TurboLamik TunerPro Basics: Reading and Writing 8HP Maps
TunerPro RT is the tool you use to read maps out of a TurboLamik TCU, edit them and write them back. Three file types do the work: the BIN file is the map itself, the XDF file is the definition that turns those raw bytes into a parameter tree, and the ADX file is the definition that drives live data acquisition. If the XDF and ADX do not match the software version in the TCU, the parameters you see will not match the transmission.
Setting TunerPro up
Download TunerPro RT and the TCU drivers from the download section first, then work through this in order:
- Install TunerPro and start it.
- Go to Tools, then Preferences.
- Open Data Acq./Emulation.
- Set Interface type to "Use Plug-in".
- Open Configure Plug-in Component.
- Set Port Type to "Shared with Emulator".
- Confirm the settings.
- Download the XDF and ADX definitions, unpack them, then go to XDF and Select XDF and choose the XDF file.
- In the parameter tree on the left, change View by to Parameter Category.
- Go to Acquisition and Load Definition File, then select the ADX file.
Two of those steps cause most of the problems. "Shared with Emulator" is not the default port type, and it is what allows TunerPro to talk to the TCU through emulation. Changing the parameter tree view to Parameter Category is what makes the maps findable instead of a flat list.
The toolbar buttons
Working in TunerPro comes down to five buttons in the emulation toolbar. Learn them once and the rest is straightforward.
| Button | Function |
|---|---|
| 1 | Initialise emulation hardware |
| 2 | Upload the current bin to the TCU |
| 3 | Download the maps from the TCU |
| 4 | Enable or disable show data |
| 5 | Dashboards |
The working sequence
- Connect the USB cable from the TurboLamik TCU to your computer.
- Turn the ignition on in the car.
- Press button 1 to initialise the emulation hardware.
- Press button 4 to enable show data.
- Check the bottom left of the screen. The software version appears there.
- Confirm that the XDF and ADX files match that version.
- Press button 3 to read the maps from the TCU.
- When the download finishes, save it to disk with a name that tells you what state the car was in. Always keep every version you save.
- Make your changes to a parameter and save using the floppy disk icon in that parameter's own window.
- Press button 2 to upload the bin back to the TCU.
- Press button 5 for dashboards, and pick the dashboard type that suits the task.
The version check at step 6 is not a formality. If the definitions do not match the firmware, the parameter tree will not line up with the map in the TCU, and changes you make will land somewhere other than you intended.
Starting from a base map
For a first configuration the manual's route is to start from a supplied map rather than a blank one:
- Download the correct base map for your transmission.
- In TunerPro, open it with File then Open Bin, or Ctrl+O.
- Configure the map for your application.
- Save the bin file and upload it to the TCU.
Which base map you choose depends on the transmission, so match it to the gearbox rather than to the car it came out of.
Comparing an old map against a new one
Comparing is how you see what actually changed, and it is worth doing before you upload anything you are unsure about.
- Download the correct base map for your transmission and software version.
- Download the current bin file from the TCU and save it.
- In TunerPro, open the downloaded map with Ctrl+O.
- Add the older map as a comparison with Compare, then Load Compare Bins, or Ctrl+F1.
- Select which bin you want to compare against.
- Open the parameter you want to compare and press Show Compare Bin Data.
- The other bin's values are then displayed alongside.
Use it whenever you inherit a car, or whenever you cannot remember what you changed three sessions ago. It is faster than reading every table.
The three stages of a TCU update
Keeping things in step means treating an update as three separate jobs:
- TCU software update.
- TCU maps update.
- XDF and ADX files in TunerPro.
The manual is specific about when each is needed:
| Situation | What has to be updated |
|---|---|
| New software adds new features | Software and maps both, or the new features will not work |
| New software only corrects the previous version | Software only, no need to update the maps |
| New features are not visible in TunerPro | XDF and ADX files |
| New software with old maps | Runs, but the new features do not work |
The manual's recommendation is to update everything together. There is also a warning worth reading twice: the maps update removes the configuration, so make a maps backup before you upgrade, and the new base files have to be edited for your vehicle afterwards.
Updating the TCU software
- Download the latest firmware from the download section and unpack the archive.
- Connect to the TCU. Make sure TunerPro is turned off, or use Tools then Release Emulation Hardware.
- Run TCU UpdateSoft.exe.
- Select the update file.
- Click Process and wait for the update to finish.
After the update, the manual's instruction is to download and upload the bin file in TunerPro using buttons 3 and 2, then update the XDF and ADX files following the installation guide, and then update the maps. That order matters: releasing the emulation hardware before running the updater prevents the two programs fighting over the port.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the BIN, XDF and ADX files? The bin is the map you open and edit. The XDF is the definition that gives the bin a parameter tree instead of raw hex. The ADX is the definition used for live data acquisition and dashboards.
Why can I not see the parameters? Check three things in order: that the XDF file matches the software version shown at the bottom left of TunerPro, that the parameter tree view is set to Parameter Category, and that the ADX file is loaded under Acquisition.
Which button reads the maps out of the TCU? Button 3 downloads the maps. Button 2 uploads a bin back to the TCU.
Do I need to update maps when I update software? Only if the new software adds features. If it is a correction release, the manual says the maps do not need updating. If you do update maps, be aware the update removes the configuration.
Should I back up before updating? Yes. Make a maps backup before an upgrade, because the map update clears the configuration and the new base files need editing for your car.
Can I compare two bins in TunerPro? Yes. Load the comparison with Compare then Load Compare Bins (Ctrl+F1), select the bin, then use Show Compare Bin Data on a parameter.
Next step
If you are about to read maps out of a TurboLamik for the first time, tell us your gearbox, the software version and what you are trying to change, and we will go through the setup with you. Getting the XDF and ADX matched to the firmware before you touch a map avoids most of the confusion.
TunerPro procedure, file types and update order in this article are taken from the TurboLamik official manual (manual.turbolamik.eu), TunerPro, maps and TCU update pages, with ZF published data for the 8HP family.
Setting up or buying a TurboLamik controller for a new 8HP build? Start with the TurboLamik 8HP controller buyer guide for the gearbox, ECU, harness and shifter requirements before you order.