1997 vs 2002 VR-4 ECUs

[Kenneth]

There is a fair bit of difference, the 2002 ecu looks MUCH more refined!

First 3 pics are of the 1997 ECU, the next 3 the 2002.

Be interesting to take to the dyno and test 2 different ECUs.

[bradc]

nice pimping of the mouse pad Sounds like we need to do a swap at some point and see what the differences are between the two on a dyno

[MarkSanne]

nice pimping of the mouse pad Sounds like we need to do a swap at some point and see what the differences are between the two on a dyno

This is very interesting! Talking about ECU's... I recently found out that in my other two (6G) Galants also two different ECU's are housed (these 1G ECU's have been known to have bad condensators and in both cases bingo). A friend of mine who also drives the exact same 6G model (same build-year also) has yet another version of the ECU!!! I'm also eager to test my ECU on a dyno and swap em between the cars to see the differences!

On my 8G V6 with VR4 engine I'm also very interested in the ECU and it's potential. In Holland it's alsmost impossible to find a chiptuner who's willing (and able) to chiptune the VR4 ECU. Anyone ideas/sugessions for me?

[Nick Mann]

The VR4 ecu will not hold a re-programe.

You will need to get a piggy back ecu to tune your fuelling and timing. I would look carefully at the MAP ecu if I was starting again!

Kenneth - are these both from manual cars? What difference is there between auto and manual?

[bradc]

they are both from manuals. My 1998 facelift engine ecu had a plastic casing as well, so it looks like they might have changed it from prefacelift to facelift.

[Kenneth]

yep, both manual ECUs.

so essentially they should do exactly the same thing. Seeing that there is such vairation in the ECU makes me wonder how (if any) different the tune is.

[CANDEE]

The prefacelift ecu look exactly the same as my auto one..

[bradc]

cool, sounds like we are getting somewhere, and they did update the ecu's for the facelifts

[CANDEE]

I havent opened my facelift auto ecu up to see the difference inside but i have noticed a difference in power levels between them.

[valmes]

The VR4 ecu will not hold a re-programe.

Wrong. There are quite a few Russian VR-4 club members that had their ECUs re-written (One guy in Moscow does it). There are also bit images and descriptions for ECUEdit for different years of VR-4 ECUs.

Here is his post from VR-4.ru:


1. From start until mid 1996г. - processor MH7201FS(MR16Core) - stock ecu image ЕМ0005;
2. Mid 1996-1997 г. - processor MH7202(H8/500Core) - stock ecu image and re-tunned one ЕМ2005;
3. 1997 onwards - processor MH7202(H8/500Core) - stock ecu image ЕМ2428.

Last two can be switched over...

Will post those files online, so if anyone is willing to tinker with it - go ahead!You can try to disassemble it in IDA Pro and try to find maps/features. Will later post description file xml for ECUEdit (www.epifansoft.com), you can view and edit maps with it.

http://www.vr-4.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=838&st=0

[Kieran]

Interesting Val, so you can edit the standard ECU using ECUEdit, is that what you are saying?

Are there any english speakers on VR-4.ru?

[Beastlee]

So, in theory at least, we could reprogram a pre-facelift auto ECU with a Post-Facelift ECU program.

I can get that sort of thing done when I visit Lincoln so wil be keeping my eye on this!

[valmes]

Interesting Val, so you can edit the standard ECU using ECUEdit, is that what you are saying?

Are there any english speakers on VR-4.ru?

Hummm I think there are people (including me) who can translate any questions you might have...

I think you can Log, Edit and Save an image for future re-flashing... I also believe there's already a tunned version of ECU image, done on the Rollers that can be a starting point for most stock to somewhat altered VR-4 of any year (doesn't matter auto or manual).

No speed limit, no boost cuts, rev limit can be set higher, more agressive timing and altered fueling and 0,9 bar with a stock boost solenoid.

You will have to send your ECU to Moscow....

[Beastlee]

Well Germany's a lot closer and I probably won't need two cars when I get there...........

[MarkSanne]

Well Germany's a lot closer and I probably won't need two cars when I get there...........

I don't understand anymore... ECUedit is a program right? What this talking about sending the ECU to moscow and what do you (Beastlee) mean by your comment? That germany is closer to moscow? So what is you rpoint there exactly? As I am very interested in boosting my VR4 engine (with automatic gearbox ECU) to its 'safe' limits, I'd love to know how the ECU can be re-programmed!

[Beastlee]

Mark,

I agree that as long as you can get an ECU programmer and the software you should be able to it yourself, with a lot of care!
I was referring to the fact that shipping from Germany to Moscow should be cheaper than from the UK.
I am keen to know more too.

[AderC]

Found the thread regarding reflashing of our ECUs on openecu:

http://forums.openecu.org/viewtopic.php?t=671

I assume Dmitry is the guy in Moscow.

aDe

[Nutter_John]

Would assume the ecu is being modded to use a flash rom rather than a eeprom , this would then allow ECUedit to alter the base map

[AderC]

The Mitsi MH7202 chip's based on the H8/539F chip according to this:

http://forums.openecu.org/viewtopic.php?t=394

If that's correct then the ecu does have flash memory rather than EPROM.

aDe

[Kenneth]

For anyone curious, the 2002 ECU uses MH7203 processor. None of this MH7202 crap