MBE Mapping

[Benjam]

Sorry if this has been covered before but can caterham MBE ECU's be remapped or are they locked?

Thanks
Ben

[DVandrews]

In my experience they can be remapped with the right kit. Road and Race (the two Steves ) have done all those that have come here.

Dave

[TeflonT]

The Caterham map is locked, but the unlock code is 8654 if you want to modify your current map (i.e change rev limit, convert EU2 to Eu3 etc). What's up with it?

Most issues are related to throttle pot calibration.

[TeflonT]

The Caterham map is locked, but the unlock code is 8654 if you want to modify your current map (i.e change rev limit, convert EU2 to Eu3 etc). What's up with it?

Most issues are related to throttle pot calibration.

[DVandrews]

And to TB balance/airflow and cam timing.

Dave

[TeflonT]

I'm not sure TB balance/airflow and cam timing are specifically ECU related issues

[DVandrews]

Of course they are, the map has been calibrated for a particular airflow requirement and volumetric, this will vary considerably if the TBs are incorrectly set. This will mean that the fuelling and advance requirement at any load/speed site will vary considerably from the nominal value as mapped.

Dave

[RH7 Lowflyer]

Hi,
Recently got the 175 to 210 bhp upgrade on a Duratec. Rough as anything til warm. Is this normal? Caterham say yes.
R.

[SimonRogers]

Newer MBE ECU's are locked down. You can not even over write the firmware/software.
I understand this is less to do with Caterham's needs/wants than to meet EU5.

So on the newer cars and you want an upgrade - throw it away and start again by plugging in a new MBE free of all the restrictions.

[DCL]

RH7 Lowflyer said:

Hi,
Recently got the 175 to 210 bhp upgrade on a Duratec. Rough as anything til warm. Is this normal? Caterham say yes.
R.

I found this with the 210 BHP map too. I'm sure you had your reasons but, after going to the bother of quite a comprehensive upgrade, why did you not go for the roller barrels? It transforms the engine and much smoother too.

[TeflonT]

RH7 Lowflyer said:

Hi,
Recently got the 175 to 210 bhp upgrade on a Duratec. Rough as anything til warm. Is this normal? Caterham say yes.
R.

Need to tinker with the cold start maps. Caterham only ever guess this as thye do not have the R&D budget to do it properly. You need a mapping box and you need it to be COLD!

Regarding Simons comments, on the later MBE ECUs you can still re-flash them with non Caterham OEM code.

[SimonRogers]

Arnie - Not to my knowledge and I have asked MBE. They are completely locked down!

[mic]

They need to be returned to MBE.

[TeflonT]

Which means you can re-flash them with non Caterham OEM code.

The ROM code is possibly well guarded so only a few people have it though.

[SimonRogers]

I stand to be corrected and would welcome the option to re-flash but given I have been told by MBE when selling new options and add ons that it is simply not possible and that a new ECU is a must if you wish to map or alter setting in the car. The Caterham units can not.

Being an MBE sales outlet I believe I have been told the truth. If anyone wants to test this with an current Caterham ECU i can connect it up to my test - programming rig and try it. But if it doesn't work and it gets corrupted don't blame me!

Please point me in the direction of the proof of re-flashing. It could save customers £600 and open up sales opportunities to a wider market!

[Benjam]

Thanks everyone, in particular for the road and race suggestion and unlock code. No issues with our car per se but it's certainly running rich and we may want to tune/map in future hence why I was interested to confirm whether the existing ECU can be retained.

Cheers
Ben

[RH7 Lowflyer]

So, are Caterham pulling my plonk.r if they say they've remapped the ECU for the 210 upgrade. Once warm it certainly gives the beans. Just rough when cold - for about 3 mins.

[SimonRogers]

No Caterham may well be telling the truth.

They have access.

In the past there were many security pin no.'s. Now they update and rotate monthly.