As of right now if you get the Pro Racer Package you can retain and build from a Stage 2 or 3 calibration but you'll lose all the "toys" functionality to include the intercooler sprayer, high-octane mode, and the dial-a-boost. But like you mentioned you can create different tunes and store up to three of them a time on the XCal2 flasher (not including the 4th, stock tune it downloads from your PCM prior to flashing).
On the traction control device question, it helps to understand how the stock coil and ignition system works to create the spark. When the car is started, the ASD relay is energized (turned on) and provides +12 volts to the coil. In order for current (the electrons) to flow through the coil and cause it to charge you need a complete electrical path back to the negative terminal on the battery. This is provided by the computer. When the computer essentially "turns on the switch" and closes the ground path it allows current to flow and the primary side of the coil starts to charge. When the computer determines it's time to fire the spark plug, which is a certain number of degrees crankshaft rotation from the piston being at top dead center all the way at the top of its travel (which is your "degrees" of ignition timing), the computer turns off the ground circuit. That causes the energy in the primary side of the ignition coil module to transfer to the secondary coil windings inside the coil pack and then travel to the plugs.
What the traction control device is more than likely doing is sitting between the computer and the coil with the two things no longer directly connected. Instead, during normal operation when the TCS device sees the computer turning on the ground path to charge the coil, it provides the ground path to charge the coil. When the traction control device sees the computer turn off the ground path to fire the ignition it also turns off it's ground path. The TCS box has a processor that's also receiving input from the vehicle speed sensor. When the programming in the TCS determines a loss of traction (tires spinning which causes the vehicle speed sensor to indicate a sharp rise in acceleration that the car physically isn't capable of producing) it can alter when to fire the coil and do things such as reduce ignition timing to reduce power. The N2MB WOT Box should work on a similar principle, but instead of being connected to the vehicle speed sensor it connects to a switch on the clutch pedal to reduce timing when the pedal is pressed. The devices would do this by keeping the ground circuit provided to the coil on longer than the computer (PCM) requests, which means the piston can come up further (by however many degrees rotation) before the spark fires. Remember that the spark "advance" literally means the spark plug is fired a certain number of degrees before the piston is all the way to the top to allow time for the burn process to start. By holding that ground circuit turned on longer, the TCS reduces degrees of timing advance by firing the plugs later which gives less time for the combustion process to start which creates less power.
The SCT programming allows you to directly control timing and fueling that the computer (PCM) commands. Think of it as a software change by changing variables and tables the computer uses to calculate those timing and fueling events. The TCS device on the other hand sits completely after the computer and functions as a completely self-contained unit. That means it's not trying to change (reduce) the timing by "tricking" the computer into changing it (such as what a piggyback does by altering the MAP signal the computer uses), but instead is a completely separate device with its own software and hardware. So therefore, while you can make timing changes with the Pro Racer Package the TCS should still function the same as it does before unless you also going in and alter the programming in it (which is completely separate and the SCT tuning software has no ability to do).
|
Linear Mode
