Whats the whole OBD thing?

Im not that way inclined with electronics to even pretend I know. From what I can guess OBD means leaving the standard chip in and changing the code?

from what i can fathom out on here the OBD is a serial connector the dealers would use to run diag checks on the ECU etc.

Tuners have developed a unit that you plug into this serial port which then remaps the cars ECU to improve performance etc.

Someone please correct me if i'm wrong

OBD is a serial port and eventually using it to remap means that there is no ECU tampering e.g. swapping of EEPROM, broken ECU seal etc.

The port is actual used to access the CanBus which is the comms channel to all the car electronics (I guess). So you can monitor/change quite a few parameters/functions.

This is a very simple explanation...I'm sure it's alot more complicated.

OBD == On Board Diagnostics. The OBD port is at the back of the cubbyhole under and to the right of the steering wheel. It has a plastic cover which is almost invariably rattling about in the cubbyhole any time a dealer has been near the car

There's a post in the FAQ somewhere with a picture of the connector (it looks like a bigger serial port on a PC), with pin-outs etc.

Nigel's post describes its use succintly.

OBD is a serial port and eventually using it to remap means that there is no ECU tampering e.g. swapping of EEPROM, broken ECU seal etc.

Remapping using the OBD, what will they think of next. Someone out there is going around with a laptop remapping cars on the fly, well well well.

Wouldn't it be good to be able to hot switch between two types of engine programs,

1. Economy mode: To get you Briskoda Trackdays using the least amount of petrol possible

2. Power mode: To get the engine screaming!!!

It could be incorperated with other things like variable boost control for turbo's etc!!!

Matt

Wouldn't it be good to be able to hot switch between two types of engine programs' date='

1. Economy mode: To get you Briskoda Trackdays using the least amount of petrol possible

2. Power mode: To get the engine screaming!!!

It could be incorperated with other things like variable boost control for turbo's etc!!!

Matt[/quote']

Matt,

That is exactly what you can do with a Revo SPS (although I beleive you have to stop and switch the engine off whilst doing so). I have an SPS3 with my Revo remap. I can switch between standard map and performance map at any time. I can also change the parameters for timing and boost depending on outside temperature / fuel rating etc.

Ross.

So what do Jabba do to remap a car? Surely if you have the option to switch between settings it makes the revo option seem desirable? can jabba do this? any thoughts?

at the moment Jabba actually replace the standard EEPROM in the ECU with a "modified" version which in turn is setup on the rolling road to increase performance.

The revo does what is said above but...

Power gains are greater with the Jabba remap as they tailor the remap to best meet what you are wanting from the car, i suppose the likes of Revo and APR have to restrict the power output of their s/ware as their package is more generic i.e. off the shelf rather than bespoke.

By the looks of things Jabba will be shortly releasing a simular package to what REVO and APR etc do where as you will be able to "switch" between levels of tune.

One thing i have picked up from users experience on here though is that some over the current packages that say they return the car to its normal state of tune dont actually do so... (apologies to anyone that takes offence to that!).

Remapping using the OBD, what will they think of next. Someone out there is going around with a laptop remapping cars on the fly, well well well.

I can't understand why anyone would want a dodgy do-it-yourself remap :confused:

One thing i have picked up from users experience on here though is that some over the current packages that say they return the car to its normal state of tune dont actually do so... (apologies to anyone that takes offence to that!).

Most issues & complaints have been in connection with the time-limited trial programs that certain tuners offer.

As far as i know anyone who has bought the full remap or program from the various tuning companies has been more than happy with it.

AmD (yet another tuner) do a "one click" solution whereby you buy this little box of tricks and you can upload the new program via the OBD port. If you then want to revert to the normal map, you can, by using the one click box again. You can switch infinately between your original map and the remap giving you the safety net of having a standard car for MOT / Servicing / any warranty issues.

I think the one click comes in two flavours - a "generic" remap which is like the "laptop in the car park" job, or for a little more money, a customised remap done on a rolling road (like Jabba).

The benefits with Jabba though is that you can infinately vary the "amount of remap" ranging from a little above standard to maximum boost, so you can tailor it to your driving moods. However, as Nigel26 said, at the moment, they retune your car by changing the chip, although Jabba are working on the OBD remapping (which they already do on TDis).

APR (yet another tuner) do OBD remapping with boost controllers iirc. You may want to ask Jon (TaviaRS) 'cos he has some knowledge of what they can offer.

Oh, and I'm no way affiliated with any of the above companies

I will most likely my motor fettled with, and want to do it