technosquare!!!!!!

[gmoney350Z]

hey Z family!!!

im gettin my ecu reflash in 2 weeks by technosquare, and i wanna know how many people has got there ecu reflash by them???

and whats the cost of gettin your ecu done by them???

ive been hearing alot of numbers around. i just wanna know how much i gotta put down.

hit me back up bros

[dspiel]

i know someone who works there, i believe they charge around $500 per flash. My friend has APS twin turbo kit on his car running the stock ecu flashed by Technosquare.

[Beancooker]

I am not sure, but you may be voiding your warranty. If you set the rev limiter higher, the engine warranty is done. Just a heads up.

[gmoney350Z]

And the $500 is with the dyno run too?...damn how much whp did he get from that?

[gmoney350Z]

yeah i know...but the car is payed off and i really NEED to get it...lol

[dasoupdude]

What are the gains..I'm seriously thinking about just sending mine in. It's not like I'll be happy boosting anytime soon anyways.

[gmoney350Z]

i dont know yet...but when i get it done, ill put my gains and stuff...when you thinkin about doin it?

[Beancooker]

Gains on a dyno were "10+ HP, and 8~9 ft-lbs from 3000rpm".

Personally I don't see it worth $495, but I see losing the factory warranty on a car that has 1/2 the warranty left, just to gain 10 HP is well, not a wise decision at all.

http://www.technosquareinc.com/350z.htm#2

[gmoney350Z]

WOW!!! thats nothing bro...i think i can get more then that...im just not tryin to go the turbo and supercharger way...tryin to be all motor bro...i just feel that with all the mods i have i can get more out of them with the ecu reflash.

[BusyBadger]

Personally I'd go with a Cobb AccessPORT before a reflash form Technosquare. One big reason is the same one that Bean listed - the factory warranty. The other is convenience, factory warranty or not you still have to yank your ECU send it off and wait for it get sent back - not so with an AccessPORT. You can also change your maps when you want, download additional maps right from the Cobb website, monitor real-time fuel economy, engine data, vehicle performance and read all your CEL codes. And the factory warranty? If its something that you like having you can always put your settings back to the factory defaults with the AccessPORT. It costs more than a reflash from TechnoSquare, but the extra tools available and the flexibility and convenience factor more than make up for that.

[dasoupdude]

you still have to yank your ECU send it off and wait for it get sent back -

Not entirely, they send you a stock ecu. once you receive it, you send in yours.

[BusyBadger]

Not entirely, they send you a stock ecu. once you receive it, you send in yours.

Wrong.

Here's a quote directly from the TechnoSquare site's FAQ

Can I get a spare ECU/ do you have a core swap program?No. The current Nissan models have an immobilizer chip build in each car with its own key for thief prevention. This means that you CAN NOT get another ECU and run your car. It will not start. However, we can duplicate your immobilizer into another ECU.

Check and mate young Skywalker.

[JETPILOT]

Why would someone buy a Technosquare reflash when you can get a used UTEC and a much better tune which can be modified as you wish as you change your setup for a few hundred more.

The only thing TechnoSquare is good for is removing the top speed limiter which I did for $150 plus shipping. Without a standalone that's the only way to remove it.

Your not going to see much gain just by retuning your car.

Ask yourself what if they get the tune wrong.... it's like playing "pin the tail on the donkey".

[BusyBadger]

Why would someone buy a Technosquare reflash when you can get a used UTEC and a much better tune which can be modified as you wish as you change your setup for a few hundred more.

You answered your own question when you said "for a few hunderd more". There are members here that can't buy tires for their car let alone drop a grand on a standalone. I brought up the AccessPORT (which also removes the speed limiter) since its not that much more than a TS reflash (and infinitely better) but didn't even think to mention UTEC. The datalogging makes it a no-brainer for anyone that plans on tracking their car and I'd love the knock control since I've seen so many gas stations in my area with no premium. 87 octane...*shudder*

[R350Zz33]

i would buy a utec like jet pilot said because u can change as u change ur set up and not ave to spend $495 if u change ur system arond utec is the better option.

[JETPILOT]

The UTEC could possibly be a few hundred more. However if the Technosquare reflash isn't on the money that could cost you more in the end. Don't look at the dollar sign. The reflash is really more expensive considering it's a one time deal. The UTEC is yours to do as you wish.

The UTEC is not a stand alone it's a parralel ECU.

A used UTEC will only cost you around 600. Tuning would liekly be another $200.

[BusyBadger]

I'm in complete agreement - I never look at the short term savings, I was just explaining what seems to be the mindset of some Z owners based on a lot of the posts I've been reading lately. Besides, I'm not considering any of the three options listed here - I'm content with stock car right now.

I did have a (major) brain cramp when I referred to the UTEC as a standalone. The adjustability of the UTEC certainly makes its seem like a standalone though.

[SpecDRacing]

I'm with Beancooker. If your Z is out of warranty, and not able to get an extended manufacturer warranty, then by all means, have fun. But if your not, you could lose the program and never know it.

I say that because, if you have your ECM reflashed by technosquare (which I plan to have done as well), and you bring it in for service which requires repgrogramming of the ECM, your $500 just went bye-bye. Whatever they write onto the ROM will be removed by the deamon durring reprogramming.

10 HP for $500 is kinda high.....well, really high. I mean, durring warm up your engine makes way more than 10 HP over normal operating temperature. I'd put the money towards keeping my intake manifold cool and getting the heat away from the engine. Now if you're turbo or S/C and really need to get things cooking without restraints.....now thats when $500 will be well worth it.

Best bet, get heat wrap for your intake pipe to throttle body, box off the cone filter (if you have one) to only get fresh air from outside. Put the 06-07 Manual tranmission lower plenum in (same as 35th anniv), and a lower temperature thermostat. All that combined should give you your 10 HP without giving up your ECM for a few weeks. Even Nissan admits there is 400hp in the stock ECM (not publicly, but trust me, its there), but that is coming from the people who wrote it. If technosquare can only get 10 from it, then obviously, they need more time with the system. For custom setups though, they are VERY good. I have seen, used and been impressed with the UTEC, but its not much different the the E-Manage Ultimate and many other piggy backs. Becarefull with those too as you can cause some expensive repairs. I plan to have my base map "masaged" by technosqaure since my 240sx rides with DTC's stored all the time. But then again, I'm only doing this to help out the other guys that are putting the VQ into other cars, so they will know what works and what doesn't.
Modified by SpecDRacing at 4:52 PM 9/27/2008

[dasoupdude]

Wrong.

Here's a quote directly from the TechnoSquare site's FAQ

Can I get a spare ECU/ do you have a core swap program?No. The current Nissan models have an immobilizer chip build in each car with its own key for thief prevention. This means that you CAN NOT get another ECU and run your car. It will not start. However, we can duplicate your immobilizer into another ECU.

Check and mate young Skywalker.

Crap you see what happens when you assume, i was looking at the revo chip for GTI's and read about their core swap. I assumed technocool would do the same thing.

[JETPILOT]

The UTEC is not a piggyback ECU. It's a Parallel.

[Beancooker]

The Cobb isn't all it's cracked up to be. The one that they sell for the G35, you MUST use the stock baffled intake. Otherwise you take too big a risk of running lean and burning a ring.

[RCA]

This thread is silly...

Can't you just save up a few extra weeks/months and get a full stand alone unit then tune it and let that be that

[BusyBadger]

Those restrictive setups utilizing the stock intake are the same on the Z unless you run the Stage 2+ tune. Maybe once Cobb gets bored with the R35 (yeah, right) they'll work on some more maps with the G.

[SpecDRacing]

JETPILOT - splitting hairs on the names. If I want to sell a new product and I want it to sound different, I'll come up with a new term for it. PBC grease gets applied to the backs of brake pads and shims, but for the consumer, we call it a "noise reduction addative". It's all piece of mind. They do the same things, modify input and output signals, to and from the ECM to get a desired result.

[JETPILOT]

I guess you don't understand the differences between stand alones, parallels and piggybacks.

It may not be important to you but there is a difference. It's not a marketing catch phrase.

Parallel and stand alone units don't have anything to do with the OEM ECU. The UTEC does not modify aything the OEM ECU does. It takes over ingnition timing and runs the injectors independant of the ECU. Only a piggyback is integrated with the stock ecu.

I think it would be obvious a stadalone unit doesn't use the OEM ECU either.

[SpecDRacing]

Oh, well, I'd be interested to see how they keep it out of fail safe. I mean, I work for nissan, so I know that any changes made to the fuel/ignition curve to one of our engines requires the correct information be seen by the ECM, which means the UTEC has to tell it the right things, or it wont work. I do have alot of experience with these systems, so I do understand how they work. I get what you are saying though, its not just a trick computer but an actual work horse. That is better. Sad thing is, the stock ECM can handle alot more than most people give it credit for. The use of A/F sensors in the 04 and present vehicles gives the ECM much more ability. I'm nearly 13:1 compression in my VQ motor, with stock injectors and timing, and Im still making 250 BHP and 250 LB/Ft (1800-6500rpm torgue is flat). That to me means the ECM is more than capable of handling upgrades. If I had a better exhaust, the good Z cams and some mild bolt ons, Im sure I'd be at 300 BHP. It all depends on what people are running. Anyway, we were talking about a name of a system, and the only thing that really matters is the end result. But yes, the UTEC does mask signals and send them back to the ECM just as a piggy back does, it just does more work.

[JETPILOT]

OK.. your wrong again. The UTEC does not use the stock ECM. A parallel takes the OEM ECM out of the picture either when it senses boost, or at a pre-programemd RPM. The UTEC relies solely on it's own timing maps and fuel schedule to get the job accomplished. The ECU has no control over the injectors or timing when the UTEC is operating unlike a piggyback which does alter the ECM's signal. I hope that clears up the confusion.

The reason that important distinction is made is because the stock ECU has 3 different maps to choose from and you never know which map the OEM ecm is running so it's hard to predict which map the piggyback will be altering. Some motors go pop!

[rmezz13]

LOL....^^

Anyway, the technosquare, and cobbs access port are not worth it and the gains are so low and so inaccurate its just not worth it. These things are done to *TURBO* cars, and factory turbo cars and give them huge gains because they are tuning A/F for the most part. If your car is n/a and you are planning on doing a reflash or buying a tuner, you are wasting money. For the price range of the Cobb Access port and Technosquare reflash, you can get the ZEX wet nitrous system specifically made for the 350Z. Why not pay $700 for 55+ whp instead of $700 for the Cobb tuner and get maybe 10hp best.... Just some food for thought.