My car is a '01 (December 2001 build) modena. I have read many archived threads on the topic. There doesnt seem to be a consensus. Some say its the best thing since slice bread, others say its money better spent elsewhere. The latter comes from some with earlier cars as well. If I were to do it, whats the most economical route ?
I'm not sure you'll get a concensus....... Ask yourself what you'd want to improve and what you are prepared to pay for it.... If you're happy with how it drives now then would any improvement be worth $2-3k? I think the only thing for sure is that it makes a greater difference on the earlier cars (TCU 176552 and the couple of versions after that without the adjustable PIS) which would probably include yours. Cheapest option is a second hand unit or re-flashed one. BTW I'm in the latter group, I don't currently see the value in it. That may change as my clutch wears though. I drove one with a CS TCU fitted and the difference was nothing like as much I expected. I think the set-up is absolutely key and that means getting a really good tech who understands these systems enough to set them up super optimally is difficult and an Achilles heal for the 360 F1 system.
I went from the first tcu in my01 to a cs tcu, and it totally transformed the car. Especially in race mode with the downshifts blips. I would never go back, the jerky shifts with the original tcu were horrible. Id just sell the car. Cs tcu is definately worth it. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk
What id like is better shifting and longer clutch life although I dont have any particular gripe about this at the moment. One of the threads mentioned that its now possible to upgrade the the 2000 or 2001 and up tcu to cs spec through forum member eric. I believe my car has the 2nd gen tcu. I will try to get part # to see. Is it located behind driver or passenger seat? So if this is the case, and I actually possess the hardware, just a software flash shouldnt be too bad cost wise? Also can someone please post cost of reflash and/or secondhand hardware/flash.
Behind the passenger seat. PM Eric355 for a quote on reflashing. If you do not have a 360 workshop manual, download one for free from ferraridatabase.com.
I would definitely go with a re-flashed one from Eric355 if you have an early model. It transformed my 99. Alan
Opinions vary. Some felt a marked difference with new tcu's. Some didn't. Most seem to agree that the CS TCU (196986) and the newest stock version (211023) are fairly equivalent. Btw, this writeup is great. Ferrari 360 F1 System | Aldous Voice I upgraded from the very earliest version to the 211023 and didn't notice much difference. Still, I hope to get a longer clutch life out of it, and don't regret the upgrade.
Thanks for the link. Looks like my tcu is middle of the pack. Just got a look and its part # 191701. Is cs vs 211023 a big step or very similar?
If I'm not mistaken, the CS TCU is better than the latest model 360 TCU. I switched to get better clutch life and the better shifting was a bonus. Alan
My TCU has 191701 and CFC201F.05 printed on it. Headed to dealer in the morning to get the 211023 latest 360 reflash. Can anyone confirm that I have the adjustable/reflashable TCU to perform this operation? It will save me a trip if answer is a definitive no. My own internet reading says I do have the proper tcu but I dont know for sure.
mas- The dealer cannot reflash your TCU. All he can do is sell you 211023 or 196986. Eric355 removes the EEPROM from the TCU and overwrites the old TCU algorithms with CS data. The TCU you have is reflashable by Eric. I have sent him a couple of Maserati TCUs with the same hardware you have so he could reflash them as CS TCUs.
///////////////////////// The higher the part number, the “better” the TCU. Better in this context means faster shifts with lower clutch wear. There were some critical updates during the production run, the first being part number 189542. TCU’s prior to the introduction of this part did not have the capacity to manually set the PIS (more detail below). This switch over occurred on VIN 124874 (in 2001). The maps were then progressively improved but there was a marked difference with part number 197533 (first fitted to assembly number 47115 in 2002). This TCU (as well as the updated 211023 introduced at AN 47380) had much faster and sharper shifts as Ferrari took lessons from the mapping of the Challenge Stradale TCU. The good news is that the maps from 211023 can be flashed onto the microprocessors fitted to all the previous TCU versions from 189542 and above. //////////////// Sadly, the CS TCU maps cannot be flashed onto any of the other 360 TCU microprocessors. However, the chip architecture of the TCU fitted to the F430 is the same as the CS so if you are able to obtain an F430 TCU then the CS maps can be flashed onto it. I know people who have done this and the re-flashed parts have been working in their cars without any issues whatsoever. ////////////////////////////////////////////////////// Terry, According to voicy's post linked in this thread, he says any tcu above 189542 is reflashable to the latest 360 tcu program. Only the cs tcu cannot be flashed onto the 360 tcu. My part # is newer than 189542. going to dealer tomorrow, will report if I can get newest flash on my tcu
mas- Call them before you go and save a trip. Yes the one you have is reflashable, but no, the dealer does not have the capability to reflash it. All the reflashing on early ECUs/TCUs like yours is being done by individuals.
Iv talked to the dealer and they said if mine was the adjustable tcu's, they could do this upgrade for me. Otherwise id need a new tcu as you suggest. I will take your advice and call them in the am. Thanks
Terry, a dealer can reflash such a TCU (CFC201F.05). Using a SD2/3, or knowing the protocol, it is possible to reflash them through OBD2 lines. I have to go another route...
I'm sure Eric355 can chime in on this but I was under the impression that the later 360 TCUs can be re-flashed. I got mine from Eric but it was a Maserati TCU. Alan
Alan, you are correct, this statement is no more valid. At that time I was only able to reflash TCUs based on CFC231F configurations (430, 612, 575). I have since been able to reflash TCUs based on CFC201F.05 (360), CFC201F.5x (Maserati) and CFC201F.10 (575).
Eric- Thanks, I was under the impression the dealers could not reflash 360 TCUs, so sounds like I was wrong. If they can do that, wonder if they can reflash a 575M TCU to HGTC standards?
Went to dealer, they adjusted PIS setting but did not have a file to upload to tcu. Said if I can point them to someone who has done a dealer reflash, they could see how it was done and try to do the same for me. Any ideas? Who has had a newer program flashed by dealer here? Btw they said 211023 is not a program update, its a tcu #
I think I put a list of TCU software somewhere on here, but forget where I got it or put it. Oh yeah, Duram Plummer gave it to me, but no clue where it is now. I am still interested in hearing from anyone who had a dealer reflash their TCU. I have not read about one. You might contact FNA and see what they say. They have been generally helpful whenever I have contacted them.
SAFE4NOW is my local dealer. They were on the phone with someone about the issue but I did not ask who. I assumed home office fna. He said hed look into it and if I mined any additional info I could let them know. Also said 211023 is not latest irritation. Eric is an option but he said he needs mine for a week and then the shipping time back/forth to France so 2-4 weeks depending on what you want to spend on shipping. I want to keep original tcu ...
