RAX Patch v3 Instructions Rev3
RAX Patch v3 Instructions Rev3
Document Revision 3
LIABILITY NOTICE
You assume ALL responsibility for the integrity of your ECU and engine
management, vehicle safety, etc. If you are not confident in the
procedures/data involved in this patch, do not make any change to your vehicle
ECU's ROM image.
SAFETY NOTICE
It is important to testing any engine management change in a safe and
thorough manner.
Tests recommended in this document are a guideline only. You assume ALL
responsibility for the testing approach taken when using ECU ROM patches.
COMPATIBILITY NOTICE
"RAX Patch v3" should be compatible with TephraXMOD v1, v2 and v3.
This patch makes it possible to adjust your Base Wastegate Duty Cycle in line
with Intake Air Temperature.
This patch may be useful for reducing boost levels during SST upshifts at wide-open
throttle. It will limit the positive error-correction factor when RPM is dropping.
1. "Reactive Solenoid Max Total Upward WGDC Correction vs. TPS" table is set
up to allow upward/positive error correction, eg.
2. Base WGDC and Target Boost tables are set up in such a way as to require the
use of some upward error correction in order to meet boost targets.
For example...
With RAX3, it is now possible to set a particular “maximum positive error correction”
value to enforce during SST upshifts:
Note 1: This patch checks RPM and error-correction factor at each boost EC interval.
Note 2: This patch will have no effect if upward error correction is disabled, or if the ECU
does not require upward error correction in order to reach boost targets.
RAX3: Atmospheric Boost Baro Compensation
This patch makes it possible for the ECU to take BARO sensor readings into
account when using Direct (psi-based) Boost Control.
With this patch enabled and the Atmospheric Boost constant set to 0, the
ECU will adjust its psi-based boost targets using the BARO sensor reading.
This enables the ECU to take into account atmospheric pressures at different
altitudes.
Without the patch, boost targets will be set in terms of absolute pressure. The
ECU will attempt to adjust BWGDC to reach the target pressure in absolute
terms.
For example, with a fixed Atmospheric Boost value of 14.5 psi and a boost
target of 21.5 psi:
14.5 psi + 21.5 psi = 36 psi absolute pressure.
If atmospheric pressure is actually 12.5 psi, the ECU will target 23.5 psi gauge
pressure.
With the patch operating, boost targets will be set in terms of gauge pressure,
as the ECU will be able to utilise the BARO sensor in its calculations.
For example, with a BARO reading of 12.5 psi and a boost target of 21.5 psi:
12.5 psi + 21.5 psi = 34 psi absolute pressure.
Here, the ECU will effectively target 21.5 psi gauge pressure.
This patch supports boost scalings typically used with the following MAP
sensors:
Simply choose the appropriate setting when the patch is enabled, following the
steps documented in the relevant section below.
RAX3: Smarter WGDC Error Correction
Background Information
The ECU’s boost control Error Correction (EC) mechanism can be quite
challenging to fine-tune. For example,
This has typically been addressed by either disallowing any positive error
correction, or by zeroing out the first 2-3 cells of “upward EC” adjustment...
This approach is not without its side effects, such as “drive-by” upward EC
adjustments by the ECU a moment before boost levels peak... because boost
is seen to be a few psi “below target”. This may only occur sporadically,
depending on the frequency and timing of the EC check interval.
While tuners have developed workarounds to these issues, they have been
working with an error correction system that applies upward EC adjustments
irrespective of the direction boost level is moving.
RAX3 “Smarter EC” makes one simple revision to ECU boost Error Correction:
Upward Error Correction no longer occurs when Boost Levels are RISING
Upward EC is only applied during the post-peak drop-off phase, when boost is
below target AND boost is not rising.
The RAX Patch fileset comes with an EvoScan XML definition file. Please
see the section under Patch-Specific Settings for instructions on how to install
this extra file and set up EvoScan for use.
RAX Fast Logging covers 34 data items - see table on following page.
“Regular” logging items can still be defined alongside RAX Fast Logging.
RAX Fast Logging should deliver logging speeds four times faster than
traditional “mode23” logging, for the simple reason that EvoScan can now read
four “packaged” data items in one operation.
By default, some EvoScan logging items are configured to perform their ECU
read operations with different priorities. For example,
Boost, MAF Volts and MIVEC items will be logged every other line.
Speed, TPS, fuel trims and Temperature items will be logged every
three lines.
This increases the overall rate (ie. lines per second) by prioritising the most
important (and fastest-changing) data.
The default EvoScan priority settings should deliver logging speed of 20 lines
per second.
If all the RAX “package” items are changed to have a Priority 1 setting, every
item will be read each cycle. This will deliver a slower logging speed of 12-13
lines per second, but with all 34 data items being updated every line.
The table below lists the items supported by EvoScan via RAX Fast Logging,
along with any range/resolution impact from the data-packaging process...
It should be noted that each “group” of items will be created in a single cycle by
the ECU, and retrieved in a single “mode23 read” by EvoScan.
For example, the set of LoadTiming, RPM, Knock Sum and TimingAdv will all
reflect the engine management state at the same ECU cycle.
RAX V3 ROM Compatibility
EVO X SST
RAX3 Patch contains differences in patch data and/or patch location, compared to older
RAX Patch versions.
If you wish to use RAX3 Patch on a ROM currently using an older version of RAX, it is
necessary to first uninstall any old RAX Patch code/data from your ROM.
C:\Program Files\OpenECU\EcuFlash\rommetadata\mitsubishi
Find any and all old RAX related files. In Windows’ File Explorer, hit CTRL-F, and enter
RAX as the search string.
Move ALL these old RAX files to an entirely separate “backup” folder, outside the EcuFlash
folder tree... where EcuFlash can’t find them!
4. Copy your ROM’s XML file into place in your car’s EcuFlash folder.
eg.
C:\Program Files\OpenECU\EcuFlash\rommetadata\mitsubishi\evo
or
C:\Program Files\OpenECU\EcuFlash\rommetadata\mitsubishi\lancer
See ROM Compatibility section for notes on ROMs and related XML file names.
For example...
Edit that existing ROM definition file, "52690021.xml". Add the line highlighted in red,
referencing the related RAX Patch XML...
<rom>
<romid>
<xmlid>52690021</xmlid>
<internalidaddress>5002a</internalidaddress>
<internalidhex>52690021</internalidhex>
<make>Mitsubishi</make>
<market>USDM</market>
<model>Lancer</model>
<submodel>Evolution X</submodel>
<transmission>SST</transmission>
<year>2008</year>
<flashmethod>mitsucan</flashmethod>
<memmodel>M32186F8</memmodel>
<checksummodule>mitsucan</checksummodule>
</romid>
<include>RAX52690021</include>
This tells EcuFlash to load the RAX Patch XML when it loads definitions from the Base
XML.
Additionally, a new table item or two should be present under the Turbo category:
Such tables will not contain meaningful data until AFTER the relevant RAX Patch
has been applied to the ROM. Once the patch is applied, it will contain initial
(starter) data.
Note the comments in “Section 6” regarding (no match) status of some patch
items. This occurs after table edits have been applied.
7. Applying RAX Patch to a Compatible ROM
WARNING: ROM-related faults can be extremely dangerous to your engine
management, and can lead to severe engine damage. You assume ALL
responsibility for the integrity of your ROM, ECU, engine management, vehicle
safety, etc. If you are not confident in the procedures/data involved in this patch,
do not make any change to your vehicle ROM.
Important notes:
NEVER attempt to apply RAX Patch data to a ROM with an ID not listed in the
ROM Compatibility section.
All patch items are set up to check "unpatched" and "patched" data in the
ROM. If the ROM contains unexpected data at the patch item address,
EcuFlash will display:
(no match)
1. In the "Current ROM Metadata" panel, select the check-box of the first "RAX3:"
patch item. A window will appear, showing that item's patch state, eg.
2. Under the window's topbar menu Edit heading, choose Increment. The item's
displayed patch state should change, eg.
Once all "Patch" items have been set up, save the ROM under a new name.
8. Patch-Specific Settings
Additionally, under the Turbo heading, review the new data item,
Modify the default values to match your required BWGDC adjustments for summer
and winter conditions, taking into account your particular boost control setup (eg.
2-port solenoid, 3-port solenoid, wastegate actuator, etc.).
RAX3: SST Upshift Boost Management
Additionally, under the Turbo heading, review the new data item,
The default 0.0 value will simply zero out any positive Error Correction when WOT
upshifts occur.
NOTE: This patch is only relevant when Direct (psi-based) boost control is
in use. It is not useful for factory-style load-based boost control.
Two modes are available, depending on the type of MAP sensor installed (factory
3-Bar MAP sensor vs. aftermarket Omni 4-Bar MAP sensor).
If your version does not have this option, please upgrade it to 2.9.0023 or later.
Under Items to Data Log, tick every item from top to bottom (including the
“External Wideband A/F Ratio” item, if you use a serial link wideband):
Once the modified ROM has been flashed to the ECU, EvoScan should process
and log data from RAX Patch.
Testing Notes
To verify correct operation of this patch, use only enough throttle to enter non-
zero WGDC areas of the 3D Reactive Solenoid Base WGDC Map.
This logging item should show the BWGDC adjustment applied from the new
table, based on measured IAT...
Important Notes:
The patch will not operate at all until engine coolant temperature exceeds 50
degrees Celsius, due to the entire ECU boost control system being on “bypass”
when the engine is cold. Diagnostic data will only be output once ECT has
warmed up sufficiently.
The patch will not operate if BWGDC is 0% or 100%. For these special cases,
the patch bypasses any adjustment, and logs a zero value to RAX3 IAT
Adjust.
DO NOT PERFORM FULL-THROTTLE TESTING UNTIL YOU HAVE
VERIFIED CORRECT ECU OPERATION IN PART-THROTTLE TESTS
The "RAX3 Last RPM" value is used by the patch to track RPM. This should
report the same (or similar) values as the typical RPM logging item.
The "RAX3 Delta RPM" should report a value of 0 if RPM is rising/static, and
255 if RPM is falling.
If both of these values are as described, the patch is operating as expected. It
should limit positive boost error correction when RPM is falling.
Once you have verified the above, perform a brief full-throttle upshift test.
Review results. Verify that WGDC Correction is “capped” during upshift.
DO NOT PERFORM FULL-THROTTLE TESTING UNTIL YOU HAVE
VERIFIED CORRECT ECU OPERATION IN PART-THROTTLE TESTS
Log the following additional item while idling the vehicle (or simply with the
ignition switched on for a moment):
For Factory 3-Bar MAP sensor mode: For Omni 4-Bar MAP sensor mode:
This item will show the Atmospheric Boost value being used to offset the Boost
Target map values.
When reviewing logs, you should see a steady value in Atmos Boost Base that
corresponds to the expected atmospheric pressure at your altitude. For example,
14.5psi at lower altitudes. This value will be taken from the BARO SENSOR reading.
Note: If the Atmospheric Boost value is configured with a non-zero value, the patch
will bypass all use of dynamic BARO SENSOR readings. In this case, the ECU will
fall back on the fixed value offset for Boost Target map values; the patch will be
disabled.
DO NOT PERFORM FULL-THROTTLE TESTING UNTIL YOU HAVE
VERIFIED CORRECT ECU OPERATION IN PART-THROTTLE TESTS
The "RAX3 Last PSIA" value is used by the patch to track Manifold Absolute
Pressure. This should report the same (or similar) values as the typical MAP
logging item.
The "RAX3 Delta PSIA" should report a value of 0 if MAP is rising/static, and
255 if MAP is falling.
If both of these values are as described, the patch is operating as expected. It
should avoid applying any upward Error Correction when boost is rising.
Once you have verified the above, perform a brief full-throttle upshift test.
Review results. Verify that WGDC Correction never increases when boost is
rising.
Note: Please refer back to prior sections of this document, covering suggested
table edits that could help to achieve more precise boost control using this
patch.