ETACS config modification

[hjdlsnbc]

I started to write about ETACS here: https://myimiev.com/threads/tpms-on-i-mievs.1881/page-2
But i stopped in the middle because this is some general thing to discuss. Its not TPMS only related. There are many things that can be changed in ETACS.

So lets discuss this in a separate section.
There are ETACS options listed in Diagbox and MUT-3 SE that can be directly changed. This is not the main discussion point here. There was a topic about this 13 years ago. To change them, just open Diagbox or MUT-3 SE and change those: https://myimiev.com/threads/customization-functions-m-u-t-iii-etacs-horn-buzzer.275/

This here is about the ETACS options that are not offered for modification in Diagbox or MUT-3 SE.

To my research up until now there are in general 3 software tools to do ETACS modifications on Mitsubishi cars. Please add information about other ones if you know something about them.

1. MMCodingWriter - other Mitsubishi car model owners can be happy because their car is supported. @kolyandex does not want to add support for the imiev to it. When in 2019/2020 he developed this tool, he did not know how to get the information out of the imiev, so the option is not build into there. Now @kolyandex know how to add imiev functionality to MMCodingWriter but refuses to do anything on the software any more since about 4 years. And because no one else have the source code of MMCodingWriter, it seems to be a dead software for the imiev.

2. MUT Coding Mitsubishi - this tool does not look like its capable to read and write to ETACS on its own. I have read that you have to get the ETACS config out of your car with MUT-3 SE, modify it with the MUT Coding Mitsubishi tool and then use MUT-3 SE again to put it back in the car. The developer is named Bad-Teo and the forum about this tool is here: https://forum.kolyandex.su/viewforum.php?f=8 . The tool was free for download and use up until about 2020. The developer changed to payed version and i cant find an older version of it at the moment. Maybe someone else find it and could share it.

3. Etacs Decoder - this tool is the one that existed before MMCodingWriter came out and goes the same direction like MMCodingWriter. It can get the ETACS on its own from the car, modify it itself and then put it back in the car. No need for MUT-3 SE. But here the same happened. Developer not just closed the forum that seemed to be really awesome and had many great discussions in there. But the developer also changed in 2019 the tool from free for all to payed. Later on the developer lost his PayPal account and now the only way to get the tool from the developer is to use this crypto coins crap to pay the developer. Maybe the developer would shut down all on 31.12.2024. There is some hope there would be a last release for everyone for free use.
But until then i have find and download an old version of the tool. I have to test it. If its working, i would share it.

Because this is really essential: You really want to make a ETACS backup before modify with those third party tools the config file. It would be great if someone could find out how to get the ETACS config file from the imiev mit MUT-3 SE at first. @Rational , maybe you would like to find out how to get ETACS config out of the car with your now working MUT-3 SE and share the information here with some screenshots?

 

[Rational]

I started to write about ETACS here: https://myimiev.com/threads/tpms-on-i-mievs.1881/page-2
But i stopped in the middle because this is some general thing to discuss. Its not TPMS only related. There are many things that can be changed in ETACS.

So lets discuss this in a separate section.
There are ETACS options listed in Diagbox and MUT-3 SE that can be directly changed. This is not the main discussion point here. There was a topic about this 13 years ago. To change them, just open Diagbox or MUT-3 SE and change those: https://myimiev.com/threads/customization-functions-m-u-t-iii-etacs-horn-buzzer.275/

This here is about the ETACS options that are not offered for modification in Diagbox or MUT-3 SE.

To my research up until now there are in general 3 software tools to do ETACS modifications on Mitsubishi cars. Please add information about other ones if you know something about them.

1. MMCodingWriter - other Mitsubishi car model owners can be happy because their car is supported. @kolyandex does not want to add support for the imiev to it. When in 2019/2020 he developed this tool, he did not know how to get the information out of the imiev, so the option is not build into there. Now @kolyandex know how to add imiev functionality to MMCodingWriter but refuses to do anything on the software any more since about 4 years. And because no one else have the source code of MMCodingWriter, it seems to be a dead software for the imiev.

2. MUT Coding Mitsubishi - this tool does not look like its capable to read and write to ETACS on its own. I have read that you have to get the ETACS config out of your car with MUT-3 SE, modify it with the MUT Coding Mitsubishi tool and then use MUT-3 SE again to put it back in the car. The developer is named Bad-Teo and the forum about this tool is here: https://forum.kolyandex.su/viewforum.php?f=8 . The tool was free for download and use up until about 2020. The developer changed to payed version and i cant find an older version of it at the moment. Maybe someone else find it and could share it.

3. Etacs Decoder - this tool is the one that existed before MMCodingWriter came out and goes the same direction like MMCodingWriter. It can get the ETACS on its own from the car, modify it itself and then put it back in the car. No need for MUT-3 SE. But here the same happened. Developer not just closed the forum that seemed to be really awesome and had many great discussions in there. But the developer also changed in 2019 the tool from free for all to payed. Later on the developer lost his PayPal account and now the only way to get the tool from the developer is to use this crypto coins crap to pay the developer. Maybe the developer would shut down all on 31.12.2024. There is some hope there would be a last release for everyone for free use.
But until then i have find and download an old version of the tool. I have to test it. If its working, i would share it.

Because this is really essential: You really want to make a ETACS backup before modify with those third party tools the config file. It would be great if someone could find out how to get the ETACS config file from the imiev mit MUT-3 SE at first. @Rational , maybe you would like to find out how to get ETACS config out of the car with your now working MUT-3 SE and share the information here with some screenshots?

Sure. I wouldn't mind doing that. But my MUT3 isn't 100% working with my openport 2.0 clone. But it might be able to read ETACS well enough currently. How do I get the info you need?

I should probably order an original Tactrix openport 2.0 to ensure stability and full functionality next.

How much is that software tool selling for in crypto and where is the link?

 

[MickeyS70]

This here is about the ETACS options that are not offered for modification in Diagbox or MUT-3 SE.

I gather disabling TPMS is one of your goals but what else is there that’s worth the effort?

 

[Rational]

Not sure about him, but for me at least all the effort is for:
1. Learning is always #1. The love of learning.
2. Overcoming the challenge.
3. Benefitting myself and thereby others.
4. I want full control over my vehicle. No dependency on the dealers ever after for this car and hopefully others as I learn the tools.
5. Specifically I want to reprogram keyfobs with the original dealer software if at all possible so it's guaranteed compatible.
6. Ability to handle other things with the closest to 100% compatability to the dealer tools.
7. Share and give this ability to others.
8. Save a ton of these cars before it is too late. Hopefully discovering and sharing a perfect toolkit will increase that number greatly.
9. Hopefully all this will keep many more cars from being destroyed.
10. This is my small way of helping you and us all to save our world and make it better from less waste.
11. And most importantly I just love these little cars!

I wouldn't mind adding TPMS sensors to my car. But I don't think it has it being a base model from 2011.

I'd like the ability to monitor tire pressure in realtime. I don't have to change tires for the seasons here, so it's easy and cheap with aftermarket sensors.

But I need to do more research if it's even possible somehow as part of the factory design?

I know I have an aftermarket head unit I bought last year for my prius that has it's own sensors I bought and could use. But I'm curious about the factory setup first as I want to know more about the original headunit. I might try to find one if it's got some compelling features. I haven't found any info on it yet.

 

[hjdlsnbc]

@Rational , maybe you would like to find out how to get ETACS config out of the car with your now working MUT-3 SE and share the information here with some screenshots?

How do I get the info you need?

This discussion was like you go into a car mechanics workshop and start this conversation:
Person needing help say: "Hello, my car tire is flat, how can this be fixed?"
and you get this answer back:
"I would like to help. Do you know how i can fix a tire on a car?"

I was hoping to finally get any help that would bring me further in my task after about 2 years but it does not look like that and i still have to do everything on my own.
This is my day1 question registered here in this forum: https://myimiev.com/threads/tpms-on-i-mievs.1881/post-45700

And still no help at this task.
I am now at the situation that based on M.U.T.-III SE User's Manual Ver.4.1 i attached to this forum post https://myimiev.com/threads/what-actually-is-mut-iii-in-detail.4144/post-51012 in section 9.3.2 and 9.4.2 there is described how this task can be done.
1) Read and save the coding data which is stored in the old ECU.
-> 9-3-1 – 9-3-2
2) Read and save the customization data which is stored in the old ECU.
(ETACS ECU Only)
-> 9-4-1 – 9-4-2

But it does not work with my setup at the moment. I can not get there. It seems like for some unknown reason MUT3-SE can not use CAN communication or it think it were not able to do CAN communication.
For example in the linked manual this section: 6-1-1. CAN Bus Diagnosis
When i press it, i get at the moment this error:
Not supported
The using device does not support this function

When i go to 7-1-1. Setting and execution of MiEV Computer Diagnosis
and press there the "Diagnosis" button, i get this error:
Communication Error
Data that is required for diagnosis was not able to be acquired. The malfunction of ECU and CAN bus line is estimated.

And at the most important and relevant point for this topic here, ETACS config modification, i get when i try something there exactly the error described in 8-2. Trouble of Reprogramming
Picture number 1. In there is named that this should be the Cause:
Lack of a power supplied to V.C.I.-Lite
due to a problem on a vehicle such
as low battery.
・ Connection between V.C.I.-Lite and
vehicle malfunctioned.
・Connection between PC and
V.C.I.-Lite malfunctioned.

But this does not make sense. The DCDC is on, so there is enough power on the OBD2 port. The Adapter "OpenPort 2.0" light up on its own when connected to OBD2 port of the car. So there is voltage like always.
I have also done RAW CAN logging on the OBD2 port with a modern Linux kernel driver (OpenSource software) at high speed with completely different hardware and the log files was perfectly fine. I even logged at faster speed then the CAN speed of the car to make sure that i do not miss a single frame and at the end i had zero lost messages. This was preparation for some future things i planned to do but based on that i know that CAN on the OBD2 port is working in general.

I get the same error with OpenPort 2.0 and ACTIA VCI interface.
Does the parts in the manual 6-1-1, 7-1-1, 9-3-2 and 9-4-2 work for someone here?

 

[MickeyS70]

I was hoping to finally get any help that would bring me further in my task after about 2 years but it does not look like that and i still have to do everything on my own.

Looks like it, but then why would anyone feel the need to disable TPMS?

 

[Rational]

Looks like it, but then why would anyone feel the need to disable TPMS?

Well, in his defense a lot of power users in other realms don't like all the handholding stuff. So I can relate.

Sometimes simpler is better. I've never had TPMS on any car yet because I've always bought older used cars.

So I'm curious to see what it's all about. Has some benefits in that it might save you a breakdown if you notice pressure lowering early.

But I believe it can become a nusiance on some cars depending on reliability. Perhaps other reasons.

But I'm also curious why he wants to disable it. I think he typed out his reasons before but can't find them quickly right now.

 

[hjdlsnbc]

Looks like it, but then why would anyone feel the need to disable TPMS?

Why do you even question this? Its part of the ETACS configuration. And this is something that is in need to change really often. This car with its processors and software is out there for about 15 years. The processors stayed the same to my understandings over its whole production process. Just changes to software and some hardware additions that had required additions in the software parts.
And not having a single howto to change ETACS configuration on this car model is just insane. Even cars with far less amount of functions build into the ETACS get howto's on the masses with screenshots. I really do not get it why i even read such questioning like that from @MickeyS70 . You read in the first message from this topic that i created a new topic about ETACS configuration. TPMS is just an option in the ETACS. Thats why it make more sense to create a own topic about ETACS config change in general.

For years people are visiting this forum and asking how to do this work. For example from the year 2016: https://myimiev.com/threads/changed-etacs-how-to-program.3115/

But they always get the same useless answer to go to the manufacturer service and let the manufacturer do that for them. Same in the topic about TPMS. So my first message about TPMS in the beginning of 2023 was that i wont go to the manufacturer service and i need the information how to do this but no one seemed to bother about that and until now there is still no information how to finish this work.

@Rational told in this forum that he have errors reported in the car after the radio have been swapped for a better aftermarket one. This is also a ETACS config that have to be changed to get rid of this error the whole time on the car. I have the same error and everyone else that changed the radio also have this.
ETACS is one of the main configuration things in this car and its just insane why after about 15 years of this car being out there i have to read a response that is asking me why i want to have change something in ETACS.

An other part of the ETACS is the ability to turn on for example the heater while charging the car. You can turn the ability to do so on and off in ETACS. Stop even questioning people wanting to change every single part of the options that car have and help finding solutions to do all of that. People like @coulomb sadly do not seem to do recently much firmware research at the moment. @kolyandex have find a solution how to do this but is now selling it instead of sharing freely to all.

Can we solve this ETACS modification part now finally this month (November 2024)? Please just deliver facts how to get this done and do not create a unproductive discussion up like in in the TPMS topic up to 2023 i split this discussion out of.

@Rational To add TPMS to your car like you asked you would like to do, the most logic solution would be to get the ETACS with TPMS receiver out of a wrecked car and put your VIN into this newer ETACS like the person in the 2016 topic did i linked above. And this again is a the same ETACS configuration thing this here is about.

 

[hjdlsnbc]

Could a mod move the last 4 posts from Rational to https://myimiev.com/threads/tpms-on-i-mievs.1881/ ? They look to be only TPMS related and not about the ETACS config file modification.

 

[MickeyS70]

Could a mod move the last 4 posts from Rational to https://myimiev.com/threads/tpms-on-i-mievs.1881/ ? They look to be only TPMS related and not about the ETACS config file modification.

Done

 

[hjdlsnbc]

I am doing some research at the moment to find out more about the ETACS that is build into the cars in general. I would get a spare ETACS for experimenting with it. To not cheat about my motivation, its nearly for sure one with TPMS inside. The goal was not to get a different ETACS without TPMS, put the car VIN into it and call it a day. This wont be config modification like planned to be researched in this topic here.

The ETACS in this form factor with the on the first view same connectors is released since around 20 years. Those older ones inside Mitsubishi Colt and Smart ForFour. Back then it was in a black case. On newer cars the case changed to a white one.
It looks like the imiev in 2009 was when Mitsubishi changed the color to the white one we have now. The white one then Mitsubishi used for the 2012 released Mitsubishi Mirage that is named Space Star in some parts of the world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Mirage#Sixth_generation_(A00/LA,_A10;_2012) .
It got also reused for example in the Mitsubishi L200/Triton build around 2019.

All the ETACS have the same 8637 model number to start with. It looks like all the ones that are about 20 years old always had 8637A. I have not find a ETACS until now with 8637A model number and TPMS. TPMS seems to be mostly build into 8637B and newer ETACS.
The imiev got build until about year 2020. I have not find any ETACS out of so late model cars. But the ones from for example the Mirage year 2022 have 8637C.

Maybe important side note: The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV ETACS have different ETACS size and connectors. Looks like the Outlander PHEV (that have sort of a imiev build inside and its highly inefficient compared to a imiev) and Outlander typical did not changed the ETACS.

The model number is printed in two sizes on the more modern white boxes. Like 8637AxXX. Where the first x have same size like the A/B/C and 8637 and the last two XX digits are printed huge. I have not find out why its written like this.

The coding of the ETACS in this form factor looks to be in general possible with MMCodingWriter. Kolyandex himself advertised MMCodingWriter in the mirage forum: https://mirageforum.com/forum/showt...for-edit-ETACS-ECU-coding-Full-free-No-limits
I have to find out why MMCodingWriter is not able to do coding on any imiev. Maybe this have something to do with the EV-ECU and because that differs from the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_GS_platform that MMCodingWriter is been developed for: https://forum.kolyandex.su/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=81
It would be interesting if the ETACS itself could be simply put into a 2012 and up Mirage car, then use MMCodingWriter software to change the settings, and then be put back in a imiev. I was shortly thinking of getting all parts together to have a Mirage ECU and ETACS on the table in bare minimum to have MMCodingWriter working and try that out. But this can not be the final solution and this post here where a person changed the original ETACS out of a GS platform car for a different model number ETACS was not able to program new ETACS connected to the old GS ECU: https://forum.kolyandex.su/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=81&start=40#p5460

The ETACS config style of the imiev looks from the design different then the one that could be find in a Outlander.
This is how the config look like on imiev: https://myimiev.com/threads/need-your-etacs-configuration-from-your-car.5715/post-51258
And this is how the config look like on a outlander:
8414020A10040500086B292101000001

 

[MickeyS70]

The goal was not to get a different ETACS without TPMS, put the car VIN into it and call it a day.

There is a good chance that that idea wouldn’t work anyway; I hope your research can dispel this as another myth, but it’s thought that the VIN can only be written once (if it is blank) and not be changed afterwards..

This limitation doesn’t seem to apply to the other ECUs, so if it’s not possible to erase the VIN on a chip level, it might be necessary to re-program the others to match new the ETACS?

I know that’s not what you have in mind but it could be a useful exercise if only to test the theory??