[jkgultimate]

Stand alone ECU? The Nissan Factory Service manual has over 1500 pages in the Engine Control System chapter alone.

I could be wrong, but I don't think it is quite that simple. Looks more like rocket surgery to me.

This reminds me of the first used car I bought from a neighbor when I was about 19 years old. With the old neighbor standing beside me, I was looking at the inline 6 cylinder, and wondering what was making a strange noise from deep within the engine.

His reply to me was simple, and to the point: "Lotta sh*t happening in there son."

I guess that same analogy applies to the ECM. Lotta sh*t happening.

Yeah I knew that already, a company like AEM makes standalone ECU's, but they are for difference applications. So they have all the 1500 commands and crap your talking about built in them for the difference application.

As of right now, doesn't look like any company makes standalones for the 07+ Altima.

 

[missouriguy1973]

Just get a standalone ECU and your set. Get everything tuned on a dyno lol.

Actually dyno tuning isn't as good as tuning on the street using datalogging...A good friend of mine tunes Mustangs on the street only and his tunes run way better than any dyno tuned car since he tunes with a load on the car and under varying throttle positions...

 

[white6spd]

OK I got my BD yesterday, I have not been able to install yet cause its been raining for the last two days. But I have a question for anyone who has done the install or updated it using the "update agent" provided from the BD website.

I installed the BD download agent on my computer and plugged in my Tuner. Nothing happens, the Agent does not come up with anything. On the settings screen on my Tuner its telling me that version 1.10.3 is installed, according to BD website this is the latest version relased on Mar 14 2009, but its for the Diesel???? Does anyone know if the most recent version comes installed on the tuner already?? And if it is, is this the reason why no update come up on my computer. Iam gonna call BD on monday if I cant find anything out.

Just tried to install on my car, and it told me it needs an updated, and gave me an error code "453" tried to go on the site that BD gives to check error codes and it dont work!!!!! Guess Iam not getting this done over the weekend.

 

[fishbone]

I've always wondered ... what is the point of raising the idle revs, really? I imagine one would do it if one had some mods which contributed to a lower than normal idle speed, but otherwise?

 

[fishbone]

Actually dyno tuning isn't as good as tuning on the street using datalogging...A good friend of mine tunes Mustangs on the street only and his tunes run way better than any dyno tuned car since he tunes with a load on the car and under varying throttle positions...

Actually, any tuner worth his salt will tune both on the dyno and on the street.

 

[Dexion]

Yeah I knew that already, a company like AEM makes standalone ECU's, but they are for difference applications. So they have all the 1500 commands and crap your talking about built in them for the difference application.

As of right now, doesn't look like any company makes standalones for the 07+ Altima.

Technosquare is the only other company that has a reflash out for us. Its just not widespread knowledge like the 3rd gen. You can send your 07+ ECU to them and expect it back in a week. Just need another car for a week.

OK I got my BD yesterday, I have not been able to install yet cause its been raining for the last two days. But I have a question for anyone who has done the install or updated it using the "update agent" provided from the BD website.

I installed the BD download agent on my computer and plugged in my Tuner. Nothing happens, the Agent does not come up with anything. On the settings screen on my Tuner its telling me that version 1.10.3 is installed, according to BD website this is the latest version relased on Mar 14 2009, but its for the Diesel???? Does anyone know if the most recent version comes installed on the tuner already?? And if it is, is this the reason why no update come up on my computer. Iam gonna call BD on monday if I cant find anything out.

Just tried to install on my car, and it told me it needs an updated, and gave me an error code "453" tried to go on the site that BD gives to check error codes and it dont work!!!!! Guess Iam not getting this done over the weekend.

white6spd you need to do two things.
First to update the entire GT tuner, you want to download this file and copy it to the SD card supplied with the GT unit.
http://www.bullydog.com/external/uploads_tiny/PMTidf.bin.zip

Then after that the Update Agent will work.

Two:
You will need to download this update to get your downloads.
40410_NISSAN_v1104d.zip
40410_NISSAN_v1104d.zip

Copy and paste the contents onto the SD card and then go into the tuner and select 'Update GT Software'. Then proceed as normal to install the download.

 

[white6spd]

Thanks. Iam not that good with computers so I will do my best. Thanks for the info and links. Iam at work right now so ill try it when I get home.

 

[jkgultimate]

I've always wondered ... what is the point of raising the idle revs, really? I imagine one would do it if one had some mods which contributed to a lower than normal idle speed, but otherwise?

The weird thing about the 4th GEN is that at 6700 RPM (REV LIMITER), the power doesn't fall. If the "TUNE" leans out the mixure slightly at top, there will be an increase in power so a 7100 RPM rev-limiter will be ideal.

The cams on the 4th GEN are similar to the ones in the VQ35HR which revs to 7500 RPM.

 

[fishbone]

I'm talking about the idle revs, not rev limiter. In other words, the rpms the car idles at. It was my understanding the Bullydog has the ability to alter idle revs. I was looking to gain some insight since I can do the same on my LGT but I was never really able to find out a definitive answer. As far as I know, people alter this when they swap pulleys.

 

[kevinbp639]

I'm talking about the idle revs, not rev limiter. In other words, the rpms the car idles at. It was my understanding the Bullydog has the ability to alter idle revs. I was looking to gain some insight since I can do the same on my LGT but I was never really able to find out a definitive answer. As far as I know, people alter this when they swap pulleys.

always wondered the same thing. whats the point?:crazy:

 

[white6spd]

Not sure what I would ever need the idle adjustment for but it is fun 2 hit a few buttons and watch and listen 2 your idle rise. I had my alti idling at almost 1k lol. I put it back 2 stock

 

[jkgultimate]

I'm talking about the idle revs, not rev limiter. In other words, the rpms the car idles at. It was my understanding the Bullydog has the ability to alter idle revs. I was looking to gain some insight since I can do the same on my LGT but I was never really able to find out a definitive answer. As far as I know, people alter this when they swap pulleys.

For a stock car, its useless. For a car that has VERY aggressive camshafts with a lumpy idle, you will have to raise your idle speed because the car will stall if you don't.

Or if you have an older car that idles very low due to some problem you want to mask with a higher idle speed, you can do that too.

 

[white6spd]

Ok well I finally got the dam thing to update thanks DEXION. But I still cant get the install done on the car, I keep getting error code 453. I downloaded that other link and the info that is in that folder is already on the SD card provided with the BD Tuner. So Iam stuck again, and tired. Iam going to sleep, maybe I can figure somtihing out 2morrow b4 work. Plan B will be to call BD on monday.


Thank you once againg DEXION for the help, I was going crazy and you were able to solve one of my two problems, thank you.... If you know any reason why I still cant get the tune onto my Alti I would love to hear any info you have, if not Iam just gonna have to wait till monday. Not a big deal, my Alti is a Garage Queen and she dont come out in the rain, and thats all its been doing the last couple of days.

 

[Dexion]

Ok well I finally got the dam thing to update thanks DEXION. But I still cant get the install done on the car, I keep getting error code 453. I downloaded that other link and the info that is in that folder is already on the SD card provided with the BD Tuner. So Iam stuck again, and tired. Iam going to sleep, maybe I can figure somtihing out 2morrow b4 work. Plan B will be to call BD on monday.


Thank you once againg DEXION for the help, I was going crazy and you were able to solve one of my two problems, thank you.... If you know any reason why I still cant get the tune onto my Alti I would love to hear any info you have, if not Iam just gonna have to wait till monday. Not a big deal, my Alti is a Garage Queen and she dont come out in the rain, and thats all its been doing the last couple of days.

Did you actually copy and paste the files like I said? Those are newer versions of the same files.

 

[white6spd]

There r 3 files in the folder that u told me 2 download right? Also I am just dragging the files from the one folder 2 the SD card is that ok, that's what I did with the other files 4 the update agent and that worked..... Anyway when I drag the new files over 2 the SD card a prompt comes up saying these files already exist, should I just over write them? Thanks again for helping me out. U should get a job with BD I think u know more then they do lol

 

[white6spd]

I got one other question. How sure are we about the 2 degree timing advance.... I don't want any issues

 

[white6spd]

Sorry for jacking this thread, dam... Anyway I changed the files around and know Iam getting a 440 New Part Number Error Code, then the screen goes to a safe guard thing and it downloads somthing the goes to a white screen with this info on it


Code# 440New Part Number
Part# JA15A
Please Update Application or call BullyDog

Sooooooooo, I will be calling the dopes 2morrow to see what the hell the problem is.

 

[Cujo1809]

I have been running with +4 timing and have not had any problems after 1 month. I even got my state inspection done last weekend with no problems even with the RL y-pipe.

 

[Throckmorton]

I got one other question. How sure are we about the 2 degree timing advance.... I don't want any issues

I think that a question you have to ask yourself is why the Nissan engineers chose to set the ignition timing at 12 degrees BTDC on both the CVT and MT Altima models. How did they come up with that number, 12? Why didn’t Nissan add two degrees more timing, for a total of 14 degrees BTDC, like you can do with the Bully Dog tuner?

I don’t have a definitive answer, as I do not work for Nissan in their power plant R+D section. Nor do I work for Bully Dog.

I can only speculate that Nissan, after considerable testing, chose 12 degrees BTDC as the initial timing because any more than this amount of initial timing causes the activation of the knock sensor at higher rpm’s, and throttle openings, which sends a signal to the ECM to retard the timing until no spark knock is detected.

Which leads me directly to this question. How does one know that the knock sensor has detected a knocking vibration from the cylinder block, which is sensed as vibrational pressure? This pressure is converted into a voltage signal and sent to the ECM, which in turn sends the signal to retard the timing. Your ears may or may not be sensitive enough to detect the spark knock before the sensor detects it.

So, one could have his timing advanced 2 degrees or more by the BD tuner, but the knock sensor could retard the timing enough to prevent spark knock, and you would never be the wiser. No way for you to know for sure, unless your eyes are constantly glued to the monitor.

You say you don’t want any issues, and I agree with you.

Ask yourself one final question. Do you trust the engineers at Bully Dog more than you trust the engineers at Nissan?

Six months, or a year down the road, I would hate to be the one that had problems or issues.

 

[missouriguy1973]

Very good point Throck...

If this thing does bump the timing and that causes detontation the knock sensors would tell the ECU to pull timing...therefore it's pretty useless to bump the timing without tuning in more fuel to prevent the detonation...Unless Bullydog is turning off the knock sensors so they can bump the timing, which wouldn't be a good idea because it can damage the engine then...