I was told that I need to use a battery charger to ensure my battery is at the maximum amps before I download the ECU file and have it flashed.

Before this, I had not heard of people doing this. Is this really necessary? Please advise, especially the guys at Vivid.

Thanks

 

All ECU tuners from all car brands say the same thing - you need to insure that voltage doesn't drop while re-programming your car's computer. I had Conforti's Shark Injector with past BMWs, and I have Softronic in my Porsches. I know Scott Slausen (Softronic / Dan Jacobs Hairy Dog Grrrage) personally and we've had this discussion. If you don't follow the instructions, you risk your car's computer. It's a simple thing, connect a batter charger, then flash.

 

Can you use the Chargomat from Porsche while doing the ECU flash ?

 

I'd ask the people selling the software. If they put in the instructions that you need to connect to a 10 amp 12 volt battery charger and the Porsche Chargomat meets that description, then I'd say yes. But if they say 10a/12v and your Chargomat is a trickle charter / battery maintainer that doesn't meet the requirements, then I'd say no.

 

This is for files that acquire their flash through the OBD II port. Other tuners remove the ECU from the vehicle and hook it up to the bench with a constant 12V power source.

If you have any further questions about ECU upgrades, please feel free to contact us @ info@rennsport-one.com

 

if you are doing Softronic for example it'll tell you to do this. It's a precaution since you are running the car on battery and the flash cycles the fans, etc. I had mine hooked up to a standard trickle charger that I've owned for like 15 years during the process, just to be safe.

I doubt this has anything to do with "max" and that it's more along the lines of "holy smoke will come out of your car and the world will end" if the power fails mid-flash.

 

Since you are flashing your DFI through the OBDII port, when writing data to the car, if the battery dies, it will fry the ECU. So it is RECOMMENDED that during the writing process to have it hooked up.

You can see the instructions here - www.vrtuned.com/installation

 

my take on this is this - softronic software has 2 modes for flashing - fast and slow. who knows why it chooses one or other. when flash starts ECU turns on all the fans in your car and it takes a lot of juices from you battery.

on fast mode flashing will be done in 10 minutes. on slow it may go apparently much longer - into 30+ or so minutes. if battery dies during flashing - good luck, fried ECU replacement will not most likely be covered by warranty.

So efficiently what do to - keep your car on charger overnight before flashing making sure battery at 100% charge - this way you do not need to keep it on charger during flash. Or do what I did - if you had any weak old battery charger before that uses max 1.5amp current for charging - take any long extender cord and put cigarette lighter adapter on its end so you can plug it into your car any time. it is easy enough to do.

 

Thanks everyone.

 

BTW, same power advice applies to your notebook - it should not die in the middle of flashing. Disable screen saver and other stuff that may interfere or pop-up, like yahoo messenger clients, etc.