T4 Updates

[timborob]

Hi

Please could the experienced T4 owners tell me what updates will be available for my 2001 1.8 Automatic Club?

I have read there are Auto gearbox updates, will these really be of much benefit to me?

And were there any ECU updates too?

Thanks
Tim

[BigRuss]

It all depends on the age of the car or if it has been updated or parts replaced in the past.

T4 will usually prompt if there is an update available.

Re-writing the software for no good reason is not recommended the only exceptions to this are when the software has become corrupted and is throwing up error messages.

Often Testbook will say it wants to update only to state when you continue to the next screen that it has found acceptable software, but gives you the opportunity to re-install, I don't as this point, there is certainly an element of risk to installing software if the download fails for any reason you may end up with an ECU that is useless and a car that is off the road.

(It's different for X-part or specialists who have lnks to X-part and Omitec service contracts, they have the necessary back up and resources should things go wrong. )

I have done the autobox update on my car but it is an early one, certainly a lot of the improvement that people have reported will be short lived as the autobox ecu re-learns as it is driven, most of the effect is caused by the re-set of the ecu during the "upgrade" to it's default settings.

The same effect to a large degree can be found by either a battery re-set or by pulling then replacing fuse 4 in the engine compartment fusebox. (must be off for at least 90 seconds)

I certainly found that within the first couple of hundred miles a lot of the "improvement" I initially found had deminished.

There are later versions of the MEMS 3 engine tunes for the 1.8 but we're not talking major improvements, mainly they are emission related and could reduce mpg slightly.

Again, the ECU will adapt as it is driven to engine condition, driver inputs etc.

If your car seems to be working well then I wouldn't worry about it


Russ

[gmax333]

My autobox upgrade initially made the car feel worse. The car didn't react properly and didn't want to drop down gears. 20 miles later the car was much better, snappier gear change and holds revs slightly longer. I had engine updated installed too and not sure which one has done it but the accelerator now reacts as it should.

There has been no change after the intial 20 miles. It was the first 20 miles where the car wasn't 'right'

[BigRuss]

Until the engine and box have been through the full range of driver inputs then the ecu's have then found all the values.

20 miles of normal driving sounds about right for most of the values to be learned.

There may be some of the values outside the normal ones that can take longer.

Russ

[v192mak]

I suppose it depends on the update. The last engine updates wear done in 2005 but the V6 had another update on the 2008 disc.

I am lucky enough to have most dics from 2002 onwards. Including a current 04/2009 disc.

Lovel will soon have a copy off this forum as I have sent him one too.

The gearbox update on my 2000 W reg has stayed and the car feels more powerful but the engine update re-learns due to age of the sensors, condition of engine etc.

[gmax333]

Originally Posted by BigRuss

Until the engine and box have been through the full range of driver inputs then the ecu's have then found all the values.

20 miles of normal driving sounds about right for most of the values to be learned.

There may be some of the values outside the normal ones that can take longer.

Russ

I've done nearly 1k miles this week and its still the same, still a big improvement. Not sure why anything would change after 1k miles.

[David3807]

At my 2002 tourers last service 800 miles ago I asked that both Engine management and Auto Box software be updated if there were later versions available.

Well it seems there were later versions and the autobox now feels very different (in a good way) and remains better after 800 miles. Gearchanges smoother (not that they were bad before) and kick down more responsive. The auto box seems more eager to get into higher gears in 'D' as well.

And after the two upgrades I seem to have got better MPG figures as per the Trip Computer. Saw over 40MPG and a range of 485 miles at one point (appx 25 miles after fill up and reset computer) on the M25 going to the Herts meet. Think its about 4MPG optimistic at the moment on the basis of a couple of fill ups which means a true 35 or 36 MPG at that point.

I have never seen figures like that on the car before.

The service was the 7 year one which is just an oil change really so that shouldnt have made any difference.

Does this mean that the software was rubbish before the update and a simple reload improved matters or we sure that there is nothing in the updates that would improve performance.

Longer term feedback from those who have updated would be usefull

[timborob]

Originally Posted by BigRuss

Until the engine and box have been through the full range of driver inputs then the ecu's have then found all the values.

20 miles of normal driving sounds about right for most of the values to be learned.

There may be some of the values outside the normal ones that can take longer.

Russ

Thanks to all for the interesting replies
especially it taken around 20 miles to learn your driving style
:lol:

As I have a 1.8 Auto I was hoping an update might change the ratios abit as i find mine changes up gear far too quickly in D which causes in to really struggle on inclines due to the lowdown torque with this engine.

I keep it in Sport mode now as won't change down aslong as i keep around 1/3 throttle.

If anyone can shed more light on these updates then all the better but it sounds like I will book a T4 session at sometime next year with one of you experience guys here.

Before that i will be getting the Auto fluid changed


Tim

[BigRuss]

As I said earlier it all depends on when the car was built or last updated.

Some of the updates may prove to be worthwhile depending upon that.

There have been no upgrades to the software as regards ecu mapping or autobox updates after December 2004. There has been some small software updates that mainly relate to problems with coding issues for various models but nothing more.

Any 75's and ZT's made after then will probably already have any upgrades.

There's various methods to get the ecu to re-learn quicker any seach on the internet will give loads. The values that will take longest are the ones that are rarely used.

If you've recently got the car then it's already learned the values based on the driver inputs of it's previous owner(s) if the battery hasn't been disconnected.

As to applying updates go to a X-part dealer or specialist to have the updates applied, should anything fail, which can happen, they have the resources and backup to put it right.


Russ

[Ragman]

Any updates for the 260 available via a T4 session?