Neon ECU flashing

[ShelGame]

This afternoon, I sucessfully de-bricked and reflashed a '95 Neon FCC ECU ('712) with an MP cal! '95 only for now, but there's another guy flashing the '96+ Neon computers.

I've been working hard on this for about a month now. Thanks to Morris for all of his support making constant revisions to MP Tune so I could experiment.

Now that this is working on the FCC, It may be possible to do it on the SBECII as well (the FCC is really just an evolved and specialized SBECII). I need to confirm if it uses the same chip commands as the FCC.

[zin]

Neat!

Does this ECU lend itself to being better on the older cars? I'm thinking coil pack ignition and faster processor allowing more code/features... Not to mention there were oodles of these cars built, so finding them should be easier than finding "vintage" cores... Thoughts?

Mike

[j4278h]

These would be 1995 only so finding cores would still be difficult.

[ShelGame]

Neat!

Does this ECU lend itself to being better on the older cars? I'm thinking coil pack ignition and faster processor allowing more code/features... Not to mention there were oodles of these cars built, so finding them should be easier than finding "vintage" cores... Thoughts?

Mike

The Neon FCC is no faster than an SBEC or even a SMEC - it uses the same processor.

It might come in very handy if you're swapping an 'early' 2.4 into a TM. Though, there's not (yet) a turbo cal for the FCC.

---------- Post added at 04:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:57 PM ----------

These would be 1995 only so finding cores would still be difficult.

Technically only '95, but Neon production started in like Feb of 1994. So, there's nearly 2 years worth of production for that computer. They're still easier to find than a TIII computer...

[GLHNSLHT2]

ND performance is getting into 1st gen neon cals too.

[RoadWarrior222]

Technically only '95, but Neon production started in like Feb of 1994. So, there's nearly 2 years worth of production for that computer. They're still easier to find than a TIII computer...

Not necessarily because spring of '95 they would have switched production to '96 model years, so maybe only 3 months more than subsequent years, and production probably started off slow.

---------- Post added at 08:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------

Hard to tell from this... because '95s sales aren't broken down by 95 and 96 models. http://www.allpar.com/neon/

[Vigo]

Sweet, ive been thinking about asking you about an MP cal for my 95 neon lately!!

Are you flashing through the obd port? How does it work?

[ShelGame]

ND performance is getting into 1st gen neon cals too.

Thru Kevin Sykes-Bonnet. As far as I know, they're not doing 95's. Just 96+.

[ShelGame]

Not necessarily because spring of '95 they would have switched production to '96 model years, so maybe only 3 months more than subsequent years, and production probably started off slow.

---------- Post added at 08:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------

Hard to tell from this... because '95s sales aren't broken down by 95 and 96 models. http://www.allpar.com/neon/

Usual model changeover is late summer or early fall for a September or October start of sales. So, I think '95 was probably at least 18 months if production.

[ShelGame]

Sweet, ive been thinking about asking you about an MP cal for my 95 neon lately!!

Are you flashing through the obd port? How does it work?

I'm flashing on my bench right now. It works essentially like the modified SMEC and SBEC. The primary difference being that the chip used in the FCC is a PITA. It needs 12v for programming, and Mopar designed the programming trigger circuit to need 20v to just get it into programming mode. So, I had to 'hotwire' a surplus Mopar flash adapter. All it really does is step up the voltage at the appropriate time. Morris was a big help getting MP Tune to control the voltage switching and timing.

[Vigo]

So at this time it's not feasible to flash my own without extra hardware? Would it be possible for you to burn one and mail it and i simply install it in my board? If so i will PM you about that.

95 computers ARE getting pretty rare so im not totally comfortable sending mine out or even removing my chip without having a replacement with a viable cal file on it already at hand.

[ShelGame]

So at this time it's not feasible to flash my own without extra hardware? Would it be possible for you to burn one and mail it and i simply install it in my board? If so i will PM you about that.

95 computers ARE getting pretty rare so im not totally comfortable sending mine out or even removing my chip without having a replacement with a viable cal file on it already at hand.

You don't have to remove the chip. I'm flashing it in the ECU. I already have definition files for most if the common 2.0 cals including the MP cal. The cals and MP Tune definition files are on my Google page. I'll post them up here, too.

[turbovanman²]

Great job,

[Vigo]

You don't have to remove the chip. I'm flashing it in the ECU. I already have definition files for most if the common 2.0 cals including the MP cal. The cals and MP Tune definition files are on my Google page. I'll post them up here, too.

Ok. So where is this 20v coming from? Mopar flash adapter? Sounds like this is not something i could do at home at this point without getting some rigging.

[ShelGame]

Ok. So where is this 20v coming from? Mopar flash adapter? Sounds like this is not something i could do at home at this point without getting some rigging.

No, not without some rigging. I'm simplifing the circuit, and am going to make my own module. Now that I know how to make it work. So, hopefully by the spring I'll have a flash adapter available for the Neon FCC.

[Vigo]

In the meantime, you would still be able to flash my computer if i were to actually mail it to you?

[RoadWarrior222]

Could do it (20V) with a ..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickson...on_charge_pump
Type deally, off the 12V line, single stage with the diodes tripled up for a bigger drop (0.7v per diode) should come out around 20V.

[ShelGame]

In the meantime, you would still be able to flash my computer if i were to actually mail it to you?

Yes, I could...

[RoadWarrior222]

Apparently this design is free to use... http://www.madbeanpedals.com/project...s/RoadRage.pdf

[ShadowFromHell]

Hey Shelgame, I am so exited about this! I bought a 98 neon with a hahn turbo kit on it a while back. After doing some research it looks like it will be pretty easy to re-wire my car to a 95 ECU. I know kevin is doing the 96+ but I REALLY want to tune it myself, but am not ready to go MS. Any updates on this? Have you got to a point where we could at least play with the files in MPtune? If you need a guinea pig car I am more then willing.