RomRaider

In working with the new CAN ROMs, it appears that with cars like the USDM 08 WRX and USDM 09 FXT which have no option for SI-drive from the factory, the ROMs still contain all of the SI-drive logic and tables. That is, if it was possible to add the SI-drive selector from a hardware perspective, it may be possible to use it on these cars. Hopefully someone can answer these questions:
1. How is the SI-drive selector wired and would it be possible (easy) to integrate into a non-SI drive car? This is assuming we don't care about the current mode being displayed on the instrument panel.
2. How expensive is it?

That's very interesting.

What about hacking the rom to cause another mechanical event to trigger the SI drive logic?

That's certainly possible, but would be like any other hack and you have to deal with all the issues to make it user friendly (developing a patching program that can add/remove the hack and create custom defs, spending time customizing it for a number of different rom revisions, etc.)

What I'm talking about here, is only a small change to the ROM that could be implemented in RR (no additional code). Of course, there are a lot of ifs on the hardware side.

I'm looking for a drawing to upload...
SI-Drive selector wired to combination meter, which sends switching signal to ecu via CAN. Selector contains 2 resistors and 3 momentary switches, and comb.meter reads states on input wire like 1. short to ground. 2. connected to ground via R1. 3. connected to ground via R1+R2.
So, if Si-drive and non-Si-drive models share same basic combination meter design (if non Si-drive has unused inputs/outputs), this conversion looks possible

Aside from racer's idea, It'll be tough without a patch or distributing a hacked rom.

The only way I can think of would be to point the OE code that checks the Si-Drive status in RAM to a different RAM address, and change the bitmasks to read certain inputs. So a total of 2 very small code changes.

I'm not sure if this applies to all the new roms, but when I was working on a Si-Drive hack for my 06 wrx, I used a single bitmask on one ram address that contained the clutch switch, brake light, and set/coast button.

well, the idea is that the code is already there. So, if the hardware already supported it, it might be plug and play. Hard to say if that is the case, but if it was, only one small change to the existing code in the ROM would be required, which could be handled by RR.

You can create any number of hacks and it is not hard. The problem is user-friendly patching, distribution including the large number of available ROMs, version control and compatibility across all hacks. Something that is outside the scope of RomRaider and would be a PITA if done in at least a semi-professional way to be released to the public. Which is why I'm thinking of easy (potentially) to implement solutions like this.

hey guys, sorry for bringing this one back from the dead.

I'm interested in doing this.

either:

a) working out if swapping combination meters with an STI one would help
b) developing something that connects to the CANbus and sends the required codes for SI-drive (can someone maybe work out what these are from ROM disassembly?)
...

It doesn't appear that anyone confirmed either way (yes/no) if simply adding the required hardware would work to enable the feature.

As I read it, it comes down to, does the combo meter have the capability to read the switches/settings and forward that info to the ECU.

A friend of mine put the Sti instrument panel on his forester 09 xt edm. The si drive indicator shifts whenever he moves from D to sport either via paddle shifter or shift knob. Can we have custom defs and see what's going on?

Implementable. The Legacy/STi logic needs to be applied via a patch I have been using it for my E85/98 dual fuel map patch. 98 obviously runs less boost so needs less requested torque in the DBW, E85 runs more boost via higher RT values

But do you really need to switch the combo meter? I think the original question was if the stock one would work or not.

Just odd si meter on the sti instrument panel would shift modes even if there was no si drive installed. Thought it was worth mentioning.

Might even be worth logging SI Drive mode on a normal auto to determine the map switch as well?

I'm wondering if I could knock together something using an MPC2515 on an arduino, that would send the required messages to the ECU to change the SI-drive mode....

thereby bypassing the requirement for a combo meter swap.

throttlehappy - where abouts in Aus are you located, and have you done this with a WRX ?

I'm in Melbourne

I did some playing around with this! this is what I found WRX models have wiring for SI-Mode selector and the wiring goes to the correct pins on the combination meter in accordance with this....

Whilst logging the SI-Mode Parameter I placed a resistor across pins 33 and 35 as per below.


Unfortunately SI-Mode remained zero so one of two things is preventing this from working, SI-Mode is inhibited in software or the combination meter doesn't support SI-drive mode change.