Stagea Attesa Question For The Gurus

[3Katz]

I've already posted this in the drive line forum but thought I'd ask here as well for more exposure and hopefully some info from the gurus. Hopefully others, particularly those with facory manual Stageas find it helpful/interesting as well:

Done lots of research and found lots of conflicting info and most of it fairly old so thought I'd ask specifically what I'm after. I have a RS4S Stagea (factory manual, NEO engine) and am after a good ECU to enable tuning with the parts I've collected (highmount 3076, GTR cooler, FFP etc). What I need to know is does the ATTESA (I believe RS4S is the same as R33 GTR) system use information from the engine ECU or is it totally independant using G sensors and wheel speed only? An aftermarket ECU to suit a NEO may not have ATTESA outputs and a GTR ECU would have ATTESA but not VCT function (plus wanting 2 AFM inputs). Was wanting an easy plug in ECU but it's looking like it may not be that easy....

I was thinking that the ATTESA module may use a TPS signal....

[wolverine]

Conflicting info?

Any aftermarket ecu will do the job you are asking. Since Nistune is one of the easiest ecu upgrades unless you want to run external inputs like ethanol sensors or want to move to a map sensing ecu.

Apart from basic tuning what else do you want the ecu to do?

[3Katz]

Conflicting info?

Any aftermarket ecu will do the job you are asking. Since Nistune is one of the easiest ecu upgrades unless you want to run external inputs like ethanol sensors or want to move to a map sensing ecu.

Apart from basic tuning what else do you want the ecu to do?

Yes there is lots of info out there which is conflicting, some say ATTESA only requires input from the G sensor which would be great and others say it needs input from a whole range including throttle position, G sensor, wheel speed and even brake lights. There is nothing besides basic tuning that I require from an ECU as long as it doesn't affect the operation of the ATTESA system. So I could plug in any aftermarket ECU and the ATESSA system would work exactly as before?

[scotty nm35]

You may lose some functions but it should still work off the G sensors, even with no throttle input (if it is even used.)

Which standalone are you planning to use? There are plenty of proven units, even for the auto's if you look around in here.

[wolverine]

As far I know the ATESSA is controlled by wheel speed and G sensors, regardless there is a long history of people using ECU's like the PowerFC, Link, ViPEC, Haltech, Nistune and more recently Adaptronic to me there isn't that much conflicting information about which ecu will work.

Since Nistune uses the factory ecu, is cheap and is programmable there is little reason to look further unless you need higher end features.

Yes ATESSA will work fine with any ecu. I had a PowerFC on the Stagea and now Nistune and there is no difference.

[4bidn1]

My advice would be use a nistune so retain standard computer, I ended up running a Full race ets pro to control my 4wd system awesome full controllable set up

[3Katz]

Thanks for the info guys, I have PFC in a box here somewhere so it's good to hear I can use it without it affecting the 4wd. And now it's not just a case of - use this one it works. I can understand why it works. Cheers.

[3Katz]

4bidn1 that sounds like a great set up, if I didn't already have a pfc I'd definately go with a Nistune sounds like a great product, everyone that has one seems very happy with it

[wolverine]

You will need to sort out a constant 3.6v feed to pin 51 (traction control) on the R34 PFC and you will be sweet.

[3Katz]

Cheers, yeah I read about the secret squirrel fix. Good thing there's tech savvy guys out there happy to sort the issues out and share them, appreciated.

[KiwiRS4T]

S2 may be different but when I got the G4 ecu for my S1 installer had to make a feed from the TPS I think for the attessa

[3Katz]

S2 may be different but when I got the G4 ecu for my S1 installer had to make a feed from the TPS I think for the attessa

This is an interesting topic, well definately to me anyway! Your not the only one that had to do this blind_elk had to run a TPS feed to the ATTESA module with his Wolf ECU. It would seem that possibly the engine ECU does send a signal to the ATTESA system... In my mind it would make sense in that hard cornering off throttle wouldn't require the ATTESA system to engage the front wheels. Not to say that it would do any harm if it did but it seems to me to be quite a smart system and throttle position a pretty basic input. Maybe it's as Scotty nm35 says and it could be an input but not a critical one... As GTSBoy says in the other thread it is hard to get a definitive answer with the communication system between ECU's, I guess unless it flags a critical fault through say a fault light on the dash then the system may not be running as well as it should and you wouldn't know.

[4bidn1]

The standard altessa has a input from the tps sensor as suggested , just as a point of interest this is the only input that runs to my after market ets pro unit all other information is collected by te g sensor

[3Katz]

The standard altessa has a input from the tps sensor as suggested , just as a point of interest this is the only input that runs to my after market ets pro unit all other information is collected by te g sensor

Well that's good to know, I suspected as much. I guess the PFC has a TPS output to the correct pin regardless if the unit is for a RWD vehicle or a 4WD... Wolverine was the PFC you fitted to your RS4S to suit a GTR or a GTT?

[wolverine]

GT-t

[3Katz]

_{Well that must be the case - even the GTT PFC must run a TPS output to the correct pin for ATTESA even though it doesn't require it. That's lucky. Well if the 4WD worked ok on your Stagea there's no reason it shouldn't on mine - great!}

[wolverine]

You would expect that any TPS feed would be wired into the loom already.

[mely1200]

Hey team,

WGNC34 RS4S manual,

I'm in the process of sourcing another ATTESA computer. Where does the unit live? Is it under the centre console?

Cheers,

M

[KiwiRS4T]

Hey team,

WGNC34 RS4S manual,

I'm in the process of sourcing another ATTESA computer. Where does the unit live? Is it under the centre console?

Cheers,

M

Think its in the boot lining LHS just forward of the compartment.

[fmlycar]

Old thread dig but anyway. I have just bought a s1 rs4 that has been converted to manual. The check engine light stays on and I was told it is from the car looking for traction control. Does this sound right? Car has power fc and was just tuned and drives fine. I'm unsure as to what box was used when it was converted. Just want to get it sorted so if there is an actual fault I'll be aware of it.