How to learn to flash an ECU. Do-it-yourself equipment for flashing ECUs

New model of AvtoVAZ

In 2004, the VAZ automobile concern released a new car, the Lada Kalina. And in 2013, after 9 years, the production of the first generation Lada models ceased. AvtoVAZ launched new improved and modified Lada Kalina cars.

Despite the fact that this brand is getting better and better every year in terms of its characteristics, car owners are still trying to modernize their vehicle: they do tuning of the chassis and appearance, chip tuning of the engine, in other words - Lada Kalina firmware, add various accessories.

General characteristics of the model

In the new generation of Kalina, torque has increased and an adjustable intake has appeared. The engine has become softer and smoother. But the main difference of the new Kalina is that it now complies with the Euro-4 class.

The car is still a 5-door and 5-seater, the rear seats fold down to increase luggage space. The shape of the car has become more streamlined, its external data is much better than that of the previous version. Thanks to the modernized body shape, the car began to behave much more confidently on the road. The vehicle's ground clearance has also increased noticeably.

Like the old Kalina, the new one is available in 2 versions: station wagon and hatchback. Engine 8- and 16-valve 1.6 liters. The suspension was developed jointly with the designers of Renault and Nissan, and the automatic transmission was borrowed from the Japanese.

In general, no matter how good the new Lada Kalina is, firmware for its engine will not hurt. And the point is not a lack of confidence in the quality of products produced by domestic automakers, but the desire of car enthusiasts to adapt the car to their needs as much as possible.

What is the difference between chip tuning and tuning?

Tuning is translated from English as “adjustment” or “tuning” and means work to improve the technical characteristics of a car. It includes the modernization of all engine systems and its tuning: improving the characteristics of the intake system, refining the valve timing, reducing fuel requirements, etc. Other components of the car, such as the gearbox, intake and exhaust systems, suspension and braking system, can also undergo tuning. All this is done with the aim of adapting the machine to certain operating conditions.

Chip tuning is a modification of the car's microprocessor. Since in the modern world it is impossible to imagine any technology without electronics, and under the hood of the car there is now a whole system of microcircuits that control all the main components of the Lada Kalina. It turns out that regular tuning changes the part itself and its characteristics, while chip tuning is the central control of this part.

I would like to say right away that the firmware of a car’s electronics can be easily combined with conventional tuning, and in some cases it is simply necessary. Having replaced a part and improved its characteristics, it is necessary to adjust its control so that the “brain” sends the correct commands to the unit.

Device for flashing a car

Chip tuning of a car not only improves performance, but also, as a result, saves money for the owner. After upgrading the engine, fuel consumption is significantly reduced, which leads to lower gasoline costs, and also extends the life of all units. Due to this, you can save on constant repair services.

Car firmware is considered the most cost-effective intervention that does not require penetration into the internal combustion engine system itself.

Accurate and competent work of a specialist makes changes that cannot be ignored during the operation of Kalina. She becomes more flexible in management. Inexplicable delays and “pecks” when pressing the gas pedal during acceleration disappear. You can forget about unpleasant twitching while changing speed.

Pros and cons of the zero standard

Based on numerous reviews about firmware for Euro 0, we have identified the following pros and cons.

Pros:

A sharp increase in the dynamics of the car in all respects;
The car becomes more sporty;
The engine roars like a beast (a dubious plus).

Minuses:

Emissions of carbon monoxide into the environment are greatly increasing;
Fuel consumption increases sharply, significantly;
The ECU stops adapting bad fuel, which will eventually affect the engine. And in general, this standard is not even close to respecting the latter.

Features of chip tuning

The main thing in firmware (chip tuning) is that the engine resources do not suffer at all, but on the contrary, they are preserved and expanded longer. Indeed, for many car owners this indicator is very significant, because the car, as a rule, is used every day, in an active rhythm, constantly wasting its resources. Because of this, the car ages, its characteristics become worse every year. And chip tuning slows down this process. Eliminating errors in the engine system preserves and extends its life.

In addition to improved engine performance, the firmware also affects the gearbox if it is automatic. Shifting becomes clearer and quicker, and all because in modern Lada Kalina cars the engine and automatic transmission are connected and considered one whole. While the engine is running, all information about its mode (torque, power) is sent to the transmission control unit, and the processor with microcircuits sends the automatic transmission system a command to shift gears higher or lower than the current one. Thus, the easier and faster the engine receives, processes and transmits information, the better the transmission will behave and the more comfortable the ride will be. At the same time, fuel consumption is reduced; it no longer has to be spent on unnecessary actions and commands. The result is money savings.

What does the firmware provide?

Firmware, or chip tuning, is the tuning of microcircuits in the car's control unit by making some adjustments to the data. That is, the car is controlled by programs with certain factory settings, and the firmware changes these parameters in order to improve the quality of the car. The skillful hands and head of a master create real miracles with the engine.

You can adjust the operation of the fuel system

The factory settings in the car, alas, are imperfect. They often produce errors and sometimes outright incorrect information. Poor dynamics, frequent failures and unexpected engine stops are only a small part of the problems that a car owner of a car that has not been reflashed may encounter.

But even the good performance of the car’s computer may not suit the owner, because some characteristics would like to be changed for the better. It happens that simple imperfections lead to frequent breakdowns or failure of individual parts. And in searching for a mechanical fault, the owner forgets about a simple electronic error.

He reverently and with diligent diligence again and again goes through all the parts of the car and does not understand what could be the matter. And when he doesn’t find the cause of the breakdown, he simply replaces the spare part with a new one. But in fact, the part may have been in working order, but due to an error in the system, the car did not obey on the road. To find out, you just had to check the operation of the control program. Moreover, if such problems arise quite often and each time you have to spend money on auto repair shops. Firmware upgrades will be much cheaper.

And another reason why it is better to update the firmware is the discrepancy between the initially installed European standard fuel systems and low-quality domestic fuel.

Comfort is important when driving a car. The firmware eliminates factory errors in the program, improves engine starting in all weather conditions, eliminates stalls and jerks, and reduces fuel consumption. In addition, chip tuning will achieve the following goals:

increased comfort in driving, soft and smooth engine operation;
increase in power up to 15%;
acceleration is improved;
maximum speed increases;
adjusting the system to domestic fuel standards - removing Euro 3 and Euro 4 standards;
improving the operation of the automatic transmission;
reduction in fuel consumption.

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conclusions

To summarize, we will not claim that ADACT firmware is ideal and suitable for absolutely everyone. Drivers are different: some want to save on fuel consumption, while others want “nastier” firmware for aggressive driving. And if the ADAKT chip is still suitable for the former, then the latter should look towards the studio with sports firmware. ADACT has more calibrations for ordinary drivers who need to improve weak dynamics without harming the resource.

And we repeat once again: the work of a chip tuner is to understand the tasks of the client-car owner: what he wants to get from the firmware, what problems there are in the car’s behavior now. Remember: a professional will first find out your wishes, then be sure to diagnose all systems, consider the factory ECU software, and then select the necessary tuning firmware.

Firmware for Lada Kalina

Chip specialist at work

Popularly, the on-board computer responsible for the electronic control of vehicle systems is called the “brains”. The software on different machine models may differ, so the same motors may operate differently.

Special programs for firmware are developed by specialists and produced by well-known companies. Auto repair shops involved in engine tuning usually purchase official software with all license agreements and technical support rights. In addition, the workshop must have special equipment for reprogramming the car.

The firmware software becomes obsolete and is updated, with more advanced versions being released. So, for Kalina cars, version 3 of the firmware only recently appeared. It adds even more dynamics to the car and reduces the loss of engine power when the air conditioning is on.

After flashing the car, the driver of the Lada Kalina feels changes in the operation of the vehicle:

the car confidently picks up from below and quickly responds to pedal pressure;
quick speed transition, the ability to accelerate the car by changing gears through one;
the need for frequent gear changes in urban conditions is reduced, since the traction range in the absence of a gear change increases;
smoother operation of 5th gear when engine speed decreases;
the motor runs quieter and smoother.

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Firmware software

After the firmware the machine will work better

The only caveat to the firmware of the “brains” of the car: if the vehicle is under warranty, it automatically becomes invalid. This is due to outside interference in the operation of the engine, for which the manufacturer is not responsible. Therefore, if something happens to the motor, you can no longer hope for warranty service.

Modern firmware (chip tuning) experts offer 3 main software options for the Lada Kalina, although in fact there are more of them. The programs are supplied by both Russian and foreign developers. The most commonly used systems are “Paulus”, “Icebreaker” and “Adakt”. They are most in demand in our country and are products of domestic manufacturers, so they are perfect for the Russian Lada Kalina car.

How to install used brains. Immobilizer.

I will describe how I encountered a problem when installing a used unit. After discovering another completely flooded and well-burnt patient, it was decided to find a unit that was already on the car, since the owner couldn’t afford to buy a new one. By luck, the ad contained an ECU from a wrecked car at a ridiculous price, only 1000 rubles. It seemed that everything was simple: I took it off, put it on another car and drove off happy. But it was not there. After installing a used unit, the engine does not start, even the starter does not turn. At the same time, the car icon with a key flashes on the panel. After 5 minutes of thought, it became clear that the old immobilizer did not recognize the new brains.

How does the standard anti-theft system (immobilizer) work?

It turns out that the standard anti-theft system is designed in such a way that it forms a Keys-Immobilizer-ECU system. When replacing at least one of these elements, the engine is immediately prohibited from starting. In the ECU, information about this system is stored in EEPROM memory. Therefore, to install a used unit, you must either clear this memory and retrain the immobilizer again, or read the data from the old unit and transfer it to the one being installed. We chose the second option and for 1000 rubles an experienced technician completed this procedure (flashing) in 20 minutes. In stores, the units come with a blank EEPROM. Therefore, there is no need to reflash them after purchase.

I hope I clearly explained how to install a used engine control unit. There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to retrain an immobilizer, but if someone doesn’t find it, you can open a topic on the forum and I’ll write there. There is only one point left - how to prevent Kalina’s brain from flooding. I will talk about this in my new article. If something remains unclear, you can always ask in the comments, I’m looking forward to them!

Chip tuning of the multimedia system

If we talk about the firmware of all electronic systems of the Lada Kalina, then we should not forget about multimedia, which can also be subject to tuning. The Lada Kalina MMC firmware is updated to change the appearance of the menu and expand its capabilities. It differs from working with an engine in that it can be done independently at home.

In this case, you will need an SDHC memory card and special software on your computer, which must be transferred to this flash drive in unzipped form. Then, following the instructions for flashing the MMC (usually they come with the program), perform all the necessary steps in sequence.

What can be obtained as a result of modernization:

faster responses to commands when pressing buttons, and with touch screens - clearer hits;
installation of a Bluetooth communication system, which makes it possible to play music not only using a USB port;
improved performance of USB storage devices—fast search and high-quality playback of recordings;
embedding a navigation system, if one is not included in the kit. MMS Lada Kalina is adapted for navigation installation.

It is important that all changes made by software settings to the operation of the engine and MMC microcircuits can be easily canceled. To cancel engine firmware during operation, specialists save all initial parameters in a special reserve. If necessary, if the client is not satisfied with the result of the modernization, everything can be returned to its place in the same short time.

The car has long ceased to be a means of transportation. Cars now play a significant role in everyone's life. A person strives to improve the performance of his car, increase its productivity, improve quality and at the same time save money.

Find a trusted chip tuning specialist in Moscow.

Reviews about chip tuning VAZ (LADA) Kalina

Do you also have something to say?

Good day to all. Having driven my Kalina-2 for a long time, I could not come to terms with the “jambs” in the operation of 127 doors (probably another conspiracy by the AvtoVAZ team). The dips and laziness at high speeds were very annoying. After reading a considerable number of reviews, I decided to make a chip from ADACT. In Noginsk this turned out to be not a problem at all (Thank you Andrey Pechnikov). The car has really changed. The responsiveness of the pedal has changed and traction has increased significantly. At first, I stomped stupidly with pleasure. Later, in a measured drive, I began to notice that the car was saving fuel. Which couldn't please me. Thanks again Andrey.

It’s difficult to estimate, I drove 150 km in total. But I was hooked on both the city and the highway. The engine pulls better from the bottom, and the dips when switching 1-2-3 have decreased. The onboard display shows 0.5 liters less consumption on the highway. The car's behavior on the highway has improved, due to the fact that the engine turns much easier. I didn’t drive in the “Red GONKO” mode, because... ice I have a week of test drive, if I don’t like it, I’ll try to fill Paulus. I sewed with the officials on Dudinskaya, 1. Electrician Semyon, he explained everything clearly. Differences between Paulus vs Adact - Adact is not sensitive to fuel quality; Paulus may experience detonation when changing gas stations. I remember the phrase: “I’m not selling a pig in a poke, if you don’t like it, we’ll fill it with drain.” In general, I’m happy, for those who care whether or not it’s 100% worth it. For those who want to rock out, there are sharp ones like diarrhea :), for those who drive economically, there are also options, for example, to switch to AI-92 at the same level of consumption.

Good afternoon everyone. I am the owner of a car: Kalina 11960 (luxury) 1.6 16kl. I used the services of the guys! Chip tuning was done. To say that I am pleased is to say nothing! The result completely exceeded my expectations! Every word about changes in engine performance turned out to be true! The dynamics of the car have improved significantly. The car began to pick up at low speeds. Feedback has become much better! The engine began to run smoother. I now enjoy driving to the fullest! What I also liked was the professionalism of the guys! Not only did they do their job, but they explained everything clearly and answered all questions! Yes, it’s very pleasant that the consumption has dropped! Even though the car actually has 112 horses! I express my deep gratitude and advise everyone who still thinks and doubts!

Thanks to Nikolai, who bought me Kalina 2. I felt the difference, the car moves very easily, as if they were pushing from behind. Overall, it’s worth it!)

Greetings, dear friends and readers of our site. In today’s article I would like to talk to you about the ECU controllers for Lada Kalina 1 and 2. Well, if you look into the very structure of this post, we will talk about where the ECU controller is located, how to dismantle it yourself, and of course interchangeability controllers.

Let's sum it up

If symptoms appear, the owner of LADA Kalina should contact service as soon as possible, because the cost of repairs can be significantly reduced. It is advisable to independently carry out the procedures we have indicated if the owner of LADA Kalina has a sufficient level of experience in dealing with automotive electronic devices. To do this, at a minimum, you need to know where the ECU is located, as well as how to remove the ECU. However, a 100% positive outcome of the event should not be expected. In case of failure, we recommend contacting the service specialists.

Why the ECU on the Lada Kalina does not work - the main reasons

One of the most common problems that Lada Kalina owners encounter is ECU failure. Let's look at the main reasons for controller failure:

Failure due to a short circuit in the on-board network. Here, you can get by with little effort and solder the main resistors, or it will lead to complete combustion of the element.
If liquid gets on the unit panel, which will lead to complete failure. Usually the ECU is filled with antifreeze.
Illegal actions of third parties that will lead to ECU failure.
Other reasons not previously stated.

All these reasons will serve as a reason for diagnosing and dismantling the car control unit.

How to remove the ECU on a Lada Kalina - step-by-step instructions

In order to remove the ECU unit on a Lada Kalina, you must perform the following procedure:

First you need to unscrew 2 screws, the location of the first is shown by the arrow. The second is at the same level on the engine side. Before doing this, you must remember to remove the terminal from the battery. After unscrewing the screws, do you need to pull the block towards the passenger door? and he must leave from there along the guides. Sometimes it happens that the wires rest against the carpet. Then they need to be corrected.
In order to remove the connector and disconnect the unit from the wires, you first need to: pull the connector lock to the side. The latch is a bracket. I think you can easily find it on the connector.

Crankshaft position sensor VAZ-2114

Lada 2114 Z-chisel Logbook DIY wires

The VAZ-2114 is equipped with a magnetic-type DPKV. The sensor is suitable for many front-wheel drive VAZ models with an injection 8-valve or 16-valve engine: VAZ-2108-09, VAZ-2110-12, Kalina, Priora. A widely used type of sensor is labeled VAZ-2112.

The DPKV is mounted on the engine oil pump bracket, and the toothed disk is located on the crankshaft pulley. It turns out that the sensor is located in the front right corner of the car under the hood. The DPKV is not difficult to access and can be replaced quite easily even by a novice. Changing the part is very simple: disconnect the plug with wires, unscrew the fastening screw - that’s it, the sensor is removed. It is installed in reverse order. It is necessary to ensure that no dirt gets under the DPKV mounting point. After installing the part, check the gap between the sensor and the toothed disk - it should be approximately 1 mm, a deviation of ± 0.5 mm is acceptable.

The ECU on Kalina is filled with antifreeze - what to do?

After the block filled with antifreeze has been removed, its initial inspection should be carried out. For these purposes, it is necessary to remove 4 screws using a star screwdriver. Then you should slowly remove the control board for a visual inspection. The most common failure is the burnout of the ignition coil output switch. In this case, repair will not help.

As a result of such a malfunction, the Lada Kalina starts working on only 2 cylinders, and sometimes refuses to start at all. You can cope with a similar problem in a stationary workshop. There they will remove the damaged element, wash and dry it. The second most common problem is board burnout. It is not difficult to detect such a defect: the characteristic blackening of the board will leave no doubt.

Is it possible to repair the ECU in this case? The answer to this question can only be given by a service center, but experience shows that repairs will not help here. A complete replacement is required. It happens that sometimes the brain circuitry is slightly damaged. If this happens, then the car owner can get off easy. To restore the car to working order, you will need some minor repairs:

wipe the block with a dry cloth;
rinse with WD-40 several times and blow it out with a compressor;
rinse several times in alcohol and blow again with a compressor;
dry well, otherwise the Lada Kalina will not move;
drying takes at least 1-2 hours.

Repair of electronic control unit.

After the brains are disconnected from the wiring, we move on to disassembling them and assessing the scale of destruction. To do this, unscrew the 4 star screws and remove the board from the case. Next we inspect. It often happens like this: the output key for controlling the ignition coil burns out. Then the engine starts running on two cylinders, or does not start at all. Such a breakdown can be repaired in a workshop by replacing the key and washing and drying the board.

Burnt output key on the Lada Kalina ECU

There are options when part of the board burns out and turns black. In this case, in 99% of cases the brains have to be thrown away. But some people are still lucky. Antifreeze only interferes with the normal operation of the microcircuit, but nothing has burned yet. In such cases, the board has no visible damage. Then the ECU repair is carried out as follows . First, wipe everything with a dry cloth. Then we wash it several times with WD-40 and blow it out with a compressor. After this, we wash it a couple of times in alcohol and also blow it out. Next is a very important moment - drying. This event must be taken very seriously, since it is drying that primarily determines how long the ECU will work after our repair. For this operation I used a hair dryer. I set it to maximum and heated the board on both sides for about 1.5 hours. This method was used to revive several of Kalina’s brains.

Now let's talk about those who were less fortunate and the ECU burned out beyond repair. In this case, you will have to change it. But this task is not as simple as it seems at first glance. The only exception is when you buy exactly the same unit new, never installed on a car with an immobilizer. But there is no need to rush, everything is in order...

ECU interchangeability on Lada Kalina

I will give a table of interchangeability of Kalina ECU

. This data was not verified by me personally, but by one authoritative master. The interchangeability of these blocks applies only to blocks with factory firmware (that is, after installation there is no need to reflash the block for your engine and sensors). So, in each line there is a block marking, firmware version and toxicity class.

Bosch 21114-1411020-40 with software B104CR01(02) Euro3 (in my cases it was this one) can be replaced with:
Bosch 21114-1411020-40 with software B102СQ05(CR06) Euro3;
Bosch 11183-1411020-02 with software B101CR01(02) Euro2.

All of the above Bosch blocks can be replaced with domestic Janvr7.2 and 7.2+ blocks.

Domestic blocks are all Euro 2, with the exception of M73 blocks - they are Euro3. January 7.2 and 7.2+ blocks manufactured by Avtel or Itelma (Euro2) for Kalina 1.6l 8V: 7.2 11183-1411020-21(22) with software A(I) 201CO56(57)(58); 7.2+ 11183-1411020-21(22) with software A(I)201CP57. These blocks do not support air conditioning, as I understand it. And, in fact, the M73 blocks, which are suitable for Kalina. These units are all Euro 3: M73 21114-1411020-41 with software A303CE05(CF06) Euro3 (support air conditioning); M73 21114-1411020-42 with software I303CE05(CF06) Euro3 (support air conditioning).

Thus, all of the listed ECUs with Euro3 toxicity class can be changed and can be changed among themselves without hesitation (only if they have factory firmware). It is also possible to replace a block with Euro 3 class with a block with Euro 2 class, but vice versa is not possible. All markings are located on a white plate glued to the ECU cover. Next, I consider it necessary to consider the option of replacing the unit with a used one that was installed on a car with an activated immobilizer, since in this case there is one unpleasant feature.

Help me find out the ECU number

Thank you
I do not like

Ur-Al April 16, 2014

Tell me, how can I find out the ecu number for a 2007 Kalina 8 valve Euro-2 (the sticker is missing on the ecu)? diagnostics shows January 7.2 but there is no number. In the store they say there are several types. How to determine which one to get?

Thank you
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111 April 16, 2014
“Diagnostics” should still show the software (firmware) version in the ECU! You can navigate it! Has the ECU "drowned" in antifreeze? Instead of “Y7.2” you can put “Bosch7.9.7(+)” (a universal ECU fits almost all cars with the installation of the appropriate program) and M73 (IMHO I don’t really like it) You can select it for your car here

here here It is necessary to check the number of oxygen sensors (Euro standards): 1 DC - "E2", two DC - "E3". And use them to select the ECU.

Thank you
I do not like

Ur-Al April 16, 2014
“Diagnostics” should still show the software version (firmware) in the ECU! You can navigate it! Has the ECU "drowned" in antifreeze? Instead of “Y7.2” you can put “Bosch7.9.7(+)” (a universal ECU fits almost all cars with the installation of the appropriate program) and M73 (IMHO I don’t really like it) You can select it for your car here

here here It is necessary to check the number of oxygen sensors (Euro standards): 1 DC - "E2", two DC - "E3". And use them to select the ECU.

No, it didn’t flood with antifreeze. While overtaking, I hit a hole and it shook, after which the injector in the fourth cylinder stopped working. Engine 1.6 l. eureka 2nd.

Thank you
I do not like

here here It is necessary to check the number of oxygen sensors (Euro standards): 1 DC - "E2", two DC - "E3". And use them to select the ECU.