Have you tried to flash with your Vag-Com cable. Someone on dsmecu tried it and it actually worked with Evoscan. He said it wouldn't work with ECUflash but would work with Evoscan. This was all on an Evo ECU though.

I don't ask this in a negative demeanor at all, just curious, I'm not quite up to date as I was a few years ago. I remember when Ceddymods was first introduced for the flashable 2g ECUs and i understand why 2g guys would use this as an option.
But what is the benefit of doing this over just tuning 1g EPROMs?
If the timing and fuel tables went to 8500-10k rpm then I could see, but if I recall doesn't 2g go to 7500rpm?

toofast82 said:

I don't ask this in a negative demeanor at all, just curious, I'm not quite up to date as I was a few years ago. I remember when Ceddymods was first introduced for the flashable 2g ECUs and i understand why 2g guys would use this as an option.
But what is the benefit of doing this over just tuning 1g EPROMs?
If the timing and fuel tables went to 8500-10k rpm then I could see, but if I recall doesn't 2g go to 7500rpm?

Click to expand...

You can actually change the headers just by typing in a different number, so they could go to whatever you want. The logging is light years ahead of stock 1G logging. There is a lot of customization you can do when using Evo 8 ECU's with all the support online (evolutionm.net). There are more inputs and outputs on the ECU's as well.

jrohner said:

You can actually change the headers just by typing in a different number, so they could go to whatever you want. The logging is light years ahead of stock 1G logging. There is a lot of customization you can do when using Evo 8 ECU's with all the support online (evolutionm.net). There are more inputs and outputs on the ECU's as well.

Click to expand...

Oh interesting, then thats definitely a benefit to have high rpm tables. Yes i agree, MMCd is a little out of date. Yeah i was just curious, thanks for clearing that up

I have never tried to flash with my Vag-Com cable since I was concerned I would brick the ECU and one think I have not found a way to unbrick an ECU. I can save Android products, 360s, PS3s by rooting and unbricking but have not found anything on the H8 and Evo ECU recovery once one is bricked.

Bigger tables, NTLS, launch control, etc... so many things you can do with the 2g BB ECU. The question was spend cash on ECMLink or do my own thing. I decided that I could do anything I needed with the 2g ECU. I mean hell Antilag has a FWD car that does 140 in quarter on a 1g ECU. We are switching that car to a 2g ECU as well.

ECMLink is probably the easiest solution for a DSM. The community is huge, helpful and pretty good.

redliner_x said:

Have you tried to flash with your vag-com cable. Someone on dsmecu tried it and it actually worked with evoscan. He said it wouldn't work with ECUflash but would work with evoscan. This was all on an evo ecu though.

Click to expand...

Coming from the Subie world in terms of flashing an ecu, those vag-com cables could only be used for logging on WRX's ecus, so it wouldn't surprise me the same to be true with the H8 ecu. Luckily I have one of those laying around. Did I read somewhere that there is a separate plug that draws power when we flash? Which is the preferred data cable to use the tactrix 2.0 or 1.3(R or U)?

Well, that is good to know about Subaru. My wife's WRX is sitting in the garage apart right now with bad head gaskets. Awaiting the cam gear tool which will be here today and once it is back together I was thinking STI injectors and topmount and a slight tune just to make the car more responsive.

I got the 2.0 cable because I wanted the newest one. I am not sure which one is the preferred cable. Some claim 1.3 and others say to go 2.0 and log with a cheap cable. The 1.3 cable is much faster for logging from my understanding.

Yes there is a flash pin you will need to power with ecuflash. Connect the reflash connector wire to pin 79 on the ecu. so that the boot init wire can apply 16volts to the ecu for eeprom reprogramming.

Here is a thread that has the info.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/tuning-engine-management/436206-99-gst-ecu-wont-unlock-evoscan.html

Junfan said:

Well, that is good to know about Subaru. My wife's WRX is sitting in the garage apart right now with bad head gaskets. Awaiting the cam gear tool which will be here today and once it is back together I was thinking STI injectors and topmount and a slight tune just to make the car more responsive.

Click to expand...

Not to go off on a Subaru rant, but don't waste your money on STi injectors (furthermore, it's better to just decap a stock wrx injector to bump it from 440cc to around 720-740cc). Crush your fpr to gain 10 psi of fuel pressure which will lower your IDC, but DO swap in an STi TMIC (I use an FMS brand top mount, flows more and cost less than an STi TMIC). PM me I am a wealth if Subaru knowledge since its running and my DSM isn't, . Btw thanks for the link, I'm gonna do a little more looking around on EVOscan and see if I can get away with using a 1.3 cable. Not sure I can stomach the $200+ price of the 2.0 Tactrix, ugh...

Junfan said:

I got the 2.0 cable because I wanted the newest one. I am not sure which one is the preferred cable. Some claim 1.3 and others say to go 2.0 and log with a cheap cable. The 1.3 cable is much faster for logging from my understanding.

Click to expand...

For some the Standalone Logging of the OP 2.0 is nice to be able to go out and do logs and not bring the Laptop along... Though you can log faster with the 1.3 cables.

But, YOU Can Not Flash The ECU with one Or a Vag cable for that matter that doesn't even have a re-flash connector... The E8 ecu's can supply the required voltage to flash the Ecu internally the H8 Can Not...

I'm not directing this at anyone. But if anyone states they can flash a 98/99 Ecu by any other means then a Op 2.0.
I'm all ears, But I want to see proof... .

Figured This would be a good link to have in here for anyone thinking about using a 2g flashable Ecu to get down some of the basics.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/tuning-engine-management/338754-first-flashed-dsm-ecu-98-99-flashing-faq.html

I am gonna sell my H8 and get an evo 8.

So, just so it's clear, the only way to flash an H8 (98/99 DSM ECU) is with a Tactrix 2.0 data cable. As confirmed here - Deciding on what cable you need..

Thanks for the heads up on the Subaru stuff. I will make sure to check out the top mount when I am ready to do anything with the car. The newer WRX/STI injectors I thought were excellent as an upgrade from the 440ccs. They are not side style now I guess and flow like 570cc stock. I have heard many things but without your own research I have trouble trusting things I hear. I had not got to the point were I do anything but get it back to stock form so my wife can enjoy the car.

Yes you need the OP 2.0 cable to flash the 98/99 ECU unlike the Evo 8 ECU, but the OP 1.3 has the craftsmanship of an elementary kid's first electronics project, so I would recommend the OP 2.0 either way. If you just want to log and not flash, definitely get the vag-com cable, logging is exactly the same. I've used the 1.3, 2.0, and vag-com.

Junfan said:

I have never tried to flash with my vag-com cable since I was concerned I would brick the ECU and one think I have not found it a way to unbrick and ECU. I can save Android products, 360s, PS3s by rooting and unbricking but have not found anything on the h8 and evo ECU recovery once one is bricked.

Bigger tables, ntls, launch control, etc... so many things you can do with the 2g ecu. The question was spend cash on Ecmlink or do my own thing. I decided that I could do anything I needed with the 2g ECU. I mean hell Antilag has a FWD car that does 140 in quarter on a 1g ECU. We are switching that car to a 2g ECU as well.

ECMLink is probably the easiest solution for a DSM. The community is huge, helpful and pretty good.

Click to expand...

There's a program called "ecu unlocker" that can unbrick the H8 Ecu's. Back when I owned a 3g, the year 2000 GT's used an H8 almost identical to the 2g's, while the 01+ used an evo style. For the longest time the 00 weren't flashable because of this, until they found the 2.0 had the ability to flash it. I did a bunch of the developement for a buddy on his 00 ECU with flashing it and bricked it multiple times in the process. Ecu unlocker will unbrick them if you do mess them up. I'll see if I can find the link to it as my old tuning laptop has long since gone 6ft under.

GPLaserRS said:

Coming from the Subie world in terms of flashing an ecu, those vag-com cables could only be used for logging on WRX's ecus, so it wouldn't surprise me the same to be true with the H8 ecu. Luckily I have one of those laying around. Did I read somewhere that there is a separate plug that draws power when we flash? Which is the preferred data cable to use the tactrix 2.0 or 1.3(R or U)?

Click to expand...

Use the 1.3u. The problem with reflashing with a 1.3 is that it doesn't carry enough voltage to reflash the H8's. It's been a while, but if I remember right they only carry 2.3v during a reflash, where as the 2.0 with it's voltage booster carrys a full 5v allowing it to reflash the H8.

I personally have both the 2.0 and 1.3u. Logging on the 2.0 is sluggist as can be when compared with the 1.3u. I've never used a vag-com, but if it's anywhere close to the logging speed of the 1.3's I'd definitely invest the $10-15 for one.

Almost forgot to ask- when you guys are building your patch harnesses, what are you using to protect the ends of the 1g board that are soldered to the wire ends? I'm building my harness right now to run an evo 8 ecu, however, I've seen a few different ways of doing it and I'm not sure yet what will work best, or if there's an option I haven't seen. From the looks of most, people are just putting shrink wrap over the ends and that's all? Or is there a better/sturdier way of securing the Evo 8 connectors to the 1g ecu plug.

I have an extra 1g harness that I pulled the wires out of. If you do it right the female connector will come out of the plug and they fit snug on the back side of the 1g ECU connector. Then use some heat shrink over the connectors. I believe the smaller spades will fit fine also.

redliner_x said:

I have an extra 1g harness that I pulled the wires out of. If you do it right the female connector will come out of the plug and they fit snug on the back side of the 1g ECU connector. Then use some heat shrink over the connectors. I believe the smaller spades will fit fine also.

Click to expand...

Yea I knew the pins fit over them, I was just looking for an even more secure way of doing it. Now you have me thinking though, if I trim the 3 1g connectors that I pulled from the parts car I could probably wire it up to where I can just plug the connectors in on the back side of the 1g ecu end and almost eliminate heat shrinking any wires.

That would be cool if you glued or taped the pieces together..

Hey Tyeler thanks for the info. Did you every find the information on unbricking an ECU? We have a few bricks around here to test with and I would love to resurrect them.

I love how much info this community has.

I know this is an old thread but just want to double check...if I was to use the Flash ECU for fan control on a 1G I would be running the green black wire that runs from the fan to pin 21 on the FlashECU right? I know the 2G has a dual speed fan and I think the AC controls the second speed for the 1G or something like that but not entirely positive. I know other people will have more knowledge on this subject.

i have a question pls someone help me?. I did everything as you shared the pinouts on my 1G with H8 ecu but it stars and it dies within 3 seconds. I hear a tick sound from MPI relay then car stops(