cobb access port or custom tune?? [Archive]

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omarv234

08-26-2012, 06:18 PM

hey guys i was wondering what would be better for my 2012 evo mr
the cobb ap has decent maps and can be reverted back to stock in emergencies or get a custom tune can never go wrong with custom tune

CICreations

08-26-2012, 06:41 PM

Oh this should be good....... Where's Mike W?! Lol

evolved13

08-26-2012, 07:01 PM

:-o

evolved13

08-26-2012, 07:01 PM

hey guys i was wondering what would be better for my 2012 evo mr
the cobb ap has decent maps and can be reverted back to stock in emergencies or get a custom tune can never go wrong with custom tune

It boils down to: do you want a "decent map" or an awesome custom tune.... O0

amaev05

08-26-2012, 07:54 PM

wack ass map, or custom tune. rre or wack as tune.

misterevo8

08-27-2012, 06:10 AM

If you get the right tuner, you will never have to worry about going back to stock for "emergencies". in fact, i am willing to bet that a custom tune will even be better than your stock tune. do the right thing and go see a tuner. you will be much happier.

Boostingallday

08-27-2012, 07:51 AM

Get a custome tune. It's worth it.

925

08-27-2012, 08:32 AM

you live in socal.. take advantage of the great tuners / shops around you

Mike W

08-27-2012, 12:37 PM

Any laptop made within the last 10 years and a $200 cable can also do these emergency road side flashes. I still have trouble imagining the emergency situation.

Mike W

evolved13

08-27-2012, 01:35 PM

Emergency #1: Evo traveling on the 5 frwy, cow jumps out in front of a gasoline delivery semi, it swerves and takes out bridge abutment, OP exceeds rev limit accelerating out of harm's way, blows up engine, OP swerves into aqueduct, before it submerges, he whips out his Cobb AP and switches back to the stock map, so thatÂ* :mitsu: will cover damage under warranty, not covered by insurance.

HMatt

08-27-2012, 03:20 PM

Well... You have a 2012... So no dual/multiple map switching out for it yet, correct?

That being the case, if you only need 1 map for pump gas, get a custom tune. If you need multiple maps, then you can get an access port, and load it with the tunes you need so you can switch back and forth.

OR just have 2 custom tunes done and buy a tactrix cable and flash them with your laptop.

Either way, I wouldn't stay with the tun that comes stock with the access port for very long. Every car is different, so a "one-size-fits-all" tune is always a last resort for me.

Mike W

08-27-2012, 03:42 PM

Oh this should be good....... Where's Mike W?! Lol

Thought you were outta here?

http://www.socalevo.net/forum/index.php?topic=121089.msg8405483

Mike W

hyper

08-27-2012, 05:40 PM

RRE custom tune or lame off the shelf tune. Mike W will treat you right

omarv234

08-27-2012, 07:28 PM

alright thanks guys custom tune it is. i just wanted to know my options haha

misterevo8

08-30-2012, 08:48 PM

done forget the boost pill. did you tune it yet?

mistermarc

09-01-2012, 10:07 AM

I got a custome tune from rre two years ago and now Im out here in ATL, no problems whatsover...Can't wait to go back to Cali...

CICreations

10-11-2012, 05:37 PM

Oh this should be good....... Where's Mike W?! Lol

Thought you were outta here?

http://www.socalevo.net/forum/index.php?topic=121089.msg8405483

Mike W

LOL, I was/am. Moved out of SoCal end of August. Crazy thing though, I get to Michigan would you believe.....they have the interwebs to! lol I know, I know, it blew my mind to! ;)

nicklulu

10-11-2012, 08:12 PM

I don't think Cobb AP has an OTS map yet for the 2012.

Custom tune would be better since with will be specific for your car/mods.

I went with the Cobb AP since I have generic mods that fit the mold of the OTS maps Cobb offers.

I can always get a Costom Map later from a reputable Tuner OR use Cobb's AccessTuner to make a custom map OR go to Cobb to let them flash my ECU once I do more mods.

I use the AP as an additional guage and it also reads/reset error codes.

LakaiorDie

10-11-2012, 11:19 PM

Future

11-09-2012, 04:13 PM

Coming from someone who has used both....

I'd deff recommend a custom tune. Its designed for your car and your car only... not a "one size fits all"

This guy

02-23-2013, 06:47 PM

hey guys just joined i live in temecula and have a 2013 gsr and im having some trouble trying to find a really good tuner near me, anyone know anything ??

Black Evo Beauty

02-24-2013, 06:00 PM

Tuning technologies in colton

This guy

02-24-2013, 07:43 PM

Tuning technologies in colton
are they good ? have you had an experience with them

nechronius

02-28-2013, 12:15 PM

Tuning technologies in colton
are they good ? have you had an experience with them

Tuning Technologies is a trusted vendor here on SoCalEvo.net with many happy and loyal customers.Â* Go check out their vendor section on this forum.Â*

I know you've been asking a lot lately if a stage 1 tune (intake, exhaust, 3port solenoid, high flow cat or test pipe) good for about 320whp is a safe daily driver option.Â* Â*The short answer is yes, but just remember that you ARE voiding your factory warranty and anything you do that is risky with the stock vehicle is going to be made worse with a tune (i.e. Taking corners fast with less than half a tank of gas repeatedly, like at a track, will increase the chance of fuel starvation and cause a lean condition and possible engine damage.).

Also keep in mind that if you get bolt on mods and drive the car WITHOUT tuning it you are still likely to do more harm than good and STILL likely void your warranty if you damage the car because you drove it with aftermarket add-ons.Â* The factory does NOT want you to do that.

So unless you want to run bone stock or very close to it, don't bother eyeballing aftermarket goodies if you're not planning on getting a tune.

Better yet, contact Tuning Technologies, visit them, and ask them questions politely, and they should be able to give you the straight answers and tell you honestly whether getting your Evo tuned is the right decision for you.

jangvt

03-08-2013, 03:10 PM

RRE for custom tune and you wont be disappointed and let me tell you they only work on evos and 2g stuff so you dont have to ask if they're good

deprydation

03-08-2013, 04:03 PM

RRE for custom tune and you wont be disappointed and let me tell you they only work on evos and 2g stuff so you dont have to ask if they're good

They don't _ONLY_ work on Evo's and 2G's.

Just to add to that list of cars I've seen there.

1G Eclipse
2G Eclipse
3G Eclipse
4G Eclipse

Evo (all)

I think I seen a couple of the VR4 Galant's there.

Didn't Mike have a Mirage at one point?

Joon Maeng's Formula D car which I believe is a Nissan.

Who knows how many other cars they've worked on and dealt with over the years.

However, Mike W is the lord god almighty of the Evolution. I proclaim to it!

jangvt

03-08-2013, 04:06 PM

SmashedRRX

05-09-2013, 07:59 PM

I have an accessport now and if I were to get a custom tune could I later get a tune from a tuner using a custom tune of my AP (straight tongue twister). I just want to know if I could go over the custom tune with the AP. I want a custom tune, but when I go back to Ohio in August I see a bunch of people who tune using the APs. Still not sure what route I ant to go. I really want to get tuned by KTMotoring though.

nechronius

05-09-2013, 11:33 PM

Some shops can tune with Cobb's software. The maps can be put on your AP and yes, you can load it whenever you want or revert to an off-the-shelf map if you really wanted to. Although once you get custom tuned, you'll probably find no real reason to change maps. The AP then becomes just a code scanning tool and data logger.

If your burning desire is to get tuned by KT Motoring, call and ask if they can Cobb tune. What's the worst thing that can happen, they say no?

SmashedRRX

05-10-2013, 02:09 AM

Well what I was thinking was getting a custom tune now, then when I go back to Ohio and when I do more mods (cams, turbo, etc.) go to a shop that tunes with the AP. KT Motoring doesnt tune the APs, I know that for sure. Thats the reason I ask that if I get a new tune on the AP and log it that way, will it erase what custom tune was currently on it? This is my first car that Ive truely got to mod, so Im trying to see what I can do from where Im at now. Plus the shops that I have seen charge quite a bit to tune the AP although I already have one. Also, KT has shown my car and myself a lot of love with the work theyve helped me with.

x MR

05-13-2013, 12:58 PM

RRE for custom tune and you wont be disappointed and let me tell you they only work on evos and 2g stuff so you dont have to ask if they're good
RRE custom tune AP?

EvolutionXtacy

05-13-2013, 01:21 PM

RRE custom tune AP?

you dont need a Cobb AP to tune the X...

KT Motoring

05-13-2013, 01:44 PM

you dont need a Cobb AP to tune the X...

Amen .

Mike W

05-13-2013, 02:06 PM

RRE custom tune AP?

Yes we can and do. All you do is send in the serial number for the AP to get the license for Cobb's Race Tuner. Then once you are done tuning the car with the regular open source ECUFlash that the free world uses then you translate the tune into Race Tuner, then flash the car back to stock, marry the AP, then use the little AP thingy to upload your tune into the ECU. Kind of a lot of work but we only charge $80 extra for all that.

For the customer to save and load additional maps, flash back and forth all the time to stock on an EVO X or RalliArt you currently have these options:

$600 new AP
$300 used AP
$180 Tactrix cable and free software loaded onto any laptop with a decent battery made in the last 10 years.

Your call. We do not charge to flash a car to stock or to reload a tune if you come to the shop.

For a small donation to Tephra, the stock ECU can hold two separate calibrations (example 91 and E-85) without the AP on:

2008-2013 GSR
2008-2010 MR
2010 RalliArt

With a 2011-2013 MR, the further you live into BFE the more the AP can help you.

Mike W

x MR

05-14-2013, 01:05 AM

Yes we can and do. All you do is send in the serial number for the AP to get the license for Cobb's Race Tuner. Then once you are done tuning the car with the regular open source ECUFlash that the free world uses then you translate the tune into Race Tuner, then flash the car back to stock, marry the AP, then use the little AP thingy to upload your tune into the ECU. Kind of a lot of work but we only charge $80 extra for all that.

For the customer to save and load additional maps, flash back and forth all the time to stock on an EVO X or RalliArt you currently have these options:

$600 new AP
$300 used AP
$180 Tactrix cable and free software loaded onto any laptop with a decent battery made in the last 10 years.

Your call. We do not charge to flash a car to stock or to reload a tune if you come to the shop.

For a small donation to Tephra, the stock ECU can hold two separate calibrations (example 91 and E-85) without the AP on:

2008-2013 GSR
2008-2010 MR
2010 RalliArt

With a 2011-2013 MR, the further you live into BFE the more the AP can help you.

Mike W
do you also tune the SST with the AP? reason I'm asking is because I already have pro tune on my AP , but for future reference... I may want to retune for new turbo :)

Mike W

05-14-2013, 10:08 AM

It would save you a bunch of money to get retuned by your current tooner. Big clutches are safest to go with your big turbo.

Mike W

Flyevofly

05-19-2013, 08:33 AM

I have a question about tuning and smog, Will I pass a smog test with a tune and minor upgrades. Like a cat back or intake and boost solenoid?
also if I use the Cobb AP will the dealships be able to telli have one one there if I take my car in for a factory warranty problem??

nechronius

05-19-2013, 10:53 AM

Depends on the nature of your factory warranty problem.

You threw a rod and poked a hole through the side of the block? They'll check your ECU. Your passenger side front window won't roll down? They won't.

You have a 2013. Your first smog check is due for your 2020 renewal I believe. You should pass the ECU test if you don't have any stored codes. You should pass the sniffer test as long as you have a catalytic converter. If they send you to a state referee because a cop pulled you over and decided to write you up, then you'll be reversing everything without an exemption at that point.

Keep your stock intake and swap back to it for your smog check in six years, just in case. Or if your intake is CARB legal make sure you have its except sticker on display on the intake and make sure it's appropriate for your car. I went to the extra step of printing out the Executie Order for my exempt intake when I had my Speed 6 smogged (Cobb intake, here's the specific EO document link: http://arb.ca.gov/msprog/aftermkt/devices/eo/D-660.pdf ).

One thing to remember, and it's kind of goofy. You're probably not going to find any EOs that cover your 2013, even if the same intake is legal for older ones. Why? Because you're still years from even having to worry about smog, so odds are the manufacturer hasn't even started the process for getting the 2013 exempted. This means that out on the street, if you get pulled over, the officer doesn't give a rat's ass whether your intake is CARB legal or not he'll just ref you if he's feeling mean. And the ref will probably say "sorry, revert it to stock because your intake isn't technically legal for your model year yet." In other words, the 2013 is in a sort of a technical loophole.

California has its own goofy little laws which add paperwork and headaches for no real benefit. The "safe handguns" list is like that too, where two brand new identical guns but with different finishes (chrome finish vs nickle finish) are technically considered two different kinds of guns and must be tested separately, even if the only difference is the metal that the part was plated with.

Anyway six years is quite a lot of years and things may change dramatically in that time period.

Mike W

05-19-2013, 11:27 AM

Collection of my prior posts and answers on the subject: (search here still suxorz)

Installing an intake wont void the warranty on the tail lights. Installing a bigger turbo wont void the warranty on the power windows or ABS brake system. Getting the ECU flashed and tuning wont void the warranty on alarm system. If you go in to a dealership for a leaking tail light or maybe the windshield wipers come on when you push the driver's window switch, a decent dealership (http://www.southcoastmitsubishi.com/index.htm) won't care if the car has a big turbo and is tuned.

But if you go back to the dealership with a transfer case whine, with a hole in your piston or with your transmission scattered all over the freeway, the motor and everything under the hood needs to be perfectly stock. Anytime you present your car for drivetrain warranty work at a Mitsubishi dealership, it had better be totally stock. Ideally done with the help of a professional "cleaner" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleaner_(crime)). Technically the car could have a cat back exhaust or some random non performance aftermarket part on it and legally under federal law your warranty would be still valid. But why risk things at that point. It is a lot easier to put a stock cat back on than lawyer up, no?

You need to have your receipts for service (oil changes, drivetrain fluids etc) in order. You can even do your own oil changes, but you need the receipts and dates, preferably noted in the car's maintenance schedule book. You do not need to go to the dealership for service. It is not required legally.

When you present your car to A dealership for drivetrain warranty work, the dealership needs to down load some info from the ECU, also take a lot of pics of the car under the hood and under the car and e-mail it all into MMSA headquarters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satan). Then it may also be inspected in person by the local warranty rep from Mitsubishi.

EVOs can have their warranties honored and failed having been previously tuned by both the Cobb AP and Opensource ECU Flash. As with all tools, correct use and their application is more important.

But seriously, who takes their car to a Mitsubishi dealership for anything other than warranty work?

Smog and Tuning

Your success with a stock or modded, clean or dirty EVO at a smog test is only up to the guy that day that you happen to get. You could get a tech that normally didn,t care about some little thing, but his butty just got popped for a technicality so he'll crack down on every detail on your car out of paranoia. You could get a noob that thinks your external wastegate is a big fat EGR valve. You can get failed on a totally stock car with a bunch of stuff all polished and painted. You can pass a 500 whp sleeper with that same guy on another day.

Does your car need to go on the rollers? No, they don’t have rollers anywhere for AWD cars. It gets the sniffer test only. Still and again it all depends on how smart the smog guy is that does your test that day. Stoopid ones will try to put an AWD car on the one axle roller and mess it all up. Smart guys will not. You need to babysit the car the whole time. Do not let your EVO out of your sight.

Can I pass with a working high flow cat? Tail pipe part of the test? Maybe. You have a lot of unshielded parts before the cat. You'll need to get it hot first and keep it hot until the test for it to pass the tailpipe test. Actually all car pass better when hot. Even a stock car with a lot of miles on it it really helps to get the car hot first and keep it hot. You beat on it, leave it running until they start the test and if you even let it idle for more than 15 minutes go beat on it again and come back. Legally and technically no cat other than the stock cat is visually legal for the smog test. If the guy you get knows, notices and cares that you don’t have a stock cat, you fail the visual test.

But, but, what about this little thing or that little part or what about my butty passed with this and my other bestest butty failed with that? Huh? Huh? Huh? The people that work there are peoples. Peoples are people. They interpret stuff differently. I went with Jamesinger to get his stock yet somewhat mildly modified ECU car to get smogged. Jamesinger had polished his stock upper I/C pipe. All 7" of it. The 60 year old smog guy spent 20 minutes looking at it, touching it and we spent another 15 minutes explaining how it was a stock part before he would move on to the next thing.

Legally and technically you cannot modify anything in the ECU. Will the average or even smart smog tech find out or even know to look or have the cable and software to look? No. Is it technically possible? Yes. You say "Will a change to my ECU cause a failure on the new OBD test?" What change? One they can see and detect? Yes. I don’t know of any however at this time.

Anything _perceived_ as modified that the smog tech cares about that day will not pass. If a smog tech thinks something stock is not, you fail. If a smog tech does not notice that something is modified, you pass. If a smog tech sees a modification and does not give a shit, you pass. Yes there are rules and laws, but they dont get applied equally. Welcome to the world as it has always been.

Mike W

Flyevofly

05-20-2013, 09:03 AM

Ok thank you guys so much for all that great info! I wanna do this car right and legit, I'm glad I don't have to worry about smog crap for a few years. So is the ams inter cooler piping worth it? It gets rid of that dumb flexible hose..... Any input??.? I'd like to mainly get rid of my turbo lag. I want it snappy when I get out of corners. And I just don't need an extreme amount of power, I wanna stay sock on as much as I and be able to do most the work myself, although I know there will be some stuff out of my hands. If anyone has a good plan or idea besides just tuning the hell out of it let me know. I don't wanna void my 100,000 warranty......

Mike W

05-20-2013, 01:31 PM

Being tuned at some point does not void your warranty. You dont go in for drivetrain warranty work with a tune in your ECU. You go in for drivetrain warranty with a stock tune in your ECU.

You also have the option of tuning the crap out of your car, tuning the living shit out of your car or just tuning the baby kittens out of your car. You are not locked into any one tune with any of the tuners that I know of. Tuning alone will do what you are asking for. An upper intercooler pipe will not.

Mike W

Rob Daman

05-20-2013, 05:40 PM

Wow mike w. Longest detailed post I've ever seen anyone write.

Sticky that so others can refer to it.

Mike W

05-20-2013, 05:53 PM

Mods here should be pulling good clear useful info like that out of crazy twisty-turning threads on a regular basis to put it where it can be easily found. In the meantime, click on my user name once a week for good reading :-)

Mike W

deprydation

05-29-2013, 01:46 PM