Engine Control Unit (ECU) parameter changes

[corolla777]

There are some changes I would like to see in the ECU. The most important is the target RPM when starting the engine. The RPM surges too high. I can momentarily hear a tapping sound, probably because of oil starvation and high RPM. I would like to have my ECU re-programmed to set the start up RPM lower, so the engine is not raced before the oil circulation is fully established. I think it can be reduced without the engine stalling. Even if it occasionally stalled, that would be preferable to racing the engine during start up.

I think the idle speed (a/c off) could be somewhat lower. That would improve mileage. It could be set lower without stalling the engine. One way the Prius get great mileage is to turn the gas engine off while sitting. The Corolla could come close to this if the idle speed was reduced.

Another change would be to improve the accuracy of the avg mpg calculation. At present, it comes out about 2 mpg too high.

I know it is possible to re-program ECUs. Its been done for more than a decade. I had a 98 Buick which had a problem and the dealership re-programmed the ECU. The change I mentioned can probably be done by changing a single parameter, the target start up rpm.

Does anyone know about Toyota's ECU, history of re-programming (for factory recalls for example) ? Are there any do-it-yourself tools?

[LeanBurn]

I agree, I'd like to see this changes as well. Unfortunately, they do this to warm up the Cat. Converter ASAP to do its job and cut down on emissions.

If you are shocked at what you see at these temps (if this ECU is anything like the 2008's) at -25C and colder the engine surges to 2000rpm and stays there for a while until it warms up!

Until we get this ECU mod what we could do to cut down on wear is use a very good conventional oil at the least, and a semi or full synthetic oil when the temperatures get such to make it idle at 2000rpm.

[blacken]

toyota has not been very reprogram friendly as their ecu's are very well programed and locked

there are after market tools but those cost a pretty penny

currently for this gen rolla there are none that i know of
but this gen has been out in the world longer than here
im sure there are tunning tools

they just havent reached our shores yet
or people are keeping them hush hush

[joeylgarcia]

i think sfx performance are doing toyota corolla custom ecu programming. just inquire from them. website is: http://www.sfxperformance.com/vehicl...ta-Corolla.asp