Jebus'Protegé

I have noticed that JET Performance Products makes a programmer or "chip" for the Mazda Protegé, mine being a '01 ES, but basically any after 1990 with fuel injection. I found one online for $205, it claims around 20hp gains and improved fuel economy. If anyone knows about the JET chip or of a better one, please respond. I am thinking of buying it and I would like a second opinion of someone with prior knowledge but do not know anyone who has dealt with this subject before.

Thanks,
Joe

Roddimus Prime

Scam...do not waste your money. All the jet does is try to trick the ecu into dumping extra fuel into the motor and advance the timing. This is not possible on the protege ECU. It learns around these types of devices. Also, even if it did add fuel it would be counterproductive as the ecu runs WAY rich already. I bet you'd foul plugs every week!

acidbbg1

(mswerd)

Someone on protege5.com did it..and had all types of problems..And you have to send them your ecu..and they flash it.

Chas

macdaddyslomo

piece of crap. ECU goes into closed loop as soon as hit slam the gas, and any alterations are gone...want the same results....send me the $600 and I'll go to radio shack and buy you a 25 cent resistor...

Jebus'Protegé

Thanks....god I feel like a newb, but hey this forum is helpful after all. Woot.

Thanks for the help,
Joe

GNO

Whose to say that "closed loop" isn't reprogrammed? Has anyone discussed any of this with JET? Or is this an assumption?

On the Grand Prix forum, a person found out how to reprogram the PCM. He then came up with different timing and fuel curves and also changed shift points for the automatic transmission. Afterwards, he started a company, Digital Horsepower (DHP), and started selling his reprogrammed PCMs for just over $300. This summer, he'll be coming out with a program that will allow you to create your own fuel and timing maps as well as various other PCM controlled parameters. If you know anyone in the LS1 Camaro/Firebird crowd, there is a similar program called LS1 edit.

I seriously doubt these guy would these guys would take on a project for the FS folks, but I don't see why JET's program would not work in the same fashion. Closed loop or not, the PCM is flashable. . . why would a company like JET not relealize our cars are running rich and fix that.

During a dinner conversation with Roger Sears, Product Manager for the Pontiac Bonneville and Grand Prix, he asked me "Why are so many people interested in reprogramming the PCMs? Every other enthusiast group I've worked with simply get third pary engine management systems." I simply stated that it boils down to cost, the factory system is already there, if reprogrammed, no additional hardware is necessary, no re-wiring, just plug in a new unit. I don't see why this point of view cannot be taken with the Protege.

Roddimus Prime

It's due to the fickle nature of the Ford/mazda ECU. I'm no ECU genious but what I understand is that no matter what you plug into the OBD-II port it's going to override it when it goes into closed loop. It also explains why the "flashes" mazda put out aren't holding. I've heard of people having to flash 2 and 3 times on the MSP to finaly get a difference.

I would chalk this up to technician fault but when I worked at mitsubishi I used their MUT and re-flashing an ecu took no more than 5 minutes and was litteraly just a push of a few buttons. It appears only the moazda product has problem being/holding a flash.

GNO

Okay, I can see that, a flashable chip that gets over-ridden and over-written by a non-flashable chip. I just didn't quite understand the dillemma. A few years ago, I came across yet another company that delt with PCMs, they completely replaced stock soldered chips with their own rather than reflashing.

Roddimus Prime

yeah, thats how they originally modded honda PCM's.....now they use flashable PROM's.

I know standalones and piggybacks have done well with the protege (as they should) but no'one has done effective with either flashing or chip replacement. I think we're just SOL until the AEM comes out.

Jebus'Protegé

Any date and/or price for the AEM?

macdaddyslomo

You cannot just "Flash" a Mazda/Ford ecu...companies like jet chip take advantage of open loop mode and basically "fool" sensors so the ecu delivers different amounts of fuel than normal and adjusts timing accordingly....in closed loop mode the computer follows preset values for air and fuel, and totally ignores any input from outside sensors AND piggy backs....it is basically "hard wired" into the system,and will over-ride any cheapy software mod..Honda and GM PCm's are not like that....only fix is an aftermarket ecu like an AEM, or a haltech....the benefit of the AEM is the whole "plug and play" thing. Not sure why people are putting in in a different category than a stand alone....that's what it is...it just takes advantage of stock sensors, where as a haltech you use theirs...otherwise they are very similar

Roddimus Prime

with the AEM you retain the stock ECU....the AEM wires inline...it's not a true standalone as it is in other models like Wagners Evo. It's basically what I would call a piggy-back.

No timeline yet. there is still much tuning to be done with it.

macdaddyslomo

how is it stopping the ECU from going to closed loop mode then?? modifying the signals to the coil packs and injectors as they leave the ecu or ...???

Roddimus Prime

the AEM makes the ECU think that the car is having critical errors or faults. this would normally throw a CEL and put the car into "limp mode". However the AEM is controlling EVERYTHING the whole time and even ignores the CEL so it won't light up. I don't understand why it's not a strict stand alone replacement but I bet it has to do with some hidden function of the stock ECU that the AEM doesn't have. I'll have to talk to andy about it later.