Power commander for cars? Why not?

Rtech · 5th September 2007, 14:16

Many here would know of the Dynojet Power Commander for fuel injected superbikes. These retail for $300-500 depending on the model, and pre-set fuel maps are available off the website itself for individual bikes.

It can't get simpler really. You simply plug the Power Commander (PC) in, copy the new map and you're set. Torque, powerband etc can all be adjusted with this and a laptop to best suit the performance updates you fit on your bike as well as the ridding conditions.

So if it's so simple and freely available for bikes, is there something similar out there for cars? Offhand, I don't know of any. SO why aren't these available? Why can't I order a PC online, plug it in, download a remap and get my car to perform better? And I also have to option to tinker around with it myself (if I know what I'm doing). All for around $500 (Rs.20,000).

Why the double standards here? Is it because the ECU in a car control far more (TC, ABS, ESP etc) than that in a FI bike? What's the reason?

mclaren1885 · 5th September 2007, 14:25

Quote:

Is it because the ECU in a car control far more (TC, ABS, ESP etc) than that in a FI bike?

Maybe one of the reasons. The only solution to something like this would be to use a standalone and set it up all by yourself. Provided you know what you are doing.

veyron1 · 5th September 2007, 14:50

Yes. we have simple options like the Power commander, for cars. A good example, known by most of us, is the Greddy E-manage. Both are piggybacks, you see...

P.S- Rahul, standalones are far more difficult to manage. You have to build maps yourself, according to the engine's state of tune, as every engine is different...pre-determined maps are very costly, as they are engine-specific...

theMAG · 5th September 2007, 15:13

Rtech,

Will the RD ECU help? I'm to believe that it can be programmed on the fly with a laptop, according to an existing customer. And I've seen that it can be either standalone or piggyback by toggling a switch.

Rtech · 5th September 2007, 15:33

E-manage is similar. Isn't it primarily only for Jap imports though?

Quote:

Will the RD ECU help?

I don't know. You tell me.

theMAG · 5th September 2007, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

I don't know. You tell me.

From what I've seen, there's a perceptible power upgrade by switching on this ECU

Psycho · 5th September 2007, 16:05

eManage / SAFC / VAFC are the closest you can get to power commanders for the car world and no they are not plug and play.

However there are a few select ECU's for which you get directly swappable options for reprogramming from various manufacturers and most of them are are targetted towards the subaru / mitsu / honda stables

Some of the famous ones are like Hondata / Crome and Uberdata

Other than that you get standalones and RaceDynamics makes ecus that can be used like piggybacks / standalones.

Yes applications for cars are a bit more expensive due to the additional drivers that one needs to manage.

Rtech · 5th September 2007, 16:09

Thanks Psycho. Any particular reason why we don't have a plug & play similar to the PC?

Psycho · 5th September 2007, 16:39

CAr damages due to fiddling can be way higher than on bikes and not many people want to tinker with their orignal ecu's.

Also the connectors are not that easily available. One shortcut could be to use the OBD conversion cables available abroad.

5th September 2007, 14:16	#1
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Power commander for cars? Why not? Many here would know of the Dynojet Power Commander for fuel injected superbikes. These retail for $300-500 depending on the model, and pre-set fuel maps are available off the website itself for individual bikes. It can't get simpler really. You simply plug the Power Commander (PC) in, copy the new map and you're set. Torque, powerband etc can all be adjusted with this and a laptop to best suit the performance updates you fit on your bike as well as the ridding conditions. So if it's so simple and freely available for bikes, is there something similar out there for cars? Offhand, I don't know of any. SO why aren't these available? Why can't I order a PC online, plug it in, download a remap and get my car to perform better? And I also have to option to tinker around with it myself (if I know what I'm doing). All for around $500 (Rs.20,000). Why the double standards here? Is it because the ECU in a car control far more (TC, ABS, ESP etc) than that in a FI bike? What's the reason?
	() Thanks

5th September 2007, 14:50	#3
veyron1 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,424 Thanked: 52 Times View My Garage	Yes. we have simple options like the Power commander, for cars. A good example, known by most of us, is the Greddy E-manage. Both are piggybacks, you see... P.S- Rahul, standalones are far more difficult to manage. You have to build maps yourself, according to the engine's state of tune, as every engine is different...pre-determined maps are very costly, as they are engine-specific... Last edited by veyron1 : 5th September 2007 at 14:55.
	() Thanks

5th September 2007, 15:13	#4
theMAG Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Avon, CT Posts: 7,217 Thanked: 1,807 Times View My Garage	Rtech, Will the RD ECU help? I'm to believe that it can be programmed on the fly with a laptop, according to an existing customer. And I've seen that it can be either standalone or piggyback by toggling a switch.
	() Thanks

5th September 2007, 16:05	#7
Psycho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,043 Thanked: 110 Times View My Garage	eManage / SAFC / VAFC are the closest you can get to power commanders for the car world and no they are not plug and play. However there are a few select ECU's for which you get directly swappable options for reprogramming from various manufacturers and most of them are are targetted towards the subaru / mitsu / honda stables Some of the famous ones are like Hondata / Crome and Uberdata Other than that you get standalones and RaceDynamics makes ecus that can be used like piggybacks / standalones. Yes applications for cars are a bit more expensive due to the additional drivers that one needs to manage.
	() Thanks

5th September 2007, 16:09	#8
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Thanks Psycho. Any particular reason why we don't have a plug & play similar to the PC?
	() Thanks

5th September 2007, 16:39	#9
Psycho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,043 Thanked: 110 Times View My Garage	CAr damages due to fiddling can be way higher than on bikes and not many people want to tinker with their orignal ecu's. Also the connectors are not that easily available. One shortcut could be to use the OBD conversion cables available abroad.
	() Thanks