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View Full Version : NIStune: real time rom tuning


statik
10-19-2007, 08:18 AM
Note: I am not selling this, I am by no means a tuning expert, and I have very little experience with true standalones other than wolf3d.

Some background:

My rom tune sucks. Every rom tune i've ever gotten has had a bad idle, and lean top end. It's not the rom tuners fault, no one can mail tunes that work perfect for every car, and they just dont have the staff to support me complaining until its fixed. I bought an AFC and a nismo FPR and fixed the top end, but my idle still sucks. I've always been interested in rom tuning, so I decided to fix the tune myself. I spent a lot of time researching rom tuning, I purchased a rom burner to read/write my own chips. I spent a lot of time playing with the infamous engrish Rom Editor. And then i stumbled across nistune.

I was pretty surprised when I did a search on here for nistune and came up with squat, let me spin it for you quick: Nistune works like a standard rom tune, swap the jumper on the back to read from the daugtherboard port, solder on a 20x2 header and plug the board in. Here is where it's different than a standard rom tune. You can tune it in real time through the consult port. Yes, using the daugtherboard you can tune the stock ECU in realtime through the consult port. Magic, witchcraft you say, lies...but no, its for truth.

OK enough gay, on with the pictures:

The daugtherboard
http://www.plmsdevelopments.com/images_rt/type_3.jpg

Software:
http://www.plmsdevelopments.com/images_rt/nistune_screen4.jpg
http://www.plmsdevelopments.com/images_rt/nistune_screen3.jpg
http://www.plmsdevelopments.com/images_rt/nistune_screen1.jpg

The run down: fuel maps, timing maps, knock maps, maf translation (VQ map), rev/speed limiter, injector multiplier (K value), injector latency, dwell duty, cold throttle/start enrichments, idle adjustments etc. etc.

The software also works with a good amount of aftermarket widebands and does full datalogging/playback. Since it's also coming over the consult port it will give you all the standard consult features.

PLMS Development is building/selling them for Nistune, they've been doing consult port cables/rom daugtherboards for years and are very freindly. They will set you up with a base map for your mods assuming its very typical i.e. stock SR or injectors/maf upgrade.

This is not for the tuning noob, if you have no clue how to even start tuning and have no desire to learn, I suggest the standard rom tune and AFC combo or a standalone and a shop tuner(Though in theory any competent tuner should be able to tune your car with nistune). This is for the people who want to tune all the parameters of their car like a standalone would let you but don't want to pay 900+.

Total was roughly $400 USD shipped for the board and the software, I already had a consult cable so figure another $75 for the cable if you need one and you're looking at standalone tuning capabilities for under $500. You get free software updates for life and access to the nistune forums for support.

ECU's currently supported: CA, VG, KA, SR, RB, etc. If you want more details check here (http://home.aanet.com.au/nistune/)

I will post up a better review once the car is back on the road, but im pretty excited to get my tune spot on and ditch this now useless AFC.

rps13drift
10-19-2007, 08:57 AM
Nice find! Looks really cool. I'm gonna tell my friend with ka-t about this tonite

water
10-19-2007, 08:58 AM
Still nothing for late model s14 sr's or s15 sr's (tear).

statik
10-19-2007, 09:03 AM
Still nothing for late model s14 sr's or s15 sr's (tear).

S14 is being tested currently

steve shadows
10-19-2007, 09:48 AM
My rom tune sucks. Every rom tune i've ever gotten has had a bad idle, and lean top end. .

watch your fuel pressure in real time, its probably your pump

statik
10-19-2007, 09:55 AM
watch your fuel pressure in real time, its probably your pump

bought an electronic fp gauge, looks fine under load (i.e. increases along with boost, never drops off). Also I replaced my original walbro that was only about a year old with one from a genuine source, figured i might have had one of those knockoffs.

Ninjabread
10-19-2007, 10:04 AM
In the pictures you show, I see an AFR reading, is that from the stock 02 sensor? Would that be a valid source to use for tuning?

Man this seems like a valid option to look into!

statik
10-19-2007, 10:09 AM
In the pictures you show, I see an AFR reading, is that from the stock 02 sensor? Would that be a valid source to use for tuning?

Man this seems like a valid option to look into!

No, thats from wideband input, it supports a bunch of aftermarket widebands. Stock narrowband simply cannot be used for tuning as it's not that precise.

Ninjabread
10-19-2007, 10:15 AM
Yea just read that on the site.

That's crazy. 500$ for enthalpy or 500$ for fully customisable ecu...

bigOdom1
10-19-2007, 10:25 AM
i have an s14sr therefore i have an enthalpy tune. last time i checked this was the hondata to nissans

water
10-19-2007, 10:48 AM
Yea just read that on the site.

That's crazy. 500$ for enthalpy or 500$ for fully customisable ecu...

But unless you know how to tune, have a wideband, and/or have access to a dyno (with a wideband), you'll probably end up paying another $500 or more getting your car tuned right. I'm not saying tuning is the black art that some people lend you to believe, just that its not something most people are capable of doing (right).

water
10-19-2007, 10:49 AM
S14 is being tested currently

I have an S15 sr. Any word on that?

mtx450
10-19-2007, 10:57 AM
Yeah, from what I hear, this and Calum ECU's are the best thing going right now. I am getting my Calum ECU in a few weeks.

statik
10-19-2007, 11:15 AM
I have an S15 sr. Any word on that?

same, its in the works/testing

Ninjabread
10-19-2007, 11:46 AM
But unless you know how to tune, have a wideband, and/or have access to a dyno (with a wideband), you'll probably end up paying another $500 or more getting your car tuned right. I'm not saying tuning is the black art that some people lend you to believe, just that its not something most people are capable of doing (right).

I see what you mean. And having said that, a reflash of my ecu is not as expensive as a visit to the dyno, but I will have considerably more downtime.

I guess each choice has it's pros / cons depending on what your situation is and especially where you live. Around here, I wouldn't trust anyone to tune my ecu.

codyace
10-19-2007, 11:56 AM
This looks similar to the Calum RealTime ECU's for FWD SR guys...good stuff!

Josh K.
11-17-2007, 11:11 PM
I should have my Nistune setup this week, can't wait!!

F3600
11-17-2007, 11:48 PM
I use it with my z31 with a vg30et.. Work perfectly !

Josh K.
11-18-2007, 11:57 AM
Matt from Nistune just told me the software will have full "auto tune afr" functionality hopefully ths week. that rocks!!!!

statik
11-18-2007, 11:59 AM
Matt from Nistune just told me the software will have full "auto tune afr" functionality hopefully ths week. that rocks!!!!

yeah basically if you hook up a wideband with nistune, in theory its very simple, map trace the rpm/load points, compare to real AFR from wideband, automatically adjust the values until desired AFR is reached, just needs to be developed carefully as to not destroy your motar, should be cool!

HKSdrift3r
11-18-2007, 12:13 PM
sounds like an awesome product. If i only knew anything about tuning...

bigOdom1
11-18-2007, 12:38 PM
what is the expected time til s14 sr20 is ready?

stinky_180
11-18-2007, 12:43 PM
dont forget the most imporant part

MAP TRACING!

its an three in one suite for tuning:
Real-Time Tuning
Data-Logging
Map-Tracing

With a wide-band (JAW) you can do a lot on your own.... of course if you dont know jack you'll blow your engine.

johngriff
11-18-2007, 12:45 PM
Do you have to set the dwell in Bianary or is it converted to constant charge in MS?

statik
11-18-2007, 01:14 PM
Do you have to set the dwell in Bianary or is it converted to constant charge in MS?

everything is converted for you, check the attachment

johngriff
11-18-2007, 01:34 PM
and you just edit it by its duty cycle parameter? I can live with that, definitely.

oh yeah, is their hardware compatible with TunerProRT?

statik
11-18-2007, 01:40 PM
and you just edit it by its duty cycle parameter? I can live with that, definitely.
oh yeah, is their hardware compatible with TunerProRT?

i haven't messed with any of that yet, really just fuel/ign, its super easy to use and works great, waiting on another serial->usb converter to do wideband tuning at the same time. You can probably use TunerPro to write/edit the roms, all the roms have to be written the same way, this will accept any roms as long as you have the proper address file, which they can provide, or you can create yourself if you know where the addresses are in the bin. You obviously won't, be able to modify the ecu in realtime like you can with the nistune software.

johngriff
11-18-2007, 02:03 PM
Mmmm tunerproRT (with their hardware package) is being touted as real time.

If you have stock coils, you shouldn't mess with the dwell, I am looking at some rom tuning hardware for a project on my brothers KA, wanted to do a KA project with some of the more commonly used hardware to showcase my nissan hacking/screwing expertise.

statik
11-18-2007, 02:12 PM
Mmmm tunerproRT (with their hardware package) is being touted as real time.


Ah ok, regardless I doubt either of the software will work with the others daughter board, it's all proprietary as far as how it communicates

If you have stock coils, you shouldn't mess with the dwell, I am looking at some rom tuning hardware for a project on my brothers KA, wanted to do a KA project with some of the more commonly used hardware to showcase my nissan hacking/screwing expertise.

yeah thats basically what I've read, most of the stuff i wont need to touch, ever

stinky_180
11-18-2007, 02:35 PM
calumsult works pefectly well with nistune