I emailed you my info on Friday afternoon - let me know if you need anything else. Thanks!

 

I updated last night but it didn't show any of the maps on AP manager

 

Stryker,

You don't have to purchase a FMIC to go with our tune, but it will help make more power, and keep the power more consistent. The standard stage 1 map will gain 20-40 WHP. If you add the intercooler, it can add another 15-20 WHP on top of that!

If you do a tune with the modifications you have installed, you will be at stage 1. Stage 2 is only for a car with a 3" turbo back exhaust.

 

Snugnuts,

The AP Manager won'tt show the maps, you don't see the maps until you plug the AccessPORT into your car.

 

It only showed stage 0 on the AP when i plug it into my car.

 

Hey all,

I just installed my Alta AP today, I have a 2008 MCSa, I CAN REALLY FEEL THE DIFFERENCE!!! BUT, I'm wondering if any other auto owners out there can tell me if their car was wanting to shift abruptly even in M mode, it wont seem to hold the gears like it used to, could just be cause I haven't driven very far yet and it may take a bit to get used to where the power is. I'm just curious as to how the auto drivers cars are responding to the AP?

 

Snugnuts,

Could you please email me your ECU type? It should show all the maps availiable. maps@altaperformance.com

 

sent

 

I've been curious about this also. I'm not aware that the alta AP remaps any of the transmission logic to take into account the increase in torque.
I only know of two MCSa's who have tried an Accessport. One loved it, the other deinstalled it and sold it after about a month - the second used their mini as a daily driver and did not like the way it lurched from standstill and was unpredictable on kickdown / power surges in traffic - sport mode seemed to make it worse according to them. Expectactions and driving style differences may have played a role and I do not know which map was being run.
May want to start an steptronic-specific thread to generate meaningful feedback more quickly.

 

That is interesting to hear. I have an auto and this concerns me a bit. I read that there were mappings that provided a more linear pedal response, are they not available for autos? I find my stock MCSa a bit lurchy already, and assumed the linear AP maps would help this...

 

I've also noticed the inability for my MCCSa to hold the gears without downshifting when the throttle is pressed to a certain point. To counteract this I usually just flip it into manual-mode, that seems to do the trick.


On another note, I have received a specific mapping from Jeff that will limit boost while sport mode is switched off and give full boost when sport mode is switched on. I am curious to try it out to see if it is more friendly with my transmission. That is, until after I bring it back from the dealership from service tomorrow..

 

thanks for the responses guys,

I actually uninstalled the tune today already, this car is my daily driver at the moment, I loved the extra pull it had, and boy was it noticeable, hardly had to touch the pedal and the thing took off, I was running Stage 1 91 Octane, but the thing that bugged me so much was that I coul not really get into the power at all unless I was in 5th or 6th gear in M mode. Thing pulled hard and got to more then insane speed in no time, but the transmission does not know what to do with the extra torque, it freaks out, even in M mode.

For example; when trying to get on it in any gear, lets say I'm in 2nd and I give it some poke, well you have to be very careful how far down you push the pedal till she revs up enough or else it will want to downshift, and abruptly I might add. I figured out that rather then shifting at 3 grand like I used to stock, I would hold it till 3500 or even 4 grand and then shift, the transmission seemed to like this more and the shifts were smooth. Anytime I actually tried to give the car the beans, it would freak the tranny right out and it would seem to let off the boost hard, shift abruptly, then slam back onto power again, did not feel good at all, and it can't be good for the car either...

If anyone else can comment that would be great?

These are just my findings in less then a day of driving and about 200-300 kilometers...

I'm not upset thou, I am selling my MCSa soon and ordering a 2011 JCW to make into a pure street fighter, straight up.... so I will save the AP for this...

 

^^^^ HEY FOLKS: I don't think this feedback on the AT models typifies the feelings of most. We will always ask for some datalogs when drivability is a concern from a client. Then we can make specific changes to make that client happy.

So what I am saying is that there may be other issues with those cars and we may not have had the opportunity given to fix it. Certain brands of intake systems have already been shown to cause issues, clients not always choosing the correct map for the car etc. etc.

Hope that helps! As always let us know how we can help best!

 

The auto's lurchiness off the line in stop and go traffic stems from the agressive throttle tip in and the fact that first is pretty short. In rush hour I use manual and do the "roll - stop - roll" routine in 2nd / 3rd. I have been holding off on an AP after my colleague's bad experience with it in an auto. Throttle position is frequently a parameter monitored by the transmission computer... if throttle response is remapped that might not play well with the auto??

Overall I am very happy with the logic in the steptronic; although it has a torque converter it spends a lot of time locked and feels pretty similar to the DSG in my wife's VW TDI. The MCSa does a better than average job of being in the right gear and appropriately changes its behaviour for spirited driving. I particularly like the way it will ride a gear down for some engine braking in off power situations just as one can in a manual. I chose the steptronic after comparing it to the manual MCS because I found I was faster and importantly more consistent with the "slushbox".
I love the idea of a bit more power but am hesitant if it will not work well with my transmission.

 

Hey guys!

I live in Lubbock, TX which means I can only get 90 octane gasoline... The elevation here is also around 3200 ft. I run a stage 3, 91 octane tune but since the summer is coming and it's not uncommon to have 10% humidity with 100+ F heat, you guys think you can cook up a map for my needs? I'm sure people in El Paso would also appreciate it!

 

ADAM,

What is the normal response the MCSa owners give you guys? how should the tranny be shifting? I ran a 91 Octane, stage 1 map, I can post the specifics, but I just bought the AP, the car is a June 2008 build MCSa... I loved the extra power, and it was super noticeable, but I could not really get into it too hard cause the tranny shifting scared me, didn't like how jerky and hard it was... do you guys have a fix?

dontpanic;

I would wait and read some more responses here first before buying for the auto, up to you, but if you aren't sure wait.... I on the other hand like I mentioned above, don't really care since i bought the AP mainly for the JCW I'm picking up soon...

 

To the group RE: Auto Trans mapping, behavior etc.

I am going to have Jeff and Chris pop in here momentarily (might be tomorrow) to give better explanations as they have logged more miles in the auto equipped cars than I have.

Thanks again!

 

What modifications do you have done to your car? You really should not be running a even a 91 octane map if you can only access 90 octane. Our maps are made to run at least on 91 octane. If you send us some datalogs, we can see if it's running correctly, and change things if needed.

I've had a few customers with autos report back that they had jerky shifting, and we have sent out new maps. If anyone else is experiencing this problem, let me know and we can send you a new map to help. I'll just need to know the full name of the map that you're running. We have a different map for the customer's that are having the problem, and it is making the cars drive much smoother.

 

ok excellent! thanks adam, I look forward to hearing what they say!

 

ok cool, I'll let ya know asap!

 

For the people with the aggressive tip in throttle (and don't like it) - be sure to run the linear maps! It does away with the aggressive tip in.

 

Just wanted to say thanks to Jeff and crew at Alta for working out a fix for the bouncy idle issue I was having. Jeff sent me a couple of new maps to try recently and both made the idle much more stable. Not quite as rock steady as stock but the variation is less than +\-50RPM and very livable. Thanks again Alta for a great product and great support.

 

Chris,

USDM MCS Auto 0089SU0H910B

- MCSa Stage 1 91 octane H910B (stock throttle mapping)

any help is appreciated...

 

try one of the TPS maps!

 

Chris thx for your reply not to worry I will keep my jcw exhaust, cuz don't want the drone, the concern these guys are talking about ie lurchiness are with auto transmissions correct not manual?
Might get the fmic thx jack