Feature list
What I have made factory ECUs do
These are functions I wrote into the manufacturer's own engine and gearbox computers. Each one carries its real status, because a feature that exists on paper is not the same as one that has been driven.
Boost controlHonda Civic 9th gen 1.8, turbocharged
ECU-owned boost control
Driven on the carThe factory ECU decides how much boost the pedal request deserves and enforces it, with its own target for every gear and engine speed. Off-boost, the car drives like a standard Civic.
Electronic wastegate over CAN
Driven on the carA motorised wastegate driven by my own controller. The factory ECU calculates the gate position; the controller moves it and reports back. Any failure opens the gate.
Drive modes: ECO, NORMAL, EXTREME
Driven on the carThe factory ECON button selects lower boost. A hold on cruise CANCEL selects EXTREME, with a sharper pedal and a spark-only shift cut. Every start begins in NORMAL or ECO.
Boost reduced on knock
Driven on the carWhen the knock system retards timing, the boost target comes down as well, so the engine is relieved of load and not only of spark.
Boost reduced when lean, with a hard stop
Driven on the carIf the measured mixture stays leaner than commanded, boost is lowered for the rest of the pull. A fixed stop sits at 15 psi.
3-bar manifold sensor conversion
Driven on the carThe stock sensor runs out of range at about 11.5 psi. I fitted a 3-bar sensor and rewrote how the ECU reads it.
Second boost pressure sensor
Driven on the carA second sensor ahead of the throttle gives the ECU and the wastegate law a second view of boost.
Fuel and ignitionHonda Civic 9th gen 1.8, turbocharged
Full speed-density fuelling
Driven on the carEngine air is calculated from manifold pressure, engine speed and a table of how well the engine fills, replacing the airflow sensor that cannot measure boosted flow.
Self-learning ignition timing
Driven on the carTiming is learned per cylinder and per operating point. It advances slowly while the engine is quiet and steps back on knock. Learned values can be written into the next file.
Self-learning fuelling
Driven on the carFuel corrections are learned per operating point and can be made permanent in the same way.
Standing rev limiter by spark cut
Driven on the carAt a standstill the limiter drops individual sparks progressively. A guard keeps every coil firing often enough that the ECU never mistakes the cut for a coil fault.
Injector and per-cylinder calibration
Driven on the carCharacterisation for larger injectors and individual trims for cylinders that needed them, fitted from logged drives.
Closed-loop fuelling under boost
Built, on holdBuilt twice and held back both times. I am not satisfied with it yet, so it is not on the car.
Automatic transmissionHonda Civic 9th gen 5-speed automatic
Paddle shifting from the cruise stalk
Driven on the carWith cruise off, RES shifts up and SET shifts down. Every request still passes Honda's own safety checks: no over-rev, no lugging. It upshifts by itself at 6,300 rpm.
Torque cut on boosted upshifts
Driven on the carDuring the first part of a boosted gearchange the ECU skips firing events to relieve the clutches while the throttle stays open, so boost is kept between gears.
Clutch pressure matched to turbo torque
Driven on the carThe gearbox's estimate of engine torque was extended beyond the naturally aspirated range, so boosted shifts get the clamping pressure they need.
Shift schedule retuned for the turbo
Driven on the carShift points and kickdown eagerness adjusted over several road-tested passes.
Lock-up in 4th and 5th only
Driven on the carThe torque converter no longer locks in the lower gears.
Low-speed tip-in fix
On the car, unconfirmedRemoves the hesitation and bump when you touch the pedal while the car is coasting down into first. In the current car file; its effect is still to be confirmed in a drive log.
Downshift rev-match blip
DesignedStudied and specified. Not built.
Dash and driver interfaceHonda Civic 9th gen
Fault codes on the check-engine lamp
Driven on the carEngine off, hold CANCEL for three seconds and the lamp blinks the stored codes. MAIN three times clears them.
Fault codes on the i-MID screen
Driven on the carStored codes appear on the centre screen and are scrolled with SET and RES.
Gear and mode on the cruise lamp
Driven on the carIn manual mode the cruise lamp stays lit and winks on each gearchange, with different rhythms for up and down. EXTREME mode adds a double wink.
Custom hardware reported as standard codes
Driven on the carFaults from my wastegate controller are stored as ordinary trouble codes that any scan tool can read.
Earlier radiator fan
Driven on the carThe fan starts at 88 °C in place of the factory 92.6 °C.
CVTHonda Civic X 1.8 CVT
7-step manual mode with button paddles
Driven on the carSeven selectable steps, shifted from the cruise buttons in S. No new hardware.
Stepped automatic S mode
On the car, in tuningS mode shifts through seven fixed steps by speed and pedal, with kickdown and a driver hold. On the car; the schedule is still being refined.
Current gear on the cruise lamp
Built and bench-testedA blink code for the selected step, for a cluster that does not show a gear number.
Speed limiter on the cruise MAIN button
In developmentNeeds no new hardware. Not yet on a car.
Reduced "rubber band" feel
In developmentStops engine speed sagging when you ease off the pedal slightly. Not yet on a car.
In studyMitsubishi Pajero 3.0 V6 automatic
Combined engine and gearbox controller mapped
Mapped, unmodifiedThe software structure, shift schedule, shift execution and tiptronic logic have been located. Nothing has been modified.
Want one of these on your car?
Some of these carry over to sibling Honda ECUs quickly. Others need the same study done again for a new platform. Tell me what you drive and I will tell you which it is.