CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

My ECU just arrived back from Torrance. Will be taking my "lunch" hour to go install it in the car. This is gonna be awesome...

Review will be coming tonight. I have a student to tutor who lives a good 25 miles from me so I'll have at least 50 miles worth of driving impression (including some possible bumper to bumper traffic) to share.

Special thanks to Kevin @ Epic Motoring for being available on a weekend for me to drop off my ECU and giving me a nice little discount. I highly recommend Epic if you are local to the SoCal area.

Viking

Congrats!

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

I'm a relatively handy, though ocassionally ham-fisted, kind of guy and the removal of the ECU and immobilzer was a serious pain in the ass. The immobilzer was not too bad, but I must have hit my head a half dozen times against the hand brake lever trying to look at the underside of the steering column for the screws.

Getting the steering column cover off was not particularly difficult, though it took me a moment to realize that there were snaps near the steering wheel that I had to get unhooked. Otherwise, a relatively straightforward process, especially since all the screws were easily within reach.

The ECU, however, was brutal work. I had a hell of a time getting the wiring harness plugs out of their seats on the ECU. It took a hell of a lot of prying, but I finally managed to do it. I'm almost tempted to not put the ECU back in the stock location just so I don't have to deal with it. Also, the ECU was a bit of a squeeze to get out. One of the brackets for the center-stack kick panel was in the way so it took some serious maneuvering to get the ECU out of its hiding spot.

Total work time: 1.5 hours, including 20 minutes to purchase a wrench at Home Depot.

Difficulty: Easy (though serious patience is required)

Special thanks to slobeatz for providing excellent removal instructions with very useful pictures.

jmathew34

take the rest of the day off and go out for a ride!!


why don't you stop by 22000 AOL Way, Sterling, VA. and we can do a side by side comparison today!!!!

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

This had to be the easiest step in the whole process. I packed away my ECU, immobilizer, and key in my luggage on my way home to LAX. Initially, I was a little concerned that I might be questioned about the oddly shaped items in my luggage, but it ended up being no trouble at all.

Went on Saturday afternoon to Epic to drop the ECU off. Great guys, easy to deal with. Filled out and signed the form on the spot. Told me I should have the ECU back by Tuesday, guaranteed.

And so, here I stand now with my ECU in hand, waiting till around 3PM when I can step out for a half hour to re-install everything in my car.

Plus, I will get a full tank of gas so that I will have plenty of time for fun this evening.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

I wish I could take the day off, but I'm already taking all of Friday off so I gotta be here. We can do a comparison soon enough. Only two weeks to the meet.

GIBSON6594

Congrats, can't wait for the review

TSX.Fury

Bastard!! I'm jeleous now.... grrrrr

dzuy

it's about time. slow poke.

dom

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Bish!!



EDIT: And let me just say that 7600 RPM sounds awesome...

kurt_bradley

We all can attest to that. Well, not all of us.

dom

Things to buy B4 Hondata....

Garden Shed ~$1,000 CAD
Landscaping (Neighbour decided this year not next) ~$2,000 CAD
Baby's Baptism in August ~$1,500 CAD (~1,000 to feed 18 people and another 500 in gifts)
New Home Theatre ~$9,000 US oops that was wsklar.
Hondata ~$850 CAD

dzuy

cute kid dom.

why the change from domn to dom?

was there confusion between domn and damn?

dom

Its a long and complicated story.

No. the n just wasn't needed anymore IMO.

dzuy

can you hear the vtec switch over?

the only time i can hear it is when i dont floor it all the way and the needle swings slow enough for me to see it switch

can AT tsx chirp their tires when they shift?

just curious, not trying to start a MT vs AT war.

dom

Only in 1st.

dzuy

it sounds like a swarm of pissed off bumble bees

ever since i got hondata, i cant keep myself in the lower rpm band..

you know, 5k and under

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Yes, I can hear the cam switch.

Yes, the AT can chirp the tires in 1st and on ocassion, I've gotten a chirp in second depending on the road surface.

sauceman

At the time, 8500rpm didn't sound too cool when it happenned last year..



Hurry up with that road test review!

Canyonball

Congrats and welcome to the Hondatified club!

calitsx

You can really chirp the tires in SS mode????

Triz08

if you mean just from accelerating, then yes. But if you are meaning while shifting into 2nd in ss mode then no.

slobeatz

Thanks! Glad I could help.

Just so everyone knows, the pics on my instructions are gone. If anyone wants the directions with pictures give me a PM and I can e-mail it to you in Word format.

jmathew34

where is CG with teh review

give us a review or you will get :troutslap

CJams

I am so jealous! I gotta get this other stuff out of the way so can get datafied. You lucky @$$ Mu#%$#@@^*!

TSX Cman

I dont think an auto will be doing any chirping with SS. i think its regulated to make nice shifts, not squeel. sorry guys

As well. it will be damn hard to get any TSX chirping. theres something about things like DBW throttle and such. when you start getting into more computerized mechanisms, they have minor controlls that prevent you from doing certian things that a very mechanical system could do.

Ive got a 03 Corvette at the house that i drive on rare occasions, and it doesnt chirp its tires, it can shift aggressively but even with traction off, i dont notice chirping. It has DBW as well.

In our old mustange, and the viper, that shit is all mechanical and will chirp for the first few gears with little effort.

CCColtsicehockey

he's probably still out driving. I mean if I just got hondata I would be out drving all night.

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Hold your horses...

BTW, Comcast customer support can blow me. They are by far the worst outfit ever. I look forward to the day I can stop using their services...

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

So I've only got about 50 miles under the belt with the Hondata reflash so far and I must say, I'm enjoying it. Even with the powertrain otherwise stock, the difference that the Hondata reflash makes is definitely noticeable.

First, let me just start by saying that moving the fuel cutoff to 7600 rpm was a brilliant move. The sound of the K-series running hard at that speed is just awesome. The move of the VTEC changeover point to 5000 rpm was also perfect placed (at least for my driving style) and I did not experience the hesitation that others have mentioned. The lower VTEC point allows me to have access to the added power of the high lift-long duration lobes much more readily when needed, but is still just high enough that I'm not constantly running on them.

Throttle response seems to be smoothed out some (the sudden jitteriness experienced when releasing the throttle in first gear seems to have been reduced significantly). The car accelerates more like a TL-P (I was driving one all weekend in LA so I have a pretty good basis for comparison) and even more easily than before, gets up to speed nicely. Sudden acceleration from part throttle situations seem to happen more quickly than before, as expected.

Overall, I am pleased with the subtle change to the TSXs driving characteristics with the Hondata reflash. This really is how Honda should have tuned the TSX straight from the factory. The results from such a minor upgrade are quite good.

Highly recommended, should be mandatory for all 04 TSX owners.

jmathew34

Verizon(FTTP) Fiber to the Premisis services should be offered soon

tnl_tsx

cgtsx20004, looks like you'll be doing a demonstration at the meeting

CCColtsicehockey

agreed

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Tsx536

Congrats on getting Hondata CG!