Should I upgrade my 360's TCU for improved F1 shifting?

I've heard people say that it makes it shift smoother but also slower. I don't know if that's just mental but I'd figure all the negatives out before proceeding.

 

I have installed quite a few. It improves clutch operation and part throttle shifting. It will also increase clutch life if you do your part.

I would do it if you have the first generation TCU which in a 01 was the way the car came.

I replaced all first generation TCU's while I could under warranty, IMO they are that bad.

 

02 cars should have gen 2 TCU's correct?

 

211023 Cannot be operator installed.

 

I have a 2000 F360 and until they switched the computer, shifting was horrible. It was jumpy and always "rode the clutch" at slower speeds causing early failure of my clutch.

Yes, get the TCU updated!

Sunny

 

Shouldn't you be able to flash the new software into your old TCU? The hardware has not been changed, or has it?

Does the TCU need to be programed when it gets put into your car?

If not you can just take a newer version TCU open it up, take the chip out, read the chip with an EPROM reader and and flash that same code onto the chip in your old TCU.

There are a bunch of places that can do for you. You just need to find a fellow Ferrari owner willing to let you use his TCU.

 

Did this get rid of the jerkiness / lurching in first gear? I have a 2001 as well and thats my biggest issue...

 

I had the same issue with mine.

 

You mean the bucking from a stop? I have this on my '01 360 March production date. I this upgrade will fix it, I'm all for it! Although my shifting is rather smooth once past that 1st gear thing.

 

Where does the TCU sit? My car is an 04 and I seem to have all the 01 problems. Are there date codes or version #s on the unit?

 

Yes, it removed the jerkiness / lurching in first gear for me. It also fixed the clutch overheating problem and just, overall, felt more responsive. It also fixed the occasional lock ups and (the worst problem of all) the intermmitent shifting into neutral instead of shifting up. Absolutely scary to think if this happened while gunning it to redline, hits neutral, and blows the engine.

Bottom line is that it literally feels like a different car after the change. But that's probably the last F1 for me. I'm getting a manual from now on. I recently purchased a Mercedes AMG SLK55 in automatic and the fact that I don't have any regular stick shifts around anymore is kind of driving me crazy. I love rowing through the cars and the control you have with the clutch pedal. I have a 6-speed Toyota Celica as well (hey, I'm an all-kinds-of-cars fan) but I don't drive it anymore and will be selling it soon.

Interestingly, I've heard that reverse in the F1 will always ride the clutch in North America. Apparently this was to protect from lawsuits. I guess they don't want you to reverse, have the clutch engage full (lurch) and you smack into something while parking. This kind of sucks when your garage is in a slight downhill grade as I can feel the clutch burning when I reverse out of there (I'm in a condo right now so problem no longer exists but thought I'd mention it). In europe, however, I heard that reverse will engage fully.

Sunny

 

Actually, I still do have lockups occasionally when I first start the car. But usually cycling the engine or engaging neutral/reverse unlocks it. Hasn't happened while I was on the road though anymore.

Definitely finicky cars though. My alarm light was blinking constantly recently and it cost almost $1000 CAD to fix it. That along with an engine light that was on and the diagnosis was that there was actually no problem. But it cost near $1000 to do the diagnostic.

Sunny