4200 early vs late gerabox

Agreed I use Emblem and the guys there know there stuff, and are happy to dish out useful advice.

I have the down shift blip on my early 2006 GS?

Grinzzz said:

It smooths out the jerks by slipping the clutch, just as most drivers of manuals do.

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That would indicate that the non blip upgrade could potentially wear out the clutch quicker?

mjheathcote said:

That would indicate that the non blip upgrade could potentially wear out the clutch quicker?

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Depends on how accurate the blip was. You can achieve up and downshifts in a manual with no clutch at all;
from memory the GS rev matching didn't feel that accurate. But yes I'd expect a smooth slipped change it to wear the clutch more but probably less wear and tear on other driveline components.

mjheathcote said:

Was it already updated when you bought her, or afterwards?

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Yes it already had the upgrade

My 52-plate car had the original software. At speed the gear changes were great - if brutal. Plus there was the down-shift blip which sounded great with Larini back boxes. There was also the hill-hold feature (didn't really do much). However, starting off from standstill was jerky with kagarooing if I wasn't careful, and it was this aspect that led me to having the upgrade done.

So before upgrading the software I tried Maverick's TCU in my car (in the knowledge that he already had the same hardware but with upgraded software). After a short journey I thought it wasn't too bad - soft gear changes and easy pull away from standstill. So I had Emblem do the upgrade (~£240 I think).

Now I miss the brutal nature of the original software. Even at speed (throttle to the floor) the changes seem much slower now compared with the original software. So I am on the lookout for a TCU with the original software still loaded. To date I have found two TCUs at breakers yards and purchased them, only to find they have already been upgraded, and as we know it's a one-way street.

For your information - it is easy to determine whether you have the original software or not (this is for a 2002/2003 car):
When sitting in gear 1 with the engine running, pull up on the left paddle. This activates the hill-hold feature. If it beeps and the display flashes, you have the original software . If not, then you have the upgrade.

I work in the elctronics business and I see no reason why the hardware can't be retro-fitted with the original software. It's probably loaded on a memory device (EEPROM) in the unit. If it is, then a device with the old software should be able to be read, and then a new device programmed. I have a TCU (with the upgraded software) which I want to dismantle to confirm this. But I would need a TCU with the original software in order to extract the EEPROM contents.

Moz

Great information, thank you.

Does anyone know if the loss of downshift throttle blip on software upgrade applies to late (05, 06) Coupe CC or not? I just asked my local dealership to upgrade mine to latest version while doing the clutch and i would hate losing the rev matching blip.

The upgraded software should give you better gearbox response and still retain all the other blips and hill hold as you had before. Both my 4200 and GS had/have the latest software and all was/is well..!!

Face lift software re writes keep the blip.

Certainly one to watch for if buying an early 02-03 car, blip or no blip.
Trouble is it's something most owners discover after buying their car.
I need to put a chastity belt over the ecu com port of mine!!!

Hi Mike - yes you have a pot of gold there. However, after everything I've said in my earlier post, the car is great, and all cars are different. That's the joy!
Moz

Moz 'Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all'

Yep - so if anyone has the TCU pt# 196833 in their possession, please let me know. cheers
Moz

Moz1000 said:

When sitting in gear 1 with the engine running, pull up on the left paddle. This activates the hill-hold feature. If it beeps and the display flashes, you have the original software . If not, then you have the upgrade.

Moz

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Interesting Moz I didn't know this little trick to pull the left paddle to activate hill hold. Mine holds for a split second when lifting off the footbrake - I always thought this was the hill hold function. Will try out your method next time I take it out for a spin.

Simon

My instruction is only based on 2002/03 cars - not necessarily anything later (like your '06 model, or Hodroyds later models).
Moz

Moz is right the face lift software is different and is controlled via the pitch monitoring system and the gear bkx / brakes softwear...ie the steeper the hill the longer the hold.

Interesting snippets of information..!!

In terms of the CC box, is it a nightmare in traffic as some say ? I live in central London so its very stop start. Do you stick it in auto mode (but not sport) , or still manually change with the paddles , what's best ?
Does the FD DBW box make it any nicer to drive in heavy traffic/ stop start . I heard it makes the change harsher but easier to predict, so a better drive...

Neil, its only a nightmare if the gearbox/clutch is poorly set up...it never going to give sily smooth take offs like a full auto, but it is a reasonably accomplished robotised manual...oh! and don't drive in Auto unless you have your hand full..Which I also advice you to avoid ;o)