Cobb AccessPort for 370Z!

1slow370 · 03-01-2010, 01:18 AM

hell if i get a comitment from them that they will crack the VVEL or cvtc i'll snatch it up now to fund the rd, i contacted AAM about getting there unit with their tune but they haven't contacted me back and their website still says it's 695 and screw that.

Denny McLain · 03-01-2010, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COBB Tuning

We are discussing this now. It is in the works and should be ready once we are finished with testing etc. However, we do not have stage maps ready, only tuning support at this time.

Travis
COBB Tuning

Travis

How about a refund? Bought mine almost a year ago and in disguest, unloaded my $$ dyno tuning programming converting the ECU back to stock.

Finally figured out why the car got such poor gas mileage...... It's the AccessPort. Not really one that into gas millage, but on a trip noticed the car was getting less than 19 mpg on the hwy doing 85-90. OK, me driving fast. By happenstance, the AccessPort was in the car and used it for something it actually kinda does do (even though it's not accurate)...... read the 02 settings. They were pig rich. Pulled over, downloaded the stock tune and the car jumped 4-4.5 mpg better still driving the same speed with normal looking 02 readings.

Kept the stock tune in the car for a while and tried downloading a newer version hoping the bug was fixed. Reprogrammed the ECU and this time doing a road trip to a seminar down in Houston. Same story..... The Accessport negatively effects gas mileage causing the car to run pig rich. How much additional wear does this put on the cylinder walls and rings Travis? Guessing a fair amount as it's washing the lubrication away.

The bottom line is between poor quality from Stillen, things that don't work like the Accessport and grossly over rated items like the Stillen headers, I'm selling the car.

What kind of fun is this when expensive items that are suppose to work...don't.

Refund?? I'll gladly take one and forget about all the dyno time money I spent.

theDreamer · 03-01-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny McLain

Travis

How about a refund? Bought mine almost a year ago and in disguest, unloaded my $$ dyno tuning programming converting the ECU back to stock.

Finally figured out why the car got such poor gas mileage...... It's the AccessPort. Not really one that into gas millage, but on a trip noticed the car was getting less than 19 mpg on the hwy doing 85-90. OK, me driving fast. By happenstance, the AccessPort was in the car and used it for something it actually kinda does do (even though it's not accurate)...... read the 02 settings. They were pig rich. Pulled over, downloaded the stock tune and the car jumped 4-4.5 mpg better still driving the same speed with normal looking 02 readings.

Kept the stock tune in the car for a while and tried downloading a newer version hoping the bug was fixed. Reprogrammed the ECU and this time doing a road trip to a seminar down in Houston. Same story..... The Accessport negatively effects gas mileage causing the car to run pig rich. How much additional wear does this put on the cylinder walls and rings Travis? Guessing a fair amount as it's washing the lubrication away.

The bottom line is between poor quality from Stillen, things that don't work like the Accessport and grossly over rated items like the Stillen headers, I'm selling the car.

What kind of fun is this when expensive items that are suppose to work...don't.

Refund?? I'll gladly take one and forget about all the dyno time money I spent.

No offense, but your car should not be running that badly, the person who did your tune is to blame not Cobb (unless you went directly to Cobb to have your car tuned).

Zsteve · 03-01-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ@ECSMotorsports

Agreed that Cobb focuses their priority on their main lines... turbo cars in general, then Subarus and Mitsus. Recently, they dove into the Mazdaspeed3/6 market (I have a Mazdaspeed6 and we've been waiting for Cobb FOREVER). When they finally did, people jumped on Cobb AccessPORTs like there was no tomorrow.

It's safe, easy, fast, and very efficient when it comes to power gains. This is why WRX/STi people love them.

We've been selling 370Z Cobb APs in the sponsor classifieds section for a few months now.
How many have we sold? Answer - 8
That's nothing compared to the number we've sold for other cars (in the dozens).

If 370Z enthusiasts realize the true benefits and effectiveness of the Cobb AP, they will see more maps developed for them, from Stage 1 basic intake bolt on, to Stage 4+ upgraded twin turbo reflash maps. They aren't that huge of a company, so they can't put as much time into their R&D as they'd like. They are thinking smart, and I would too.

If more people purchase the Cobb APs, and email them more, we'll see more maps, and an decrease in time it takes to develop these maps as well.

Just my .02

Regards,
AJ
ECS Motorsports

or they can look on here and see how many people are waiting for their maps.

bluestyle55 · 03-01-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370

hell if i get a comitment from them that they will crack the VVEL or cvtc i'll snatch it up now to fund the rd, i contacted AAM about getting there unit with their tune but they haven't contacted me back and their website still says it's 695 and screw that.

Dude...give them a call. I have talked to two different guys from AAM and they seem pretty cool. They never called me back either when I asked them to so perhaps you should just call em again. They may not have updated there site also since Cobb dropped there price last month.

They will be tuning my car on Thursday...can't wait.

StealthZ · 03-01-2010, 08:33 PM

I talked to Rob today and it is still good to go on the AP plus AAM tune for $500
I'm looking to purchase this shortly as well, and the mroe good things I hear about how beneficial it is, makes me want it more.

bluestyle55 · 03-01-2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StealthZ

I talked to Rob today and it is still good to go on the AP plus AAM tune for $500
I'm looking to purchase this shortly as well, and the mroe good things I hear about how beneficial it is, makes me want it more.

Your getting the AP and tune for 500?

Denny McLain · 03-02-2010, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

No offense, but your car should not be running that badly, the person who did your tune is to blame not Cobb (unless you went directly to Cobb to have your car tuned).

Cobb in Plano Tx did the original tune and I tweaked it on three dyno tuning occasions after finding the car was pulling out timing and tried to correct the Cobb tune.

No offense back, but you need to learn how tuning software should work. Changing the fuel/air ratio to optimal during acceleration has no effect on driving fuel tables with other software I've used like LT1.edit and HP Tuner. Your tweaking apples and oranges. The computer is suppose to be looking for certain air/fuel ratios and correcting itself to them. Obviously this is not working correctly with the AccessPort.

Denny McLain · 03-02-2010, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ@ECSMotorsports

Agreed that Cobb focuses their priority on their main lines... turbo cars in general, then Subarus and Mitsus. Recently, they dove into the Mazdaspeed3/6 market (I have a Mazdaspeed6 and we've been waiting for Cobb FOREVER). When they finally did, people jumped on Cobb AccessPORTs like there was no tomorrow.

It's safe, easy, fast, and very efficient when it comes to power gains. This is why WRX/STi people love them.

AJ

Being you're in the business then you know a deaf, dumb, blind person can play mean pinball tuning a forced induction vehicle. They are tremendously more responsive to tuning especially if you can tweak the boost. More comparing apples to oranges and N/A to forced induction falls into that category. It ain't and never will be the same.

[/QUOTE]We've been selling 370Z Cobb APs in the sponsor classifieds section for a few months now.
How many have we sold? Answer - 8
That's nothing compared to the number we've sold for other cars (in the dozens).

If 370Z enthusiasts realize the true benefits and effectiveness of the Cobb AP, they will see more maps developed for them, from Stage 1 basic intake bolt on, to Stage 4+ upgraded twin turbo reflash maps. They aren't that huge of a company, so they can't put as much time into their R&D as they'd like. They are thinking smart, and I would too.

If more people purchase the Cobb APs, and email them more, we'll see more maps, and an decrease in time it takes to develop these maps as well.

Just my .02

Regards,
AJ
ECS Motorsports[/QUOTE]

My issue here is fourfold.

1. No company should be selling a product until it is ready and Cobb openly solicited 370Z business indicating they were ready to sell the unit. They originally scanned my car prior to get some of the initial ECU information. I purchased the unit only after they indicated it was ready for sale. Thinking smart is one thing, being ethical and doing the right thing is another.

We are all human, that is not to say there will not be bugs in the first units built or improvements coming, however it simply should at least be able to do basic tunes if your openly asking people to purchase your product.

2. Let me get this right......You're on the supply/profit side asking people to spend money for something that doesn't work correctly hoping Cobb will put efforts into making it work correctly so you can sell more? How about just sending Cobb some of your cash and maybe they will make it work correctly so you can sell more of them.

3. Not a fan of canned tunes as they can be spot on, or way off. You need the specific vehicle on a dyno to objectively measure the gains and parameters contributing to making the gains. Again canned tunes do have certain have applications however, being once sponsored by a dyno shop it's something I've literally seen hundreds of times.

4. This goes back to tuning N/A applications and forced induction applications. Unless the factory tune is way off or the car is heavily modded (cams, heads, compression, strokers, etc,) you typically will not see drastic changes after tuning. Believe there might be an unrealistic expectation that simply ain't gonna be there.

Truthfully, if all the software did for me was fuel/air @ wot, timing, rev limit and speed limit w/o adversely effecting anything else..I'd be a happy camper. Being one of the original people to purchase the unit and 9-10 months later still not working and finding it causes issues.......time to painfully say "no mas."

The physicians creed is: "Above all, do no harm" This adverise effect on driving fuel/air ain't cutting it in my book at all.

theDreamer · 03-02-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny McLain

Cobb in Plano Tx did the original tune and I tweaked it on three dyno tuning occasions after finding the car was pulling out timing and tried to correct the Cobb tune.

No offense back, but you need to learn how tuning software should work. Changing the fuel/air ratio to optimal during acceleration has no effect on driving fuel tables with other software I've used like LT1.edit and HP Tuner. Your tweaking apples and oranges. The computer is suppose to be looking for certain air/fuel ratios and correcting itself to them. Obviously this is not working correctly with the AccessPort.

I know how dyno tuning works, but they are not just suppose to tune top end power only. They should be doing different pulls, tuning all sides of the car, performance, cruising, etc. You mentioned you made your own edits, was this before or after you were having bad MPG?

bluestyle55 · 03-02-2010, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny McLain

Denny McLain

Dude... No one else seems to be having the same problems you are. And don't get me wrong...I am sorry you have been so unsuccessful.

Have you tried called the guys at Cobb about this? I doubt they would give you the big F U.

Altered Atmosphere, among other tuners have had plenty of success using the AP on the 370z. Altered Atmosphere told me that they have recieved several important AP updates over the past couple of months. Perhaps the issues you are having has been fixed?? Dunno...

drisko · 03-02-2010, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny McLain

My issue here is fourfold.

1. No company should be selling a product until it is ready and Cobb openly solicited 370Z business indicating they were ready to sell the unit. They originally scanned my car prior to get some of the initial ECU information. I purchased the unit only after they indicated it was ready for sale. Thinking smart is one thing, being ethical and doing the right thing is another.

We are all human, that is not to say there will not be bugs in the first units built or improvements coming, however it simply should at least be able to do basic tunes if your openly asking people to purchase your product.

2. Let me get this right......You're on the supply/profit side asking people to spend money for something that doesn't work correctly hoping Cobb will put efforts into making it work correctly so you can sell more? How about just sending Cobb some of your cash and maybe they will make it work correctly so you can sell more of them.

3. Not a fan of canned tunes as they can be spot on, or way off. You need the specific vehicle on a dyno to objectively measure the gains and parameters contributing to making the gains. Again canned tunes do have certain have applications however, being once sponsored by a dyno shop it's something I've literally seen hundreds of times.

4. This goes back to tuning N/A applications and forced induction applications. Unless the factory tune is way off or the car is heavily modded (cams, heads, compression, strokers, etc,) you typically will not see drastic changes after tuning. Believe there might be an unrealistic expectation that simply ain't gonna be there.

Wow...haha...I just logged in because I was going to post something very similar to what you just did.

I've had my AP for nearly a year now and I feel like I've been cheated out of $700 (well technically only about $550 because I could have bought a good ScanGauge for about $150 that does what my AP currently does). I do have hope that COBB will eventually figure out the VVEL system and fix the other problems, and release staged maps but, honestly, my patience is running a bit thin. I'm actually thinking of trying to return the item or sell it to some 350Z owner.

COBB - if you do read this, please know that there are actually A LOT MORE 370Z owners that would buy the AP if it had staged maps that showed some good gains. I think figuring out the VVEL system, along with fixing the tuning issues, is worth putting some more resources into, esp. since G37 owners will also benefit from this (and who knows what other Nissan/Infiniti cars the VVEL technology will be used in).

Denny McLain · 03-03-2010, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theDreamer

I know how dyno tuning works, but they are not just suppose to tune top end power only. They should be doing different pulls, tuning all sides of the car, performance, cruising, etc. You mentioned you made your own edits, was this before or after you were having bad MPG?

To be absolutely honest, did not purchase the car for gas mileage and really never check it. It was basically an accident that I discovered it on an impromptu unplanned urgent family business trip. So when did it start?? Damned if I know, but I downloaded updated software and checked it again to verify what was going on.

Not a professional tuner, but I used to hang around a bunch who were to the point where I'm pretty confident doing basic tuning by all means. When the car was tuned at Cobb I spoke extensively with Calvin whom does their tuning on what tables they use and what parameters they look for. Everything he said was consistent with what I've seen in the past and basic tuning 101.

Calvin recommended for open loop conditions (WOT) the primary fuel table be adjusted and for finer tuning where the primary fuel table is not adequate, tweaking the MAF tables. In my experience the MAF tables can be very tricky plus the primary fuel tables seemed to give the desired effect so the MAF tables that can effect drivability and fuel economy, were not touched.

This comes directly out of the Cobb AcessTUNER tuning manual:

"Primary Fuel"

This table is referenced by RPM and Theoretical Pulsewidth (Engine Load) The tables values represent the A/F ratio you wish to run during open loop conditions. Doing so will normally not result in an appreciable decrease in fuel economy since these conditions are only met only when driving the car aggressively.

During idle and cruising, the ECU uses a Closed Loop strategy designed to optimize fuel economy, not power."

The only other tables that were touched were primary ignition A and B which I found from logging did not like adjustments more than 1 or 2 degrees. This also has no effect on fuel economy.

In my experience basic bolt on moded cars do not need drivability tuning. When you get into more radical cams and high compressions, playing with timing segments and driving A/F tables can smooth out driveability plus help pass emissions tests. Basic bolt on cars.....no fricky way do you need to.

So.....you tell me what magic does Cobb have that you think I don't I have? How would you tune the car?

Denny McLain · 03-03-2010, 09:16 AM

[QUOTE=drisko;426089]

I've had my AP for nearly a year now and I feel like I've been cheated out of $700 (well technically only about $550 because I could have bought a good ScanGauge for about $150 that does what my AP currently does). I do have hope that COBB will eventually figure out the VVEL system and fix the other problems, and release staged maps but, honestly, my patience is running a bit thin. I'm actually thinking of trying to return the item or sell it to some 350Z owner.QUOTE]

Share the exact same feeling. Converted the car back to stock programming and thrown away the manuals.. When do you say "enough is enough?" For me....now. Honest to god a nice guy, just fed up with all the BS.

Zsteve · 03-03-2010, 10:19 AM

[QUOTE=Denny McLain;426814]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drisko

I've had my AP for nearly a year now and I feel like I've been cheated out of $700 (well technically only about $550 because I could have bought a good ScanGauge for about $150 that does what my AP currently does). I do have hope that COBB will eventually figure out the VVEL system and fix the other problems, and release staged maps but, honestly, my patience is running a bit thin. I'm actually thinking of trying to return the item or sell it to some 350Z owner.QUOTE]

Share the exact same feeling. Converted the car back to stock programming and thrown away the manuals.. When do you say "enough is enough?" For me....now. Honest to god a nice guy, just fed up with all the BS.

And what they are selling for $450 now, yes you were ripped off a bit. They are still making a good profit at 450 so they made a killing at 700 and still no maps. I agree that they should have waited till they had maps before putting it on sale. Thats why I dont always buy aftermarket things when they first come out, I wait till others have it too and the price wars begin. Now some things come out with good intro prices but most are just trying to make a killing off us in these forums cuz they know we want them NOW.

03-01-2010, 01:18 AM	#181 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7251	hell if i get a comitment from them that they will crack the VVEL or cvtc i'll snatch it up now to fund the rd, i contacted AAM about getting there unit with their tune but they haven't contacted me back and their website still says it's 695 and screw that. __________________ ANSWER PRICE LIST Answers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $0.75 Answers (requiring thought) - - - - $1.25 Answers (correct) - - - - - - - - - - $12.50

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03-01-2010, 08:33 PM	#186 (permalink)
StealthZ Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 356 Drives: '14 GTR Premium Rep Power: 17	I talked to Rob today and it is still good to go on the AP plus AAM tune for $500 I'm looking to purchase this shortly as well, and the mroe good things I hear about how beneficial it is, makes me want it more.

03-03-2010, 09:16 AM	#194 (permalink)
Denny McLain Enthusiast Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Double Oak Tx Posts: 255 Drives: 370Z, 96CE hotrod Rep Power: 16	[QUOTE=drisko;426089] I've had my AP for nearly a year now and I feel like I've been cheated out of $700 (well technically only about $550 because I could have bought a good ScanGauge for about $150 that does what my AP currently does). I do have hope that COBB will eventually figure out the VVEL system and fix the other problems, and release staged maps but, honestly, my patience is running a bit thin. I'm actually thinking of trying to return the item or sell it to some 350Z owner.QUOTE] Share the exact same feeling. Converted the car back to stock programming and thrown away the manuals.. When do you say "enough is enough?" For me....now. Honest to god a nice guy, just fed up with all the BS.