TuneECU - Key Functions
1. Installing drivers for the TTP OBD2 Cable
The first step in using TuneECU is making a connection from your computer to your bikes ECM (Engine Control Module). The TTP OBD2 cable is ideal for this application, it uses the latest version of the FTDI 232 chip and has a connection LED which lights when connected. The drivers can be downloaded from the FDTI web site (download drivers HERE).
- Once downloaded, unzip the drivers to a directory on your hard drive and make a note of where this directory is, as you'll need to access it later.
- Plug your OBD2 cable in to a spare USB port on your computer, once plugged in, Windows will start trying to install a driver for it. If a box comes up saying "windows update is looking for a driver", cancel this action as it may install a driver which is older than the copy you downloaded from the FTDI web site.
- Navigate your way to the "Device Manager" in windows and look for "Other devices", under here you should find an item called "FT232R USB UART", it should have a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark inside, showing that it is not installed correctly. Right click on this item and in the context menu click "Update Driver Software", this will bring up a box with two options, now click on "Browse my computer for software driver" and direct it to the directory where you have stored the FTDI drivers, click OK and let the drivers install. Now re-boot your computer. Once you have logged back in, if you navigate back to Device Manager and open "Universal Serial Bus controllers", if the drivers are installed correctly, you should see an entry called "USB Serial Converter".
2. Installing TuneECU
Installing TuneECU is much easier than installing the OBD2 cable drivers. First download the latest version of TuneECU HERE. Unzip it to your hard drive and create a shortcut of "TuneECU.exe" onto your desktop. That's it.
3. Making the hardware connections
Remove the seat from your bike and connect your OBD2 cable to the connector on your bike. (It would also be worthwhile removing the fuse for the headlight from the bikes fuse box, as downloading a tune can sometimes take 15-20 minutes and with the headlight on for that period of time without the engine charging the battery, can reduce the voltage to a level where the ECM will no longer connect reliably. Connect the other end of the cable to a spare USB port on your computer, then boot up your computer and open the TuneECU program.
4. Making the software connection
With the ignition turned on, look in the bottom right hand corner of TuneECU, you will see a red flashing LED graphic. This LED shows if you're connected or not. It starts off flashing red, then it turns amber and when connection is complete, it turns green. This may not be as straight forward as it seems, on occasion TuneECU will cycle through flashing red and then amber, but not always reaching the green connected state. Don't worry, persevere, it will eventually connect and turn green. You may have to turn the ignition off and on again, you may also need to close down TuneECU and re-open again. If you just can't get a connection, then check the voltage of your battery, it does need to be fully charged to be reliable.
5. Downloading your TTP Performance Tune
Once you have a connection with the green LED flashing, go to the "File" menu and click "Open Map File", navigate to where you saved your TTP tune, select it and click the "Open" button. Your TTP tune will be loaded into TuneECU. All TTP tunes come with the O2 sensors disabled and the SAI (Air Injection) enabled, if you have remove the SAI system from your bike, this is the time to double click on the tick box to disable it. Once you are ready to load your tune into your ECM, press the green "Download" button on the top right hand side of the program, you will now receive a warning box, ignore it and press OK. You may notice the green LED connection light has turned red, that's normal, it will turn green again shortly and your TTP tune will then start downloading with a percentage graphic showing at the bottom of the screen. Once the graphic gets to 100%, a box will come up asking you to turn off your ignition. Turn off your ignition and don't forget to replace the headlight fuse back in your bikes fuse box before going any further.
6. Adjusting the TPS (throttle position sensor)
The TPS generally doesn't need adjusting as it should be set perfectly from the factory. The reasons it's sometimes necessary would be if the TPS developed a fault and needed to be replaced or the throttle bodies have been cleaned or modified and the TPS was removed for the job. Using the TuneECU software makes it a very simple job and should only take you around 10 minutes. The tools needed for this job are a T25 TORX socket/key/screwdriver, TTP OBD2 cable and a laptop with TuneECU installed.
The Process:
- Warm the engine up to normal operating temperature and adjust the idle speed to 1,000rpm +/- 50rpm.
- With the idle speed correctly set, switch off the engine.
- Connect your laptop to the ECM via your OBD2 cable, turn on the ignition and make a connection with TuneECU.
- Navigate to the "Diagnostics" screen in TuneECU, to the left side is the sensors panel, the third section down is labelled "Throttle" and in this section there is a voltage reading. This reading when correct should be 0.60v +/- 0.02v.
- If you determine that the TPS needs adjustment, then loosen the retaining T25 TORX screw a little so you can gently turn the TPS. Make your adjustment and then tighten the retaining screw to 3.5Nm and recheck the voltage reading shown in TuneECU. Repeat the adjustment if the voltage is outside the specified range.
N.B. This is a setting voltage only. Because of the adaptive nature of the ECM and the possible manual adjustment of the idle speed, the in service voltage may vary from this setting figure.
7. Reset Adaption
Reset adaption should be carried out after each download to your ECM. This procedure, as the name suggests, resets the adaptive settings within your ECM to factory defaults. This lets the new tune build up a new set of adaptive logs that will take in to account things like air pressure and temperature changes within your riding locale and also resets the TPS (throttle position sensor) which can enable smoother running. It is also wise before carrying out adaption, to make sure you have erased any error codes your ECM has recorded.
N.B. Never start the engine or let it run for any length of time in an enclosed area. The exhaust fumes are poisonous and may cause loss of consciousness or death within a short period of time. Always operate the engine in the open air or in a well ventilated area.
The Process:
- This procedure should be carried with a cold engine.
- Turn the ignition on, wait 10 seconds and then turn it off again.
- Turn the ignition on, then wait until TuneECU has connected automatically and select "Reset Adaption"
from the ECU menu.
- Start the engine with the cold start knob pulled out and don't touch the throttle. Let the engine idle and after about 5 minutes push in the cold start knob. Let the engine idle for the remainder of the time specified until the TPS light in the status bar becomes green – around 10 to 20 minutes.
- Turn the ignition off for a couple of minutes to ensure the ECM can save any adaption data.
From experience of working with TuneECU and Triumph twins, the TPS reset light does not always come on after the amount of time specified. If it doesn't, not to worry, turn the ignition off for a couple of minutes as above. Also worth a mention here is that if you are idling your bike for 10-20 minutes in hot weather, there's a possibility the down pipes on your exhaust system will start bluing as the pipes get hot. Some owners like the look of the bluing on the header pipes as it has always been there with Triumphs from days of old. If you don't like it, you will be able to take it back to a polished finish with a chrome cleaner like Solvol Autosol.
8. Balancing Your Throttle Bodies
Checking and adjusting the balance of your throttle bodies can be very worthwhile if they are unbalanced by any degree, as you will most probably feel the difference in the running of your engine. Although it is unlikely they will need adjusting every time, they should be checked twice a year to keep your bike in good tune. The benefits of balanced throttle bodies will be a smoother running engine and the knowledge that both cylinders are working together. When the throttle bodies are not balanced, the butterflies which control airflow in to the engine are out of synch and allow slightly differing amounts of air in to each cylinder. This condition will generally cause an engine to run a little rough and generates vibration.
The Process:
- Warm your engine up to normal operating temperature and adjust the idle speed
- With the idle speed correctly set, switch off the ignition.
- Connect your laptop to the ECM via your OBD2 cable, turn on the ignition, start the engine and make a connection with TuneECU.
- Navigate to the "Tests" screen in TuneECU, the two upper dials of the three dials on the left of the main screen are cylinder 1 and cylinder 2 for balancing the throttle bodies. Both of these dials should read exactly the same to achieve perfect balance. This can be difficult, but is possible with minute adjustment on the balance screw.
