AccessPORT Instructions Instructions
 

The Cobb AccessPORT for the RX-8 is a great tool. It has a wide range of capabilities and can set up the OEM PCM to operate in a range of possibilities that are far outside what Mazda had originally configured it to do.
The MazdaManiac Custom Calibration Service (MMCCS) allows the purchaser the ability to avoid having to learn how to tune their own car (which, as anyone who has taken in one of my tuning seminars will tell you, is not nearly as simple and cut-n-dried as some might imply that it is).
However, it does require that the purchaser follow an explicit set of instructions exactly as written and provide feedback exactly as indicated in those instructions.
Unfortunately, quite a few customers have had some difficulty with the process, some starting right away with the purchase options themselves.
So, these "instruction instructions" are provided to attempt to make the process as easy and precise as possible.

To purchase an AccessPORT from MazdaManiac and/or receive the MMCCS, you must first go to my site: http://www.mazdamaniac.com.
Once there, you will click on the image of the RX-8 in the middle of the page.
http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/0.jpg
There is some basic material presented as well as links for purchasing the AccessPORT with the MMCCS, purchasing the MMCCS alone, a basic instructional video on installing the AccessPORT and a link to the instructions that we are discussing here.
http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/1.jpg
To purchase the AccessPORT with the MMCCS, select the flag that corresponds to your geographical region. Do not select based on which model you have! Pick the flag that corresponds to where your AccessPORT will be shipped!
Once you select your region, you will be taken to a page that will allow you to select your model year. This is really just for my reference since ALL AccessPORTs for all model years and geographical locations are MECHANICALLY and ELECTRONICALLY IDENTICAL.
If you suspect that you have a "gray-market" RX-8 that came from another region (i.e. - you live in Australia but your RX-8 was brought into the country from Asia), I suggest that you contact me first.

Make you selection from the pull-down menu and click "Buy Now".
http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/2.jpg
You will be taken to the MazdaManiac Google Checkout page, which will either require you to log in via your Google account or to create a new Google account.
Once you are logged in and have given all of your purchasing information, you will be presented with a confirmation page that contains some very important information about your purchase.
http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/GCO.jpg

READ THIS INFORMATON THOROUGHLY. Nearly ALL of the post-purchase questions I receive are addressed on this page.

The most important points are these:

Once you place your order, you are an AccessPORT owner. Accept it. Enjoy it.
I do not take phone calls about the AccessPORT under any circumstances. Ever.
This is not just because I am an assh*le, but because I have a hearing/mental disability of some sort that makes it nearly impossible for me to understand phone conversations with people that I haven't had face-to-face conversations with. Seriously. I am not joking (nor am I looking for any sort of sympathy). I just can't carry on a useful conversation over the phone.
In person it is a totally different story. I don't know why this is and it has been a problem all of my life that I simply accept.
So - DON'T CALL ME. I won't answer. E-mail at ap@mazdamaniac.com.
Now, a quick caveat - I will answer text messages. I know this might shock some of my colleagues to say this, but if you do have a question, and if you send me a text message that a)contains your name so I know who you are and b)does not annoy me, I will probably answer it almost immediately.
That is ELEVEN BUSINESS DAYS. Business days are days that fall Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm Arizona time (3pm - 1am GMT), US holidays excluded.
If you order your AccessPORT on a Monday, it will ship ON OR BEFORE the Tuesday two weeks later.
If you buy it on Friday the 7th, it will ship ON OR BEFORE Monday the 24th.
If you buy it on Friday the 7th after 6:00pm, it will ship ON OR BEFORE Tuesday the 25th.
If you make your purchase on Saturday the 29th of May, it will ship ON OR BEFORE June 15th (Monday the 31st is a holiday).

This is VERY important.
If you use the "spoofed" e-mail address that Google provides (it looks like xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@google.checkout.com), you will NOT receive your MMCCS. You must provide a REAL e-mail address - one that you use in your normal, daily life. Equally importantly, it must be the address that you will use for your MMCCS correspondence.
Your e-mail address is how we track your progress and subscription status.
If you switch e-mail addresses without notifying us, your MMCCS will be terminated.

Once you click "Place Your Order Now", everything will get under way. You will receive a tracking notice from me when I ship you AccessPORT and you will receive an e-mail with your MMCCS instructions within a few days after your tracking number. KEEP THIS E-MAIL!!!!
If you are a new AccessPORT/MMCCS user, you will receive instructions for the "v4.0" base calibrations. This corresponds to section "A" of the online instructions (which are a virtual copy of those e-mailed to you).
After you have progressed through your MMCCS process, you will receive instructions for the "v4.0.1 and up" calibrations. This corresponds to section "B" of the online instructions (which are also a virtual copy of those e-mailed to you).
THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE DIFFERENT!!! READ THEM!!!

Let's look at the instructions step-by-step, starting from the beginning:

When you purchased the AccessPORT from MazdaManiac with the Custom Calibration Service, you would have received and e-mail that contains all of these instructions that are outlined in these "Instructions Instructions".
The only difference is a link near the top that looks like this:

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/9.jpg

This is a link to the base calibration collection that is accessed with the password that is printed (and blurred-out in this example) below the link itself.

But, before you can download your calibration, you must first determine how the AccessPORT will identify your vehicle.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/4.jpg

When you plug in your AccessPORT for the first time, it will present you with an "install" screen. When you follow its directions, it will identify your make/model/year. This is the information you need to know to download the proper base calibration and also to answer questions 4, 5 and 6 of the "11 Deadly Questions" at the bottom of the instructions (more on that later).
A "modified or non-standard MAF housing" means something totally custom, not a commercially available, aftermarket intake like the AEM, Racing Beat, HKS or K&N. If you have cobbled something together out of stuff from Home Depot or if your MAF housing is some other inside diameter than the OEM intake tube (3.375 inches), you will probably have to submit for an altered base calibration before you can do anything else.
If you swap your injectors for something bigger, you will need to know EXACTLY what the sizes of those injectors are and in what positions they are installed (P1, secondary and P2).
This is NOT optional. The versions that ship with the AP are old and out of date and the firmware is usually old as well.
If you don't update the firmware and the APManager, you will not be able to upload the MMCCS calibrations to your AccessPORT.
There are still some JDM and EUDM models that are not supported out there. If your car comes up as "not supported", follow the directions on the screen of the AccessPORT and send me that "ROM dump" during one of the Live Custom Calibration sessions (you can download it from the AccessPORT using the APManager in the "advanced" menu) and I will verify whether or not your ROM is actually included in the firmware. If it is not, the AccessPORT will not work on your application.

When you click on this link and enter the password, you will be taken to a directory that you can navigate down to your actual application:

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/a.jpg

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/b.jpg

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/c.jpg

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/d.jpg

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/e.jpg

Once you arrive at your particular application, click on the link to download the ZIP file that contains the actual base calibration.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/f.jpg

Once the ZIP file is downloaded, double-click on it to open it. Inside the folder will be the actual base calibration.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/g.jpg

Start the AccessPORT manager software that you installed earlier and connect the AccessPORT to the PC with the supplied USB cable.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/i.jpg

Drag the base calibration file onto your desktop and then into the AP Manager window to install the calibration on your AccessPORT.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/j.jpg

It will look like this when you are done:

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/k.jpg

You can then flash the base calibration onto your car's PCM. If you don't know how to do that, watch the VIDEO.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/5.jpg

This next section is pretty self-explanatory (I know - I am tempting fate by saying this, but I really don't know how I can elaborate on them in a way that will make it any more clear), but this part is important:
You cannot provide useful logs if the engine is cold. I can't tell you how many submission I have received from people with cold motors. Yes, I can tell from your data that the motor was cold and no, I can't use that information. Your fuel trims are useless at that point.
If you are boosted, you are venturing into (for you, the customer) uncharted waters. The MAF is not setup for boost yet and the response of the injection system will probably not be adequate for a boosted scenario despite my efforts to make the base FI calibrations "safe" for a boosted motor. There are quite a few things that can and will go wrong initially, so you need to be very, very careful until you receive your v4.0.1 calibration update.
Hence the note:
Even then, you should venture into boost cautiously until you are certain that your AFRs are staying in a safe range. There is a note about this in the "v4.0.1 and up" section that I will address below.

This next section addresses the datalogging procedure itself:
http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/6.jpg
"One drive cycle" means bringing your vehicle up to operating temperature and allowing it to cool back down to near-ambient temperatures.


After this
AFTER the drive cycle. The datalogging cycle is your second drive cycle.
These are the ONLY data parameters I need. If you do not select these or if you add parameters outside of hose on this list YOUR SUBMISSION WILL BE REJECTED.
4200 RPM is a guideline. You can go higher but DO NOT GO LOWER. Your tach reads 500 RPM or so HIGHER than the real engine RPM, so err on the safe side and take the motor up to 4300 RPM or more indicated.
The "link" is to the Live Custom Calibration Schedule. If you attempt to send data to me by any other method, it will go away forever.
You MUST provide the ACTUAL MMCCS BASE CALIBRATION you downloaded and installed in your PCM. This is the only way I can verify that you are using the correct file. I have had more than a couple of people use the Cobb supplied "stock style" or "level 1" calibration for datalogs. You will be assassinated for this from now on.
If you do not provide the two datalogs and ONLY the two datalogs with the correct data, along with the proper calibration, your submission will be rejected. If you are lucky, I will simply tell you that you did it wrong. Usually, you will chastised viciously.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/7.jpg
The "11 Deadly Questions" are no joke. I need exactly the information requested.
is the name under which you purchased your AccessPORT/MMCCS through my WEB site.
is the name you use here or on the forum you frequent most. Spell it exactly how you use it - your MMCCS calibration folder on the server will follow this name, so if you spell it wrong or change the capitalization, punctuation or spacing, it will be wrong forever and you will be stuck with it. Answer this question exactly the same way every single time.
This should be the address as discussed above. It should NEVER change. If you change e-mail addresses, you must send a separate e-mail to ap@mazdamaniac.com explaining this change or your MMCCS will be terminated.
This is the information as supplied by the AccessPORT at the time of installation.
This is all information that tells me about your setup. If you have anything to explain here, explain it.
You customized calibrations are locked to your AccessPORT, so I need this number to make your calibrations functional.


Once you have submitted your first calibration adjustment request during one of the Live Custom Calibration sessions, you will receive the "v4.0.1 and up" instructions. These instructions are similar to the "v4.0" instructions, but there are some very important differences.

http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/instructions/8.jpg

This is a note to BOOSTED APPLICATIONS ONLY. I know it says this, but I get N/A guys asking me all the time if this applies to them.
This note should NOT be taken lightly. When you are still in the early stages of calibration, there is a distinct possibility that your AFRs will be too lean due to MAF inaccuracies. WATCH YOUR AFRS! You really should have an aftermarket wide-band O2 monitor if you are boosted, but you can just use the "Equivalence Ratio" display on the AccessPORT to do this.
Put the display somewhere you can see it and become very aware of what it is displaying when you are driving.
When I prepare a new calibration for my own cars, I usually avoid boost for a day or two and then start adding a PSI or so at a time in just 3rd and 4th gears. Once I am comfortable with 4 or 5 PSI in 3rd and 4th, I start to allow for some boost in 1st and 2nd. I gradually add boost over the next few days, but I wouldn't go much past that until you are past v4.0.1.
Even then, be careful. The process asks for wide-open-throttle logging, but that doesn't mean stomp on it and pray. Keep your eyes and ears open.
The WOT 2/3 log is one, continuous log. Do it exactly how I indicate in the instructions.

As before, you must follow these instructions exactly or your submission will be rejected. Be meticulous.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

1. The MazdaManiac Custom Calibration Service is valid for a period of SIX MONTHS from the date of original purchase.
2. The MazdaManiac Custom Calibration Service is NON-TRANSFERABLE. It is valid ONLY for the ORIGINAL PURCHASER.
   

If you do not include the required files, your submission will be discarded with no further notice.
If you do not include your correct answers to the “11 Deadly Questions” with every communication, you will not receive the Custom Calibration Service.
If you do not select the correct parameters for your datalogs, you will not receive the Custom Calibration Service.
If you do not allow for the correct number of drive-cycles before submission, you will not receive the Custom Calibration Service.
If you do not adequately warm up your car before taking the datalogs, you will not receive the Custom Calibration Service.
If you send communications via any other method than through Google Talk during one of the Live Custom Calibration Service sessions, you will not receive the Custom Calibration Service.

tl;dr

what intake should i buy??

:)

This is epic... in a sad way!

all joking aside, nice thread Jeff.
It's a shame that you have to actually post all of that but MAYBE it'll help stop some of the village idiots.

You might want to have all the replies deleted, get the thread locked, and stickied.

No one wanted to sticky my original AccessPORT threads (probably looks too much like an Internet Brands endorsement of my business), so a sticky of this is unlikely.

I'm just pissed there is no NZ flag :tear:

"All Others".
http://www.mazdamaniac.com/cobb/WORLD.gif

I agree this is a nice thread i appreciate that you took the time out again to firm things up further i personally know i messed up on the non standard MAf tube i have a hacked up K&N version II i felt it was custom however it adheres to OE specs found this out later.

Does the AP mask a cel?

WOW....;)

That's quite a read :)

And you are probably the only person that will read it. :banghead:

Only because I don't need to...that's how things go.

If I had to send you the data I'd likely screw it up too :)

put a hat on to take the glare away so you can see what you are doing .....

Bahahahahahaha :bowdown:

Jeff i sent you a email as you said in your instruction cause im seeing AFR above 12.5

I mailed you something :evil_laug
Sorry, had to!

am I the only one who just goes to the SoCal dyno days for my tuning needs? I don't think i've ever sent an email to Jeff re: my AP.
I have read every single "instructional" guide he's put out there.

and how dare you steal my line!!!! :mdrmed:

Wait, how do I set the dwell?



Oh, and I just figured out that I have been running around with my injector scalar set WAY wrong. No wonder I had bumps in my MAF curve. If only I had had these instruction instructions.

I <3 this thread.

I'd recommend that you also E-mail the printed instructions (aka, the password) because most people keep their e-mail and can search for it whereas printed instructions can get lost, damaged, eaten by the dog or just plain lit on fire. Given the amount of empty beer bottles lying around, I'm not sure which of the former applies to me...


Just to make sure -- As I mentioned when buying the AP I wanted to wait on my mid-pipe before starting the tuning service. Since I haven't submitted anything at all yet just making sure we're still good even if it takes longer than this to get my pipe?

This will be covered in the AccessPORT Instructions Instructions Instructions video seminar coming next week.

gotcha bitch!

This thread :rock:

I've read it all and have been practicing so I don't mess up when I do it, but for some reason when it comes down to the real deal I'll probably mess something up lol.