I have been independently testing the Cipher Diagnostic and Data System for the past 30 days, I wanted to get to learn it and use it before I posted my thoughts on the system. For those of you that dont know what it is, the Cipher is a very trick diagnostic/datalogging/tuning system that installs in minutes. You install the disc onto your laptop and plug in the cable from your computer to your OBD-II port found near your hood latch under your dash.

It allows you to monitor TONS of vital information and some pretty neat things you prolly didnt know your ECU monitored (like gas tank temperature). This can also identify and clear trouble codes, raise and lower idle by 100 rpm's, adjust timing + or - 2 degrees and give you 1/4 times based off of your vehicles speed sensor.

My no BS opinion is that for $400 its a great deal, especially those with 04.5 and newer Z's, because you can monitor AND datalog your factory Wideband O2 sensors(you have 2). That feature alone is worth the cost of this system, Dual AEM or Innovate Widebands will cost you anywhere from $550-900. I really liked watching my IAT's(intake air temps) seeing how they fluctuate with my FI Z in traffic and driving down the highway, coolant temperature, TPS, engine timing, MAF voltage and engine speed. Those are just a small portion of the insane amount of information you can monitor/datalog.

You can also monitor your wheel/abs parameters, things like individual wheel speed/rpm, battery voltage, steering wheel angle, and yaw rate-pretty cool to datalog when messing around doing donuts and such

In closing if you have a mod'd NA Z, any type of FI or run or plan on running Nitrous this tool is a MUST. Not only can you monitor everything, you can have 2 widebands (04.5+), retard timing for nitrous use in seconds or for even tuned FI set-ups if driving from an area with lower octane gas(93 to 91 or if you get a band tank), you can advance timing NA to take advantage of mods, raise your idle for you guys with cams, or simply monitor things like timing, coolant temps when at the track.

If you guys want to read up more on this product and what it can do, or want to purchase check out this link or just askhttp://www.alteredatmosphere.com/mm5...y_Code=350Z_EM

 

us '03 boys dont have the dual wideband sensors?

 

excuse the noob question -- but this cypher does NOT reflash/change the ECU per se like a UTEC/reflash would, correct?

 

Nope it does change some internal parameters for the Idle Control and the Timing. This are global changes and do not have the same refinement and performance aspects in mind that the AAM Spec ECU flash does.

 

Cool beans Alberto! Glad to hear you enjoyed it!

 

Unfortunately no, Im an 03' myself, but for my FI application monitoring and having the ability to datalog everything is great, and I can erase that annoying P0300 random misfire code that plagues most FI Z's when I get it and not have to worry if its that or something new...

Thanks for the opportunity to test this for myself the Z community Dave

 

Nice!!! So does that mean it would be a good idea to sell sell my Innovate WB laying in my desk? I have a 04.5

 

^Not necessarily, its different monitoring an A-pillar guage and a lap-top, but if you can only buy one, Id return the Innovate and get the Cipher, much more helpful/informative....

 

I won't have issues monitoring a laptop. If i can monitor A/F with factory WB o2 sensors i'll sell my Innovate. Thaks for the review man. I'll probably be buying one sooner or later.

 

No problem man glad I could help. The things you can do with this thing are endless, its one of the coolest products that have come out for the Z yet...

 

Ordered mine today with David at AAM... great guy and help me heaps even before I had any biz with him!!!

can't wait to receive my cipher kit... and I am having a thought on the in-car PC now.... so we can display all of those vital data on the screen like the R34 GTR here in australia...

cheers,

richie

 

so i have a question, can use 04.5 guys wire a narrow band sensor into our oem widebands, thus making it work like a wideband?

 

Do you mean a gauge style?

 

Thanks Richie In-car PC would be a very cool setup!

 

I think your asking if you could take a pre 04.5 Z and put the 04.5+ 02 sensors in and have it read like a wideband? I doubt you would be able to do that, but you can do many other things with the Cipher on any year Z.

 

Good info, thanks for the review. I heard the interface is kind of touchy, did it crash on you at all?

 

Question: If the Ciper can read and datalog the wideband O2's; would I be correct in assuming you can tune each bank of cylinders properly? (Like in my case the EU has the ability to tune banks and give them offsets with fuel)

 

Rookie-No it didnt crash on me 1X.

Velicos-es you could tune the motor based off of the A/F's you see/datalog. If the EMU can tune individual cylinders then you could tune both banks sperate if you want, but Ive never heard of their being such a difference between the two where you would need to do that.

 

Great info Alberto. Thanks for the review.

 

No problem