2G TCU Programming software

[Deespeed99]

Just picked up my first DSM. 1997 bone stock GSX with 48k mile. Loving the car so far and have done a lot of research before buying one. Im familar with the necessary upgrades and the upgrade paths. Im a tuner as my job so i plan on doing my own tuning and have all the info i need for ECMlink but don't really see options for programming the TCU. Anyone have a lead for software to do so?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

At this time there are no TCU tuning options and they are getting old. I am using a ShiftBox 100.1
It has auto features and manual mode with a hand held shift unit (paddle shift is also an option along with ratchet shifters). It is all programmable thru your pc and ForcedFour's software. It reads rpm's, speed and throttle position sensor and has "soft shift" available and you can set the line pressure as you like also. In manual mode you get 100% full line pressure so it does bang even without any valve body modifications. I am still tuning it but have it close to where I like it. It's the only add on TCU, that I know of, that also gives you true automatic mode also. See ForcedFour's website for all of his products. My TCU took a dump and rather than spend $250 on a used unit, I went with this unit and am quite happy.

 

[Deespeed99]

At this time there are no TCU tuning options and they are getting old. I am using a ShiftBox 100.1
It has auto features and manual mode with a hand held shift unit (paddle shift is also an option along with ratchet shifters). It is all programmable thru your pc and ForcedFour's software. It reads rpm's, speed and throttle position sensor and has "soft shift" available and you can set the line pressure as you like also. In manual mode you get 100% full line pressure so it does bang even without any valve body modifications. I am still tuning it but have it close to where I like it. It's the only add on TCU, that I know of, that also gives you true automatic mode also. See ForcedFour's website for all of his products. My TCU took a dump and rather than spend $250 on a used unit, I went with this unit and am quite happy.

Thank you for the information. By eliminating the TCU and using the shift box to completely control and the transmission does any of the wiring differ ? Do you wire and the other two solenoids for the converter lock and line pressure ? Any other negative effects?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

You are correct. It can control up to 4 solenoids so it is applicable for 4L60E, 4L80E and other makes and models. I wired mine in by tapping into each wire at the TCU plugs. My original harness has power and ground, TPS signal and VSS but I had to tap into the back of the dash (super easy) to get my RPM signal. DO NOT USE THE GROUND WIRE FOR THE SHIFTBOX 100.1, ground any of its grounds to a good ground. I found this out as I was first installing and using it. It will work without the rpm signal, as I ran it until I got to the dash. I tapped into the solenoid wires at the same place so if you know what wires are your solenoid wires, its really easy once you get started. (NOTE, an adaptor plug would be SUPER cool for these units for pnp purposes.)
Other than a LITTLE bit of "hunt" when I am in O/D, there are no bad effects that I can report. I figure it is in my up shift/down shift map. It has the option to lock out O/D if you are at the track. It also has options that are not enabled yet for optional outputs. I need to write this up as an on going evaluation of another contribution for our DSM's but I am not finished with that. On my stock 92 auto TSI, it just snaps through the gears and all you feel is the turbo spooled in auto mode. It hits harder in manual mode the way I have it setup currently.
Shawn also sells a switch and diodes so you can keep your original TCU, if it still works, and switch between the 2. His ShiftBox is about a 1/4 the size of the factory TCU and mine quit so this is in it's place with plenty of room.

 

[DogWhistle]

Congratulations on that GSX find. Great job after doing your research.

The ShiftBox would be the ultimate, and as a tuner, you probably will appreciate being able to adjust your own settings.

If you want to take a simpler approach, you can send your TCU to Dave Katz. He will solder on a programmable chip -- a la ECMLink -- and do custom programming for you. Alterations on future programming are as simple as a chip swap. PM me for his contact info.

 

[enriquez2000]

I had an eprom tcu with daves shift tuning and loved it. Sold it for personal reasons and definitely would go that route again.

If you are a tuner setting your own shift points and firmness is ideal. It took dave about 3 attempts to where i could live with the tcu tune, which means time down while mailing back and forth.

 

[Deespeed99]

You are correct. It can control up to 4 solenoids so it is applicable for 4L60E, 4L80E and other makes and models. I wired mine in by tapping into each wire at the TCU plugs. My original harness has power and ground, TPS signal and VSS but I had to tap into the back of the dash (super easy) to get my RPM signal. DO NOT USE THE GROUND WIRE FOR THE SHIFTBOX 100.1, ground any of its grounds to a good ground. I found this out as I was first installing and using it. It will work without the rpm signal, as I ran it until I got to the dash. I tapped into the solenoid wires at the same place so if you know what wires are your solenoid wires, its really easy once you get started. (NOTE, an adaptor plug would be SUPER cool for these units for pnp purposes.)
Other than a LITTLE bit of "hunt" when I am in O/D, there are no bad effects that I can report. I figure it is in my up shift/down shift map. It has the option to lock out O/D if you are at the track. It also has options that are not enabled yet for optional outputs. I need to write this up as an on going evaluation of another contribution for our DSM's but I am not finished with that. On my stock 92 auto TSI, it just snaps through the gears and all you feel is the turbo spooled in auto mode. It hits harder in manual mode the way I have it setup currently.
Shawn also sells a switch and diodes so you can keep your original TCU, if it still works, and switch between the 2. His ShiftBox is about a 1/4 the size of the factory TCU and mine quit so this is in it's place with plenty of room.

Thanks for the quick run down and information! I might go the route you mentioned and get a TCU harness (Or whatever harness that has the TCU plug and try to make a plug and play harness for easy or removal and a more factory appearing look. I want to really install everything clean and nice on the car.

Congratulations on that GSX find. Great job after doing your research.

The ShiftBox would be the ultimate, and as a tuner, you probably will appreciate being able to adjust your own settings.

If you want to take a simpler approach, you can send your TCU to Dave Katz. He will solder on a programmable chip -- a la ECMLink -- and do custom programming for you. Alterations on future programming are as simple as a chip swap. PM me for his contact info.

Thanks! I actually reached out to Dave and he said his chips are hard coded so like you said any changes he has to do which won't work for me. Thanks again for the replies guys. This site has an incredible amount of good information and definitely helped me figure out the direction I want to go and what to look for when I bought the car.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

I had a small problem with the box today. It shifted into 3rd at 60mph and wouldn't let me put it back into 4th. 4th mite hit then it kicks back to 3rd. I have limp mode disabled (handy feature) but it still acted up. I will be talking to Shawn about it and checking all connections again and report back. If you need to PM me feel free if you have to and I can give you my number and you can get ahold of me. I don't know any others using this yet but there has to be someone.
Marty

 

[enriquez2000]

To make a plug and play use a bad tcu (beyond repair) and pin it that way.. thats how my 2 plug to 3 plug adapter was made

 

[Deespeed99]

I had a small problem with the box today. It shifted into 3rd at 60mph and wouldn't let me put it back into 4th. 4th mite hit then it kicks back to 3rd. I have limp mode disabled (handy feature) but it still acted up. I will be talking to Shawn about it and checking all connections again and report back. If you need to PM me feel free if you have to and I can give you my number and you can get ahold of me. I don't know any others using this yet but there has to be someone.
Marty

Upshift or downshift? Was it an auto shift or manual shift into 3rd? It wouldn't let you manually shift back or it wouldn't auto shift back? I'll shoot you a PM with my cell. I'm planning to order this soon.

To make a plug and play use a bad tcu (beyond repair) and pin it that way.. thats how my 2 plug to 3 plug adapter was made

Is that keeping the TCU or bypassing it and using this as a standalone controller?

 

[enriquez2000]

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Is that keeping the TCU or bypassing it and using this as a standalone controller?

It would eliminate tcu and make it a standalone

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Upshift or downshift? Was it an auto shift or manual shift into 3rd? It wouldn't let you manually shift back or it wouldn't auto shift back? I'll shoot you a PM with my cell. I'm planning to order this soon.



Is that keeping the TCU or bypassing it and using this as a standalone controller?

I was in AUTO mode so I force shifted it into OD and put it into Manual Mode, but it kicked me back out about 10 seconds later. I am talking to ForcedFour about it as we speak and am going to double check all of my connections. More to come.

 

[Deespeed99]

It would eliminate tcu and make it a standalone

Good to know, thanks!

I was in AUTO mode so I force shifted it into OD and put it into Manual Mode, but it kicked me back out about 10 seconds later. I am talking to ForcedFour about it as we speak and am going to double check all of my connections. More to come.

Sounds like a connection came loose for sure but the way those solenoids work wouldn't it cause you to loose another gear also? 1st or 2nd?

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Yes, 2nd. I played with it some more last night with the laptop hooked up. It has a quirk but I didn't have time to pull the harness out and recheck all the connections. If 4th won't stay in because of a solenoid, then 2nd shouldn't work either. It did come out of 4th while I was in manual mode last night so I am leaning towards a bad connection or possible a controller issue but I will make sure my work is good and go from there.
While my son was watching the laptop, the TPS was going backwards and not reading sometimes so I am replacing that with one from a good friend and fellow member on here's loaner to see what the heck is up. Thing is, the TPS ohm's out fine on the car but the signal is goofy as shit!
Shawn (ForcedFour) did say that the problem would point to TPS position and vehicle speed so the TPS has to be changed and more testing done then.

 

[enriquez2000]

So for those wanting to make a plug n play... get a beyond repair tcu, xlip the board leads and solder following the pinout to your shift box wiring.. boom removeable shiftbox