EVOscan How To Begin EvoScan?

[Kai Hefner]

Very new to tuning.

Was about to buy ECMlink v3 before I heard that they would be releasing v4 later this year. I don't feel like spending more money than I need to so I'm waiting till v4 comes out to purchase.
Until then, I want to get into EvoScan. I was told because I have a 98, I just need a cable and I can use EvoScan. Just looking for what cable I'm supposed to buy, and what other steps I need to take to tune on EvoScan.

 

[ATF 2GTalon]

I've had DSMlink V3 for 4 years now and there is no confirmation on V4 ever coming out. Last year they got screwed by their chip dealer and they would need to source new chips and possibly rewrite the DSMlink code to work. This will take years to get done, so I wouldn't suggest waiting.

if you have the correct black box ecu, then the Tactrix cable, Evoscan for datalogging, and ECUflash for making the adjustments and flashing will be all that you need. The learning curve is a little high, but if you take the time to research and learn it can be done.

ECUflash is free so you can download that, load in some ECU roms/bins from the internet and just practice navigating and learning the how to use it.

 

[Kai Hefner]

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Took this from their website.

I haven't taken a look at my ecu but I'm assuming it's a blackbox? I was told those were the 98-99 ecu's.

Where should I buy the tactrix cable from? Is EvoScan a paid software I have to download?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Here you go Kai:

https://www.amazon.com/Tactrix-Openport-2-0-Cable-Tunning/dp/B07KG35FYM

https://evoscan.com/free-ecu-rom-downloads

and yes 98-99 models had "black box" ecu's. My 98 TSI has one and I got a used Tatrix cable for it for $50 bucks but, I just got lucky and it came up for sale.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

I would just like to say evoscan sucks. I’m dealing with it on my new evo 9 I just got, and it is nothing compared to ecmlink, in fact, if I could run ecmlink in the 9, i would.
Im not saying its not capable, but ecuflash is so half baked, you need to spend hours on evo m searching down XML codes to patch in to your program directory from posts from
07-2011 their search function is garbage and even then everything may not have been copied correctly, and even after you have done all that, there is no live logging or live changing. I have the 3D speed density 2.0 maps with tephra V7, and it is okay as far as what you can change but nothing like ecmlink at all everything is a hexadecimal based number and the periphery in the programs GUI is binary , ecmlink is the bomb dot com. I’ll be selling my link v3 and going AEM Infinity, as it’s the next closest thing to ecmlinks layout that works with mivec. Just Food for thought.

I tunedmy own 2g to 40psi on the 6466 on e85 with ecmlink, and I am now having issues just even getting the car started on SD with ecuflash its definately a learning curve but Is what it is though, my vote is ecmlink

 

[ATF 2GTalon]

You probably should start your research here.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/first-flashed-dsm-ecu-98-99-flashing-faq.338754/

 

[Kai Hefner]

You probably should start your research here.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/first-flashed-dsm-ecu-98-99-flashing-faq.338754/

Trust me I want ECMlink, just would rather wait for v4 to release than to pick up a v3 now (I'll accrue other parts until then).

You probably should start your research here.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/first-flashed-dsm-ecu-98-99-flashing-faq.338754/

Thank you, I'll read through this.

 

[ATF 2GTalon]

If you need to comply with OBD2 readiness and emissions tests, then DSMlink would not be good for that. I know 95-96 ecus have some emissions equipment not available and could be a problem for a 98 car to pass OBD2 readiness.

 

[ThunderChild]

I would just like to say evoscan sucks. I’m dealing with it on my new evo 9 I just got, and it is nothing compared to ecmlink, in fact, if I could run ecmlink in the 9, i would.

Iirc Tom from ecmlink was/is running his Evo on ecmlink, though it still doesn't really have a way to do mivec.

From my limited use, it's kinda tough to beat ecuflash for the cost and what you can do with it. Yes it is difficult because theres not a massive amount of support or guidance and finding good maps is a pain. But if you are tenacious and can learn the coding, it's quite good and capable. Ecmlink is worlds easier to understand and get support for, but not worth it for an Evo, although a 2g it's pretty worth it for the ease of everything. You'll just pay for it in the end.

@Kai Hefner If you're waiting for v4, shop around for good deals on the parts and give it a shot, it may help you learn some of the basic principles for tuning. As mentioned, a tactrix cable ($25-100), evoscan (~$25) and ecuflash (free) should be all you need.

 

[stillrunning]

If you wanted to flash your blackbox I would recommend using Ceedymods, you'll have everything you really need for tuning.
Evoscan works pretty good but you definitely need to spend some time with it for sure, I didn't like it at first.
The biggest thing I did to make Evoscan work for me was scaling data & setting colors for graphing.
If you use Ceedymods you'll also have a Evoscan template to use that has the 2byteMAF, 1byteLOAD & some other things that might not be in the standard Evoscan templates.
You can also log your wideband through the rear O2 port which is convenient.

 

[ATF 2GTalon]

@ATF 2GTalon If you're waiting for v4, shop around for good deals on the parts and give it a shot, it may help you learn some of the basic principles for tuning. As mentioned, a tactrix cable ($25-100), evoscan (~$25) and ecuflash (free) should be all you need.

I'm not the OP. I have DSMlink already and do all my own tuning as well as some friends. I also have tuned an EvoX with ECUflash, so I know what I am doing.

 

[ThunderChild]

I'm not the OP. I have DSMlink already and do all my own tuning as well as some friends. I also have tuned an EvoX with ECUflash, so I know what I am doing.

My bad! Looked at the wrong name, edited for correction.

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Iirc Tom from ecmlink was/is running his Evo on ecmlink, though it still doesn't really have a way to do mivec.

His is probably an 8, which you can use link with, because it doesnt have mivec.

 

[ThunderChild]

I believe you're correct @Archer Fabrications , I can't find the thread now but I've read it several times. Mivec is one of those things that is a nice add on for big setups, I'm wondering if v4 from ecmlink might have an option or add-a-board for people tinkering around with some form of vvt. it's slim since you have to drill a DSM head and swap all the stuff on, or swap a mivec head on and completely redo how the engine is plumbed. They probably have other, more prioritized functions they're after though.

In any case, ecuflash is doable, just not as easy as ecmlink due to the major support.