Challenge TCU v CS TCU

challenge TCU, in my opinion, is a lot less than a 2003 modena's tcu.

 

Someone correct me if I’m wrong but from what I’ve read, the Challenge TCU doesn’t have much of the safety checks available as the road car TCU’s do.

I would get a 2003+ 360 TCU and have a Ferrari specialist flash it with CS software. Just be careful only certain 360’s with a particular serial number can only accept the flash from what I understand but I don’t have much knowledge about it.

I just got my 360 flashed with CS software. Mechanic took me for a spin, night and day difference in shifts from what I can tell. I’ll be picking the car up Wednesday.

 

You need to find a 2003+ TCU that can accept the flash or get a CS TCU which will be hard to do. There are certain serial numbers that are capable of taking the flash but like I mentioned above, I don’t have much knowledge about it. Hopefully someone can chime in and tell you what you need.

I have an early build 2003 and my TCU didn’t accept the flash at first. Luckily my mechanic had a spare TCU and swapped it out for me and he fine tuned it for me as well. Shifts are amazing.

 

I just purchased and had installed a CS TCU in a 2002 360. VERY hard to find. Was able to purchase from Eurospares in the UK. COST IS HIGH- $3,059 USD. It is my understanding that very few of these units are manufactured annually. Was told by my mechanic that flashing a regular TCU is not advised as a battery disconnect in some cases can delete the flash. Shifts seem much crisper. Haven’t had a chance to really drive it yet. Will update post when I do.


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Please contact eric355 on this forum. Your MY 2000 TCU cannot be flashed as a CS. Eric locates appropriate TCUs and flashes them as a CS. Many others have also purchased his CS TCUs, with no issues. You'll be pleasantly surprised at the price compared with the new CS TCU quotes. I also have a 2000 360, and the CS TCU is night and day difference. A MUST HAVE upgrade for these cars.

Kevin

 

One day I'll have to modify the firmware image on these early TCU's to accept CS firmware. Yes Im sure its possible but a lots of effort required to back port it...

 

Find a different indy that knows the 360 properly, there are many around.

 

THIS!!

I am NOT much of a DIYer, although I would like to be. I did A LOT of reading and research on this. Also bought a diagnostic/programming tool to help out. Was able to install and tweak the CS TCU to function perfectly. Just a consideration as well.

Kevin

 

Yes, a hacked Launch tool x431 can do it which is a clone of the Leonardo done by a Chinese company. Leonardo being a clone of the original SDx. So you could say its a clone of a clone.. Lol.

A few diagnostic tools are starting to support Ferrari now which is only a good thing. I will include a tool which can support 360 and F430 for all the service level SDx diagnostic operations once SAK is out. This will be inexpensive and easy to use so no doubt will prove popular once available.

 

So I will finally be able to diagnose my pesky suspension light issue with this? The Launch device does not support the 360 suspension module. Don't want to replace all the acceleration sensors only to find that it is a shock issue....

Kevin

 

Yes at some point I will support all ecus. Initial release will focus on power train (ie engine) and then tcu, etc. Until full supported of everything is complete.

 

Hi Lee.
They have not even tried to install it ? How can a shop say that. It's stupid. If you TCU fails and you order a new one from Ferrari, it will be a late reference and they won't install it because it's too modern for your car ??
As Trev said, find another shop ...

 

Sounds like they’re not Ferrari specialist.

To the OP, find a mechanic that specializes in Ferrari. They will have all the right equipment and will be able to fine tune the car. Then take your car there for here on out.

 

The TCUs are interchangeable in the 360. The early ones cannot be flashed and cannot have the PIS manually set. From what I can tell most of the cheap cloned diagnostic tools will not work on the early TCUs either. If you want a flash or diagnostic capabilities with cheap diagnostic tools the only thing to do currently is to get a newer TCU. There is an article on Aldous Voice that goes into more detail about the various TCU options for the 360.

 

I don't know the 360 Challenge so I'll defer to those with more knowledge, but on the 430 at least the Challenge TCU is calibrated for the Challenge clutch which has a different friction coefficient and bite behaviour to the road cars' organic clutch. I wouldn't mix the two for obvious reasons.

 

The early tcus still have flash they just didn't have upgrade over obd supported. There was a hardware revision between early hw and ones supporting cs firmware which makes the factory cs firmware incompatible. I'm sure this could be corrected with code patches after some analysis. Thus making old tcus work as if they are a later revision. Setting pis is a software feature so don't see why it couldn't be supported.

I'll talk with Eric and see what's we can do together.

 

I'm really looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

Well I've just accomplished same thing on engine ecu's, I can run 2005 last firmware released on a 1999 car with all the improvements that brings, including running CS firmware on any 360 including gated cars with appropriate patches despite differences in hardware across model years.. BTW the cs firmware really compliments Cs tcu like you wouldnt believe.. Well worth the upgrade, as much difference as a tcu is doing but for the engine.

 

I noticed that. That is incredible that you were able to pull that off. I'm working on getting SD2 functionality for cheap. I have a couple questions I'll PM you.

 

I think the only answers are to do the work yourself, or find another Ferrari shop.

Kevin