Cerbera ECU Confusion

[rjben]

I spoke to Craig (Nitrous Cerbera) at Pistonfest who told me about his non-standard ECU map for his 4.5LW. Apparently this was supplied by TVR Power and (apparently) is also supplied by Andy at APM (is this correct?). So to find out more I spoke to Dom at TVR Power who said that the new ROM sorted out the over-fuelling of the standard 4.5 map, which results in smoother performance below 3000rpm and according to Craig a bit more BHP and ld/lt. All this for £150 + VAT seems like value for money……

As my car is at Fernie’s for some Nitrons I thought I d ask Brian about getting this ‘ECU upgrade’ fitted. He called the new chip a ‘De-Throttle’ (or something similar SP) and said he’s fitted them in the past and although Cerbera’s do benefit, Tuscan’s tend to have the best results although they don’t tend to have much power increase.

So I’m confused, are we talking about the same chip or has TVR Power come up with something other than this ‘De-Throttle’ chip?

Please help a confused man who wants to gewt rid of some cash before his girlfriend gets her hands on it!

Cheers,

Rob

[FourWheelDrift]

Have a look at the Cerbera forum under the FAQ's

I think there's something in there about all the ECU's about.

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 14th July 21:28

[.Mark]

Ahhh! So it was you who bought it eh?
I'm prety sure that was the one I drove with Drew a few months back. I popped my Cerbie cherry in that and there was none of the heavy clutch and stalling everyone warns you about.
Lovely drive, good choice Rob

Lucky, lucky, barsteward


By the way, no idea about the chip mate.

[rjben]

FourWheelDrift said:

Have a look at the Cerbera forum under the FAQ's I think there's something in there about all the ECU's about. >> Edited by FourWheelDrift on Wednesday 14th July 21:28

Cheers....but where do I find this illusive FAQ...on this site?

[rjben]

.Mark said:

Ahhh! So it was you who bought it eh? I'm prety sure that was the one I drove with Drew a few months back. I popped my Cerbie cherry in that and there was none of the heavy clutch and stalling everyone warns you about. Lovely drive, good choice Rob Lucky, lucky, barsteward By the way, no idea about the chip mate.

Cheers Mark,

Yep bought it and enjoying it! Although I think I've been spoilt by the handling of my last car (Evo). I think I'm a bit too much of a pussy to deal with the tramlining and general rough road unruliness of the beast. In fact I was so shocked by the handling that I took it back thinking there was something wrong with it. After much pestering on my part (and patience on Brian’s) they have reassured me that it is fine (although I’m sure that Brian thinks I’m stalking him now!)…..anyway, that’s why its in for Nitrons. I hope they sort it out or I may well be chopping it in for (SHOCK HORROR) an M3.

[GCerbera]

Here you go Rob
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?faq=true&f=6

[.Mark]

Can't be the one I drove then Rob???
The one I went out in felt really good and well planted. I did expect the tramlining and stuff, but not a sign of it, was soon feeling confident giving it Johnny Large Potatoes on the road to Petworth.

Whatever, enjoy it mate, wife wants a 4.5RR but refuses to drive one yet and she knows full well that if she does the cheque book will be straight out!

[HarryW]

No disrespect to Fernies, if you are still not totally happy with the way it goes or handles try Andy at APM down Liphook way just off the A3 (phone No in Sprint). He pretty much lives and breaths Cerbs, he is one opinion I would seek. A little closer to you is Paul at Austec, near Gatwick.
If you ask for an honest opinion on where the car is on the cerb scale of 1 - 10 either of these will tell you. Andy has a very good relationship with TVR Power and can re-map the ECU with the latest improved and approved TVR map as well. Not sure if anyone else outside of TVR Power or the factory that can, I stand to be corrected on that one .

Harry

[rjben]

.Mark said:

Can't be the one I drove then Rob??? The one I went out in felt really good and well planted. I did expect the tramlining and stuff, but not a sign of it, was soon feeling confident giving it Johnny Large Potatoes on the road to Petworth. Whatever, enjoy it mate, wife wants a 4.5RR but refuses to drive one yet and she knows full well that if she does the cheque book will be straight out!

Strangely enough this one felt planted on the roads around Fernhust. As soon as I got it on a rutted slow lane it was another story though…really hairy…impossible to keep in a straight line. It can also move off course when pushing on over Welsh A roads, and I’ve found myself nearly clipping the curbs on the apex of a few high speed corners that have an uneven surface.

I used to have a 4.5LW prior to my evo…so it really could be down to the expectations that the evo set. It really did have fantastic handling; it could be relied on with any surface, wet or dry. Shame that it has no soul!

[rjben]

GCerbera said:

Here you go Rob www.pistonheads.com/gassing/forum.asp?faq=true&f=6

Cheers Graham,

I pretty much read all of that in the past. I believe it talks about 3rd party maps by Austic / Jools. I don’t think these have got off the ground yet.

What I’m looking for is somebody that understands what TVR Power are offering (i.e. the chip in Craig’s car, and whether it’s the very same chip that Fernie’s are talking about.

Cheers,

Rob

[rjben]

HarryW said:

No disrespect to Fernies, if you are still not totally happy with the way it goes or handles try Andy at APM down Liphook way just off the A3 (phone No in Sprint). He pretty much lives and breaths Cerbs, he is one opinion I would seek. A little closer to you is Paul at Austec, near Gatwick. If you ask for an honest opinion on where the car is on the cerb scale of 1 - 10 either of these will tell you. Andy has a very good relationship with TVR Power and can re-map the ECU with the latest improved and approved TVR map as well. Not sure if anyone else outside of TVR Power or the factory that can, I stand to be corrected on that one . Harry

Hi Harry,

Thanks for the reply. I have to admit that I thought about getting a 2nd opinion before having the Nitron’s fitted. When I asked Brian (Fernie’s) about them he actually advised me to get them fitted by Joospeed, so in all fairness to them I think they are being quite honest about the good state of the car, after all Jools would be the first person to spot a fault that they had missed! Or is that a clever bit of reverse psychology on Brian’s part!

I did a search here and it would appear that Cerbie’s and tramlining go hand in hand. It would also appear that Nitrons sort this out (fingers crossed).

Thanks for the info on Andy at APM. I think he may be my next port of call regarding getting to the bottom of this chip confusion.

Cheers,

Rob

[rjben]

So back on topic. Somebody must know.....

- what this 'De-Throttle' chip is?
- Is it the same chip thats in Cerbera450's car?


Another question, does anydody know what a Cerbera Red Rose map would be like in a standard 4.5? Come to think of it, is this the very same chip as above?

This is quickly turning into 'Arse & Elbow' identification time! Help.

[Mr Freefall]

rjben said:

So back on topic. Somebody must know..... - what this 'De-Throttle' chip is? - Is it the same chip thats in Cerbera450's car? Another question, does anydody know what a Cerbera Red Rose map would be like in a standard 4.5? Come to think of it, is this the very same chip as above? This is quickly turning into 'Arse & Elbow' identification time! Help.

- what this 'De-Throttle' chip is?

This is usually for the Speed 6 engines. Some S6's have a slight missfire when accelerating hard around 6k. This is caused by a vibration in throttle pod 1 on the butterfly needle and caused the engine to overfuel, as the ecu think the fuel mapping is above 100% so it stutters.

The De-throttle chip is a chip that averages out the sensor readings at this point and basically fools the ecu to think it is at 98% and the problem is cured.

Usually you have to have a couple of new throttle bodies also to cure this.

I know the Cerb S6 cars have had this problem, and the dealer may be confused by this, it didn't think it was the same chip for the AJP8, but I know jack about the AJP8 tho'

Hope this helps

Mr F

[rjben]

Mr F,

Thanks, that makes sense. I guess I just need to know if the 'De-Throttle' chip is the same as the 'new map' chip fitted to Cerbera450's car. I'll mail Craig via his profile and see if he can add his input.

Cheers,

Rob

[cerber450]

The chip I had fitted was the one on the TVR power site for the NOS set up.

Basically I got better fueling and more power and I definatly got more power as when I used to go up against Tuscan RR or S I was virually neck and neck its a different story now as I can clearly pull away.

The Map used is a cross between standard and Red Rose.

[rjben]

Thank you Craig,

Fernie's are going to give TVR Power a ring and get one for my car ASAP.

Thanks for your help,

Rob