Oh Snap - Plug & Play tuning for the A4 ?

[Don Supreme]

http://www.lugtronic.com/

[pac1085]

It's just VEMS in a nice package.

VEMS is a nice ECU (like megasquirt on crack) but the documentation for it is terrible.

In other news, a local tuner stated a few weeks back that there is a company developing accessible tuning software for the stock ECU, and I've heard similar rumors from other sources as well...

[317ssayzarc]

kevin black is up to something and i like it!!!

[Don Supreme]

It's just VEMS in a nice package.

VEMS is a nice ECU (like megasquirt on crack) but the documentation for it is terrible.

In other news, a local tuner stated a few weeks back that there is a company developing accessible tuning software for the stock ECU, and I've heard similar rumors from other sources as well...

Re: Stock Ecu

Unitronic has been working on the samething for over a year. I have no clue what the hold up is. I was hoping they would blow the VAG scene wide open @ waterfest with its release, but nothing.......

Re: VMS

You remember how much time and effort you put into your megasquirt. You also probably spliced into a whole bunch of shit. This thing plugs right in like an AEM for the EVO. I think thats cool as hell.

[quattro16]

Interesting!

[k0mpresd]

thats an older motronic ecu in that picture. my mk3 has an ecu connector like that. :p

im still confused though. it says its a plug and play stand alone ecu. so what about obd? i dont see the difference between his ecu and a set up like 034. just his plugs in the harness and 034 you have to buy the harness. *shrug* oh well. whatever.

[Don Supreme]

034 is probably ++$500 (pure guess, don't care to look at price.) more once you get the pre-wired harness and all that mess.

This thing seems like you could install it in 5 mins, and then get the car running in xxx mins, but you bring up a good point Ian.

[k0mpresd]

yea. seems like a plug and play, little more advanced megasquirt.

no obd is no good. haha.

edit: thats not to say that it wouldnt be cool to play around with one. but i dont see this being a replacement for an me7 tune on street legal (i use that loosely btw ;)) cars.

[94jedi]

nice, so this is like a full stand alone? or running a different ECU? if so, that's cool as heck.

[AudiA4_20T]

yea. seems like a plug and play, little more advanced megasquirt.

no obd is no good. haha.

edit: thats not to say that it wouldnt be cool to play around with one. but i dont see this being a replacement for an me7 tune on street legal (i use that loosely btw ;)) cars.

Well, think about this for AEB guys, they dont have a MAP sensor, but now they do as well as a bunch of other things... This thing plugs right in, you dont need to use a new tach or anything, you dont have to touch a thing, you just plug it in and go

[317ssayzarc]

Well, think about this for AEB guys, they dont have a MAP sensor, but now they do as well as a bunch of other things... This thing plugs right in, you dont need to use a new tach or anything, you dont have to touch a thing, you just plug it in and go

no more fucking MAF's ftw

[k0mpresd]

Well, think about this for AEB guys, they dont have a MAP sensor, but now they do as well as a bunch of other things... This thing plugs right in, you dont need to use a new tach or anything, you dont have to touch a thing, you just plug it in and go

plug in, tune, and go.

i think you failed to see my point though. my point was this seems no different than any other standalone out there. other than it just "plugs in". what about people that have to pass obd2 inspection?

[AudiA4_20T]

plug in, tune, and go.

i think you failed to see my point though. my point was this seems no different than any other standalone out there. other than it just "plugs in". what about people that have to pass obd2 inspection?

the ability to just swap a regular ECU back in, pass, and plug back in your setup, also the ability to use EVERY SINGLE stock sensor, thats awesome IMO

I believe the interface is pretty easy also. It seems like with BobQ backing him up and the amount of time spent on this thing, it will be pretty user friendly

[djwimbo]

I was hoping they would blow the VAG scene wide open

I lol'd at that one. My mind only read that part.

Well, think about this for AEB guys, they dont have a MAP sensor

That was my first thought.

what about people that have to pass obd2 inspection?

Move to a different state/area. West MI FTW.

Looks interesting though. I don't want to be the first person to try it.

[k0mpresd]

the ability to just swap a regular ECU back in, pass, and plug back in your setup, also the ability to use EVERY SINGLE stock sensor, thats awesome IMO

this is like jason, just mirrored. haha. ;)

and this ecu uses no maf. so, say you remove your maf. need to pass inspection. so you plug your ecu back in. but you set a code because you have no maf. you arent passing obd2 inspection where i live.

[4A Play]

I just kicking myself in the ass for buying the 2.8 lol.

[audispeed]

Re: Stock Ecu

Unitronic has been working on the samething for over a year. I have no clue what the hold up is. I was hoping they would blow the VAG scene wide open @ waterfest with its release, but nothing.......

seriously? because that would be incredible. any more info on that? would it work on dbc cars or just dbw? i want this now.

[Don Supreme]

^ I wanted it last year when he told me about it, so welcome to the club.

[mike-2ptzero]

the ability to just swap a regular ECU back in, pass, and plug back in your setup, also the ability to use EVERY SINGLE stock sensor, thats awesome IMO

I believe the interface is pretty easy also. It seems like with BobQ backing him up and the amount of time spent on this thing, it will be pretty user friendly

You mean swap in a regular ecu, stock maf, stock air box and everything else that is needed to use the stock maf and air box. It isn't like your going to just swap a ecu back in and be able to just drive the car.

[317ssayzarc]

fuel injectors, 2nd 02 sensor, cat, ect

[onemoremile]

Do you lose any stock functionality with this ecu? Can VAG-Com still talk to the convenience control module, do all the little tricks still work?

[djwimbo]

(please correct me if I'm wrong here)

Jim - It's my understanding that VAG-Com will still be able to communicate with the other systems, BUT it will not be able to be used for engine DTC's/datalogging/etc. It should be able to run/check/modify the HVAC, cluster, immobilizer stuff, central locking, etc.

The hardware will be quite similar to what is factory, but the software will be completely different. It would be like putting a GM PCM in an Audi and asking Vag-Com to work like normal.

[Don Supreme]

For my year (2000) the stock ECU is still retained. I can still connect to it via vag-com, but the sensors that have been re-routed to the stand alone (i.e almost everything) will not return any data.

[creechsa4]

don are you running the lugtronic? i'm saving up for a bat ecu. i might as well swing the extra 500 for this. see on their website they have a running ndbw a4 on this. if you have it, how do you like it?

[onemoremile]

What about on the fly tuning via carputer? Multiple switchable programs so I could go from 87 to 93 or track fuel?

[Don Supreme]

don are you running the lugtronic? i'm saving up for a bat ecu. i might as well swing the extra 500 for this. see on their website they have a running ndbw a4 on this. if you have it, how do you like it?

I was running lugtronic, but the A4 is no more...

What year is your car creech?

[Don Supreme]

What about on the fly tuning via carputer? Multiple switchable programs so I could go from 87 to 93 or track fuel?

You could definitely tune from a carputer, though it would be nice to have a keyboard.

You could switch between maps if you had a carputer, just open up the tuning software, open the file and flash it.

Otherwise, it would not be able to switch maps like that. It may be possible with future firmware.

[Beemer832]

I have been watching this Lugtronic product unfold ever since Jake told me about it. I've talked to Kevin via email a few months back and this product has lots of potential. I went through a "beta" version getting started and owners manual and it "seems" pretty straightforward although this is not going to be for everyone. You do really need to know what you are doing to some degree.

The ability to have a completely plug n play ECU, with a MAF delete is freakin amazing. I also am not willing to be a test unit unless it comes with some very tempting benefits :-)

-josh

[Beemer832]

website now has Jake's car and the other dudes car (cant think of his name) GT3071 a4 Avant that his wife drives. I know i've talked to him on here before but can't think who it is...

Anyways I am glad these two cars are finally running. I hope this product continues to be developed.. Definitely worth the wait and the $$$

-josh

[djwimbo]

You could definitely tune from a carputer, though it would be nice to have a keyboard.

You could switch between maps if you had a carputer, just open up the tuning software, open the file and flash it.

Otherwise, it would not be able to switch maps like that. It may be possible with future firmware.

Wireless keyboard FTW.

[Militant-Grunt]

As Jake (CrazyAss) found out, that ecu can be a pain in the ass. No matter how big of a turbo ill have, I will still remain with Me7 seeing how flexible of a system it really is.

[LugnutsTuning]

Hey guys, if you have questions, I'll answer them.

The Lugtronic ECU completely replaces the OEM ECU in the AEB models.

For the 2000+ models with the ECU like a MK4 VW, an adapter harness is included to retain the OEM ECU.

If desired, you can use the OEM ECU to log knock and rpm with a VAG-COM.

Although when it comes to the other functions, you will find that the Lugtronic ECU's datalogging puts the VAG-COM to shame!

The MAF is not used, or needed in either case. You can keep the MAF installed if you want and it will not harm anything other than looks.

I keep the MAF and O2 sensors installed on my own Passat(s) when I am running Lugtronic ECU's on those cars.

For emissions, it is not that difficult at all.
You simply plug in the OEM ECU (AEB) or un-plug the adapter(2000+), install the MAF if removed, and the OEM injectors if you changed those.
It takes only an hour or two, and you only have to do it once a year.


There have been some teething pains. I'm not happy with the idle valve control. My car will start 20 times in a row and settle down to 800 rpm. But some others have not worked correctly. I know there is a problem but I don't have it solved yet. It's not like any other stand-alone controls these car's TB's. So the current recommended solution is to use an earlier 2 wire IAC.

Some customers have had issues with computers. We are working on these as they come along. Again, I myself have 3 laptops, and 15+ other customers laptops that work every day without the issues that 1-2 people are having.
I'm working on diagnosing the problem.

Some other issues you may have heard about, are car related. You have to realize these are 11 year old cars. An ICM or Coilpack failure is going to happen on this system just like a chipped ECU.
Actually, I'd say the 4 wire coils last longer with my ecu's than the stock units. I've had one car have one bad 4 wire coilpack in the 5 years I've been working on 1.8t's. And the 4 wire coilpacks have made 812 whp at XX psi boost. And with the 3 wire coilpacks I have made 780 whp on straight alcohol.

The Lugtronic isn't for everybody, and neither are 600++ whp cars. It is for people who want to be a part of extracting the maximum potential out of their cars.

I deal with other ECU products as well, so if there is something that you want that you think is not available, just ask.

Feel free to contact me at: [email protected] with any questions, or use the contact form on the Lugtronic site.

Kevin Black

[jrock]

If only it was as cheap as Megasquirt!

[dwi_gti]

well you get what you pay for, and lugtronic is so much better, plus the tech support of Keven Black is priceless. Well worth the investment, everytime I see someone going with 034, autronic or AEM and so on I stop giving advice on there post because I believe they are mornons. harsh but true

[onemoremile]

So it sounds like on the fly tweaks wouldn't work. If I want to tweak for better mpg on a long road trip I would have to pull over and shut it off for a few minutes. Correct?

So the file gets tweaked and uploaded then start and drive?

[onemoremile]

The site says it runs high impedance injectors. Will it run low z?

Does it control the wastegate with an N75?

If no MAF then do we just run MAP? Does that cause any driveability problems?

[jrock]

I believe they are mornons. harsh but true

Did you mean morons or mormons lol

[djwimbo]

The site says it runs high impedance injectors. Will it run low z?

Does it control the wastegate with an N75?

If no MAF then do we just run MAP? Does that cause any driveability problems?

Good questions. Since the AEB doesn't have a MAP, where have you added one?

The suggestion for the IAC motor/solenoid is for all 1.8T's or just the 2000+ cars?

Jim - Personally I'd run a MBC/EBC, but if it straight swaps for the 557p/n ECU I would think it would be capable of utilizing the N75.
What low impedance injectors do you want to run? The 1000cc injectors Jake is using now should be capable of your power goals (or almost every ones)

[A4Rob]

Wow this is awesome! Gets me thinking...

[onemoremile]

Does it now? Me too.

Wonder how it would integrate with a water meth system?