Restoring R32 ECU with Mines tune?

[weikleenget]

Hi all, as the title suggests my R32 GTR has an ECU with a Mines tune which worked really well in summer and was a ton of fun, but now that the cold weather has set in, it’s running very rich and won’t get above 2500rpm without the throttle retarding. 

I understand that they epoxied the RAM to the OEM board with this tune so resetting is tough but I’m wondering if anyone knows a specialist who can revert it back to OEM settings?

Thanks!

[Duncan]

To answer directly, no, I don't know how they physically achieved the reflash of the ECU. 

However, the change in tune from factory is minor and unlikely to be your issue. If it is misfiring as it comes on boost it is likely to be some issue other than the tune. What boost is it hitting just before it starts to cut out (might be overboosting due to a boost control issue), or perhaps just an air leak somewhere.

[joshuaho96]

On 11/9/2021 at 6:51 AM, weikleenget said:

Hi all, as the title suggests my R32 GTR has an ECU with a Mines tune which worked really well in summer and was a ton of fun, but now that the cold weather has set in, it’s running very rich and won’t get above 2500rpm without the throttle retarding. 

I understand that they epoxied the RAM to the OEM board with this tune so resetting is tough but I’m wondering if anyone knows a specialist who can revert it back to OEM settings?

Thanks!

I doubt you can revert, removing the epoxy would probably damage the board beyond repair. I would just try and source an OEM ECU with the stock map.

[weikleenget]

On 11/9/2021 at 1:46 PM, Duncan said:

To answer directly, no, I don't know how they physically achieved the reflash of the ECU. 

However, the change in tune from factory is minor and unlikely to be your issue. If it is misfiring as it comes on boost it is likely to be some issue other than the tune. What boost is it hitting just before it starts to cut out (might be overboosting due to a boost control issue), or perhaps just an air leak somewhere.

At any amount of boost and the throttle is almost completely retarded, and the car starts shuddering. It’s gotten significantly worse as the weather gets colder, and wasn’t an issue at all above 70*. I don’t think I have a misfire, had a compression test done and they tested all the cylinders everything was fine. Just happens when boost comes on in the cold

[Ben C34]

Boost leak, 20 bucks.

[GTSBoy]

On 11/10/2021 at 7:53 AM, joshuaho96 said:

I doubt you can revert, removing the epoxy would probably damage the board beyond repair. I would just try and source an OEM ECU with the stock map.

It's just an EEPROM. Epoxy isn't some magical substance. Anyone sufficiently fearless with a small Dremel burr would be able to remove epoxy from around the Mines chip legs sufficient to be able to get the chip out and a stocker (or more sensibly, a Nistune board) back in its place.

Having said that, a Mines ECU is essentially a bin job. They should never have existed.

On 11/10/2021 at 12:05 PM, weikleenget said:

At any amount of boost and the throttle is almost completely retarded,

Throttle doesn't retard. What exactly are you saying?

What does the boost gauge say? What is the fuel pressure? What is the AFM voltage at the time?

[joshuaho96]

On 11/9/2021 at 5:58 PM, GTSBoy said:

It's just an EEPROM. Epoxy isn't some magical substance. Anyone sufficiently fearless with a small Dremel burr would be able to remove epoxy from around the Mines chip legs sufficient to be able to get the chip out and a stocker (or more sensibly, a Nistune board) back in its place.

Having said that, a Mines ECU is essentially a bin job. They should never have existed.

Almost guaranteed I would grind into the board trying that and scrap it, maybe some people have steadier hands but I assume most people aren't that precise with a dremel. Someone will surely buy it just for the Mine's name, so better to just sell it and get a stock ECU which everyone seems to get rid of for a standalone these days.

[weikleenget]

On 11/9/2021 at 7:58 PM, GTSBoy said:

It's just an EEPROM. Epoxy isn't some magical substance. Anyone sufficiently fearless with a small Dremel burr would be able to remove epoxy from around the Mines chip legs sufficient to be able to get the chip out and a stocker (or more sensibly, a Nistune board) back in its place.

Having said that, a Mines ECU is essentially a bin job. They should never have existed.

Throttle doesn't retard. What exactly are you saying?

What does the boost gauge say? What is the fuel pressure? What is the AFM voltage at the time?

I’ll have to check fuel pressure and AFM voltage but boost won’t go positive. What I mean is the throttle loses all response above 2500rpm, pedal turns to mush and the car shakes

[GTSBoy]

You mean the pedal feels exactly the same as before, but the engine does not respond to it, right?

[weikleenget]

Correct

[blind_elk]

On 11/10/2021 at 1:51 AM, weikleenget said:

...and won’t get above 2500rpm without the throttle retarding.

Isn't this a symptom of a problem in the AFM? So, maybe the colder weather has caused a gap to open up in a broken solder joint.