YouTube Video — Transcript

So you want to start mapping your own Subaru. Fantastic! What I'm going to do today is talk you through the six essential tools that you will need to do that job properly and safely. There's a good satisfaction from mapping your own car. I started mapping mine back in 2006, just to start with making small changes, but because I live with the car day in, day out, I could see that those changes feel those changes.

mapping your own car I I started mapping mine back in 2006 and just to start with making small changes but because I live with the car day in day out I could see that those changes feel those changes and so long

And so long as you follow a very simple process and have the right tools, there's no reason why you can't be successful at mapping your own car and maybe helping out friends as well. So I'm going to talk you through six essential tools that you need to map your own Subaru safely, reliably, and maybe to add some extra fun bits like pops and bangs and launch control, anti-lag, who knows. You'll be able to, with these tools, do the complete run or tune of your car.

need to map your own Subaru safely reliably and maybe to add some extra fun bits like pops and bangs and launch control anti-ag who who knows you'll be able to with these tools to be able to do the complete Rune or tune of your car

The first tool that you'll need is a decent laptop. It doesn't have to be super spec, just needs to be reliable, with a decent battery life on there because if you're out on the road data logging, you don't want the battery to be running out halfway through doing the job. So make sure that you get one with a decent battery life.

battery to be running out halfway through doing the job so make sure that you get one with a decent battery life um I use a very simple ASO laptop this is my laptop just a very simple Acer obviously a bit dusty and dirty and

I use a very simple Acer laptop. This is my laptop, just a very simple Acer, obviously a bit dusty and dirty and scratched, but it gets bounced around in the car. I call it my map top. It's an Acer TravelMate, works very well, quick enough, small enough that I can put it in my lap while I'm mapping on the dyno or have it on the passenger seat if I'm out on the road. So this map top is pretty simple, pretty basic spec, and I've loaded it on with ECU Edit software, which is the main one that I use, and also ECU Flash, which is also a very useful piece of software. I'll put links for those in the description. You can download those. Like I say, it doesn't need to be superb spec, but it needs to be reliable. You don't want it crashing halfway through right into your ECU because it will kill the ECU on your car, and that is never fun. So reliable, switch off the auto updates, do those when required. You don't want, again, doing an update while you're right into an ECU because that could kill your ECU.

have it on the passenger seat if I'm out on the road so this mptp is pretty simple pretty basic [Music] spec and I've loaded it on with ECU edit software which is the main one that I use and also ECU

The next thing you'll need is a Tactrix cable. I'll put the link in the description to where to purchase that from. Very simple device, plugs into the OBD port, which is under your steering wheel, little micro USB connector or mini USB connector that goes there. From there to your laptop, install the software drivers, and you're good to go. So the actual Tactrix OpenPort 2 connector, I've supported the connection with some loom tape because the little USB connector on the bottom of this is very fragile, and if this is poking around under the steering wheel of your car, it is liable to get kicked. And if you kick that and damage that connection, then it's basically game over. So not fun. I've broken many of these over the years, but supporting that with a bit of tape just makes it a little bit more robust. You can buy cheaper versions or copies, imitation versions on Amazon or other sites, but in my experience, they don't work fine for data logging, but for reading and writing, there is some extra magic within the Tactrix cable that actually makes it work. So don't waste your money on the fakies.

through right into your ECU because it will kill the ECU on your car and that is never fun so reliable switch off the auto updates do those when required um you know want again doing a an update while you're right into an ECU

Right, so you've got your Tactrix cable, you've got your laptop set up, you've got software downloaded onto your laptop. The next thing you'll need to do, depending on the year of car, then with the Tactrix cable, you'll want the flash block connectors as well. Buying them from Tactrix in the States to the UK, they took about two days to get here. Pretty incredible service, so well worth it. So the OBD port on my Forester SDI is here, and all the impresses are there as well. On the later cars, they're up in the footwell, but they're all around under the steering wheel. So another thing that you'll need to do if your car is before 2007 and before is to have a means of connecting the test mode connectors for reading and writing the ROM. You can't leave those connected while you're driving on the new age because they'll put the advance multiplier down to zero, and then you will have no boost and wonder why. What's going on? So you'll need a method of connecting and disconnecting them. I'd recommend making up a switch rather than going under there and connecting them manually because doing that when you're out about is pain. So just make up a simple switch, simple switch with a male and a female spade connector, and at the other end of that just a simple on-off switch. So you know when the test mode connectors are joined.

little micro USB connector or mini USB connector that goes there from there to your laptop um install the software drivers and you're good to go so the actual tatrix open port two connector I've supported the um connection with some uh Loom tape

These are the extra flash block connectors, so the white one for 2003 to 2005 and the blue one for probably 2001, maybe 2002. But if you got a late Bug Eye, then I recommend getting both, just to make sure that you got everything covered. So simple switch, when you're ready to read the ROM out of the ECU, just flick the switch and that puts it in test mode. When you're finished, done, or you could mount a switch on the dashboard. If you have a spare switch blank, then you could put a switch in there and just do it manually like that.

game over so not fun I've broken many of these over the years um but you know supporting that with a bit of tape just makes it a little bit more robust you can buy cheaper versions or copies imitation

The next thing that you're going to want as far as your tools are concerned is a method of listening for detonation. So I make these deb cans, which I bolt somewhere onto the inlet manifold just using one of the 12 mil bolts on the top bit of hard pipe through to one end of air defenders with the foam taken out so that the noise transfers through that pipe to my ear. You can buy aftermarket decans. Plex do them, Formula do them. Again, I'll put links for those down in the description. They're a lot more expensive than making DIY decans, and that's why I like using the DIY ones because they're easy. The sound is still pure. It's still as you would hear it if you had your ear up against the engine rather than converting a noise to a signal and a signal back to a noise. I find they work better, and saving money is always a good idea.

money on the on the fakies right so you've got your T Trix cable you've got your laptop set up you got software downloaded onto your laptop um the next thing you'll need to do depending on the year of car then with the tatrix cable

The next tool that you'll need is a wideband. I use an Innovate with the tailpipe clamp with the longer cable to an LM2. So the sensors plug in the bottom, power lead to the bottom with a windscreen mount, just a suction windscreen mount that the back of the LM2 screws onto. Very easy, very simple, and it works. The LM2 power lead that comes supplied with the kit, on the other end of that is a cigarette lighter adapter, but I found that that connector doesn't work properly. You get a strange lambda reading sometimes. So what I do is chop that adapter off and wire on crocodile clips and bolt it and attach it directly to the battery. That way, I'm getting proper earth, proper power, much more reliable.

SDI is here and all the impresses they're there as well on the later cars there up in the foot well but they're all around under the steering wheel so another thing that you'll need to do if your car is um before 2007 and before is

Just to point on the exhaust clamp, I never use the standard screw connector because in my experience that comes off too easily and it puts a dent in the exhaust. Never good. So I use an exhaust clamp around. I have a range of different sizes of those that I use and just hook it on, obviously tighten it up there, and that holds it in place perfectly. Equally, you could fit a wideband gauge to your car, a wideband gauge which works really well. So if you're doing a tune just on your own car, then a wideband gauge such as the AEM one, again, I'll put a link down below in the description to that, and that will work really well. You can even bring out the data from that into your laptop so that it's data logging that data alongside the data from the ECU.

you will have no boost and wonder why what's going on so you'll need a method of connecting and disconnecting them um I'd recommend making up a switch um rather than going under there and connecting them um manually because

Obviously, if you like this video, give it a thumbs up. Much appreciated if you do. And obviously, if you got any comments on anything that I've said, any suggestions, then please fire in the comment section below, and I'm always there to reply to the comments.

where when the test mode connectors are joined these are the extra flash block connectors so the white one for 2003 to 2005 and the blue one for probably 2001 maybe 2002 but if you got a a late bug

The last thing that you'll want as far as an essential tool is concerned is access to information, guidance, advice, which is why I started the YouTube Academy for RAC.

test mode when you finished done or you could mount a switch on the dashboard if you have a spare switch blank then you could put a switch in there and and just do it manually like that the next thing that you're going to

want as far as your tools are concerned is a method of listening for detonation so I make these Deb cans um which I bolt somewhere onto the inlet manifold just using one of the 12 mil bolts on the

top bit of hard wo pipe through to one end of um air Defenders with the foam taken out so that the noise transfers through that pipe to my ear you can buy aftermarket de cans um Plex do them um formula do

them uh I again I'll put links for those down in the description they're a lot more expensive than making DIY de cans and that's why I like using the the DIY ones because they're easy the sound is still um pure it's still as as you would

hear it if you had your ear up against the engine um rather than converting a noise to a signal and a signal back to a noise um I find they work better and saving money is always a a good

idea the next tool that you'll need is a wideband I use an inovate with the tailpipe clamp with the longer cable to an lm2 so the sensors plug in the bottom power lead to the bottom with a windscreen Mount just a

suction windscreen Mount that the back of the lm2 screws on to very easy very simple and it works the lm2 power lead that comes supplied with the kit on the other end of that is a cigarette lighter adapter but I found that that connector

doesn't work properly you get a strange Lambda reading sometimes so what I do is chop that adapter off and wire on crocodile clips and bolt it and attach it directly to the battery that way I'm getting proper Earth proper power much more

reliable just to point on the exhaust clamp I never use the standard screw connector cuz in my experience that comes off too easily and it puts a dent in the exhaust never good so I use an exhaust clamp

around I have a range of different sizes of those that I use and just hook it on obviously tighten it up there and that holds it in place perfect equally you could could fit a wideband gauge to your car an a

wideband gauge which work really well so if you're doing a tune just on your own carard then a wi band gauge such as the AEM one again I'll put a link Down Below in the description to that um and that

will work really well you can even bring out the data from that into your laptop so that it's data loging that data alongside the data from the ECU obviously if you like this video give it a thumbs up um much appreciated

if you do um and obviously if you got any comments on anything that I've said um any suggestions then please fire in the in the comment section below and I'm always there to reply to to the comments the last thing that you'll want as far

as an essential tool is concerned is access to information guidance advice which is why I started the YouTube Academy for race Dynamics for self-tuning because it gives a way for people to ask direct questions to me about their Maps their data logs and

we'll go through them together separate videos on much more technical information and also a separate live stream where you know we we'll discuss problems or challenges that they're having in particular and hopefully through that give you the the handh

holding essentially you know you're not in it on your own been there I've taken this journey over many years um and that way you know you can get to the end result much better much safer so if you

look under the video there'd be a little join button under there have a look um I think it's $5.99 in the UK and see whether it's for you so that's essentially all tools that you need to get started on that process obviously

for yourself self-tuning your car it will probably be on the public road so obviously the main thing to remember is to be safe while you're doing it um best not to have your laptop on your lap you will not be paying full attention to the

road and the road conditions so first and foremost be safe doing it your data login while someone else is driving follow instructions it makes it a lot safer so once you got your essential tools first thing you want to be doing is data

logging watch this video for more information on what to data log and how to do it