Yeesh, alright I'll do my best here.

Open source tuning requires two things: A Tactrix cable, and a map editor, RomRaider being the most widely used. You don't have to slice, dice, julien, or even crosscut any wires under the dash, though with the 04 WRX you will need the appropriate flash block connector (from Tactrix or Cobb or even make your own), but that just connects to a small connector under the dash, and you disconnect it when done flashing.

Best way to see gains is to get a custom tune, you can use any tune that you see online that fits your mod list, but it's not guaranteed to be the best for your application, and even some fine tuning needs to be done depending on area, altitude, gas, etc.... so you'll need to be careful with any map not custom tailored to your car.

Speak to a tuner about your options. You can keep the map on a flash drive some where for safe keeping, as well as the stock map to put back on when you change your exhausts for emissions testing, and flash them at their respective times.

I'd highly recommend a custom tune, but you CAN use maps premade by other open source tuners who are kind enough to share their knowledge and expertise with you.

I recommend you go to RomRaider.com, signing up on the forums, and read the **** out of that site to get an idea of what open source tuning is all about.

 

I just dont want to really screw anything up, now where would i get that 2nd cable at,and where can i go to download maps,i just wanna be as carefull as possible with this, i just dont want to pay 375 to get a dyno tune which i know is better, from what everyone says,but i need all the help i can get please and thank you

 

You mean the flashblock connector? Go here and get it for $9

ECU Tools

Also the place you can order the Tactrix 2.0 cable brand new.

RomRaider.com has a forum where people post the maps they've made, again, register there and take a look around to familiarize yourself with the scene.

Just to maybe put your mind at ease, I'm currently running a stage 1 map from a romraider.com user and have had great success with no issues, so that might help put your mind at ease, but remember to be on guard about any potential issue.

 

what is this cobb access port computer thing i keep seeing how good is that

 

It's a map switcher, essentially. The V2 AccessPort comes in a neat little package with a nice color screen and a few other cool little features, but it's almost $700 new, making it quite a bit more expensive. The upside to it though, is that it's all inclusive, you load the maps onto it, and you can keep it in the car for fast map switching on the fly. Open source tuning is more for permanent mapping where the AccessPort can handle both permanent, and on-the-fly mapping which is a bit of an advantage. In order to be able to do your own tuning with the AccessPort you have to purchase the StreetTuner software as well, which is another few hundred dollars. There are a lot of tuners out there that will utelize the AccessPort and tune your car for you, but that's another $400 on top of the purchase price of the AccessPort.

It boils down to preference though. I like the open source method because I spent $140 bucks on a cable and have free software to use to tune my own vehicle and others if I so choose. If you're new to the tuning scene, the AccessPort may be your best bet, but if you plan on getting even further into modding, open source has a lot more to offer IMO.

 

so u gotta buy that for almost 800 than another 200 for software forget that, now will i need to buy a wideband o2 sensor too and where can i go look at maps to download or get a feel for this at ive downloaded all the software i need i just dont know where to get maps and actually look at this stuff and thanks for the help

 

That's what I said. Lol. Long ago I had an 02 WRX and went with a V1 AccessPort, liked it at the time, but I'm quite a bit more experienced now. If you are going to be doing any tuning at all or proper logging, yes you should have a wideband O2, they're not 100% needed if you're using someone elses map, but it's a VERY good idea to have so you can keep an eye on A/F ratios, which makes logging even informational.

Here is the base map section of RomRaider where WRX maps are posted. Download one, open it with RomRaider and take a look. Again, make an account there and read all you can.

and another thing if i buy that adapter i wont have to jump any wires or anything i just plug those 2 green plugs together than when im done unplug those and use that adapter too right on the one plug

Correct, when you flash you connect the green test connectors and attach the flashblock connector to the flash block. When done, unconnect the test connectors and remove the flashblock connector.

 

and another thing if i buy that adapter i wont have to jump any wires or anything i just plug those 2 green plugs together than when im done unplug those and use that adapter too right on the one plug

 

now my air to fuel ratio can i mess that up bad or whats up with that

 

Air/Fuel ratio is a measure of how much air is in the mix compared to 1 part of fuel. The Air/Fuel ratio is critical to tuning as you need to keep the fuel in great enough supply to avoid high exhaust temperatures which causes detonation inside of the engine, this causes engine damage and can easily ruin an engine.

and what is a knock sensor

Knock sensors detect detonation and signal to the ECU to retard the timing in an effort to avoid said detonation and to protect the motor.

You have a lot of questions that can rather easily be answered by reading Bad Noodle's Tuning Guide on Nasioc, it has a lot of great information.

Located here:
A Complete Tuning Guide - NASIOC

Though if you're going to attempt tuning a vehicle, you have a LONG way to go and a LOT to learn.

 

and what is a knock sensor

 

i couldn't click on any of the base map section you brought up in the last post

 

Did you register an account?

 

o i know im reading everything i can right now, and thanks for your time but i might just wait till next year, and buy me a cobb acc port it seem easier to do just pricey

 

It is a bit easier, I'll admit, but I think open source really is the best option. But, it's not for everyone.

 

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/tunin...134322320-opensource-tuning-your-questions-answered-here-romraider-tactrix.html

http://www.clubwrx.net/forums/tunin...forums/tuning-electronic-engine-management/134322905-datalogging-romraider.html

 

God I need to remember there's stickies for this **** next time. Oh well, kept me entertained for a while at least.

 

Don't take this the wrong way, but you are not ready to be modifying your ROM. You should also not be using user-submitted base maps yet. You need to be confident you know what you're looking at, how to interpret the information, and what changes to make (if any). If you aren't willing to fork over $400 for a tune, I doubt you're going to want to fork over $2K+ for a new motor.

If you don't want to fork over the fee for a custom in-person tune, look into an Internet/e-mail tune. All you'll need to do is know how to read/write e-mails, flash your car, and datalog; everything else is done on their end.

Lastly, you can purchase a base map from a company like XPT.

 

Where are you from Matt? If near North NJ I can help you out.

 

i live in ohio,damn wtf is my luck i need all the help i can get lol

 

no im taking this serios, i really do appreciate the honesty lol,its not that im not willing, to fork over 375 for a tune,its the fact that we have e check here in ohio,and i have to remove those pipes each time, and i dont want to have to keep retuning it,and i am new to this and im trying to get all the help i can thanks

 

no im taking this serios, i really do appreciate the honesty lol,its not that im not willing, to fork over 375 for a tune,its the fact that we have e check here in ohio,and i have to remove those pipes each time, and i dont want to have to keep retuning it,and i am new to this and im trying to get all the help i can thanks

You will not have to continue to retune the vehicle. When you go to get a tune, bring a USB flash drive and ask for the stock map, the tuned map, and one datalog from that tuned map to be put on there for your records.

If you have to go back to stock, reflash the base map, do whatever you need, then put the parts back on and reflash the tuned map. You'll be back to the point you were at the day of the tune.