meant to include the datalogger options but ran out of time when creating my post yesterday. I'll list what I have here and I'll update the top post as well:

changed my mind, doesn't make sense to list it here. See the top/initial post for the list of diagnostic/datalogger software

Z90 · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 71 Location: USA

Does anyone have an alternate link to Romeditor? I've only found it on the website I listed but it's currently unavailable. Just wondering if there was an alternate source so I could A) check it out myself and B) provide the link in my summary above.

Also a Z32 config file for either Live Edit or TunerPro would be much appreciated.

darkhalf · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject:

i have not used TunerPro with a connected romulator, only ran the demo on my PC to evaluate the user interface using the GM binaries

even if it did work theres no facility for maptracing so its pretty useless cos you are still tuning 'blind'

John Dixon · Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 93

I did one called ZWorks which is a bin editor and real time tuner (uses Romulator).
Problem is the romulator address watch doesn't work with nissan ECU, so the trace is not operational.

tay-fu300zxtt · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 82 Location: dfw USA

cool!

_________________
tay_fu@yahoo.com (Rom trades)
http://www.myspace.com/tay_fu

'93 300zxTT(RB26DETT powered Z32)
'06 Titan SE
'00 Excursion Powerstroke

walksonland · Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 164 Location: UK

Eric at ConZult is developing a new program that will let you do real time trace using the actual real time ECU generated TP. I believe that you will have to buy the full ConZult to get a copy but it is a great program.
_________________
An old dog learning new tricks. I liked the new electric start cars.

xtensive · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 200

ZTalk also does real-time trace but it lags on slower laptops(sub ~800 mhz processor). Also, the playback feature from datalogged runs also shows you trace. The map retrieval is hit or miss though...I've had people saying they have issues retrieving the fuel maps, and others that don't have issues. This is with the Z32 ECU...here's a small video of the trace in action.

http://zcontrol.net/videos/MOV00108.MPG

Mike

tay-fu300zxtt · Joined: 17 Feb 2005 Posts: 82 Location: dfw USA

I like ztalk alot... It seems to be delayed when i have it hooked up.. It might be my laptop. (compaq presario 1245).
_________________
tay_fu@yahoo.com (Rom trades)
http://www.myspace.com/tay_fu

'93 300zxTT(RB26DETT powered Z32)
'06 Titan SE
'00 Excursion Powerstroke

darkhalf · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 1:32 pm Post subject:

mike im suprised you have much lag when doing maptace. im assuming your just processing the 9600 (1.2 byte/ms) streamed data? this is where i think using VB requires a faster machine?

getting it done with a P266 in visual c++ with one level of logging streamed data. if i add too much more logging however (i have different logging levels) then it slow the thread down too much and will overfill the internal buffer

eric was the one who found TP RAM maptrace on the Z32 in the first place, i had to track down the same routine in the R32 and hope to get my R31 communicating soon via a custom interface

xtensive · Joined: 19 Nov 2003 Posts: 200

That isn't using the TP info stored in RAM, the program is calculating it realtime from the streaming sensor data. It gets laggy on slower machines because for each set of data being streamed, my VB program has to crunch a ton of numbers to get the TP value and display it on the grid before addressing the next set of data coming in. On slower machines, processing the TP values in realtime starts to really bog down and the incoming buffer gets out of control.

What I really need to do is create a threaded process for each to keep the sensor data and the trace calc/disp separate.

Mike

darkhalf · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 11:54 pm Post subject:

Z90 ... well bikirom.com see thread in other section

Z90 · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Posts: 71 Location: USA