How to get the latest firmware for my PC-Pro?

[Adam Ward]

How can I get the latest code for my Powercard?

I have just transitioned from a M45 supercharger to a BEGi turbo kit on my '97 miata, and I want to continue to use my Powercard. I bought the card back in May of '07 and it has worked wonderfully thus far. I would like to be able to utilize the G/B settings that are now available, as I am having some lean tip-in before getting in to boost.

Is there somewhere that I can download the code and flash my card, or can FF send me something to update it?

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

The flash update the PC Pro requires a special programmer. PM me and we can put you next on the list to have it mailed. I can also email you the latest files to flash to it.

A general question to everybody, what would you all think of having us include the programmer as an option with our kits? I don't have a price yet, but I think it could be pretty inexpensive. I can also start a thread in the instructions section that has all the firmware updates and explanations with them.

[Mark]

A general question to everybody, what would you all think of having us include the programmer as an option with our kits?

I for one would love it. I like having anything that is the latest and greatest. So when I can do firmware upgrades at will, all the better. I can't even begin to say how many times I've upgraded the OS on my Blackberry.

Plus if you had something you wanted to try out, you could easily send a file out to people who signed up as guinea pigs and get their results/input before doing an overall release. For instance, I have a 95 and would be more than willing to test out any upgrades you were making, on my car. And if it didn't quite work out, I'd be able to plug the cards in to my programmer and reflash back to a known good point in the release cycle.

[Adam Ward]

I agree, posting the instructions and firmware online would be great. I think the option to get the programmer with the PC could open a host of possibilities, and if it didn't cost too much would be a "heck yeah" in my book.

[beatle]

I'm with Mark on this one. I wouldn't mind being a guinea pig if it meant I could go back to "stock" by hooking the card(s) up to the programmer and flashing the original file. I know you guys are just a little short on NA test platforms. ;) Would the addition of the programmer also give us the ability to create our own programs via the web based program?

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

The actual programming is something that we would have to keep inhouse. However, I could definitely have a lot of different files that would suite different needs. This sort of setup would make it pretty easy however for me to take requests.

[beatle]

That works for me. I'm interested in seeing the longterm effects that occur when the accelerator pump onset is set to a low threshold, or perhaps going back and doing more experiments on TPS vs. load values for the AP function.

Being able to customize what the lights tell you on the different cards would be another neat thing to see from time to time. Seeing boost is important for troubleshooting whether the card is going to work or not, but other things might be nice to see as well.

[Mark]

I have no desire to get in there and start dinking around with variables. I only have to remember an autocross a few years back when one of the local turbo'd Miatas was stuck at a gas station trying to get his car started when his settings got all screwed up. Whipping out the laptop so he could figure out why the thing wouldn't fire.

But as new things are learned, such as the testing you are now doing with the EGT's and E-Cool, I'd love to be able to grab a file and load it up. Especially since it probably means we are going to get better/safer performance out of our cars!

I'm sure that not everyone would want one and that makes it perfect as an option on your kits. Also knowing where the closest programmer is would make a difference to some. I know recently as my friend Bill was installing his coldside, he sent his cards back and got the latest update before he finished the install. Had he been able to say brings the cards to someone local, there wouldn't have been any shipping costs back and forth. Any idea on what the cost of a programmer would be?

[socal pat]

Yah, those of us who have added fuel rails, 280 injectors, bigger pulleys etc. would like to be able to adjust % of gain right now instead of pulling the package and waiting for 2 way delivery or running rich until the programmer is available. The few guys in a given area who do buy one will be a real pal to the other local FFS guys.

[jwalton]

I'll 10th the motion. I'd love to have the option of re-flashing them without having to pull all of that wire back out of the dash and sending it back to you or waiting for an available programmer. And I certainly wouldn't mind being one of the LA area go-to guys for getting re-flashes done.

[oldtimer02]

It's a "go" in my book!!!
Bill, Let me know when it will be available & Price.

[Steve in VC]

Yah, those of us who have added fuel rails, 280 injectors, bigger pulleys etc. would like to be able to adjust % of gain right now instead of pulling the package and waiting for 2 way delivery or running rich until the programmer is available. The few guys in a given area who do buy one will be a real pal to the other local FFS guys.Pat (you are already on the list), and all those south of Los Angeles (or willing to drive a bit).

Tom is sending me the PC-Pro programmer and instructions. I offered to program other PC-Pro's, and Tom accepted that offer and suggested I post on the forum.

Lets work with Bill on getting the right profiles into as many systems as possible.

Bill,

What information do you need?

Pulley size
Engine / CPU year
Injector
Fuel rail?
Upgraded fuel pump?
Hot side / cold side?
Intercooler / WI?
Timing card?

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

I have started a thread with the latest files for the PC Pro and also some info on the settings here:

http://www.fastforwardsuperchargers.com/forum/showthread.php?p=19280#post19280

Also, we have decided that we will offer the PC Pro programmer as an option on all kits we sell and also for anyone who already has a kit and would like one. The price is $100.

Regarding the settings, at the moment, I have only verified what works best on Coldside setups. In the aforementioned thread I have posted the settings that work best for each model year range. With the change in pulley size the only thing that changes is the Timing Card settings.

Regarding Hotside setups, the only thing that I believe really changes things is whether or not a 5th injector is being run. If a 5th injector is being run, the same files as used on the Coldside can be used. However, without a 5th injector a different fuel curve is needed and I have posted a file for that. That also pertains to the Coldside Low Cost setup which also does not use a 5th injector.

Bill

[Steve in VC]

Bill,

Is there any adjustment for those using larger than stock injectors?

What is required to change the ratio of mains vs E-Cool?

'99-'00: 4 - 0 - 0 -- 4 - 4 - 4 means I can't lean the mains to add more E-Cool.

Thanks
Steve

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

Good point. I added the "full range" file which allows larger injectors to be run. However, let me review the settings with you all because the example Steve gave does not show the minimum fuel settings.

G - fuel trim 0-3000rpm
Y - fuel trim 3000-5000rpm
R - fuel trim 5000+ rpm
GB - accelerator pump fuel
YB - MAIN FUEL
RB - load adjust (higher value shifts fuel richer above 4500rpm and leaner below 4500rpm)

Anyway, with the default setting in that example for the '99-'00 of 4-0-0 -- 4-4-4, that is with the FUEL MAIN set right in the middle and also with the Load adjust right in the middle. The minimum fuel setting would be: 4-0-0 -- 4-0-4
And actually with larger injectors I estimate you would want to reduce the G and GB a touch too. So my recommended setting to try for larger injectors with the Bill_Main file would be 3-0-0 -- 3-0-4 on a '99-'00. Please note that the setting on the E-Cool card would remain the same since that injector size hasn't changed and it is important that that amount of fuel is used by the 5th injector so that the air charge temps are reasonable.

I just wanted to give the above example to make it clear the effect of changing the settings on the card. However, I am certainly open to testing on this with larger injectors.

[socal pat]

Great! Thanks for the setting suggestions. I'll reset the card tonight and drive it to work on Tuesday. I'll get back to you tomorrow evening with the results.

[liddown]

Bill or Tom,

How can I order a programmer?

Thanks

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

As with our supercharger kits or any other products, just give Tom a call or send him an email. Maybe this is a hint that we need to put up an online store? :)

480-993-5105
Tom@FastForwardSuperchargers.com

[liddown]

Thanks.... Email sent...

[socal pat]

Promises, promises. ;) Hey Bill, I couldn't resist and just had the car out for a quick run around the block. The new settings for my 280's are promising. Only hit boost a couple of times, but I'm around 1/2 a point leaner than before. Yay! Out of the 10's and back into the high 11's.

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

See, I'm good :biggrin:

[Steve in VC]

See, I'm good :biggrin:And humble ;) (I'd rather buy from good!)

[socal pat]

Well guys, I was still running a bit rich even with the Y/B at the lowest setting. Steve in VC came by tonight and we loaded the new program for bigger injectors (Bill Main Full Range). On the first try we got an AFR of 11.5 at tip in and a 12-12.2 the rest of the way to redline in the first 4 gears. This was with Y/B at 4 so I have a ton of room up or down. The file was great Bill!! Just need to do some fine tuning and I'm set. Now for that 120 pulley on my bench.;)

[Steve in VC]

I loaded the standard 99-00 main program, and even with G4 - Y0 - R0 -- GB4 - YB0 - RB4, I was running in the low 11's (E-Cool left at 4).

**Stock injectors, Walpro fuel pump, big fuel rail, and 120mm pulley**

I loaded the full range. Now I am at 4 - 0 - 0 -- 4 - 2 - 4, and the A/F is between 11.8 and 12.2.

I started with 3 - 0 - 0 -- 3 - 4 - 4, and lowered YB to 2 to get 12:1, but got a burst of detonation going up hills when I went WOT. I could only get it going to WOT, so added GB, and it almost went away, then added G to make it disappear. I'll get on a dyno to get better setting, but for now it is safe.

Bill,

Thanks for the help over the phone.

Steve

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

I'm very glad to hear this!

[socal pat]

Ok, speaking of final tuning. I am seeing 12-12.2 tip-in to redline. I want to be at 11.5 at the top end. Would you tillt the curve with r/b or just add a bit of R?

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

If your A/F ratio in the midrange is also at 12:1 I would simply add a 1/2 light to the Y/B on the Main Card. Also, do you have the E-Cool card set at 4? If not, make sure that it is set there. Finally, if the A/F ratio you are seeing at midrange is already at 11.5:1 and E-Cool is at 4 lights, then on the Main Card I would increase the R/B a couple lights to tilt the curve. If you can't get enough with that, then the last choice is to increase R by 2 lights.

[socal pat]

Yes the E-cool is at 4 and I'm at 12-12.2 from 3-7k rpm. By adding Y/B won't that richen the whole Magilla? I was thinking I might like to keep the 12 up to 5k and richen the top end to 11.5. Of course you have seen MANY more dyno runs than I have so if you think I'm better off at 11.5 then Y/B it is.

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

Actually, that makes it easy. All you need to do is enrichen the whole curve 1 light with the Y/B on the Main Card. From what I have seen on the dyno, being 11.5:1 in the midrange is actually optimal. On the Coldside I have seen that having it similarly at a 11.5-12:1 at high rpm is where you want to be for max power too. So the answer here is you are best off to keep the A/F ratio constant and just below 12:1.

[Silverstreak02]

Bill

I have one of the original PC Pros on my hotside with 100mm pulley. What is the advantage of the new program?

Jeff

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

I describe the changes made to the programming in this thread:

http://www.fastforwardsuperchargers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1733

[Silverstreak02]

Bill my original card is dialed in and works well. Is there any driving benefit to the new program? I did read that post, but don't understand why the change.

[Bill @ Fast Forward]

The reason is that I got my hands on the software and made some tweaks to make it better. The changes revolve around the fuel curve and also the acceleration pump function. I have set the fuel curve with a range that fits all Miata and also the acceleration pump works a bit better. On 1st gen Miatas there is a marked improvement due to the O2 clamp, which should not be used on 2nd gen Miatas.