Smarty the start of an new era.

[lcaad1249]

I know that Marco's been working on the VP trucks. I've already tested it out. They've been very helpful anytime I've had questions/problems/ideas. So not sure if you all are talking about the same Bob and Marco but for the Commonrail trucks or VP trucks I've never had better support from any vendor.

 

[Boondocker]

I know that Marco's been working on the VP trucks. I've already tested it out. They've been very helpful anytime I've had questions/problems/ideas. So not sure if you all are talking about the same Bob and Marco but for the Commonrail trucks or VP trucks I've never had better support from any vendor.

Are you sworn to secrecy, or can you tell us what 2nd Gen updates you have tested? The speed limiter updates that were available on the web site are old news and of little value to most of us daily driver types. I would say that auto trans shifting issues and excessive smoke are the top 2 items of interest. Got any facts about those?



Bob and Marco are great guys. I enthusiastically recommend them and their products. Some of us 2nd Gen guys who were early adopters and cheerleaders just feel like we gave the Smarty ship a big push to get it launched and are now left standing on the shore watching it sail away.

 

[lcaad1249]

I wasn't told that I was sworn to secrecy, but it had the speed limiter before release and also more RPM's. It was for a 6-speed so I'm not sure about the automatic transmission issues.



I can understand your frustrations, but everytime I've called Bob he's been overly helpful and upfront. Seems to me better to call and ask than to have people post on here speculations and I'm never buying a Smarty again because they've got no customer support blah blah blah.

 

[NPloysa]

Quick question. I just want to be sure! I have an '06 truck, my Smarty says it's an S-04, but the ID tag/sticker says "S06B06... ... ... " Also, the instruction manual is for an S-06. What gives with the programmer being labeled S-04? Mix up? I want to try a different download but want to make sure which version I have.



Nick

 

[PRout]

I know that Marco's been working on the VP trucks. I've already tested it out.

Do you have a VP truck? I only ask because your sig shows you have a 2004. 5 truck.

If its true, then thats great news - Thanks. Just wish we could get some kind of word from the Mfg or vendor themselves.

 

[lcaad1249]

Tried it out on a customer/friends truck 01 HO with a Drag Comp, HX Super 40, FASS, and HRVP44. He had the regular smarty before and couldn't believe the difference.

 

[PRout]

Thats great - What differences did you find?

 

[lcaad1249]

I wasn't the driver but he felt more power and as stated before more RPM's. I know the driver couldn't quit smiling after having it.

 

[CHornsby]

See, this is exactly what i am talking about. Some people claim they've installed the newest update and good things are happening, yet last I've seen from Bob/marco, the updates SHOULDN'T be used. Last thing I wanna do is mess up my nice running Cummins!

 

[lcaad1249]

I think this is more of a beta than an update.

 

[Cummins724]

last I've seen from Bob/marco, the updates SHOULDN'T be used. Last thing I wanna do is mess up my nice running Cummins!

What? I never heard that it shouldn't be used. Why? Is it messing up or what? I haven't noticed any problems, but a little chattering of the valves that I didn't like.

 

[AKaiser]

Older san disk based storage I take it huh?

hey, that's an idea. How much memory does an ECM take? We need a way to swap something like an SD flash RAM chipset at the dashboard. You could have as many setups as you have chips. Program them as you need them, and when you need to say, go from daily driving to towing, swap chips before you start her up.

 

[Jdonoghue]

hey, that's an idea. How much memory does an ECM take? We need a way to swap something like an SD flash RAM chipset at the dashboard. You could have as many setups as you have chips. Program them as you need them, and when you need to say, go from daily driving to towing, swap chips before you start her up.

This kind of thing is what I was trying to get at with my own experiments. The ECM (ECU) program is about 256K. The maps and parameters are much less, perhaps only 16 or 32K. This is where it gets interesting: when you turn the ignition key on, and the ECU code starts up, it copies the parameters from flash into RAM. This means that if someone were to have a way to access that RAM from the outside, you could 'download' new maps/parameters 'on the fly' into the ECU without reflashing it - perhaps even with the engine running. Of course, when the truck is turned off again, you'd have to redownload it next time the truck was started, but that would be a minor technical issue.



Unfortunately, there is no way to access the RAM from the outside with the 'stock' program. Someone would have to add a 'backdoor' into the code, and flash that modified code into the truck, then create a way to read/write the RAM.

 

[PRout]

Seems to be all guesswork. . No feedback from the mfg or vendor. To me, that sux.

Thanks for the straight answers lcaad.

 

[lcaad1249]

No problem. I try to help when I can.

 

[AKaiser]

This kind of thing is what I was trying to get at with my own experiments. The ECM (ECU) program is about 256K. The maps and parameters are much less, perhaps only 16 or 32K. This is where it gets interesting: when you turn the ignition key on, and the ECU code starts up, it copies the parameters from flash into RAM. This means that if someone were to have a way to access that RAM from the outside, you could 'download' new maps/parameters 'on the fly' into the ECU without reflashing it - perhaps even with the engine running. Of course, when the truck is turned off again, you'd have to redownload it next time the truck was started, but that would be a minor technical issue.



Unfortunately, there is no way to access the RAM from the outside with the 'stock' program. Someone would have to add a 'backdoor' into the code, and flash that modified code into the truck, then create a way to read/write the RAM.

It would sure make the whole valet setting a snap. Just shut down, swap flash chips, give them the keys, and walk. Kinda like a secret decoder ring, eh.

 

[grasmo]

this stuff sounds like an old sattelite tv card emulation quest ... probably very similiar script writing going on . eventually programming those things went to emulation where you had an old slow antiquated computer handshaking with the software on the trucks eeprom

 

[JCutter]

Ok SEMA is over any news for the 4k on the 24vOo.

 

[Triton]

Ok SEMA is over any news for the 4k on the 24vOo.

Bob mentioned in a post somewhere that the 4K software is a competition only software and will possibly be VIN specific in it's distribution. Can't blame them

 

[BILLVO]

Ok SEMA is over any news for the 4k on the 24vOo.

With 4k rpm at any amount of time the sig will need to be updated to include balanced crank/ rods, main and rod studs, block stiffener plate, better valve springs, fluid damper