Lada Granta first rolled off the assembly line in 2011. This car immediately took a leading position among cars in its class. Car enthusiasts were attracted by a good range of available options and the ability to choose a power unit. Car enthusiasts were given the opportunity to choose a transmission. You could choose to purchase the Grant with a manual 5-speed gearbox or with a Japanese automatic transmission.
Fuel was supplied to the Lada Granta through a line consisting of one pipe. The feed itself, like many things in this car, was controlled by an electronic control system. The electronic part, or computer, the ECU, received and processed data from various sensors, and then issued commands to the engine and other systems. Firmware for Lada Granta is a procedure for making changes to the operation of the main components of the car. This is nothing more than chip tuning.
Electronic control unit Lada Granta
Today, cars are no longer produced that are not controlled using electronics and software. An ECU is a control system, a controller. The ECU is the “brain” of any car. The controller, as already mentioned, receives various signals from sensors that are located on all important parts of the car. Sensors are located everywhere, from the fuel system to the chassis and wheels. Next, the control unit processes the received data. The ECU is designed to provide the main components of the car with more efficient and safe operation.
Smooth operation of the vehicle is guaranteed by the control unit
The ECU is a special chip that ensures trouble-free and proper operation of the main vehicle systems. If the chip fails, then the entire car fails. Like any electronics, this microcircuit can also be either reflashed or completely replaced. The ECU chip is enclosed in a sealed metal case.
In a car it can be found under the instrument panel. The plant uses the ECU to enter all the basic parameters of the engine and other main components, as well as the algorithms by which the engine and the car as a whole will operate. Let's look at the ECU that is equipped with the Lada Granta.
The main sensors and the control unit itself are integrated into the electronic engine control system, or ECM. It is here that the ECU chip exchanges data, and then the main controller controls the engine, injectors, regulates idle speed and the operation of many other components. To find out which unit is in the Grant and what version of firmware it is flashed with, it is not necessary to disassemble the car. This information can be found in the technical passport. It is duplicated on the block itself. This data is very important; without it, flashing or new firmware of the Lada Grant is impossible.
The ECM includes a system that is responsible for self-diagnosis. This system always checks whether the sensors are working correctly. If any data does not match anywhere, the self-diagnosis system informs the car owner about this in the form of error codes. The system stores all errors in its RAM.
What is firmware?
What is ECU firmware, how to properly reflash such a device when connecting it to the diagnostic connector with your own hands, what programmer and equipment to use for chip tuning? ECU reprogramming is the process of reconfiguring the engine control unit with all calibrations. The firmware is a set of programs recorded in the memory of the engine control unit, with the help of which its operation is controlled.
If the driver decides to perform chip tuning of the car, the ECU is reset. Tuners interact with elements of the engine control unit (calibration) to control the combustion of the combustible mixture and the operation of all unit regulators.
In some cases, when performing chip tuning using the editor, only the program code is changed. But this happens less often than making changes to the calibration. The control unit firmware can be located either inside the processor or on an external board; it all depends on the engine model and vehicle.
ECU re-pinning by masters in the field of chip tuning can be done using various programmers and equipment. The price of such equipment for chip tuning is high, but with the use of such programmers it is possible to add serious adjustments to the operation of the unit. The chip tuning itself with such equipment with pinouts, calibration and programmers can be of higher quality if the flashing is carried out by a qualified technician.
Note that the type of interface used for chip tuning for firmware does not matter. The specialist must be sure that, if necessary, he will be able to reprogram the device and restore the factory settings of the engine control unit programmer. In addition, we must not forget that every year automobile manufacturers improve their anti-theft systems. And this complicates the work of a chip tuning specialist. On most cars manufactured before 2008, with chip tuning with pinout and calibration, it is not possible to reconfigure the device without dismantling it.
Screenshot of car computer firmware
What kind of firmware are there?
Today there are a huge number of different manufacturers of equipment programmers for flashing engine control devices. The most famous and in demand are American and German manufacturers, but in Russia, the number of companies producing programmers has recently been growing. This is due to the spread in the territory of the former CIS countries of vehicles with turbodiesel and injection internal combustion engines, as well as modern engine control units. But as a result of the fact that automobile manufacturers initially equip cars with modern anti-theft protections on the assembly line, domestic equipment programmers sometimes do not allow reflashing the ECU.
What does flashing do?
If the chip tuning of the equipment was carried out correctly, then you will feel changes in the operation of the engine immediately, on your first trip. A competently carried out chip tuning procedure allows you to achieve smooth and smooth operation of the unit, as a result of which driving becomes more comfortable. In addition, calibrating and reflashing the engine control unit will increase the engine power and also increase its torque.
How does the electronic unit on Grant work?
Before making changes to the car's firmware or performing diagnostics, you need to consider the basic principles. As much as some would like to jump right into making practical changes, you need to understand how the electronic “brain” works.
Any computing system, be it an ECU or a home PC, is a storage device. A home PC contains photos, videos, games, and work software. The computer constantly stores the user’s actions, errors, and data about software failures. All this is hidden among system files hidden from view.
The Lada Granta electronic control unit is also a computer, only the tasks it is designed to solve are more specific. There is also diagnostic information here. It is stored in RAM. This memory stores all the data that comes from various sensors. Information is stored until the block calculates everything it needs for some actions, then the information is erased from memory.
When it comes to diagnostic information, the car owner must be very careful. RAM cannot operate without a power source.
The control unit is a mini computer with specialized functionality
However, in addition to the RAM, there are other memory blocks of the controller. They are completely independent of nutrition. The data stored in them is unchanged. Unchangeable until new firmware is updated. These are PROM and ERPZU.
The first chip stores all the firmware data that was made at the factory. All the original algorithms and operation schemes of all nodes are embedded here. All diagnostic information, calibration data, vehicle weight, engine power and other Grant parameters are also stored here.
The second chip stores anti-theft information. Here are the codes that are on the alarm keys. If the codes do not match, then Grant will not go.
Features of the ECU for Lada Granta
The controller in this car has one feature. Thanks to it, there are enormous opportunities to make changes to algorithms and data.
A special feature is the CAN bus. The technologies used to transmit digital data are a highly complex system. However, it makes driving easier and improves reliability. This is achieved due to the higher speed of calculations based on information from sensors. A complex system in an ECM is a clear logical diagram. This makes it possible to eliminate failures in the electronic unit.
The bus uses broadcast technology to transfer data more efficiently. When additional sensors or other equipment appear, there is no need to make modifications to the firmware. This scheme allows you to increase the reliability of the control of vehicle components and saves wiring.
The bus allows you to combine a huge number of different sensors, control units and all sorts of systems without being tied to a specific control system in the engine. An immobilizer that runs on this bus can easily work with all devices.
How to remove the ECU of a Lada Granta step by step instructions
In order to remove the Lada Granta ECU, you will need to perform the following procedure:
- De-energize the system by removing the terminals from the car battery
- The ECU controller is located under the glove compartment under the passenger's feet and hidden under the upholstery. The upholstery is attached to the body on the right with a self-tapping screw. We unscrew this screw.
- Next, we move the sheathing away from the floor with our hands as shown in the figure.
- Now we bend the soundproofing material to the side
- After unscrewing the nuts, we move the ECU away from the body.
- Now we squeeze the clamp of the wire harness fastening bracket and fold back the bracket.
- We disconnect the connector from the block and similarly disconnect the second harness with wires, after which we remove the ECU from the car. Make the necessary repairs, then install in the reverse order.
Reasons for flashing the ECU
Incorrect operation of the system can be eliminated by flashing it
Granta is equipped with an M74 controller 11186-1411020-12. Its functionality is significantly different from what was installed on cars previously. Firmware methods that could be used on other ECUs do not work here.
The car, configured at the factory, meets the requirements of car enthusiasts and Grant owners. However, some still flash the system. And there are several reasons for this:
- The 8-valve Granta does not hold speed when the air conditioning is on;
- there are difficulties in starting a cold engine;
- temperature conditions are incorrectly determined;
- stopping the engine;
- lack of dynamics;
- increased fuel consumption.
A Lada Granta with an automatic transmission may experience various kinds of difficulties when choosing the required gear already at medium speeds. Granta constantly wants to drive at lower speeds. In city mode with small traffic flows this is not critical, but when driving on the highway and in a dense flow of cars there may be problems when maneuvering.
Some motorists complain about the impossibility of smooth transitions and weak traction if the engine operates at low speeds. There is an opinion here that the controller was initially flawed, namely, the parametric characteristics were not calculated at the factory. Only firmware will help solve this situation.
Why is it necessary to re-flash car brains?
Factory firmware of domestic (and many foreign) cars is often very far from perfect, and sometimes there are outright defects: sluggish dynamics, failures, unexpected engine stops in different modes, floating speed, uncertain start-up at low temperatures. If this is a consequence of an error in the program, it is possible to eliminate the malfunction only by programming the ECU (flashing, chipping, chipping). If the catalyst, oxygen sensor, EGR system or particulate filter fails, the cost of repairs and spare parts exceeds the price of firmware (chip tuning) several times. In addition, the Euro 3 and Euro 4 systems installed on most cars are not designed for low-quality domestic fuel, and this problem can only be solved with the help of firmware.
What can be optimized in the power units of the Lada Granta
The plant sometimes releases new firmware and makes adjustments to the operation of the Unified Control System at warranty stations. But not everyone's car is under warranty, and not everyone who is under warranty receives this adjustment.
Many people continue to drive unfinished cars, not even suspecting that all their problems can be easily solved. You just need to make small changes that will optimize the operation of the engine and transmission components.
The Granta firmware allows you to solve the problem with the ignition timing, change the injection time, modify the exhaust gas toxicity control system, make changes to the algorithms that allow you to determine the octane number of gasoline, and optimize the operation of the automatic transmission.
What to expect from ECU tuning
Reflashing allows you to correct errors and optimize vehicle performance
Companies offering chip tuning services develop and offer various software that allows you to optimize the basic performance of cars.
This process allows you to correct all sorts of errors, create a backup copy of the initial settings, study and adjust characteristics, as well as make changes and test new firmware of electronic components.
If you need to return to default settings, this is done almost instantly. But those who have already reflashed Granta will never return to the standard factory settings. After flashing you can get:
- reduction in fuel consumption by 5%;
- high speed characteristics;
- 10% increase in power;
- smooth operation of the automatic transmission;
- improved traction.
And that's not all. In this case, not a single intervention is made in the mechanics. This is one of the cheapest ways to make Granta better. There is one caveat. If the car is currently under warranty, after flashing the ECU, the warranty is invalid.
Modern chip tuning specialists offer 3 different firmware options for the Lada Granta controller. Of course, there are more of them, but not all are ideal. Particularly popular systems are “Paulus”, “Icebreaker” and “Adakt”. They are the most tested and tested.
Some experts suggest installing one of the control programs, or all three. Sometimes they offer to try each one and then choose the one you like best. The actual firmware installation takes about 30 minutes on average.
What types of firmware are there?
The best chip tuners for flashing ECUs are traditionally produced in Western countries. Of the most reputable and well-known equipment, we can note manufacturers from the USA and Germany.
There are not many such firmwares in Russia. And this is due to the fact that manufacturers install factory protection against reprogramming, which requires the use of licensed expensive equipment. You can order an on-site flashing service for an electronic control unit in Moscow and the region by calling a 24-hour auto electrician.
Tuning the multimedia system
In addition to the ESUP, you can also reflash the multimedia system. After the procedure, new functions will become available to the car enthusiast, and the system itself will be more modern. After the procedure, you can install rear view cameras, you will be able to access the Internet, and the player will read new file formats. You can install navigation.
So, you can look for problems in the mechanical part of the car for a long time and not find them. Or you can simply reflash the electronic system, and a lot will be resolved by itself.
