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Post by caleditor on Jan 8, 2012 15:19:25 GMT -6
Some history of my Northstar tuning.
In the beginning I started out doing “Segment” Swaps.
A segment or module is a portion of the calibration. I was swapping GM segments and I was mainly doing this with 2000 to 2003 tunes.
Some people would say this is not tuning, but we do it all the time with LS1 cars
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Post by caleditor on Jan 8, 2012 15:21:23 GMT -6
A little Calibration & Segment information
Most GM OBDII calibrations use one of two basic file structures; some calibrations are comprised of a single calibration module and others are comprised of multiple modules.
The 1996 to 1999 uses 2 single calibrations. One is for the trans and the other is for the engine. The PCM has 2 separate boards with a ribbon cable connecting them. Each board has its own memory and CPU processor. This is unlike 1996 to 1999 non Saturn 4 cyl, V6 and V8 PCM’s. They all use 1 board, 1 Intel Memory chip and 1 Motorola CPU. In the case of single module calibrations only one number is used to identify the calibration, the Calibration ID. Since there are no other modules even a small change in the calibration values results in a new calibration file and a new calibration ID. For example if GM made even a small change in the ignition timing in a calibration it would result in a whole new calibration file and a new Calibration ID number.
The 2000 to 2003 Northstars use a Siemens PCM with a standard Intel memory chip. The 2000 to 2005 Northstars use the multi segment. They just have an operating system and then the calibration segment. Although the number of modules may differ the basic structure is similar for all multi-module calibrations. These calibrations are built up by combining multiple calibration modules into one large calibration file. Each module carries a unique part number to identify it. The first module is always the operating system module. This module contains all the actual code that runs in the PCM and controls the basic operation of the PCM. The other modules contain the various calibration parameters. For example, module 2 is usually the Engine Calibration module where you would find calibration parameters such as spark and fuel. There's usually another module that contains the speed calibration parameters such as rear-end ratio and speed sensor pulses per revolution.
On a LS1calibrations with 8 multiple modules to make a change such as changing the rear-end ratio in a vehicle GM only had to change the speed calibration module. All the other modules could stay the same so there are a lot of different vehicles that use the same operating system module in combination with various other modules. As a result only two or three different operating system modules may have been used over a range of vehicles during a given model year and sometimes across model years.
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Post by caleditor on Jan 8, 2012 15:22:57 GMT -6
Next came along the Shelby Calibration and a new tuning option for a stand-alone setup for custom conversion applications. This is for 1999 Engines and it uses a LS1 PCM. This uses an 8 segment calibration. I was the one that got the information to the tuning companies (HP Tuners, Wester’s, and TunerCat).
More to come about the Shelby Later
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Post by caleditor on Jan 8, 2012 15:24:07 GMT -6
A little info on tuning software
Tuning software Like HPT, TunerCat, LS1Edit, & EFILive use a Template. These companies have different names for them, but they all do the same thing. TunerCat calls them Vehicle Definition Files or VDF’s.
The Vehicle Definition File is a proprietary format binary file used by the C.A.T.S. OBDII Tuner program. This file describes all the parameters in a vehicles PCM calibration file that can be edited with the OBDII Tuner program. Each of these parameters must be fully described for the OBDII Tuner program to handle them properly. The Definition File also contains some General Information about the calibration file such as definition file name, version calibration file size, number of checksums, checksum locations, checksum ranges and checksum types.
There are literally thousands of calibration parameters in a modern PCM calibration, so when creating a Vehicle Definition File you should decide which parameters you will actually need to accomplish you tuning goals. Many of the calibration parameters will never need to be altered and thus don’t need to be included in the Definition File.
The Template or VDF is a road map to the calibration proprietary to the tuning software. This road map allow the tuner to tune the calibration correctly every time.
This VDF allows you to use any 1996 to 1999 Northstar engine and tune it to so it runs correctly. Just the engine and not the 4T80E used in FWD cars.
The next issue is the reading out of the PCM to get a complete calibration and the writing of the new tune. GM has it locked with what is called the Seed & Key combo. If you can’t read the PCM you will need to pull the memory chip off of the board and read it on a chip reader. We have been doing this for years.
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Post by caleditor on Jan 8, 2012 15:28:31 GMT -6
The 1996 to 1999 PCM uses 2 small files they are about 88kb each in size.
The 2000 to 2003 use a 512kb file and the 2004 and 05 use 1mb file.
The 2000 to 2003 use a OS that is a 421kb and the calibration segment is 76kb.
Every 2002 & 2003 use the same OS.
I have found about 50 different calibration segments for each year and I use them to compare and figure out parameters
These Calibration segments have all of the different emissions for all of the countries that the cars are sold in. They have the 2 different gear ratios and all of the different tire sizes and speed ratings. This segment has the engine volume (4.0L vs 4.6L) and hundreds of other parameters.
Comparing the 2000 to 2003 files I was able to find the speed limiter right away. I found the spark tables and a few other parameters. I have a friend help me with the checksums.
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Post by caleditor on Jan 8, 2012 15:37:45 GMT -6
Reading and Writing the PCM.
The 1996 to 1999 are Delco PCM's use ST memory chips and Motorola CPU's. These are different CPU's than other GM PCM's.
GM uses Delco PCM's up to 1998 in most cars and then switched to Delphi
The 2000 to 2003 are Siemens and use Infineon CPU's with a Standard Intel memory chip. This is an issue with reading the PCM out with a standard cable built to read out Motorola Chipped PCM’s
Since we had the Seed and Key combo’s from all of the chips we had read out. We were able to figure out the Security Algorithm and this allows us to program the PCM with our custom calibration using TunerCat’s WinFlash program.
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Post by caleditor on Jan 8, 2012 15:39:00 GMT -6
Now for the 1996 to 1999 PCM’s.
I have found that some Calibration Segments will have different Calibration ID’s and they are 100% identical. This helps a ton in reverse engineering. That thing I keep saying no one does. Well I do it if I have to.
I will come back to this shortly. I was reminded by this post I need to look at some calibration segments
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Post by caleditor on Jan 9, 2012 7:00:01 GMT -6
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Post by caleditor on Jan 9, 2012 7:23:26 GMT -6
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Randy T.
Administrator 
☯ AURORA GXP ☯
Posts: 3,758
Staff Member
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Post by Randy T. on Jan 9, 2012 9:29:19 GMT -6
So how much does it cost to raise the speed limiter and tune an Aurora pcm?
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Post by aurora4 on Jan 9, 2012 11:18:18 GMT -6
i think he is toying with you randy.
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Post by caleditor on Jan 9, 2012 14:41:01 GMT -6
Wester's wants $529
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Post by Blacky Bulger on Jan 9, 2012 18:22:14 GMT -6
Only $250? How much power you think you'll be able to get out of our cars.... with things such as exhaust, CAI.
So your also saying you can raise the shift points if we were to drop in a 300hp Vin 9 Northstar engine?
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Post by caleditor on Jan 10, 2012 12:24:32 GMT -6
Only $250? How much power you think you'll be able to get out of our cars.... with things such as exhaust, CAI. So your also saying you can raise the shift points if we were to drop in a 300hp Vin 9 Northstar engine? $250 for the speed limiter. I have a car in testing and when it is finished I will have a few more tables done. The testing is being done on a dyno |
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Randy T.
Administrator
☯ AURORA GXP ☯
Posts: 3,758
Staff Member
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Post by Randy T. on Jan 11, 2012 7:56:19 GMT -6
You have a camera? Have you worked on any Auroras, or is this another Fiero? So it's $250 to remove the limiter only? How do we know you can do this? If you don't have a camera, I will be your guinea pig, I will send you a pcm, I have 2 spares right now, you adjust it, and in return I will provide all the legitimate proof that this is possible to prove you can actually do this, pics, videos, and my word. Pics and videos come first, this is a forum, everyone has the ability to type words.
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 6:35:26 GMT -6
We have an Aurora in the shop. I will see if I can sneek a program into it and find a place to hit 145
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Post by lanceslambos on Jan 12, 2012 10:43:57 GMT -6
you plan to do that with someone else's car? that's not too cool
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2012 12:42:50 GMT -6
For the extra $10 I think I'll go with a trusted source (Westers) that has actually done this to vehicles (with the owners consent) .
Congrats on the file hacking though, sounds like a lot of work to get this information. And it was interesting seeing what you have accomplished
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 17:33:38 GMT -6
For the extra $10 I think I'll go with a trusted source (Westers) that has actually done this to vehicles (with the owners consent) . Congrats on the file hacking though, sounds like a lot of work to get this information. And it was interesting seeing what you have accomplished You do understand I gave Wester's a lot of the information he has on the Northstar's. |
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 17:34:47 GMT -6
you plan to do that with someone else's car? that's not too cool I was going to run it on the hoist, but never had time. |
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 17:39:14 GMT -6
For the extra $10 I think I'll go with a trusted source (Westers) Do the math. He want $280 more. In a few weeks I will have a more complete tune for the Autrora's |
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 17:43:56 GMT -6
You have a camera? Have you worked on any Auroras, or is this another Fiero? So it's $250 to remove the limiter only? How do we know you can do this? If you don't have a camera, I will be your guinea pig, I will send you a pcm, I have 2 spares right now, you adjust it, and in return I will provide all the legitimate proof that this is possible to prove you can actually do this, pics, videos, and my word. Pics and videos come first, this is a forum, everyone has the ability to type words. I have been tuning Northstar's since 2007. If you want the speed limiter removed I can do that and you can pay with PayPal. If I don't do exactly as I promise you will get your money back. PayPal will make sure of that |
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 17:47:29 GMT -6
Google caleditor and ajxtcman -- look at all of the forums and look at caleditor's feed back and number of post. That should show I am on the up and up.
Take a look on LS1Tech, 3800Pro or any of the other 100 or so forums I am on
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Post by Blacky Bulger on Jan 12, 2012 20:32:13 GMT -6
;DCal don't be so defensive, we are friendly... probably one of your most friendly forums.... we are just trying to figure out if thi is really fact or fiction which is why we would love to see it on camera....  We are CuKoo for Aurora's! |
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 20:37:24 GMT -6
It is all fact. If Lyndon can remove the limiter so can I
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Post by Blacky Bulger on Jan 12, 2012 20:50:15 GMT -6
Im sure we have many people in your area that would love to be the guinea pigs!
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 21:01:29 GMT -6
Im sure we have many people in your area that would love to be the guinea pigs! I have been doing this since 2007 |
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XJSman89
Administrator
Posts: 6,309
Staff Member
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Post by XJSman89 on Jan 12, 2012 21:08:27 GMT -6
I have been doing this since 2007 You mentioned that you wanted to try to modify the speed limiter on a classic that you had in your shop and see if you can hit 145, which implies that you haven't done it on the older model yet. I don't think he meant that we would be guinea pigs for programming in general, just for our Auroras! |
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Post by caleditor on Jan 12, 2012 21:35:08 GMT -6
I have been doing this since 2007 You mentioned that you wanted to try to modify the speed limiter on a classic that you had in your shop and see if you can hit 145, which implies that you haven't done it on the older model yet. I don't think he meant that we would be guinea pigs for programming in general, just for our Auroras! I wanted to try to use one of our customers car. I know it will hit 145 because thats what the Seville code was set at. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2012 0:57:48 GMT -6
I bet you have been doing this since 2007.  |
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