I have started this new thread as a central place for Ezy-FLASH Pro discussion. This information is based on post I have made in discussions in other general threads.
08/09/2009
In recent years ChipTorque's tuning/product development has been heading in the direction of reflashing the factory engine management control in vehicles such as Mitsubishi, Subaru and now Mazda. Reflashing, also known as Flash Tuning is carried out by reading the factory tune from the vehicle's engine management system (ECU). Using our in-house tuning software our tuners then make specific changes to the tune, based on analysing the vehicle's driveability, air fuel ratio and engine sensor operation on our dyno. These improvements are repeatedly uploaded back into the factory ECU and retested through dyno analysis until we achieve optimal results in the vehicle's overall driveability and performance. This is the current service ChipTorque is offering for both the Mazda 3 MPS and the Mazda 6 MPS, known as the ChipTorque Custom Flash Tune. Typically a Custom Flash Tune takes 4 to 5 hours of custom dyno tuning time, but this can change depending on the vehicle's specific modifications. This service is only available at ChipTorque (Gold Coast) in conjunction with custom tuning the vehicle on one of our dynos.
We are looking to provide nationwide support for flash tuning, in time. This will be achieved by successfully developing ChipTorque's Ezy-FLASH product line to be compatible with the Mazda vehicle range. But this is still in development stages for the Mazda. Now that ChipTorque are altering and flash tuning directly the factory ECU, development steps involve setting up communication between the factory ECU and the Ezy-FLASH hardware. Additionally we are implementing a licensed tuning software package so that other tuners can custom tune vehicles with the Ezy-FLASH product, for all vehicles supported with Ezy-FLASH.
There is a fair bit of information on our website about Ezy-FLASH so I'd encourage you to check that out if you're interested to know more about this product.
. . . . . . . . . . .
29/09/2009
Although ChipTorque are now confidently able to Flash the ECU through our custom flash tuning service, we have a hurdle to overcome to be able to pair the Flash Tune software upgrade with the Ezy-FLASH hardware. Specifically the ECU recovery method is where our development focus is at present. This event could occur when users were reflashing their vehicle using the Ezy-FLASH.
Explanation: If there were certain critical events that occurred during the Flashing process using Ezy-FLASH, it is possible to corrupt the ECU data to a point where the ECU cannot be communicated with from the outside pins anymore. These events would include insufficient Battery Voltage, and disconnecting (or poor connection) of the programming cable at a specific point in the process. If these events all occurred at the wrong times, the ECU will become junk. With the EVO and Subaru application, before ChipTorque released the Ezy-FLASH, we had managed to find ways around these problems to recover from “Bad Flash”, using a recovery process in the Ezy-FLASH product, or worse case scenario, say if the programming cable was completely disconnected prior to the Ezy-FLASH recovery, by sending the ECU and Ezy-FLASH to ChipTorque. We are still working on this solution for the Mazda to ensure robust and trouble-free operation for our future customers and Ezy-FLASH users.
This is what is slowing down our development process. We hope to find a solution shortly and advise you all of the release.
. . . . . . . . . .
14/11/2009
ChipTorque's development for Ezy-FLASH to support Mazda MPS has had some recent breakthroughs. We have been able to make the reflash recovery process more fail safe. During earlier development we had found that if a reflash went wrong then it would render the vehicle's ECU dead. We now have found and developed a process that allows the prevention of this occurrence in most instances and a recovery process to recovery the ECU in such events.
Additionally we have begun creating a new model of Ezy-FLASH. Currently we support other model vehicle's with Ezy-FLASH. The new model Ezy-FLASH PRO will also support Mazdas.
Release date should be 2010. We will require beta testers prior to the release and will let you know when we are looking for participants.
. . . . . . . . . .
17/02/2010
Over the past couple of months the Ezy-FLASH development team have been working on several projects including:
• Introduction of new model – the “Ezy-FLASH Pro” for the existing supported vehicle makes like Subaru. This has involved a change of hardware which allows us to incorporate support for various previous and current programming systems across multiple manufacturers including Mazda.
• Creation and implementation of a licensed tuning software package to enable dyno tuners to custom tune vehicles locally utilizing the new Ezy-FLASH Pro product.
The implementation of this development to include the MPS Mazda range has presented some other unexpected difficulties that we had hoped might still have been completed by the end of February. The design team met again this morning to assess the Mazda release. Unfortunately, our timeline for beta testing in late February will not be met. Be assured, however, that we are working toward Beta testing in the near future and then release into the greater market as soon as possible after that.
Although it may appear to some that we are not progressing fast enough in getting a Flash tuning device completed for the Mazda 3 & 6 MPS, be assured that the development we have undertaken in creating a new Ezy-FLASH Pro hardware device and licensed tuning software are great advancements in getting ChipTorque a couple of steps closer to being able to supply the best product, Australia wide, that you guys can have tuned locally.
In the interim, of course, we are still able to provide Custom Flash Tunes for the Gen I MPS vehicles here at our Nerang, Gold Coast facility.
. . . . . . . . . .
25/03/2010
ChipTorque's development team are completing the development of our licenced tuning software Tune Manager Pro which I have been told is about 80% complete. Our time is being spent setting up the software with one of the major tasks being the Pass Through Programming function. Pass Through Programming will be handy in the custom tuning of vehicle's as this will deliver a more streamlined process when custom tuning vehicles.
Mazda development is still going on in the background, and will be the sole focus of our development team once the above has been completed.
I am not quoting any timeframes, as I'd like to avoid disappointing the Mazda community. The team say that all development has taken longer than originally anticipated.
Proposed Ezy-Flash Pro pricing for Mazda
Please note that the cost of the Ezy-FLASH Pro for Mazda is not definite. To understand the following cost scenario’s please firstly read the following definitions.
Ezy-FLASH Pro is a hardware device to store tune data for reflashing aftermarket tunes directly to the vehicle’s ECU. This device will also provide additional data log & diagnostic functions.
Custom Flash Tune is a labour service provided by ChipTorque, typically performed by our tuner on the dyno.
Tune Manager Pro will be the Licensed tuning software for Ezy-FLASH Pro. Other Dyno Tuning outlets will be able to provide custom flash tuning services to Ezy-FLASH Pro users once ready for use.
Tune Set is a group of alternative tunes installed into the Ezy-FLASH Pro. At this time these will be based on variations of the custom flash tune, to suit alternate boost level, fuel types and tune objectives.
2WD Dyno Custom Flash Tune at ChipTorque $1000
4WD Dyno Custom Flash Tune at ChipTorque $1120
Ezy-FLASH Pro device no tunes $895
Ezy-FLASH Pro with 2WD Dyno Custom Flash Tune at ChipTorque $1895
Ezy-FLASH Pro with 4WD Dyno Custom Flash Tune at ChipTorque $2015
2WD Dyno custom retune of ChipTorque Custom Flash Tune $200 per hour
4WD Dyno custom retune of ChipTorque Custom Flash Tune $280 per hour
For customers wanting their existing ChipTorque Custom Flash Tune integrated into an Ezy-FLASH Pro, ChipTorque plan to offer this at the cost of the purchase of the Ezy-FLASH Pro device no tunes, for a limited time once we have the product available. This will involve ChipTorque’s tuner creating the tune set for your car based on your custom flash tune and reflashing your vehicle back to its original factory tune prior to the installation of the Ezy-FLASH Pro. This means that we’d either need to see the vehicle or ECU at ChipTorque to perform this process.