FICM Flash

[windrunner408]

I have to agree. For me it is a bang for the buck sort of thing. I dont think for $300, that I will see really any noticable difference between a tune from KEM and a tune from PHP which only costs $150. (Which by the way, I still feel is outrageous but whatever. I dont see why a FICM tune should cost anymore than an ECM tune.) Nevertheless, I would REALLY like to be proven wrong with some hard data. That would be great. JMO.

 

[Mwilbur516]

I think $150 is steep as well and $300 is reslly high. Thats why I've talked to so many guys with the tune and got as much feedback as posdible before I bought. My conclusion is that PHP is the most bang for the buck tune. They may not be as strong as the IDP race tune, but for the money I decided on PHP. It seems that guys who have run both say the IDP race FICM tune is just slightly quicker, barely noticeable. That plus the fact I can drive to Bill's shop made my mind up to get the PHP tune.

 

[windrunner408]

Well good to know that I am not the only one who thinks that. My point is, when/if you are looking at it from a power stand point (which I believe is the best way to look at it, especially with the amount of money involved), lets say that the PHP tune gives 30 extra HP. If this is the case, then the IDP race tune has to net you 40 extra HP and the KEM tune has to net you 60 extra HP to make it worth the extra coin and I just dont think it is reasonable to assume that one can/should expect these types of gains between the different tunes. JMO.

 

[strokin6L]

eric actually doesn't recommend his race FICM for any truck that has 190cc or less injectors. Dalpilot has his race FICM with his casserly 190's and i think he had issues with it starting hard or taking longer to start.

 

[golfer]

.....The FICM tuning just removes the limitations in the fueling allowing you to get the max fueling and tuning out of the ECM.

:morons:

i'd like to be proven wrong

how does the FICM software interfere with the ECM tuning?

 

[strokin6L]

how does the FICM software interfere with the ECM tuning?

yeah that baffled me to. Since a guy doesn't need to get new tunes when installing a tuned FICM...i don't know how it would interfer with the ECM tuning.

 

[alwil]

how does the FICM software interfere with the ECM tuning?

I thought there were timing and fueling limitations in the FICM......there is something in there that caused me to lose power when Ford flashed mine.

 

[strokin6L]

I thought there were timing and fueling limitations in the FICM......there is something in there that caused me to lose power when Ford flashed mine.

Still, how does that effect the FICM interferring with the ECM? You lost power because of the new FICM flash....not because the ECM caused the FICM to lose power.

 

[Rob D]

I read it as that is exactly what Greg meant??

 

[alwil]

Still, how does that effect the FICM interferring with the ECM? You lost power because of the new FICM flash....not because the ECM caused the FICM to lose power.

So are you saying the FICM plays no roll in power loss?

 

[golfer]

So are you saying the FICM plays no roll in power loss?

of course it can...but not because of software limitations (sent from the FICM) TO the ECM...

there are HUNDREDS of FICM's we repair &/or modify each week that prove that a FICM IS responsible for loss of power, performance, fuel economy, etc...but these are hardware failures...

The immediate loss of performance/economy, etc after a (dealership) reflash to the FICM is most likely caused by one of two reasons...

When Ford 'reflashes' a truck...they are flashing both the ECM & the FICM...the inductive heating strategy (there are hundreds of variants) forced the FICM to send signaling to the (off coils) onthe 7 non-firing injectors to increase oil temperature..as well as minimize spool stiction...

these flashes more than quadrupled the CURRENT draw through the FICM..which overloaded the hardware components on the FICM....which is what causes the boards to flex, de-solder themselves..as well as burn up one or more of the power supplies. In this scenario..the software CAUSED the hardware to fail...since the FICM's were not designed from DAY ONE to operate with any type of IH strategy...

and since Ford also reprogrammed the ECM...all bets are OFF as to what changes the ford calibration engineers (tuners) decided to make with regards to injection timing...pressure..and duration...

the relationship between the ECM & FICM is similar to a master/slave relationship...

the ECM is responsible for interpreting engine(and trans) sensor signals...but the ECM is merely a low voltage processor. The ECM is not robust, electronically, enough to directly deliver 48+/- volts to the fuel injector solenoids...

The ECM (or, more accurately, the software ON the ECM) determines WHEN to fire the injectors, how long to fire the injs, as well under what pressure to fire the injs...

The FICM merely receives (low voltage) inputs from the ECM...and spits out the appropriate duration (high voltage) signal to the individual injector solenoids...at the right time.

hardware failures within the FICM can (and regularly DO) result in changes to (mechanical) timing...but only because low (FICM) voltage<or low current flashes> will create substantial LAG in the movement of the spool valve...mechanically delaying the injectors' firing.

The FICM doesn't tell the ECM what to do...it's the other way around...

I imagine that one of the changes that the (aftermarket) FICM software "calibration engineers" are able to manipulate is the duty cycle of the electrical signal...but not the voltage...otherwise...you could just have your 'low voltage' FICM "flashed" back to 48v LOL...

Changes to the duty cycle (increasing the frequency of the signals being sent) could result in quicker response of the spool...

basically a higher voltage and/or a higher frequency signal will develop a magnetic field more quickly...which will (slightly) affect mechanical 'timing'...but not the timing called for by the ECM...

all this chit works hand in hand...but the FICM is relatively stoopid when compared to the ECM.

 

[Dave]

Ok Dave if thats the case then whats the point of FICM tuning if its all supposedly handled via the ECM?

Take mine for example a known good FICM programmed with Bills tune. Holy change in throttle response and power batman

 

[Pizza pig]

Still, how does that effect the FICM interferring with the ECM? You lost power because of the new FICM flash....not because the ECM caused the FICM to lose power.

you can have the greatest tuning in the world but the injectors wont be operating to their full potential if the FICM flash is holding them back, hence the timing and fuel restriction in crappy flashes.

That was Erics explanation to me when I got tunes from him.

 

[Dave]

you can have the greatest tuning in the world but the injectors wont be operating to their full potential if the FICM flash is holding them back, hence the timing and fuel restriction in crappy flashes.

That was Erics explanation to me when I got tunes from him.

Correct

 

[strokin6L]

you can have the greatest tuning in the world but the injectors wont be operating to their full potential if the FICM flash is holding them back, hence the timing and fuel restriction in crappy flashes.

That was Erics explanation to me when I got tunes from him.

that's what i meant...i heard the same thing from eric.