Seems to me from reading here, that the US Ecu is detuned for emissions reasons.

How hard would it be to get a Jspec ECU, or perhaps just the Prom? (I don't know much about Auto ECU's but am a computer engineer). Do they use replacable or flashable Proms in these Ecu's.

Otherwise, swapping out the ECU can't be that hard can it?

 

i dont know a whole bunch about the proms etc.... but i know that in japan the fuel ratings are different.....they have 100+ octane....we dont
so that would be the main problem in getting a japanese ECU is that the fuel maps would be different etc...

andrew

 

Hey Reeko, I would like to put a Flux Capacitor in my 8, could you give me a hand?

 

They use a different ratings system, 100 RON is ~93-95 octane, so their gas is barely better, if at all...

 

Not gona happen, aparently.

You cant get hold of a JDM ECU unless you take one out of a wrote off rx-8 in japan.

All the ECU's are physicaly the same, and are reporgramed by the local service center and swaped for the faulty one.

Riping and reporgramming the code is gona be difficult too.

Just be happy with the car as it is, or get mods for it, CAI and exauhsts n stuff should give good returns.

 

Hey, I can do that - just meet me 2039.

 

Bah, I can fit one last tuesday!

 

Blowing the code to our ECU will not be difficult if you can find a tame Mazda dealership - they all have the necessary equipment to perform flash upgrades such as was recently done for the Protege.

Obtaining the firmware is the hard part. Reverse-engineering it from a JDM ECU is gonna take someone a lot of time and effort. Perhaps the simplest solution is to wait for Mazda Japan to produce a reflash for the JDM's to fix some little niggle, and arrange for someone to intercept or duplicate it and send it over the pond.

 

*Mission Impossible Music*

Good morning eccles, your mission, should you choose to accept it...

:p hahaha....

 

Holy crap......

 

I just managed to order 2 of the Japanese ECUs for the RX-8 6MT, with the GT package ( This is the model sold in Japan as RX-8 Type S)

They should be here next week.

What will have to be done to use them:
1) Install in car ( at dealer location, see below for why!)

2) A local dealer will have to program new ignition keys to match the code in the ECU.
Otherwise the immobilizer will not let you start the car.

Cost is around $900 for the ECU.
Key Re-programming cost - see your dealer

I will be installing and trying one in my car.

Anyone game for one if it works?

 

$900 is a lot, but I'm interested... How about a re-flash trade-in option? pay the $900, get the new JDM flashed ECU, send back the old ECU, and get a 500-600 $ credit..

btw, Canzoomer, are you talking CDN$ or US$?

 

Mazda policy is "No returns on used electrical parts."

I am talking 87,780 Yen, plus about $40 Fedex cost to get here.
So, $791 US plus Fedex equals $840
Add some courier cost to ship to you, and local taxes, and we hit about $900 US.

 

If this works....and done properly I can't see any reason why it wouldn't....Canzoomer will have NO problem unloading the other J-spec ECU.

 

EXCITEMENT!

 

Yup, I'd be interested in it too. Any ideas on warranty impacts, if any?

 

IF it works, I'll take the other one (or a future one, if I'm not first in line). Please let me know.

 

It works, BUT you need a co-operative Mazda dealer to reprogram the immobilizer module to work with it. It's a security feature, and the dealer has to do it..

It DOES work. Both are spoken for right now, but I will order more on request. Currently about a 2 week back-order in Japan.

 

Why reverse engineer? Just copy the contents and flash a US ECU. It should give you J power and J emissions, good enough for 48-49 states.

Actually I think it's time for a law suit. I believe a suit was filed a long time ago and it was decided that Cali could have more restrictive emmisions than the feds, the feds didn't occupy the field. But now that Cali standards are the defacto standard, there's additional issues to raise.

 

what were the results of the ecu? more power, smoother idle? what, i need details

 

My question to Canzoomer is the same....Why can't you now take the fuel maps from the J-spec and load them into a CZ1 unit? or at least reproduce the map?......even if there are multiple maps....just take the best ***read most power*** and use that one??? By you ordering these I though that is what you would be doing....taking the j-spec map and putting it into a CZ1:D

 

There is no EVAP pump control on a Japan PCM, so you may have a MIL showing when you connect it to a car with a pump.
Also, Japanese fuel is higher quality on average, so they can tune the engine a little higher.
Emissions standards are the main reason for the power difference though, and I know from experience none of you guys care about emissions!

But it will only work as a Japan spec if you tell it that it is a Japan spec, you need AS BUILT DATA from a Japan spec vehicle! How are you planning on getting around that, Canzoomer? Ya got me interested...

 

pretty old thread... i think this is before he got a cz in it.