Using a Sport Plus switch to access a Cobb tune
#16
Rennlist Member
Its basically the difference between switching between "maps" versus switching between "programs." Each our cars has a file on the main ECU (and other files on other modules but thats not what we're talking about). The main tuning file on our ECU has many many many many "maps" the ECU relies on in order to run the engine. You having fueling maps, timing maps, throttle maps and then you have the many many maps that are relied upon by some of the main fueling and timing maps like your temperature offset maps, your throttle maps, your knock protection maps, your EGT enrichment maps, etc, etc etc.
When you press the "sport" button you are giving a command to the ECU to change to a more aggressive throttle map (the throttle position versus throttle body flap map) so you get more aggressive "response" from the pedal. This is actually the bread and butter map for tuners to adjust on naturally aspirated porsches as well since it is very hard to actually make more power out of tuning these cars, they can just adjust the throttle map to make the car feel much quicker. Win-win.... you sell a program and the customer feels like their car is faster.
Those map switches can be done on the fly. Its not completely dissimilar to how the Audi cars can do "program switching." APR requires a key on/off sequence to swap their maps but GIAC has a little OBD dongle that you plug in and you can file switch on the fly. The key is that you are not writing a new file to the ECU but rather commanding the ECU to utilize a different set of maps or commands.
Theres no reason you couldnt do something like this with the Porsche... file switching on the fly and with even our sport button but just not with what we are currently using technology wise like the myGenius flsher and AccessPort flasher. You'd need to write a file to the ECU that includes programming code for the map switching. This is the type of stuff very very experienced coders could do because you'd need to either borrow, develop, or steal the technology that some of our major tuners have to decrypt the ECU then you'd need to do the same with identifying and translating the code to identify what the actual maps our on our cars and only then you'd have to become an expert tuner and know what you are doing with modifying the maps correctly.
Mike
When you press the "sport" button you are giving a command to the ECU to change to a more aggressive throttle map (the throttle position versus throttle body flap map) so you get more aggressive "response" from the pedal. This is actually the bread and butter map for tuners to adjust on naturally aspirated porsches as well since it is very hard to actually make more power out of tuning these cars, they can just adjust the throttle map to make the car feel much quicker. Win-win.... you sell a program and the customer feels like their car is faster.
Those map switches can be done on the fly. Its not completely dissimilar to how the Audi cars can do "program switching." APR requires a key on/off sequence to swap their maps but GIAC has a little OBD dongle that you plug in and you can file switch on the fly. The key is that you are not writing a new file to the ECU but rather commanding the ECU to utilize a different set of maps or commands.
Theres no reason you couldnt do something like this with the Porsche... file switching on the fly and with even our sport button but just not with what we are currently using technology wise like the myGenius flsher and AccessPort flasher. You'd need to write a file to the ECU that includes programming code for the map switching. This is the type of stuff very very experienced coders could do because you'd need to either borrow, develop, or steal the technology that some of our major tuners have to decrypt the ECU then you'd need to do the same with identifying and translating the code to identify what the actual maps our on our cars and only then you'd have to become an expert tuner and know what you are doing with modifying the maps correctly.
Mike
#17
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Its basically the difference between switching between "maps" versus switching between "programs." Each our cars has a file on the main ECU (and other files on other modules but thats not what we're talking about). The main tuning file on our ECU has many many many many "maps" the ECU relies on in order to run the engine. You having fueling maps, timing maps, throttle maps and then you have the many many maps that are relied upon by some of the main fueling and timing maps like your temperature offset maps, your throttle maps, your knock protection maps, your EGT enrichment maps, etc, etc etc.
When you press the "sport" button you are giving a command to the ECU to change to a more aggressive throttle map (the throttle position versus throttle body flap map) so you get more aggressive "response" from the pedal. This is actually the bread and butter map for tuners to adjust on naturally aspirated porsches as well since it is very hard to actually make more power out of tuning these cars, they can just adjust the throttle map to make the car feel much quicker. Win-win.... you sell a program and the customer feels like their car is faster.
Those map switches can be done on the fly. Its not completely dissimilar to how the Audi cars can do "program switching." APR requires a key on/off sequence to swap their maps but GIAC has a little OBD dongle that you plug in and you can file switch on the fly. The key is that you are not writing a new file to the ECU but rather commanding the ECU to utilize a different set of maps or commands.
Theres no reason you couldnt do something like this with the Porsche... file switching on the fly and with even our sport button but just not with what we are currently using technology wise like the myGenius flsher and AccessPort flasher. You'd need to write a file to the ECU that includes programming code for the map switching. This is the type of stuff very very experienced coders could do because you'd need to either borrow, develop, or steal the technology that some of our major tuners have to decrypt the ECU then you'd need to do the same with identifying and translating the code to identify what the actual maps our on our cars and only then you'd have to become an expert tuner and know what you are doing with modifying the maps correctly.
Mike
When you press the "sport" button you are giving a command to the ECU to change to a more aggressive throttle map (the throttle position versus throttle body flap map) so you get more aggressive "response" from the pedal. This is actually the bread and butter map for tuners to adjust on naturally aspirated porsches as well since it is very hard to actually make more power out of tuning these cars, they can just adjust the throttle map to make the car feel much quicker. Win-win.... you sell a program and the customer feels like their car is faster.
Those map switches can be done on the fly. Its not completely dissimilar to how the Audi cars can do "program switching." APR requires a key on/off sequence to swap their maps but GIAC has a little OBD dongle that you plug in and you can file switch on the fly. The key is that you are not writing a new file to the ECU but rather commanding the ECU to utilize a different set of maps or commands.
Theres no reason you couldnt do something like this with the Porsche... file switching on the fly and with even our sport button but just not with what we are currently using technology wise like the myGenius flsher and AccessPort flasher. You'd need to write a file to the ECU that includes programming code for the map switching. This is the type of stuff very very experienced coders could do because you'd need to either borrow, develop, or steal the technology that some of our major tuners have to decrypt the ECU then you'd need to do the same with identifying and translating the code to identify what the actual maps our on our cars and only then you'd have to become an expert tuner and know what you are doing with modifying the maps correctly.
Mike
#18
Thanks for all of the insightful feedback. To clarify, I have a row-your-own 6 speed GTS, hence no Sport Plus feature as is available with PDK equipped variants. My query is really one that is grounded in aesthetics... If I was going to add a more aggressive tune/map pack via Cobb (or some other reputable vendor), I did not want to have to fumble with activating it via some clunky device. The tuners device may be necessary, but in a perfect world, I'd like to have the device hidden and install a Sport Plus switch to activate the alternate more aggressive (stronger than Sport mode) tune/mapping option. All of this said, I, like so many of you, lack the ability to do this myself. Hey Cobb, are you listening? Give those of us who do not have factory installed Sport Plus the ability to purchase the switch and use it as previously described.