ecu software updates?

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 21 Apr 2005, 16:40

Did Citroen ever publish software upgrades for the ecu on any of their cars? I have a Xantia Activa.
I could, of course, ask a Citroen dealer, but I thought I would try somewhere that would know first...

ActivaV6uk · Post by **ActivaV6uk** » 21 Apr 2005, 18:18

Nope there were no ecu updates for the cars before about 2001.
Andy

Rostami · Post by **Rostami** » 21 Apr 2005, 18:27

Does anyone have any clue how to remap the ECU (DIY)

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 21 Apr 2005, 18:36

Andy,
so would a post-2001 upgrade be applicable to my car?
Here is another stupid thought...Would it be possible and worth anyone reprogramming the Activa suspension ecu? Maybe make the car lean into corners or something. Or am I talking bollox?

born2die · Post by **born2die** » 21 Apr 2005, 19:23

Kind of defets the object of going like me for the overcomplecated activa system if you want to make the car lean into corners. The whole reason I bought an activa was because I enjoyed the handling benefits that the activa system offers if it wasnt for that I would have bought a MI16 or similar easier to upgrade etc.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 21 Apr 2005, 19:29

No, that is the point of the Activa system. It keeps the car flat, but I was suggesting that it goes further and leans the car INTO the corner, like a motorbike. I believe the Activa prototype concept car did this.

Sl4yer · Post by **Sl4yer** » 21 Apr 2005, 20:29

I remember reading of a Volvo active suspension prototype many years ago that leaned into corners. Was supposed to be quite disconcerting to drive or be driven in! [:(]

FrenchLeave · Post by **FrenchLeave** » 21 Apr 2005, 20:59

It would be disconcerting, it's funny the way the body becomes acclimatised to a certain reaction and becomes disoriented if it doesn't get it. It's the same as when you try to brake on ice, the car feels as if it's accelerating simply because the body expects to feel a decelerating force.

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 21 Apr 2005, 21:24

I wouldnt say I felt like I felt like I was accelarating when braking on ice, more I feel that I'm going uncomfortably fast and don't like it....
Incidentally, the Activa system doesn't keep the car absolutely flat but it does reduce body roll to almost zero.
If you could get the Activa system to compensate for tyre squash it would corner absolutely flat.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 21 Apr 2005, 21:56

Kowalski, your last comment is kind of what I was getting at, but more so, get it leaning into corners like a bike or that strange Mercedes Carving thing. Just for fun.

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 21 Apr 2005, 22:08

That would be OVERcompensating.
me thinks that would be a scaring drive when the car constantly is leaning back & forth INTO (the wrong way) - when following urban traffic [8D]

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 21 Apr 2005, 22:42

The Activa system is quite clever, it has steering and speed sensors so it knows how much tension to apply to the anti roll bars, it just needs its mappings tweaked a bit to give a little more at higher speeds.

ActivaV6uk · Post by **ActivaV6uk** » 21 Apr 2005, 22:49

Personaly i would just look for tires with a stronger side wall so they dont squish as much, or go for a lower profile tire.
grooveprovider and amason activa on activanet both have 17" wheels on there cars ask them about it.
Andy

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 22 Apr 2005, 03:38

The whole point of the Activa system is that it doesn't sacrifice ride quality for cornering ability. Stronger tyre sidewalls and lower profile tyres would sacrifice ride quality, as would higher tyre pressures. Stronger side walls would also increase fuel consumption, it would be rather like going back to crossply, they had pretty inflexible sidewalls.

macaroni · Post by **macaroni** » 22 Apr 2005, 13:04

How would stronger side walls increase fuel consumption? Surely they would offer less rolling resistance?
I am not unhappy with the handling of Activa, far from it - it is astonishing - I was just wondering whether it would be possible to alter the roll-angles, with a view to making it lean into a corner.