Does ECU Tuning Void Warranty and Insurance? Ultimate, Straightforward Guide!
By: Daniel Kouznetsov
Tags: Warranty, Modification, Automotive, Ecu, Tuning

What are the Types of ECU Tune’s?

There are three different types of ECU tuning available. They vary from price, the difficulty to tune them, the time it takes to tune them, and the overall outcome from the tune. Each type can fit a certain vehicle better than another. Here are the three below:

ECU Flash Tune

The cheapest and easiest way to tune an ECU. A flash tune is a ready remap which gets uploaded to your vehicles’ ECU, usually through an OBD2 port. Think of it as a software update for your phone. Some flash tunes are very simple to install where a professional tuner sends you a file through email or you purchase a remapping tool. You then would connect the computer or remapping tool to the OBD2 port and upload the new tune.

It is also the quickest way to tune a vehicle, taking no more than 30 minutes if all goes well. The disadvantage of flash tunes is that they are still quite generalized, to fit every other similar vehicle, so you won’t get the best possible outcome as you would with the other 2 options. However, a tuner can make a specific map for you to upload only for your vehicle if you have your own remapping tool.

Here’s an example of a Remapping tool:

BDX Performance Tuner and Monitor

Manually Remapping the ECU

To manually remap the ECU, it involves a qualified tuner to manually adjust the map or upload a new map. He will have a computer to which he connects to the ECU via the OBD2 port or directly to the ECU. Depending on the external factors such as the fuel you run in the car, modifications you have on the vehicle, the age of the vehicle, and more, the tuner can create a more specific tune for your vehicle.

This is the most popular ECU tuning out there, especially in the modified car scene, as there are never 2 of the same cars, with the same modifications that get tuned, so the customer would always prefer a more specific tune. The disadvantage to this is the cost, as it requires a qualified tuner, preferably a dyno, and the time necessary to get an ECU tune. An average remap will take anywhere from 4–8 hours.

To get the most out of this type of ECU tune, these are the types of modifications you should look into:

Performance Air Filter

Upgraded Fuel Injectors

Upgraded Spark Plugs

Upgraded Intercooler

Stand-Alone ECU

A stand-alone is the most expensive and time-consuming way of tuning an ECU. Due to the cost of a stand-alone, this is usually only more popular with highly invested vehicle builds and race cars. The cost accumulates as the price of a stand-alone ECU will set you back from at least $3,000 and then there’s the time and labor of a tuner to completely start from scratch to design a map for your specific vehicle.

This process could take from a single days’ work right up to 3 days’ work. The advantage of a stand-alone ECU is that they are very customizable, and you can make the ECU control whatever you want and however you want, as long as there’s a wire connecting back to the ECU.

Benefits of ECU Tuning

As for the benefits of an ECU tune, there are too many to list, however apart from the performance improvements, you will see better fuel economy, improved engine reliability, and reliability in the performance modifications installed on the vehicle. You will also have added bonuses with the option to fix bugs or errors programmed into a factory ECU and the customizability options that are not existent in a standard ECU.