The benefits of the GIAC Flashloader system and how it incorporates and goes beyond the ignition map switching that exists in most OEM programs today.

The GIAC Flashloader system, which includes a flashing cable and a handheld switching device both designed and manufactured by GIAC, is one of the most advanced multi-performance flashing options on the market today. With the our proprietary switching technology, the end user has the option to choose from a host of different settings and modes. Once the GIAC 91 or 93 octane performance program has been purchased our customers can choose to add any combination of the following options: stock performance, race gas performance, "Valet" ( which is a part throttle only mode ), and "Kill" ( immobilizes the vehicle, even if the key is used ). Customers may also purchase our Privacy Firewall which will lock their Flashloader Handheld to their car with an embedded password, excluding all other Handhelds from switching your modes.

With a touch of a button the DME can be switched from a pump gas program to a race gas program or a valet program within a couple of seconds, even with the motor running. Not only does the Flashloader Handheld device alert the end user that the switch was successful by lighting an LED on the button, but it can also read out the current mode on command. Seconds after pressing the read button, the LED will light to show the current or active mode. The speed at which the Flashloader Handheld switches can really save the day. Consider a customer handing their keys to someone to whom they do not want to grant performance program access. As seen in the video compiled by AWE-Tuning and linked below, the Flashloader Handheld switches programs quickly and is very intuitive to use.

As some of you may know, the 997TT uses knock activity to determine fuel quality. The DME then uses this information to choose between four RON-dependant ( octane ) ignition maps from the factory. These maps are calibrated to take into account varying conditions and levels of premium fuel quality around the world. In fact, one could say that there has been some switching in most OEM programs for many years now, we have seen this since 1985. These maps are, however, closely grouped in terms of aggressiveness and cover a small range of octane levels. One way to offer tuning for race gas and pump gas with in a single program is to spread these four ignition maps farther apart. A tuner may calibrate the first map for say 100 octane, the second for 93, the third for 91 and the fourth for that occasional bad tank of 91. If the customer is running a good quality and quantity of race gas and the knock sensors are quiet, then the DME will run on the 100 map. If the octane level is below 100 and/or the knock sensors register enough activity then the DME will kick down to the 93 map. There have been many tuners that have offered a wider range of octane adaptability by riding the knock sensors through the different timing maps, however we have always wanted to provide our customers with a more stable system.

GIAC has developed quite a bit more for the 997TT computer than just re-calibration of the factory ignition maps to for adaptation to different octane levels. Because of our technical experience, skill and assets, we are able to completely disassemble, modify and reassemble all code within the DME. Since we are able to use GIAC authored micro-controller instruction code and functions in the DME, we are able to add more ignition and boost maps as well as additional functionality to the DME. In fact, we have four ignition maps for the stock mode as well as four for each of the two GIAC calibrations, race and pump. The benefits of this flexibility are that we have maps closely grouped around the target octane level. If a customer is running the race gas program on race gas but still gets some knock activity because of other conditions, like high ambient temp, the DME will kick down to one of the lower race gas maps rather then the 93 octane map in the example given earlier. Having 12 ignition maps also allows us to take advantage of much higher octane levels when customers want full competition files added to there switching options.

For the 997 Turbo, each mode was calibrated separately by GIAC. Our stock, pump and race gas modes are more than just ignition map differences. These are each complete calibrations. When a customer changes from our stock to pump or even to race mode, the DME is doing more than just changing which ignition maps it uses. Many current GIAC customers will notice that the boost changes as well between all three modes. Boost is higher on the GIAC race gas program vs. the GIAC pump gas program. When a customer changes to the stock mode, not only is the power stock, but the easy-to-read boost measurement on the dash will show stock boost.

If anyone has any questions about our Flashloader system, please feel free to contact me and or visit the following links.