ECU and the 1/4 Mile
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Washington
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ECU and the 1/4 Mile
Ok, so this is going to probably get a lot of people commenting that I am asking a stupid question, but I am unable to find the answer anywhere. Can anyone tell me what type of information the ECU stores? To be upfront with everyone, I have a 2006 IS 350 and I am thinking about taking it for a couple of passes on the 1/4 mile. However with my extended warranty, if something were to break, would the service mechanic be able to tell if I was racing the car? I would rather keep my warranty intact than risk voiding it which is why I am coming to my good friends on Club Lexus. Thanks for your help.
#5
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Washington
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting Gville350.. I will have to read the fine print on my insurance contract. That is a good point though. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
#6
Super Moderator
I disagree; the warranty specifically cites racing in the "What is not covered" section.
This warranty does not cover damage or failures resulting directly or indirectly from any of the following:
• Fire, accidents or theft
• Abuse or negligence
• Misuse — for example, racing or overloading
• Improper repairs
• Alteration or tampering, including installation of nonGenuine Lexus Accessories
• Lack of or improper maintenance, including use of fluids other than those specified in the Owner’s Manual
• Installation of non-Genuine Lexus Parts
• Airborne chemicals, tree sap, road debris (including stone chips), rail dust, salt, hail, floods, wind storms, lightning and other environmental conditions
• Water contamination
• Fire, accidents or theft
• Abuse or negligence
• Misuse — for example, racing or overloading
• Improper repairs
• Alteration or tampering, including installation of nonGenuine Lexus Accessories
• Lack of or improper maintenance, including use of fluids other than those specified in the Owner’s Manual
• Installation of non-Genuine Lexus Parts
• Airborne chemicals, tree sap, road debris (including stone chips), rail dust, salt, hail, floods, wind storms, lightning and other environmental conditions
• Water contamination
Trending Topics
#9
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Washington
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That brings me back to my point. How will they know I was racing vs just how accelerate getting on the freeway or something? Does the ECU store information like that?
#10
Super Moderator
Neutral dropping would be even worse, though I suspect the electronics in our tranny won't let you do it.
Last edited by Bichon; 05-08-15 at 03:24 PM.
#11
Super Moderator
The ECU stores a "freeze frame" of vehicle and engine data whenever it stores a trouble code, but it shouldn't do that during normal operation. The freeze frame has things like RPM, vehicle and engine speed, temperature, etc., but I'm not sure how they would correlate that to racing, even if you did store a code.
#12
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Washington
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right, well I wont be power braking or neutral dropping at all. Wont even be doing a burn out in the water box. Just the simple "hit the gas pedal to the floor" when the light is about to turn green. 1 or 2 passes just to see how it goes. You guys are the best. I can always count on your feedback. Love it!
#14
Super Moderator
I'm pretty sure it isn't one of the values displayed on my generic scan tool, but it might be on a Techstream. (Generic scan tools don't show most of the OEM specific PIDs)
By the way, for those who have never seen what freeze frame data looks like, the image below is from a Camry, but no doubt very similar to what you'd see on an IS.
#15
From my 15 years working at Toyota, I know there is a "black box" that stores all data that can be accessed by the manufacturers dealers. I do not remember how long the recording goes back though. They can use it for crash data, malfunctions, and various other nefarious "big brother' functions. They used a lot of the information in the 09-10 unintended acceleration/pedal malfunction to refute many, many claims. After a claim would come in that a consumer experienced the issue, they would corroborate the information from the "black box". In my understanding, it is different than our ECU's. Can it tell if you did a few passes at your local track, yes. They say that they cannot use it against you, but if something breaks during a pass, I would be a tad worried that they will, but I would still make the passes!!!!