Auto Gearbox ECU upgrade

[Jimbob]

WOW

Big improvement, highly recommended!

Can seems more responsive & smoother

The other 1/2 says the Car purrs like a pussycat and growls like a tiger...

in that case they have tamed the pussycat and taunted the tiger!

Highly recommend this update.

[ClarCE]

Nice.

I WISH I'd had time to get it done on Sat, I really want it done now!

[tunnie]

it does make a massive difference!!

Never mind Chris, as you said before another excuse to come up again!  

[Elite Pete]

WOW

Big improvement, highly recommended!

Can seems more responsive & smoother

The other 1/2 says the Car purrs like a pussycat and growls like a tiger...

in that case they have tamed the pussycat and taunted the tiger!

Highly recommend this update.

I have to agree Jimbob, TheBoy did mine at the weekend and it does make a difference

[Kevin Wood]

Having got mine done on Saturday I can agree with the above

To try and quantify the differences I've noticed (facelift MV6, Y32SE) :

Gearchange when engine cold is normal (no more holding 1st until 3000 RPM on light throttle). Mine upchanged at 2000 RPM as I pulled out of the driveway this morning on a cold start.

At low speed, first gear running particularly, and in general, the gearbox is much tighter with less slip - more like driving a manual where throttle gives torque at wheels as opposed to throttle gives more engine revs, more engine revs wakes up autobox, autobox eventually gives torque at wheels.

Changing up and down in all circumstances is much smoother, in patricular sport mode, full throttle upshifts and downshifting on gradients doesn't go with a thud anymore. It feels quicker under full throttle acceleration, probably just because I'm not gritting my teeth waiting for it to change.

Shifting algorithm seems a little more intelligent from the limited driving I've done so far. It seems less prone to downshifting when descending hills in 4th regardless of circumstances and then sticking in 3rd for ages (I've no problem with it doing this on closed throttle as it gives a little engine braking and allows the overrun fuel-cut to operate, but it really annoyed me that it would also do this on a light throttle. Doesn't seem as bad now).

The other thing it used to suffer from was upshifting, and then having second thoughts and downshifting just as I was coming onto the gas, particularly when trying to maintain speed up a gentle gradient. I haven't noticed it doing this but I'll need a few more days of commuting to know for sure.

All in all, I'd say a worthwhile upgrade just for the shift quality increase. Previously, in my opinion, the shift was on a par with late 80's / early 90's auto box and it's brought it up to date in terms of quality. Just needs 1 or two more ratios now

Kevin

[Jimbob]

Bet yours is nice now, gearbox done and mtek'ed

money well spent I think

£36.72 at Dickens in Wrexham (next to football gound) if anyone is interested.

I couldn't watch, expect from MOT bay, looked to be doing as stated by the boy anyway

Once I got in, there was no doubt it had been done
Invoice said 6 to 9, I thought it was version 5 before, but there you go.

Failed miserably on trade card again

Will book the CDX in for it as well soon.

[Bo Bo]

Does anyone know if one of these "flashable" gearbox ECU's will work on an earlier model?

[Elite Pete]

Bet yours is nice now, gearbox done and mtek'ed

money well spent I think

£36.72 at Dickens in Wrexham (next to football gound) if anyone is interested.

I couldn't watch, expect from MOT bay, looked to be doing as stated by the boy anyway

Once I got in, there was no doubt it had been done
Invoice said 6 to 9, I thought it was version 5 before, but there you go.

Failed miserably on trade card again

Will book the CDX in for it as well soon.

Yeah im really pleased with the car now but ive spent a few bob on her doing the routine stuff ie wishbones, steering idler, radiator, cambelt, tensioners, aux belt, gearbox upgrade, M-Tek chip, front and rear discs and pads but still got some minor stuff to sort like noisy alternator, track rod ends, 4 wheel alignment, new rear bumper after a cretin put a small bump in it oh and sort the air con and once ive spent all that time and money on getting just right an estate will probably crop up and I will have to start again

[Marks DTM Calib]

Does anyone know if one of these "flashable" gearbox ECU's will work on an earlier model?

It would require some re-wiring....I suspect it can be done but you would need the new ECU and its socket plus idealy an old ECU to allow an adaptor to be made....

[Bo Bo]

Does anyone know if one of these "flashable" gearbox ECU's will work on an earlier model?

It would require some re-wiring....I suspect it can be done but you would need the new ECU and its socket plus idealy an old ECU to allow an adaptor to be made....

OK thanks, beyond me then....

[TheBoy]

Having got mine done on Saturday I can agree with the above

To try and quantify the differences I've noticed (facelift MV6, Y32SE) :

Gearchange when engine cold is normal (no more holding 1st until 3000 RPM on light throttle). Mine upchanged at 2000 RPM as I pulled out of the driveway this morning on a cold start.

At low speed, first gear running particularly, and in general, the gearbox is much tighter with less slip - more like driving a manual where throttle gives torque at wheels as opposed to throttle gives more engine revs, more engine revs wakes up autobox, autobox eventually gives torque at wheels.

Changing up and down in all circumstances is much smoother, in patricular sport mode, full throttle upshifts and downshifting on gradients doesn't go with a thud anymore. It feels quicker under full throttle acceleration, probably just because I'm not gritting my teeth waiting for it to change.

Shifting algorithm seems a little more intelligent from the limited driving I've done so far. It seems less prone to downshifting when descending hills in 4th regardless of circumstances and then sticking in 3rd for ages (I've no problem with it doing this on closed throttle as it gives a little engine braking and allows the overrun fuel-cut to operate, but it really annoyed me that it would also do this on a light throttle. Doesn't seem as bad now).

The other thing it used to suffer from was upshifting, and then having second thoughts and downshifting just as I was coming onto the gas, particularly when trying to maintain speed up a gentle gradient. I haven't noticed it doing this but I'll need a few more days of commuting to know for sure.

All in all, I'd say a worthwhile upgrade just for the shift quality increase. Previously, in my opinion, the shift was on a par with late 80's / early 90's auto box and it's brought it up to date in terms of quality. Just needs 1 or two more ratios now

Kevin

Exactly what I had experienced with my 98 MV6, which went from v6 to v9 on a 820 ECU (different ECU's have different version numbers)...

[Jimbob]

Just been out, I drove there, the Mrs drove back....Her's is now booked in on Thursday for the upgrade!
She was very sceptical before hand about it all, she was very impressed at the difference though.

[TheBoy]

Just been out, I drove there, the Mrs drove back....Her's is now booked in on Thursday for the upgrade!
She was very sceptical before hand about it all, she was very impressed at the difference though.

Mrs TheBoy noticed that since I did mine, everytime she drives it, the orange light on dash keeps flashing as she pulls out of junctions

[bestseany]

It's such as shame that the ECU's can't be updated before 1998  

[TheBoy]

Its the GS8.20 and later ECUs that can be done, not entirely sure when they were introduced, but does appear to be around mini facelift.  I haven't tried a 1997 car yet (VIN ends in Vxxxxxx), but 98 (VIN = Wxxxxxx) does and 96 (VIN=Txxxxxx) doesn't...