Any chance a CS TCU would NOT work in my 99 Modena?

In theory? It actually does take only an hour and then a couple of short drives to get the initial adjustment right. In Nov 2008 I had a CS TCU installed in my 2001 spider by a Ferrari dealer at the service tech's recommendation ($1518 plus 1 hour's labor and tax). The swap involved no other parts, and the results were excellent, even with the clutch 64% worn at that time. I just had a new clutch installed by a different Ferrari dealer this week. I get the car back tomorrow, so I haven't yet driven it, but the service tech told me the clutch is grabbing beautifully and that I would love it.

 

I'm interested in this question also as I plan on installing one if I can ever source a used one. From what I've read shouldn't be a problem if dealer uses their diagnostic tool correctly.

 

CS TCU works perfectly (very highly recommended, actually "extremely" recommended) in my 2001 360.

 

I have been told by a very reliable Ferrari source that the TCU is identical in the standard modena and spider to the CS (the hardware). The only difference is the programming (software).. which, if u have the ferrari diagnostic computer tools can be done to match and replicate the CS setup. I'm in the process of looking into this for my spider. I've changed the headers/cats/mufflers and done the tuning and minor other cosmetic work. The last thing I'd like to do is ramp up the efficiency of the TCU. I've also been told that there is a CS replica TCU available in the UK for Approx. $1500.00, but why would I bother if the unit can be reprogrammed.
If any of you guys have the Ferrari computer system and want to chime in it would be appreciated.

 

Yep, pefect as I said. Have you had a chance to put it in sport mode and downshift through the gears yet? Beautiful throttle blips through the entire rev band now when previously they were almost non existant unless downshifting at 4k rmp or higher.

 

Congrats it drives the way it was meant to......i changed my 2001 to the CS TSU and its the best upgrade i have done.

 

I'd really like to drive a F430 F1 again right after driving my 2001 360 with CS TCU to see what differences exist in shifting (not that it really matters, just curious). The CS TCU is pretty damn good.

 

I changed my TCU from a 2000 to a 2004 model and felt absolutely no difference.
Am I missing something or should I have gone with the CS Tcu?

 

You should have gone with CS TCU. The 2004 TCU is much better than the 2000-03 but you cant tell the difference its more designed to give you better clutch life and reliability as the clutch wears down. The CS TCU is programmed for better wear and faster shifts and for me better throttle response. In sport mode the CS TCU is just amazing!

 

This upgrade is very worthwhile is you have an early TCU, it will transform the car.

Regarding flashing the TCUs, there are different hardware verions and the firmware is not compatible between them. The early 360 TCU is hardware version CFC201F while many Stradale TCUs are hardware version CFC231F (although apparently some early Stradale TCUs used CFC201.50F hardware - see the linked thread below). Early 430 TCUs use the same hardware (CFC231F) as the late Stradale TCUs and the Stradale firmware can be flashed onto one of those. Credit to eric355 for investigating this. See here:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313830&page=4

Setting the new TCU up on the SD3 is important to get the PIS set correctly as the Stradale TCU timing is aggressive and if the PIS is too high the throttle retardation will cease before the clutch is fully re-engaged during a gearchange. Installing it is easy, the TCU is located behind the driver's seat (RHD car) and just unplugs and unbolts. The cycle procedure has to be run via the SD3, which is straightforward but will take a small amount of time in the workshop. Changing the PIS only takes a few minutes but it is worth driving the car and iterating the PIS if necessary to find what works best.

 

Darn, cause I spent $2k replacing mine and I should have gone with the CS TCU.... My tech told me that it wouldn't work on my car.....

 

What about it makes it amazing? I've been reading up on this and all I can find are threads discussing what works and what doesnt. But no one has really said what it does for you.

Faster shifts?

 

CS TCU benefits over 1999-2002 360 TCU (the 2003-2004 TCU is in the middle here, and I cannot qualify which end it is closer to b/c I have no experience with it):

1. Much smoother and quicker takeoff from standstill.

2. Much more crisp and quicker shifts climbing up through the gears. None of that lugging delay and hard kick, just a crisp firm change.

3. SUBLIME throttle blips on downshifts throughout the entire rev band (in sport), where as my prior 2001 TCU only throttle blipped noticeably if downshifting at 4.5k rpm or higher. Now, even downshifts at 2.5k rmp let out a blip.

4. Dramatically extends the ~$6,000 clutch's life, perhaps from 16k average to 24k average between replacements with F1, not just from better engage/disengage parameters, but it allows you to use the last 30% of your clutch rather than being forced to do a clutch job due to neutral jumps between gears often. My clutch was neutral shifting on upshifts once every 3 minutes or so with the 2001 TCU at 71% wear after 14k miles (and the first clutch had to be replaced at 16k miles and 70% by a prior owner for the same thing). The problem is as the clutch wears, PIS setting auto adjusts higher (mine was at 5.2) and neutral slips start happending more frequently. You can use Leonardo to (indirectly) adjust PIS to 4.7 or lower, but that only fixed it for a couple hundred miles as the car auto adjusted it again. With the CS TCU, you can directly adjust and permanantly set PIS, which I did to 4.5, and since then the neutral shifts have completely disappeared. Not a single one for 1.4k miles and the car shifts just pefectly.

5. Investment value - CS TCU is expensive ($5.2k at Racambi last I looked) and used is $2k-$2.5k but almost impossible to find. I paid $2.3k I think including shipping from an Fchatter overseas, but it was a great investment b/c it will be easily resellable if I ever sell the 360 and want to put the stock TCU back in. In a couple years, used price might be $3k+ and I could even make money on the part (very rare), or it would increase the car's value by that much upon sale if you find the right buyer. The stock TCU is worth $300 at most, I'd keep it in case you want to sell the CS TCU later. So, despite it's high cost, it will retain it's value and can be sold later and in the mean time you will save thousands in clutch life costs, better shifts, blips, takeoffs. Enough said?

6. Joy - blip, blip, blip . Damn, I need to go drive my car, this is getting me all hot and bothered...

 

for sale: a 2004 tcu...$1500... any takers?

 

Lol, sorry to do this to you . FWIW, before swapping a 2004 TCU for a CS TCU, I wish you had an opportunity to try and compare the two. From what I've read, there should not be such a dramatic difference from 2004 to CS as there is from 1999-2002 to CS, and I'm afraid you will be disappointed with the incremental benefit given the cost and difficulty of the switch. You'll lose $500 on the 2004 TCU even if you get $1500 from your paid $2k and then will either be searching for months for a used CS TCU or have to pay Racambi's nose bleed price (although it's Ferrari's real fault for the new CS TCU prices).

What you should do first is see what your PIS is set to (it is also directly and permantly adjustable in the 2004 TCU I think, just not the early 1999-2002). Try putting your PIS to 4.5 or 4.7 and see your impressions. That will be better take off and more crisp shifts. As for downshift blips, your car needs to be in sport mode, btw .

BTW, to be clear, the CS TCU works fantastic on 360s. The CHALLENGE (race car) TCU which is also commonly for sale will NOT work well on 360s.

 

with a CS TCU from Ricambi costing I think about $4,500 why are people not putting in this one for $2,000 ? http://formuladynamics.com/products/f360_f1em/f360_f1em.php

It seems to be very well received by reading about a few people who have put them in here on F-Chat. Yet everyone wants the CS TCU and this one is supposed to do the same.

I am just wondering, I have a 99 car with a 2003 or 2004 TCU in it and its working fine for now. A faster shifting TCU would be one of my wish list items to make the clutch last longer, I am on the street so its not for performance, just for clutch life (for me at least).

 

So if you have a current 2003 TCU, upgrading to a CS TCU is a negligible difference?

I can see the benefit of clutch life with the 99/00 TCU, but doesnt the 03+ already have those features programmed in?

Mine revs on downshifts in sport mode but barely noticeable under 4k.

 

Need help guys, I come back from my dealer to ajust my PIS after i install my CS TCU on my 99 but he said he cannot set the PIS with SD2 and SD3 cause it show 'Can not recognize'.. he can only drop the PIS from 5.9 to 5.6 but i want it 4.2... So what's wrong? Should i go to another dealer?

Thanks for help

 

Don't worry it will work! There is a certain way it needs to be done and with the updated software. I had a shop do it and reverted back to the PIS originally on the TCU/car before it was removed. I had mine done at Neillo Massaratti of Sacramento CA. They reset everything and my PIS is at 4.3 They have a guy there who knows the sequence etc. Call them i am sure they will help.

 

I have just done this mod and it's great. Just like everyone says. One hours labour to fit and tune at my F dealer. They said '03 '04 TCU's don't make any difference and also said the CS TCU is just like a F430 to drive. (shift wise)
eurospares.co.uk have the genuine CS TCU Ferrari part for 1200 british pounds. Cheap!
Sure beats 5k at Ricambi.
Part of the install was to download info from the original TCU to the new CS one.