Rookie questions regards fitting NVRAM for vs V8 manual

[LukeO]

Hi evryone,
I am needing to tune a vs V8 manual for the first time and am trying to get my head around what's required.
A couple of rookie questions.
ecu service number is 16206305, no knock filter fitted to NVRAM, nor original memcal, from what I can tell this is normal and knock filtering is disabled in the tune.
Do I fit the original memcal to the NVRAM, and is the RW line modification required in this instance?
Thanks for your help.
Cheers Luke

[delcowizzid]

If you have a modded 808 ecu with write wire you can disable vats and use that with some trimming of the plug keyways on the loom.if not add the write wire yo the rear and tune via the aldl port with aldl cable

[LukeO]

Thanks delcowizzid,
as it seems there is no knock filtering, I still fit the original memcal to NVRAM board, is this correct?
Thanks for your help.
Cheers Luke

[antus]

The NVRAM board has its own RAM chip for realtime tuning. The space for the factory memcal is optional. If it is present the other chips there will be used to tell the PCM how many cylinders and provide analog backup support if the PCM fails. To use it this way install the memcal and change the 'type' jumper from J to M (for memcal). The tune itself is still read from and edited on the NVRAM.

If you don't want to do this leave it on J (jumpers) and set the cylinders with the jumpers on the nvram. Most people dont put the memcal on and use the setting on the NVRAM, and don't worry about the improved analog fueling for limp home failure mode, but it's there if you want it.

The RW jumper write protects the NVRAM. It is RAM not flash memory so a wiring problem or incorrect upload will brick it, requiring a chip programmer to recover. Ensure your PCM has the write wire installed correctly, and check everything is working for logging and you have an idea what you are doing before setting the RW wire. If you want insurance against bricking for a quick recovery get a T48 programmer and put it in your kit so you can recover if you brick.

Have a bit of a look at the guides and the other information in the FAQ area and the threads it links to get started. The link is under the green ? icon in the top right of the page on a desktop pc, or in my signature at the bottom of this post.

More information about the NVRAM and ECM write wire install comes with the NVRAM.

[LukeO]

Hey antus,
thankyou for that, I have been extensively reading the install guide and FAQ area, being the first time I have installed a NVRAM board I wanted to ensure I actually properly understand what I am doing and why, appreciciate your reply, that clarifies what I needed to know.
Where would I be able to purchase a T48 programmer? Sounds like good insurance.
Thanks again.
Cheers Luke

[antus]

Probably ebay. I don't have any connection to any particular seller so have a look what's out there and seller reputation to select one.
While we're on the subject the general advice is to be careful when removing the nvram chip from the carrier for re-programming. The pins are thin and the sockets are tight (they need to be, to be reliable in a high vibration environment). So they tend to jump out all of a sudden under force from one end and bend the last pin, which doesn't take much to snap it. I usually put a small flathead under one end and lift it a little, then the other end, then back to the first and make sure it moves only a small amount each time and does not jump out and bend that last pin. Also when you're putting it back in, you need to pay attention that all of the pins are going down the holes in to the socket before applying force to seat it. It is possible for one or more to catch on the edge of the chip socket, and then when you push down a stick pin bends out to the side. Sometimes you can straighten the pin once, if you're lucky, but it greatly weakens it and if or when it snaps you need a new nvram chip.

[LukeO]

Thanks antus,
good advice. I will continue to read as much as I can regards this.
Standby for more rookie questions as I continue on my journey!
Cheers Luke

[Charlescrown]

I got mine from aliexpress. There are quiet a lot of sellers but also the manufacturer sells direct from there. Used mine 3 times this afternoon. Brilliant little unit after a disappointing years with the GQ-4X.

[vlad01]

I can vouch for the T48, I got mine directly from the official site, price was slightly less than the ebay options since a lot of those selling platforms have the platform fees and margins tacked on.

Although I had my GQ-4X for probably a decade, it died close to two years ago with pretty minimal use, less than 50 burns, more likely less than 25-30 at a guess, had heaps of software and driver issues with windows over the years too. And the damn thing was not cheap either I recall, close to 200 AUD delivered.


As for your hardware. Given you have the 305 ECU with high speed serial built in, I'd do for the ALDL cable. Much easier than stuffing around adding the USB comms and then fumbling around trying to get the USB cable plugged in if you want to have your ECU mounted rather than laying on the floor.

Plus, when you're all done and have an EEPROM burnt into the final memcal for good, you can still real time log it via the ALDL cable, just can't update it live without the NVRAM, but perfectly fine for checking things out and logging for smaller changes you can do via the programmer manually. I often tune just with the EEPROM, slower and more tedious, but gets the job done too.

[Charlescrown]

All the years I had my GQ-4X I thought it was my setup with bad connections till I got fed up with trying to get it to work on windows 11 and as vlad said the drivers etc drove me crazy till he told me abt this one and to be honest I have never looked back. I have never had a bad read/erase/write from it since I got it. Anyone want to but my old GQ-4X?