2001 748 ECU/EPROM issues - bike won't start with stock chip

KARacing · Oct 3, 2016

SOLVED: 2001 748 ECU/EPROM issues - bike won't start with stock chip

Hello All,

I searched extensively through the forums and did find some good info on tuning (what I am trying to do) but could not find info on my current dilemma....

My bike is a 2001 748. I am the 3rd owner. It is mostly stock with Arrow Carbon pipes. The pipes were on when I got it. It also has an aftermarket chip - Ultimap - that says it is for 2001 748. This was all on it when I got the bike. The only mods I have done so far are chain and sprocket mods.

It has always run rich (which I have posted about in the past) so I finally broke down and got a Power Commander PCIII for it so I could tune it.
This is where the new problem started. As I understand it, all the maps that are available are based off the stock chip. When I added a map in the current config it ran worse. After some research to confirm, this is expected since the PCIII only adjusts deviations from the current eprom fuel map, it does not bypass it.
So I figure, fine, I will just get a stock chip and then I will be good- Right? WRONG!

To skip the back story - I have put in 3 stock chips (ensuring proper polarity) and the bike will not start with any of them. Stick the ultimap back in, fires right up. Since it was not doing anything I have a zero map programmed into the PCIII but I did completely disconnect the PCIII still no dice.

So here is what I cannot figure out. Is there something that could have been done that would prevent the stock chip form working? I looked at the ECU pretty close and it does appear to be stock. I considered just moving forward with a tune with the current chip but have this nagging feeling that if it won't run stock, there is either something else wrong or that has been modified that will cause issues later.

As I understand it, the eprom controls the fuel map but that is not all it controls. I know that the bike will not run without one but not sure what all it controls. This may be a clue of where to look.

Has anyone ever run into this scenario and if so what was the solution?

IF I do a tune as is, will it stick or will the aftermarket eprom somehow compensate and render the PCIII useless?

I am at a loss on where to go from here...

To make thinks worse, we had one shop in my area that worked on Ducatis (they did my other services) but now they do not work on Ducatis anymore...

Help Please...

Strega · Oct 3, 2016

The bike should run fine with the stock chip unless perhaps the CO trimmer setting is way out of whack.

Here’s Duane Mitchell’s (Ultimap/FIM) explanation:

The FIM EPROM are the same as a factory EPROM in that it cannot be reprogrammed while they are in the ECU. They are EPROM, not EEPROM.

Our zone system works as follows:

The ECU contains an EEPROM which can be written-to while the engine is running. This is used to store 'original' software variables such as stored fault codes, but little else. We use the spare EEPROM in the ECU to store our 8 zones (one overall trim and 7 specific zones), as well as our maximum RPM telltale and a few other things accessible with our hand terminals and PC software.

When an Ultimap chip is fitted to a 'virgin' ECU (one that has never used our stuff before) it checks the zone area and if it's found blank it puts zero trims in all locations. Then when you trim the ECU using the HHT the locations are modified and work as a fuel trim 'overlay' on the contents of the map stored in the EPROM. This overlay is non-volatile and held in the ECU.

So, if you remove the Ultimap chip and place a stock chip in the ECU, these locations are ignored and the ECU runs dead stock. Or, if you place the Ultimap chip in another ECU, it will look for these locations and use the overlay in that ECU to modify the chip maps.

So, the zone trims are stored not in the chip, but in the ECU, and they will work on ANY Ultimap chip used in that ECU, and DO NOT affect the chip's operation in another ECU.”

The interesting corollary to all this is that once you’ve programmed a FIM chip in it’s ECU, if you put a different FIM chip into that same ECU, the overlays for the first chip will be applied to the second chip - unless you clear the overlays first.

zambony · Oct 3, 2016

sounds like my problem too.

I had an ultimate chip, changed it to something else and it doesn't start. But I changed so many things on the bike I don't know where to point the finger...

TomTom · Oct 3, 2016

Indent on chip is facing inwards? Else its an easy mistake.

jsheerin · Oct 3, 2016

Did you pull out the security board with the Ultimap chip? You should pull out something looking like this:
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7060/1458/1600/mvtps16.jpg

SS904 · Oct 3, 2016

Excellent point! If he left that daughter board installed, that only Ultimate used, that would certainly explain the problem. Everything in the pic posted above needs to be removed before installing any other chip.

jsheerin · Oct 4, 2016

Glad it's working.

Btw, I know you have the power commander already, but you can tune the bike by burning chips directly. You just need a chip burner and some chips.

vij · Oct 6, 2016

Where are you located. The ultimap eproms enables some adjustments you just need to find the right person with the right software.

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2001 748 ECU/EPROM issues - bike won't start with stock chip

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