I know this is probably a repost but I didn't find anything on the search so here it is. I've heard that before you run the Z its good to uplug the battery to reset the ECU. Or just push it hard on a few runs. So I was at an on ramp light entering I 15. My co-worker was with me and he's getting an EVO in a few months so I thought I'd give him a lil taste. When that light turned green I jumped on it. But it didn't pull at ALL . Then I explained to him how it just needed to be woken up. So I decided to push it at every light or stop sign as we drove back to work. Then sure enough it started to feel more like a beast. So my question is it it true that the ECU does this so you get better MPG? If so could this be why Z's more often lose to EVO's because it was caught off guard? Just a thought .

 

Sounds like bs to me. Where did you get this crazy notion?

 

Gonna have to wait for Aggro Al on this one, but the ecu is adaptive and will adapt to your driving, so it will be used to street and highway driving unless you gun it constantly.

 

Can you describe what happened (more than just "it didn't pull at ALL")?

I think you guys think ECUs do alot more than they actually do..

 

i will bet you were running with TCS OR VDC on...?......

 

yeah, it puts mine to sleep all the time. I hear it snoring in the garage right now! LOL

J/K...I haven't heard that the ECM reverts to some stock profile or is an adaptive learning unit ever.

 

I'm assuming this is an automatic? If so, its possible the transmission is adaptive in some way. I know this to be the case with auto Volvos (mine included).

 

Okay...maybe I exagerrated by saying "It didn't pull at ALL." I mean it did pull but I've felt it pull harder than that before. To give an update, I pushed my car all day that day. And it did feel so much faster. And to give you some background I baby my Z. I shift at 2-2.5 everyday all day. Plus my commute to work is about 1.5 miles. I am only saying that when I do push it, it seems like it feels faster after a few runs. Or is it just me? I know I read on other threads that before you get to the drag strip its good to reset yer ECU by pulling the battery plug and doing a few hard runs because it adapts to the way you drive. Hence normal daily driving vs. more aggressive driving.

 

I did see a post that the ECU resets/adapts after every 6th WOT on here somewhere. But, i can't remember how/why/what for.
If the ECU is adaptive, and never gets WOT, then would it not have a different A/F ratio for easy driving?
I drive mine like a race car most of the time. To me, my vehicle is a machine, so i treat it like one. If it fails, i have a warranty or funds to replace/repair it.
So, mine has yet to feel sluggish like some have complained about.

 

If anyone is interested here is the post I was referring to. Do with it what you will

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....engineer+phone

 

JMO that that thread is BS. (if not all, most of it)

I just don't see how the ECU can adapt to your driving style, that would take quite a bit of memory, and it would have to have the ability to graph it's own maps.

I think it just felt slower to you. If your driving technique changed just a little it would have made a big difference to you. Remember that it's 90% driver, 10% car.

 

the ecm does adapt to the way the car is driven, it is called adaptive stratagy or adaptive learning. The ecm takes sensor imputs from MAF (mas air flow),IAT(idle air control) , pre cat o2s ETC. then uses that imput to change injector pulse width and cam gear timing along with some other stuff. I just started on this forum and i know that there will probably be a hand full of people that are going to trash everything i say after i post this but it is true. if you dont believe me next time you go to the dealership talk to a tech.

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

my z tends to sleep all the time, but when it wakes up..damnnn, u wouldnt wanna be near it unless u wanna end up being Z chow..

 

i understand what your saying, when i first get in mine i can go either in 1st or 2nd and just kinda jump on the gas and its just "OK" feeling, but if you continue to drive a few minutes and then do the same jump, same gear, there is a huge difference, i work at carmax and one of the techs was saying that "SOME" cars only go 70-80% throttle until the reach a certain temp (like some BMW's).

ive even had a couple of different friends in the car and they noticed it also????

if you find a fix or at least fiqure out why clue me in!!!

 

Brandon@forged, doesn't the WRX ecu learn ur driving methods? And its older than the Z ecu. It doesn't really take a lot.

 

Darn these new fangled, magical ECU's!

 

how much memory does it take to remember these things...

you have a gauge cluster that stores your average speed and mpg...

ecu memory to be adaptive isn't that much more...