GaMEChld

With my current turbo configuration the MAF sensor will most likely be a source of problem for the AP from a fuel management standpoint. I would need to reposition the sensor, and/or deal with matching the appropriate diameter sizing for the piping. I know it may be a waste of the AP's powers, but maybe I can make the switch to AP Only down the road in the future. For now, it would be nice to get my inspection sticker taken care of and prevent tickets from piling up, as well as make sure my seals are getting lubed as well as they can be, not to mention keep the fans cooling as best as I can to evacuate excess heat.



Keep us posted, I'm interested to see how you fare.



MM's response seems to be at odds with auzoom's response, so I guess we'll see what happens to auzoom.


Thanks for everyone responding!

auzoom

Unfortunately removing the microtec hasn't enabled me to install the AP but I am not sure I didnt cause the problem (trying to do it the 1st time with it there). MM you have another email. And for those who are wondering, the idea is to remove the Microtec completely.

No, I believe he was saying once you get it going it would be a waste as the AP can do everything the Int-X can. You can get it going, you just have to unplug the Int-X before uploading from the AP to the ECU and then plug it back in. I think a point that needs to be made is that for those using other ecu's such as emanage and int-x, etc, reflashing is a process that you can do progressively. You can keep your existing fueling and timing for the short term yet get immediate benefits with things like oil metering and fan kick in. Then long term you can work on replacing the fueling and timing, etc.

GaMEChld

Does the car need to be started for the AP to be installed? Cuz I don't know if my car can start if I remove the Microtec. If the engine doesn't need to run for the most basic AP install (no fuel changes), then it should be simple enough to get both running concurrently.

auzoom

No, it needs to be in the "ON" position, ie the one just before it starts cranking.

GaMEChld

Excellent. Guess I'll look into purchasing when the weather turns nicer.

ferrocene

I tried to read as much of this as I can, but I have a quick Q that I haven't seen asked/answered yet:

I have wheels w/o the TPMS sensor in it, which causes the low tire pressure light to go on. Can the AP/MM flash remove that blinking light?

Thanks!

ferrocene

So I guess it can...I think I found my answer! yet another reason to get the AP, hehe.

m4f1050

iTrader: (1)

I have both Int-X and AP on my car for same reasons you do. They both work perfect. AP doesn't show me the CEL's I picked not to, turns my fans on at 185deg. and well, OMP, I haven't found a good map but I am using the one from Cobb and I do believe it's sending more oil than the stock map it had. The Int-X is managing my MAP / Fuel and the car is running perfect.

And yes, you can install the AP with the Int-X installed. Make sure you turn the key to the ON position.

nuke0907

iTrader: (2)

Jeff, i just ordered an AP for a 2004 A/T FI but it also said 2005 next to it in the payment form.

GaMEChld

Wow, thanks a bunch for that. Exactly the response I was hoping for!

So what would the downside be to having the OMP run at full capacity full time? OMP will die? You need to top off the oil every trip? Reduced effective octane rating of the fuel?

laythor

even wide open it's not like the OMP is a faucet

m4f1050

iTrader: (1)

Well, I am running Cobb's maps, not wide open. I assume you would foul spark plugs in the long run? I am using a DIY 2-stroke canister with the SOHN adapter and I check it every time I fuel, I haven't counted how many full tanks to empty, I just check and if needed I re-fill. I do keep a 2-stroke gallon in the car.

Flashwing

Like anything, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. I don't imagine the OMP would be designed to run full out all the time...plus you would go through major amounts of oil.

I had this discussion with MazdaManiac some time ago. I can't recall the specific reasons for not doing it but needless to say it's not effective and would only serve to cause more problems than it might solve.

Flashwing

No, the AP cannot disable the TPMS light sadly. I suffer from the same problem. For whatever reason COBB decided since the TPMS is a federally mandated piece of safety equipment, much like your airbags, they didn't want to mess with it.

Although it should be pointed out that disabling emissions equipment violates federal emissions mandates but who knows...I just work here.

I can understand not wanting to reinvent the wheel but to me it seems like a waste and or overkill to have both devices running at the same time. With MM offering a free tuning service it would, to me, make more sense to sell the int-x and use the AP full time.

Not trying to tell anyone how to manage their car. It just seems easier to eliminate another point of failure from the tuning process.

Either way, glad to hear they play together.

alz0rz

iTrader: (41)

I think what plays into that is that the Interceptor X (microtech) is MUCH MUCH easier to get tuned. While Jeff is nothing short of a genius in what he does.. there is nothing like having someone tune your car in person and account for everything in realtime. It's unfortunate that the RX8 AccessPORT tuners are still few and farrr in between.

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

^+1

since I've installed my turbo, it's never been properly tuned yet, because of the ap and waiting for calibrations....which I may add is not MM's fault, but due to the lack of people with knowledge of tuning with the ap

GaMEChld

Well for me, its just that my turbo setup was never designed with the MAF in mind. The microtec uses vacuum readings to manage its maps. For me to get rid of the microtec, which I may do sometime down the road, I'll need to rework my cold side piping. I imagine there are some in the same boat.

Though if someone has a snazzy way to let me pass emissions w/o the AP (that isn't a pain in the ***), I'm all ears. I heard of a hit or miss method involving screwing spark plug defoulers onto the exhaust sensors, but it takes a large amount of hit or miss trials and drive cycles. I have no patience for that. Nor am I going to return my car to stock just for the test.

Anyway, the AP is a versatile little gadget, and I can use it for many other small tasks even if not for tuning. All it will take is a couple more tickets for my expired tags for me to wish I got it earlier. Might as well do it before then I say.

chickenwafer

iTrader: (9)

Just wanted to share with everyone a recent experience.

Today I brought my AP in to see if any new firmware was out. I plugged the AP into the PC, started the Updated and it started updating like usual.

The Handheld was updated so I went out to the car, plugged it in and it updated the dongle. Everything normal.

I connected the AP and it was working very slowly (took at least 70 seconds to boot the first time). I thought no biggie. I flashed my map again (doing some changes) and everything worked Kosher.

Car started right up with no issue. I plugged the AP in and again, it took even longer this time to boot. I went to the Monitor screen, then Live Data. It could not connect. I reconnected the dongle several times and finally it connected.

I went to datalog and it would start saying "Initializing" and then freeze and dump me back to the main boot menu- so I couldn't datalog. I connected the USB cable to my CarPC that has the RaceTUNER software on it to datalog (I do this all the time). The CarPC couldn't connect either.

By this time my AP wouldn't boot (only showed a COBB logo) and my tach was bouncing between 0 and 500 rpm (engine was idling and running fine), CEL blinking like crazy, and Power Steering and ABS lights flashing. I was able to drive home just fine but the AP refused to connect to the PCM and my ABS light and tach were still disabled.

Fortunately, I went into the Updater program, deselected BETA updates, and it downloaded another batch of firmware, I updated the AP and the dongle, and success! I reflashed the PCM and now everything is working fine- I can datalog with either the hand held or through the CarPC!

So, just incase anyone else runs into a similar problem (although mine was rare) that is what I did to fix it.

And a BIG thanks to Todd (Flashwing) for his help.

StealthTL

iTrader: (1)

I read about the new updated software, and realised my dongle was about five months out-of-date, so took it all to my PC to update.

It updated quite a bit, '17 updates out of 23 loaded' - please disconnect.
'19 out of 23 updates installed, please reboot'
all similar stuff, then I realised my car still had a Cobb map in it, which meant that my Factory Stock map was still inside this AP, which seemed to be having trouble with it's brain!

If this thing took a crap and started flashing 'error', my Stock map was gone!

Must remember to un-install next time, though the instructions don't mention it.....

S

GaMEChld

^ Hmm, good idea. Something everyone should remember.

elysium19

iTrader: (1)

I also had my first "freeze" EVER with the accessport about 3 days ago. Froze while starting up, had to unplug it and then replug it in, and then it worked fine. Obviously not a huge problem, but maybe there is something up with the newest software version? It's only because the AP has been so reliable and glitch-free that it struck me as odd....

neXib

That's a good point. But the AP could also crash at any other time when the stock map is in it and a custom map is in your car. Though I agree the danger is bigger in an update, as it could get bricked by an incomplete update.

One would think it would be possible for the dealer to reflash the PCM in the case of a lost stock map?

elysium19

iTrader: (1)

I don't know the details exactly, but the AP has some sort of ECU-bricking-prevention recovery dealie built in. MM tested it by yanking out the cord during a reflash. Pulling out the cord is different from a software crash, of course, but I have a feeling it'd be ok.