COBB Tuning Blog

A firmware update for the Mazda RX-8 AccessPORT, AP-MAZ-001, is now available. This update resolves issues associated with operating the AccessPORT in high ambient temperatures. To update your Mazda RX-8 AccessPORT to this latest release, simply download AccessPORT Manager 2.0 and follow the updating instructions. This update represents the final update to AP-MAZ-001 AccessPORTs. For more details please visit our RX-8 AccessPORT informational page.

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce complete support for all 2008+ WRX and STI vehicles for both the popular AEM Cold Air Intake and the new COBB Tuning SF Intake for both Stage1 and Stage2 configurations. These new calibrations are available from our Map Download Page using a newest format designed for easier browsing and downloading.

All map notes for these intakes have been updated to reflect more accurate power figures and performance gains. These maps are only available for download from COBB Tuning in LWG, NWG and HWG configurations for vehicles with boost control issues. For more information on these calibrations you can refer to the provided map notes or PM us here or post on the COBB Tuning AccessPORT Forums for Subaru vehicles or call us at 1-866-922-3059.

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Keep your engine bay cool and add some style to your 2009-2011 Subaru WRX with the COBB Tuning Stainless Steel Turbo Heat Shield. The COBB Tuning Stainless Steel Heat Shield is an attractive direct replacement for the unsightly factory piece. This turbo heat shield can shroud a completely stock turbo and exhaust system or can go hand-in-hand with an aftermarket downpipe install without the necessary trimming the stock heat shield requires. The COBB SS Heat Shield prevents waste-heat from the turbocharger and exhaust system from radiating into your engine bay, reducing intake and intercooler heat soak and lowering under-hood temperature.

The COBB Tuning SS Heat Shield is constructed of rugged stainless steel and features a laser-etched COBB logo to let everyone know you have the goods under the hood! The heat shield is easy to install, requiring only basic hand tools for installation. Couple this with the COBB Tuning Stainless Steel Downpipe with cast-stainless bellmouth for total heat management!

Features:

• Stainless steel construction
• Laser etched COBB Tuning logo
• Improved engine bay heat protection
• Easy installation

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce another job opening at COBB Tuning Headquarters in Austin, TX. We are looking for a motivated, detail-oriented and Automotive Performance savvy individual to compliment our team!

Position:  Purchasing/Procurement

This position would manage the supply chain and the inventory for distribution.  This position should work with existing suppliers to smooth out the supply process, find and develop new supplier relationships and work with our new inventory management system to maintain and develop the inventory for distribution in Austin.  This position will be working closely with Sales, Retail, Engineering and Marketing to ensure that a coherent plan is developed and executed to achieve the strategic and tactical goals of COBB Tuning. 

Requirements for the position:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (or equivalent).
• 5 years min. experience managing complex inventories/supply chains, automotive related preferred.
• Proven track record for efficiency and profitability
• Self starter with strong interpersonal skills
• Quickbook experience a plus

To apply send your complete Resume and Cover Letter with relevant work experience to jobs@cobbtuning.com. No phone calls or PMs please!

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COBB Tuning introduces the popular SF Intake for 2008-2011 Subaru STI , WRX and Impreza 2.5GT vehicles. Intake design plays a critical role in the engine management system’s ability to properly meter ingested air and provide accurate ignition and fuel. The SF Intake is engineered for maximum performance, sensor consistency and long term reliability. The SF Intake is easy to install and is supported with downloadable Off-The-Shelf AccessPORT calibrations to make this modification truly plug-and-play. When combined with the optional Air Box, the system functions as a cold air intake without the typical issues of water and contaminant exposure. The COBB Tuning SF Intake brings unmatched performance, quality, consistency and flexibility to the 2008-2011 Subaru STI, WRX and Impreza 2.5GT!

Engineered Performance
The C.A.R.B. certified COBB Tuning SF Intake is the result of intelligent engineering and innovative design. The body of the intake is constructed from a single piece of high-temperature, injection-molded plastic composite. This saves Lose Weight Exercise over metal designs and offers better heat rejection properties to prevent under-hood temperatures from transferring to the air flowing through the intake.

Tuning Included

The SF Intake system includes unique features to maintain optimal flow for performance, while minimizing turbulence that causes engine management inconsistency. The air path starts at a custom, conical-cloth air filter element leading to a CFD-designed velocity stack that smoothly guides air to a unique air flow straightener grid. This grid is designed to control the incoming air flow as it passes the Mass Air Flow sensor for precise and consistent readings at all velocities, giving the ECU the accurate air metering data it needs to properly calculate ignition and fuel requirements.

Tuning Included
Most aftermarket intakes for the 08+ STI and WRX and 09 Impreza 2.5GT require tuning to recalibrate the Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor for accurate air metering. COBB Tuning has done this work for you and offers AccessPORT calibrations for the SF Intake for worry free operation and improved performance. These Stage1 and Stage2 calibrations are specific to model and year of the vehicle as well as to fuel grade and additional supporting modifications. SF Intake maps are available for download from the Subaru AccessPORT Map Database for the

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COBB Tuning is proud to announce the release of the AccessPORT for the 2010 “Generation 2” MAZDASPEED3. This long awaited release brings the easy-to-use and impressively powerful tuning solution that first generation MAZDASPEED3 AccessPORT users have come to know and love, to the newest generation of MAZDASPEED3 drivers! This release also adds 2010 MS3 support to all existing AP-MAZ-002 AccessPORTs through a simple firmware upgrade.

Plug-and-Play, Push-Button Tuning

The AccessPORT is the premier plug-and-play, push-button tuning solution for MAZDASPEED3 enthusiasts. The AccessPORT requires no wiring, cutting, soldering or any other modification to be installed on your car. Simply plug the AccessPORT into your vehicle’s OBD-II port, hit the install button and instantly enjoy tremendous power gains with factory smooth driving quality.

The AccessPORT lets you quickly reprogram your car’s ECU with performance-tuned calibrations for instant power gains. Reprogramming the ECU unlocks hidden power while retaining the sophisticated control logic and refined engine response developed by MAZDASPEED engineers.

The AccessPORT puts control in the hands of the enthusiast. Install the AccessPORT at your convenience in minutes from the comfort of your driver’s seat. The AccessPORT is able to store multiple calibrations, making map switching easy with just the touch of a button in under a minute. Choose from many pre-tuned maps for different levels of modifications and types of fuels and be ready for any situation. For extreme modifications or maximum power output, our ProTuner network can custom tune your setup on a dyno using our AccessTUNER Pro tuning software.

Flashing the ECU for increased performance is just the start of what the AccessPORT is capable of. Set the AccessPORT to Performance Mode to capture 0-60MPH times, ¼ Mile times and Trap Speeds. Switch over to Live Data and choose a gauge to monitor. Select the integrated Data Logging function to record multiple channels of data for up to 10 hours for in-depth performance analysis. Go to Troubleshooting mode to diagnose issues by reading trouble codes and resetting the system once the issues have been resolved. Users can even configure the AccessPORT as a shift light that flashes the screen at whatever RPM you choose.

The AccessPORT can even eliminate separation anxiety for those times you are away from your car. Protect your investment when out on the town by quickly loading the Valet map to limit engine revs and boost. And when it’s necessary to remove the AccessPORT, the uninstall process is simple, taking under 10 minutes and restoring the ECU to its original condition. The AccessPORT can be installed and uninstalled as many times as needed without fuss or hassle.

User Tested and Approved

The MAZDASPEED community has had an extensive role in testing the AccessPORT for the 2nd Gen MS3 with Alpha testers from all over the country testing the AccessPORT with a variety of calibrations and vehicle configurations. This testing data has had a huge impact on the final release versions of the AccessPORT and Off The Shelf calibrations for the Gen 2 MS3! It is this extensive testing that allows COBB Tuning to bring the AccessPORT to market with a wide array of maps for the most common modifications.

Stage 1

For this initial release, COBB Tuning will be offering Stage1 maps only. This is due to different tuning strategies employed by the new 2nd Gen ECU. While the first generation MS3 was able to handle most calibrations up to Stage2 with a stock Crank Driven Fuel Pump (CDFP), the Gen2 MS3 requires an upgraded fuel pump for all calibrations beyond Stage1. As enthusiasts push their vehicles beyond this initial stepping stone, COBB Tuning will release more maps for those users who wish to take their vehicles to Stage2 and beyond! For a complete listing of available calibrations, visit our Gen2 MS3 Map Download Page.

Boost Tuning (BT) Logic

Based on customer demand, all off the shelf maps are based on COBB Tuning’s implementation of Boost Tuning logic rather than the factory Load-Based logic. This allows the MAZDASPEED3 to reach target boost with much more consistency than the factory logic. This also enables tighter control of fuel demand and keeps the tune within the limitations of the stock CDFP fuel capacity as well as allows for more powerful Stage1 tunes for users with upgraded CDFPs.

Available Now!

The AccessPORT for the 2010 MAZDASPEED3 is available NOW from all COBB Tuning dealers! For those users with existing AP-MAZ-002 AccessPORTs, you can now use this unit on your 2010 MAZDASPEED3. Just update to the latest firmware release with AccessPORT Manager 2.0 and your AccessPORT is 2010 MAZDASPEED3 ready!

The 2010 MAZDASPEED3 AccessPORT is available from direct from COBB Tuning with FREE SHIPPING when ordered on cobbtuning.com. You can also order by phone or contact us with any other questions or concerns by calling us at 1-866-922-3059.

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First of all, thank you to everyone that donated funds and/or well wishes to this cause to help out the Levy’s through this difficult time. The outpouring of support from each of the communities has been inspiring. Thanks to the generous car enthusiasts in these communities, together we raised over $8,000 to help the Levy’s with post-surgery expenses! That’s an awesome showing of support!!!

Word from Adam, Noah’s brother, is that the transplant surgery went well for both Noah and Dylan and they were both recovering in ICU. Noah was awake and able to talk to Amber and learned that Dylan did well. Amber posted on their blog and you can read about her experience of having both of her men undergoing major surgery simultaneously. Right now, things look positive for both of them!

And now, for the winners of the AccessPORTs!
BMW – Robert Hutchins
Mazda – Todd Helme
MINI – Jess Lontoc
Mitsubishi – Snir Golan
Nissan – Hsin Feng
Subaru – Christian Dettman

We will be getting in touch with each of the winners by email to finalize the award and get their new AccessPORTs shipped out to them ASAP. Thank you again to all that participated!

The Levy’s are just now starting out on the long road to recovery. If you would like to contribute to assist with their medical expenses, please visit their donations page to donate via PayPal.

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce a major update to AccessTUNER Race for all AccessPORT equipped turbocharged Subaru vehicles. In response to customer requests for additional ECU control and functionality enhancements, COBB Tuning has implemented a number of improvements to our end-user tuning software. This latest release features a vast number of added tables and data monitors, bug fixes, and significant improvements to monitor and table naming.

Real-time writing updates have reduced write times to the ECU making changes to mapping faster than ever. The new auto-update and roll-back features keeps your AccessTUNER software up-to-date and eliminates the need to send in software request forms. The latest version of AccessTUNER Race for Subaru provides an efficient and powerful tuning software package that gives unprecedented access to the Subaru ECU and the fastest Subaru tuning workflow available anywhere!

Table and Monitor Enhancements

This latest release employs a new architecture that contains a much expanded list of monitors and tables and allows much more rapid deployment of new definitions. For a complete list of data monitors and tables available, view the new Subaru AccessTUNER Monitor Definitions and Subaru AccessTUNER Table Definitions documents.

Auto Update and Rollback

The “Auto Update” feature in this release allows AccessTUNER to automatically update itself to the latest version of the software from within the application, eliminating the need to fill out the AccessTUNER Race request form every time a software update is released. A roll-back feature lets users easily revert to a previous version of AccessTUNER if desired. This simplifies version management and saves valuable time for tuners

Improved Live Tuning Write Time

Live tuning write-times have been reduced for all models. This allows the tuner to make real-time changes faster than ever, reducing wait times between tuning changes and enabling additional tuning iterations in the same amount of time.

Updates and Fixes

AccessTUNER has been extensively reworked to address a large number of table updates, bug fixes and changes for all Subaru models. These changes make tuning easier and more intuitive. Please view the Subaru 2.0L ECU Software Change Guide and Subaru 2.5L ECU Software Change Guide for a complete list of updates applied to each ECU type.

Get the latest version!

Get the latest version of AccessTUNER Race by visiting the ATR Download Page one last time. Fill out the survey completely and submit and a new copy of AccessTUNER Race will be emailed directly to you. This new version has the new “Auto Update” feature mentioned above. Once installed, requesting new copies of ATR to get the latest updates will be a thing of the past!

Important Note

Maps created with this version of AccessTUNER software require the latest AccessPORT firmware (version 1.6.4.0-1189 or greater) be installed. All AccessPORTs must first be updated before using maps created with this latest AccessTUNER version. AccessPORT Manager will automatically update the AccessPORT to the latest firmware version and is available for download on the COBB Tuning Support web page.

Maps created with previous versions of AccessTUNER Race will need to be updated with the latest software to be compatible and take advantage of the latest features. To update maps simply open them in the newest version of AccessTUNER Race and then resave. This will automatically update the maps to be compatible with the latest release version.

In addition, AccessPORT dongles must also be updated to the latest dongle firmware. Within AccessPORT Manager, choose “Yes” for AP Driver installer and COBB Dongle installer in order to update the drivers properly. The dongle must be plugged into the AccessPORT during the installation of the COBB Dongle Installer to properly set the driver on the dongle.

For additional help and assistance, please see the updated Tuner Users Guide found under the “HELP” tab in AccessTUNER or you can download the complete document here.

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A new firmware update is available for all BMW AccessPORTs. This update adds support for a couple of ECUs that were not covered in the last release as well as fixes some minor issues with automatic transmission equipped vehicles relating to throttle hesitation and shifting issues. It also adds new features to the AccessPORT for DTC code reading and clearing of all modules in the vehicle as well as OEM ROM backup should the original AccessPORT be broken or lost.

New Features

The AccessPORT now allows all BMW users to download, store and backup the OE ROM to their PC or MAC for later use. This ensures that the original ROM found on the ECU can be reinstalled in the event that the original AccessPORT unit is lost, damaged or otherwise compromised. BMW AccessPORT users can now reload this ROM using any AccessPORT installed on their car.

DTC codes for any module in the vehicle can now be cleared and reset with the AccessPORT. This includes all control units peripheral to the DME/ECU. The AccessPORT can now be used to scan and reset any trouble code present on the vehicle.

New ROMs

This update now adds functionality to the following ROMs. If you are still waiting for support, update to this firmware version and install your AccessPORT.

• 0044CC0IF80SIFP2S
• 0044CC0IJE0SIEB3S

Bug Fixes

This update addresses the odd shifting behavior and throttle response hesitation present on some automatic transmission equipped vehicles. Updating the AccessPORT firmware and flashing one of the included maps will fix these issues.

*Note*

If you have not already updated to firmware version 1.6.3.2-1275, you must first uninstall your AccessPORT before updating to this latest release version 1.6.3.2-1300.

If you have already updated your AccessPORT to 1.6.3.2-1275 firmware, you may update your AccessPORT firmware normally without uninstalling. Simply plug the AccessPORT into your computer, launch AccessPORT Manager, and click the Updates button in the top icon bar.

COBB Tuning keeps rolling with another minor firmware update for all BMW vehicles. This latest firmware version adds one more ECU ROM to the list of supported vehicles.

Firmware version 1.6.3.2-1303 adds the following ECU support:

• 0044CC0IGD0SIFA7S

For complete release notes visit the our firmware update page. 

***Update***

COBB Tuning keeps rolling with another minor firmware update for all BMW vehicles. This latest firmware version adds one more ECU ROM to the list of supported vehicles.

Firmware version 1.6.3.2-1303 adds the following ECU support:

• 0044CC0IGD0SIFA7S

For complete release notes visit the our firmware update page.

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COBB Tuning is happy to announce the first in a series of major Subaru AccessPORT updates that are planned for roll-out over during the first quarter of 2011.

This AccessPORT update includes a huge expansion and improvement in the list of data monitors available for Data Logging and Live Data viewing. AccessPORT navigation improvements have been added to effortlessly maneuver through the large menu of new data channels. Map storage has been increased to handle up to 100 unique calibrations. These improvements, and others explained below, are just the beginning of an impressive line-up of updates that will keep the AccessPORT at the cutting edge of Subaru tuning!

Improved Data Monitor lists and Expanded Monitors

The list of available monitors has been greatly expanded to significantly improve the AccessPORT’s data monitoring and data logging capability. All monitors are now alphabetized for easier navigation. In addition, data monitor names are shown in the screen header when a monitor is selected. For a list of expanded monitors, please see the Subaru Monitor Updates and Definitions Guide.

Universal AccessPORT Navigation Improvements

All AccessPORTs now feature improved menu navigation with a faster, more responsive menu, continuous scrolling and wrap around navigation. Holding the scrolling keys down will automatically scroll through all current menu options without the need to keep pressing the  button repeatedly. When reaching the bottom of the menu list, the current menu will automatically wrap around to the top of the menu.  Menus also redraw faster, meaning scrolling though each menu is faster than ever before. These updates improve AccessPORT responsiveness and usability!

Increased MAP Storage

All AccessPORTs now feature a sizable increase in map storage. Subaru AccessPORTs have capacity for up to 100 unique calibrations. The AccessPORT can now carry all your custom calibrations as well as OTS calibrations and non-performance calibrations without issue! This also eliminates occurrences of the AccessPORT freezing when too many maps were installed.

Demo Mode

AP-SUB-001 and AP-SUB-002 AccessPORTs now have a demo mode that shows most AccessPORT functions while plugged into a USB port. Demo mode enables users to setup the AP in a state which allows tasks to be viewed. Emulate installing the AccessPORT, view Live Data, Data Logging, Performance Measurement, etc. If Demo mode is left idle for 1 minute, a screen saver is displayed until a navigation button is pushed. This is a great way to show others the functionality of the AccessPORT without it needing to be plugged into the OBD-II port in the vehicle.

Uninstall Screen

The AccessPORT “Uninstall” menu option now has its own menu screen on the main menu. This change is to address the issue of users attempting to uninstall the AccessPORT and instead flashing a like-stock calibration on the ECU, leaving the AccessPORT in an installed state. Installing and Uninstalling your AccessPORT is now easier than ever.

Bug Fixes

Several data monitor updates have been included to correct erroneous monitor displays and remove non-applicable data monitors. This will provide more accurate data presentation and eliminate the confusion associated with attempting to display monitors that were unavailable on some vehicles.

Updates for the COBB Tuning AccessPORT for all Subaru models are now available through AccessPORT Manager 2.0. These updates improve and speed-up AccessPORT navigation as well as address map storage, data monitoring and datalogging bugs. This is a mandatory update for all AccessTUNER Race users.

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