Lotus Emira V6 ECU Tune - Bench Flash

[jamesbxxx]

This thread is getting me very excited! How easy is it to remove the ECU?

If figured there are two ways to remove the ECU:

1. Follow the JUBU instructions on YouTube to remove the engine surround and reach in past the air filter to undo the 3 x 10mm nuts securing the ECU. Then remove the 3 x wiring plugs. I couldn’t get to the nuts very easily, so moved to option 2 after loosing a 10mm socket to the engine area, never to be found!

2. Remove the nearside (left) rear wheel and wheel arch liner. I found this tricky with the crappy plastic retaining scews, so only removed half the retainers and folded it back. Then reach up towards the middle of the car above the air duct to undo the 3 x nuts. Unclipping the electrical connections is easier from this method too. Note: There is a small tab to press in to release hinged lever connector, which pushes to the right and levers the connector plug out from the ECU.

Reversing the process is much simpler and the three plugs are unique so can’t be mixed up. Take extra care lining up so as not to damage the metal electrical tabs.

 

[Eagle7]

If figured there are two ways to remove the ECU:

1. Follow the JUBU instructions on YouTube to remove the engine surround and reach in past the air filter to undo the 3 x 10mm nuts securing the ECU. Then remove the 3 x wiring plugs. I couldn’t get to the nuts very easily, so moved to option 2 after loosing a 10mm socket to the engine area, never to be found!

2. Remove the nearside (left) rear wheel and wheel arch liner. I found this tricky with the crappy plastic retaining scews, so only removed half the retainers and folded it back. Then reach up towards the middle of the car above the air duct to undo the 3 x nuts. Unclipping the electrical connections is easier from this method too. Note: There is a small tab to press in to release hinged lever connector, which pushes to the right and levers the connector plug out from the ECU.

Reversing the process is much simpler and the three plugs are unique so can’t be mixed up. Take extra care lining up so as not to damage the metal electrical tabs.

When doing things like this from above, stuff an old towel underneath where you're working so if you fumble a socket, wrench, nut or screw, it won't drop into the abyss below never to be seen again.

 

[David s]

When doing things like this from above, stuff an old towel underneath where you're working so if you fumble a socket, wrench, nut or screw, it won't drop into the abyss below never to be seen again.

Yeah. I got a few of those hiding somewhere in my engine bay.

 

[sbproducer]

Gonna start this post by giving a shout-out to High Tech Motorsports and Fabrication. My engine temp regularly stays in the low 170s, the fabrication they did on the rear bumper for the ventilation kit is flawless, and everything they did works as intended. Can't thank them enough for the great work. Also, a shout-out to this forum. I learned a lot here and was able to purchase awesome parts because of this site and the people who post here.

Alright, I got about 7 hours of driving today. Still smooth and no hiccups. Yea... it's faster. I no longer feel the pressure of high expectations at stop lights and you know what I mean.. thinking the guy in the car next to you is thinking "yea that's a Camry." That needless worry is pretty much gone. Look if you guys haven't felt that, good for you but I felt it. The car looks like a Ferrari but was pulling like a Camry Sport. It's got some decent pull now. It's not a Lambo but its not embarrassing anymore.

The Emira V6 needs a tune guys. Look it's great for the mountains roads but it's not a champion of the twisties. You got hot hatchbacks that frankly are much better suited for those roads and the old Lotus cars like the Elise and Exige conquer those roads much better imo. The Emira will pull on the little straight aways but once you start hitting serious corners, those little hot hatches own it. This is exactly the reason why the Emira deserves a good tune. I mean just look at the car. You gotta have the speed to match the looks man.

That's it for now.

 

[South135]

Agree to disagree. The hot hatches I know of - in stock form - are NOT as capable as a stock Emira in the turns. And I have successfully raced PCA for years and am an instructor as well so at least have some knowledge in this area. If there is a stock hot hatch that is as capable please share. Note this is in no way disagreeing that the Emira could use a tune for improvement.

 

[sbproducer]

Agree to disagree. The hot hatches I know of - in stock form - are NOT as capable as a stock Emira in the turns. And I have successfully raced PCA for years and am an instructor as well so at least have some knowledge in this area. If there is a stock hot hatch that is as capable please share. Note this is in no way disagreeing that the Emira could use a tune for improvement.

Didn’t say stock. I’m sure most of the hot hatches out there in the mountains where I go are far from stock.

 

[sbproducer]

For clarification, at Tail of the Dragon, the hot hatches are abundant and they are very quick around the corners. I can feel my PS4S tires being pushed close to their limits and they are almost as grippy as the Cup 2s I started on. I won’t rule out driver skill and maybe lack of proper setup in terms of tire pressure and camber. The hatches are right there with me and occasionally have to pull over to a shoulder for the really fast ones. I don’t experience this as much on normal twisty mountain roads but at the dragon there are some quick little hatches.

 

[Thirdgen89gta]

The modern hatches with AWD, especially the current crop of AWD that can do crazy torque vectoring on the rear basically dominate narrow winding roads. You can get on throttle so early.

I traded a Focus RS in for the Emira, and never once did I think the RS didn't have enough grip. Car was unflappable. Tuning the wheel and it would go where-ever it was pointed.

Few of the fun runs I've taken with the Emira we had a guy with a Fiesta ST on R888Rs. I felt bad, because he was right there on my ass, and I was cringing thinking about all the rocks the Emira's Cup2s were chucking at his car.

 

[sbproducer]

The modern hatches with AWD, especially the current crop of AWD that can do crazy torque vectoring on the rear basically dominate narrow winding roads. You can get on throttle so early.

I traded a Focus RS in for the Emira, and never once did I think the RS didn't have enough grip. Car was unflappable. Tuning the wheel and it would go where-ever it was pointed.

Few of the fun runs I've taken with the Emira we had a guy with a Fiesta ST on R888Rs. I felt bad, because he was right there on my ass, and I was cringing thinking about all the rocks the Emira's Cup2s were chucking at his car.

I’m telling you man, I had to pull over for one today. Gave him a thumbs up cause he deserved it. I actually wasn’t embarrassed or anything just humbled a little.

Edit: It was Corolla GR AWD, just looked it up, I know so cause of wider body. I was pulling on the little short straights but it was right back on my ass on the corners. And at the dragon, not alot of straights, its literally dizzying corner after corner nonstop. 318 curves in 11 miles.

 

[South135]

Great photos!

 

[Tracked Emira]

Gonna start this post by giving a shout-out to High Tech Motorsports and Fabrication. My engine temp regularly stays in the low 170s, the fabrication they did on the rear bumper for the ventilation kit is flawless, and everything they did works as intended. Can't thank them enough for the great work. Also, a shout-out to this forum. I learned a lot here and was able to purchase awesome parts because of this site and the people who post here.

Alright, I got about 7 hours of driving today. Still smooth and no hiccups. Yea... it's faster. I no longer feel the pressure of high expectations at stop lights and you know what I mean.. thinking the guy in the car next to you is thinking "yea that's a Camry." That needless worry is pretty much gone. Look if you guys haven't felt that, good for you but I felt it. The car looks like a Ferrari but was pulling like a Camry Sport. It's got some decent pull now. It's not a Lambo but its not embarrassing anymore.

The Emira V6 needs a tune guys. Look it's great for the mountains roads but it's not a champion of the twisties. You got hot hatchbacks that frankly are much better suited for those roads and the old Lotus cars like the Elise and Exige conquer those roads much better imo. The Emira will pull on the little straight aways but once you start hitting serious corners, those little hot hatches own it. This is exactly the reason why the Emira deserves a good tune. I mean just look at the car. You gotta have the speed to match the looks man.

That's it for now.

Please send us pictures of the rear ventilation kit I suppose it’s from JUBU.
Did the rear bumper have to be completely removed and what cutting and trimming was involved?
How many hours did it take and do you notice anything better, like is the trunk temperature lower?

 

[Beachbum]

I’m telling you man, I had to pull over for one today. Gave him a thumbs up cause he deserved it. I actually wasn’t embarrassed or anything just humbled a little.

Edit: It was Corolla GR AWD, just looked it up, I know so cause of wider body. I was pulling on the little short straights but it was right back on my ass on the corners. And at the dragon, not alot of straights, its literally dizzying corner after corner nonstop. 318 curves in 11 miles.

View attachment 79411View attachment 79412

Stelvio, eat your heart out

 

[sbproducer]

Please send us pictures of the rear ventilation kit I suppose it’s from JUBU.
Did the rear bumper have to be completely removed and what cutting and trimming was involved?
How many hours did it take and do you notice anything better, like is the trunk temperature lower?

I’ll send pics when I get out today. Yes, my trunk barely gets warm even after long drives BUT I also had insulation installed right above the exhaust under the trunk which pretty much copied someone’s post on this forum. So, I don’t know much the vent kit is contributing.

As far as the work, it was done by my shop and yea it requires professional work.

 

[hellasf1]

I’ll send pics when I get out today. Yes, my trunk barely gets warm even after long drives BUT I also had insulation installed right above the exhaust under the trunk which pretty much copied someone’s post on this forum. So, I don’t know much the vent kit is contributing.

As far as the work, it was done by my shop and yea it requires professional work.

View attachment 79426View attachment 79427

Wait a minute so your sitting around 170 degrees engine temp after this mod alone?

I’m sit around 172-173 with just the cooling kit from JUBU. Im wondering if I add this will I see additional drop.

 

[sbproducer]

I sit around 172 too

I don’t think the ventilation kit will drop that temperature only near the exhaust .. but necessary for titanium exhausts in my opinion.

 

[Tracked Emira]

I sit around 172 too

I don’t think the ventilation kit will drop that temperature only near the exhaust .. but necessary for titanium exhausts in my opinion.

Going to be getting this kit from JUBU
Did the shop tell you how many hours it took?
Don’t you have the JUBU cooling kit and/or their water pump pulley and thermostat?

 

[sbproducer]

Not sure how long.

Yes I have them, thats why 172

 

[sbproducer]

Okay so drove around today and opened the trunk immediately after long drive and redlining. Trunk was like room temp. So yea the insulation + vent kit + JUBU cooling is working.

Back to the VF tune.

1. Pops and burbles are same as stock. A little deeper in sound but that may be the exhaust. I like it cause its slightly muted and not annoying.

2. The digital gauge redline fluctuates between 6800 - 7200 kinda random. Its not a deal breaker for me as functionally its all working properly. But a fix would be nice.

This is what waits at the end of the Dragon.

 

[David s]

I was wondering if you had the JB4 unit in your car before the VF tune. If so, does it perform better in terms of the arse /seat dyno?

 

[sbproducer]

I was wondering if you had the JB4 unit in your car before the VF tune. If so, does it perform better in terms of the arse /seat dyno?

I could never get the JB4 to work. Terry tried to help but nothing.