DIY 944NA DME Tuning w/ TunerPro.

[Rogue_Ant]

Ok, I had time to packaged everything and it is attached in a .zip file:

TunerPro Bundle

In the zip file, I included a Word document which explains the DME in a little more detail, and also rehashes the info here. I suggest reading it, before starting.
This walk through is simply a quick guide for getting TunerPro running and using it with the 944.

In order to tune your 944, you will need the following:

Laptop computer w/ USB port
TunerPro 4.14
Ostrich 2.0 (or eprom burner)

First , unzip the bundle to a familiar location, such as the desktop. Next, install the TunerPro software included in this bundle. Follow the prompts and necessary directions. If you are using the Ostrich 2.0, then install the Ostrich 2.0 drivers (included in bundle).
Now plug in the Ostrich to your laptop, start TunerPro and make sure it recognizes the Ostrich. TunerPro outputs its hardware connection status in lower left hand corner:



If TunerPro says “hardware not found” and the Ostrich is connected to your computer, then click on the ‘hardware plug’ in the toolbar:



Once your computer and TunerPro recognizes the Ostrich, you need to setup TunerPro for the 944. Included in the bundle are the necessary files. The first is the definition file. This is the file that tells TunerPro how to interpret the values in the 944 binary file. To load this file, press ‘XDF’ next to ‘File’ in the toolbar. Now choose ‘Select XDF’, direct TunerPro to the unzipped bundle.



You should see and select the correct XDF for your application. Your screen should now look similar to this (picture is from the 951 version, the 944NA is similar):



Next we load the 944 binary, or ‘.bin’ file. This is the actual data that the DME uses, and what we will be tuning. Under the ‘File’ menu, select ‘Open Bin’. Now direct TunerPro to the unzipped bundle, and select the correct .bin file.



Check that we have loaded everything correctly by double-clicking on an item in the left.



Now, each item has comments, if you do not have a ‘Item Comments’ window, click on ‘View’ then ‘Item Comments’, or press F10.
To change a value, click on the item, change the value, then click ‘save’ in the window. This saves the changes to the .bin. Once you have made any desired changes, save the file by pressing ‘File’, ‘Save Bin’. Then upload the new .bin to the Ostrich. This is done with one click of the ‘upload arrow’:



Note, you do not have to save the .bin before sending it to the Ostrich, but you do have to save any individual value changed for it to have effect.
The Ostrich simply plugs into the factory EPROM socket. The most important thing is to install the Ostrich in the correct direction. The red line on the ribbon cable should be towards the outside of the DME.



I ground a little bit of the DME case to allow the ribbon cable to pass through. I routed the ribbon cable as shown. This is an easy mod, and should only take a minute on a bench grinder:




If you have changed EPROM chips before, this is extremely similar. For those needing a refresher, included in the bundle is a chip replacement guide as found on the Lindsey Racing web site.

LR Chip Change Guide

When tuning, make small changes at a time, and avoid large changes between adjacent cells! DIY tuning can and should be a fun, learning experience. BUT be careful, as you alone are completely responsible for your engines health, I am not responsible for your actions. For the DIY’er, at minimum, I suggest a Wide-Band O2 (WBO2) sensor, and knock counter. A WBO2 is imperative for proper air-fuel tuning. And at the price of current WBO2s, it would be foolish to not have one.

Finally, my hope is that this DIY will get more people interested in tuning the 944, and provide more knowledge for the average end-user. Building a community of knowledge can only help fellow enthusiasts.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or opinions. Preferable, post your questions and comments here, as it will probably help out others.


-Rogue

[Schumi]

I'm impressed. Wonderful writeup.

Unfortunately I wouldn't be comfortable using this in a 'street tune' situation for tuning fuel maps- ignition maps maybe, since there have been members on this board do their own work with the ignition maps and with great success- and have posted their tables which would give a good starting point.

The ECU does not provide data logging capabilities that would make street tuning fuel maps a viable method IMO. You not only need a wide band O2, but also you need to be logging RPM, manifold pressure, and throttle position along with that wide band O2 so that you can see the ever-changing A/F ratios as you change the load and speed of the engine.

[mikepellegrini]

That really is a great write-up! Makes me wanna get an epprom burner for my NA and play around...

Originally Posted by Schumi

I'm impressed. Wonderful writeup.


The ECU does not provide data logging capabilities that would make street tuning fuel maps a viable method IMO. You not only need a wide band O2, but also you need to be logging RPM, manifold pressure, and throttle position along with that wide band O2 so that you can see the ever-changing A/F ratios as you change the load and speed of the engine.

I looked into data logging hardware when my kid installed the MAF in his 951 - and it's kinda expensive.

He's got an Innovate wideband O2 sensor - the LC-1 with a piggyback controller that allows a serial hookup with a laptop computer, where you can watch what's happening in real-time. You program the epprom in the controller with the laptop, which is cool. But you can't log stuff.

To be able to log real data, you have to buy their aux box, the LMA-3 which costs an additional $249. The LC-1 costs $329. So together, that's almost $600 and that's kinda getting up there.

My kid does without it. The way he tuned his car was he drove around while a friend sat in the passenger seat with a laptop, making changes on the fly, in real-time.

It worked, but I probably woulda shelled out the extra bucks.

[Rogue_Ant]

True, no real logging capability at the moment. However with the newest version of TunerPro, you can enable "Data-Tracing" and it will highlight the active cell. Unfortunately this does not work properly with the large tables, but does work fine on every other table.
Besides I'm working on an logging solution, utilizing the DME... Just need more free time


-Rogue

[phil823]

i would recommend everyone to look into the posts regaurding to this on Rennlist.. it was been posted longer and has some more talk!

Rouge is the Man opening the doors to full DIY tuneability

[cvriv.charles]

I'll have to look into this in the near future. This would be fun.

[phil823]

did see this anywhere but as i remeber from the R&D this is for the 85/2 NAs not the early

[Rogue_Ant]

Updated bundle to include the newest release of TunerPro - this version has the data-tracing which works in the majority of the MAPs.

[Rogue_Ant]

Originally Posted by phil823

did see this anywhere but as i remeber from the R&D this is for the 85/2 NAs not the early

Yep, you need the 85.5 and up DME/AFM combo to use this DIY...

[Rogue_Ant]

Ok, attached is an Excel worksheet that allows you to play with the three AFM Transfer Function Tables. This worksheet will output a graph of the transfer function, and will hopefully allow people to get a better understanding of the 944/951 workings by manipulating the tables.

Transfer Function Worksheet

Furthermore, those with aftermarket MAFs, can try to get the transfer function to match their aftermarket unit (and see why the 944/951 stock code is limiting).


-Rogue

[mikepellegrini]

Originally Posted by Rogue_Ant

Yep, you need the 85.5 and up DME/AFM combo to use this DIY...
__________________


-Rogue

...or if you have an early DME that's been modified by FR Wilk (with his add-in board), I'd guess that'd work too. Or would it?

[Rogue_Ant]

Originally Posted by mikepellegrini

...or if you have an early DME that's been modified by FR Wilk (with his add-in board), I'd guess that'd work too. Or would it?

I do not have an NA to play with... So I can't say for certain. I will look into it a bit more, and see if I can get a more definitive answer.

[jelk944]

i plan on using the innovate lm-1 and the dIY when i install a different maf on my n/a 944 ,i need ideas for the maf

[Rogue_Ant]

For an NA or turbo? LM-1 is a good choice.

[jelk944]

n/a

[Rogue_Ant]

I've heard of guys using the Ford Escort with decent results...

[jelk944]

yea, i was thinking a ford lightning but my question would i be able to do all the necessary tuning with the DIY and lm-1 to make it run right?

[Rogue_Ant]

The Lightning MAF is going to flow way too much for an NA application... That will make it hard to tune. The largest I would think about is the Mustang GT, and even that is overkill for an NA.

With the DIY, you should be a able to get a decent tune (not perfect because it uses the factory AFM code, not true MAF code).


-Rogue

[jelk944]

what do you suggest i do to properly tune a new maf

[Rogue_Ant]

Well if you get a MAF that is sized correctly, you should be able to get a decent tune with just TunerPro and the Ostrich.