[wdb]

General Information

• Make sure you are getting the correct unit for your make and model!
  • Accessport V1 units are made specifically for each year and model. If you have an '04 STi you need an Accessport for an '04 STi; an '04 WRX Accessport will not work, nor will an '05 STi Accessport.
  • Accessport V2 units are made for a particular engine; 2.0L turbo, and 2.5L turbo. STi's will need the unit made for 2.5L turbo engines.

If you are a SELLER

First and foremost, you must unmarry the Accessport from your ECU. This is also called Revert to Stock and that is how it is referred to on the AP menus and in the manual.

What TO do:

• Very carefully follow the Revert to Stock instructions in the Accessport manual
• Verify that the process has been completed successfully (see below)

What NOT to do:

• DO NOT flash the "stock" basemap to your ECU. This will make your ECU look stock to a dealer or other service facility, but it does not "unmarry" the device from the ECU. If this is all you do, your AP is not ready for sale.
• DO NOT load the "stock" realtime map. This will make your car run like it had a stock ECU, but it does not "unmarry" the device from the ECU. If this is all you do, your AP is not ready for sale.

If you are a BUYER

You want to ensure that the AP you are being offered has been unmarried or reverted to stock. Unfortunately there is no surefire way to verify the status of an Accessport from afar. The only option you have is to find some way to 'vet' the seller, to verify that they are legitimate, reasonable, and reliable.More Information

The AccessECU Knowledge Base

http://www.accessecu.com/kb/index.php?ToDo=

The quotes below were taken from the AccessECU Knowledge Base on the dates indicated. Click the links to go to the site and ensure that you are seeing the latest information.

How can I verify my AccessPORT has been unmarried or Reverted to Stock?

Originally Posted by 11-27-2005

Once the Revert to Stock process has been successfully completed, the AccessPORT will no longer start and display the main menu.

If after you power on the AccessPORT you receive a brief startup screen followed by the message "Please choose a new map to flash to ECU Press OK/Cancel", then your AccessPORT has been successfully Unmarried/Reverted to Stock.

If after you power on the AccessPORT your screen states, "Please choose a new map to send to ECU Press OK/Cancel", then your AccessPORT is defaulting into the first menu selection (SWITCH MAP) for some reason. The AccessPORT has NOT been unmarried successfully and if required, it should be sent in to determine why it's automatically selecting the first menu option on startup.

This is not the correct ECU! HALTING OPERATION. message?

Originally Posted by 11-27-2005

This error message can only occur whenever the serial number on the AP does not match the serial number stored on the ECU. This is checked when attempting to change a Base Map.

No resolution for this message. It needs to be determined why the incorrect AP is being used on the incorrect ECU.

If this message occurs after AP has been returned from service, verify serial number of received AP matches that of warranty/repair service report.

If this message occurs after vehicle has been serviced by Dealership, check service invoice for documentation of a ECU reprogram. A note regarding "Reset ECU Memory" is NOT the same as a reflash/reprogram. If this issue is in question, the Dealer Service Invoice will need to be faxed to technical support before resolution can be made.

[Nachos Libres]

Very nice WDB!

[boosted2000si]

Thanks! I went to unmarry mine today and was dumbfounded by the select base map screen. I thought it should take me straight to the main menu. THanks for the info, know I know for sure its unmarried.

[delaner]

Good info, thanks!

? from a noob...

I was also wondering... I always see the AP listed with a year... is the year of manufacture relevant?... or does that just mean those are the maps loaded into it and the ones for newer or older cars are available for download at Cobb? Or if you have a 2004 AP you can't use it on an '05 or '06 or '03 car... ?

[wdb]

Originally Posted by delaner

I was also wondering... I always see the AP listed with a year... is the year of manufacture relevant?... or does that just mean those are the maps loaded into it and the ones for newer or older cars are available for download at Cobb? Or if you have a 2004 AP you can't use it on an '05 or '06 or '03 car... ?

The last one. Cobb makes specific AP's for each model year. If you have an '06 STi, you need an AP for an '06. And so on.

[TRM]

nice job Dave!

[wdb]

Thanks everyone. I have since found that my advice to buyers was incorrect. There is no surefire method to verify the state of an Accessport unless you have it in your hands. I have updated the FAQ to reflect this.

If someone knows of a way to verify the married/unmarried state of an AP from afar, please let me know. PM's preferred.

[sebtarta]

We could also add that each AP is for a specific year too...

[wdb]

Originally Posted by sebtarta

We could also add that each AP is for a specific year too...

Great idea! Done.

[DoctorSTi]

I emailed Cobb asking them if they could confirm or deny a claim by an Ebay member that the Cobb AP he has is for the 04 or 05 STI model and he was told by someone at Cobb it would work for either. The reply I got was this:

Some of the 04 and 05 models are cross compatible, but due to an ecu change mid year by subaru, we recommend user purchase an AccessPORT specifically designed for their model year to avoid reprogramming issue or complications.

Just thought I would throw that out there. Now how would one know if their 05 has the old ECU or the new one I have no idea. I would assume the 05 STIs that have the aluminum coolant overflow tank are the older ones but I guess production number would be the best way to determine if you could use the 04 Cobb STI AP.

[sebtarta]

Well that happened to me where i had to send my AP to have the firmware upgrade to v1.2 for MY05...so yeah Cobb is right, if you want to get the AP for your Car year specificaly then do it, if not you might have to send the AP to Cobb pay a fee and have the firmware upgraded.

[wdb]

I would not try going by the material of the coolant overflow tank as an indicator of the ECU's vintage. We are talking about the programming of an ECU here, and all that takes is a firmware change -- not a hardware change. In short:

• If you have a MY 2004 STi, get a Cobb Accessport for a 2004 STi
• If you have a MY 2005 STi, get a Cobb Accessport for a 2005 STi
• If you have a MY 2006 STi, get a Cobb Accessport for a 2006 STi

And for good measure:

• If anyone tries to sell you a used Cobb AP and tells you it will work on several different model years, WALK AWAY.

If anyone needs any clarification on that, I have some shares of stock to sell you. Cheap!

[lackskill]

IBsomedaysoonthisthreadneeds2Bupdated4t3hV2AP...

[pksublime]

Originally Posted by wdb

I would not try going by the material of the coolant overflow tank as an indicator of the ECU's vintage. We are talking about the programming of an ECU here, and all that takes is a firmware change -- not a hardware change. In short:

• If you have a MY 2004 STi, get a Cobb Accessport for a 2004 STi
• If you have a MY 2005 STi, get a Cobb Accessport for a 2005 STi
• If you have a MY 2006 STi, get a Cobb Accessport for a 2006 STi

And for good measure:

• If anyone tries to sell you a used Cobb AP and tells you it will work on several different model years, WALK AWAY.

If anyone needs any clarification on that, I have some shares of stock to sell you. Cheap!

BUT now that the 2.0 is out it DOES work on several model years at a time now it's specific to which engine you have (2.0 or 2.5 liter)

[wdb]

Originally Posted by pksublime

BUT now that the 2.0 is out it DOES work on several model years at a time now it's specific to which engine you have (2.0 or 2.5 liter)

Correct! The original post has been updated with this information. Thanks!