Nissan GT-R ECU cracked and delimited

Posted Wed Apr 9 2008 8:55 AM by Ralph Hanson

Previously we reported on the Nissan GT-R's 'uncrackable' speed limiter, which could only be delimited when entering circuits via a GPS link. While Nissan assured customers the encryption on the ECU was very sophisticated and difficult to crack, U.S.-based COBB tuning has indeed cracked the speed limiter and is now working on sorts of other modifications including the fuel-mapping and boost pressure controls.

Currently the GT-R is limited to 180km/h (112mph) unless the car detects you're at a race track, but COBB tuning reports that they have removed it and are currently undertaking in-house testing. COBB's GT-R is a Japanese-domestic-market model, but the company predicts that by the time North American spec cars arrive they will be well prepared and practiced in the art of tuning the GT-R's ECU. Without the speed limit, the GT-R can hit a claimed 193mph.

COBB also has a number of modified ECUs for Nissan’s 350Z and Infiniti’s G37. Other modifications the tuner has in store for the new Nissan lineup include high-flow intake and exhaust systems, suspension and handling mods, electronic boost controllers and carbon-fiber accessories.

As we reported earlier, big Japanese manufacturers have also been tinkering with the ECU and companies such as Mines and Top Secret have been able to install custom wheels and engine mods without the ECU going haywire.

Nissan R35 GT-R

Via: Autoblog.it

Gallery: Nissan R35 GT-R

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Reader Comments

Wed Apr 9 2008 11:04 AM
Gus says

Where there's a geek, there's a supergeek waiting to undo him...
Wed Apr 9 2008 11:12 AM
ohmy says

well anything programmed by a human is crackable. We, as humans, cant think of every single scenario that can take place, so that makes it vulunerable to cracking/hacking etc.
Now if its designed by an AI we are all screwed =D
Wed Apr 9 2008 11:32 AM
chris says

well that didnt take long.

so far, as far as cracking is concerned, i think the Iphone withstood admirably... however,... only for several weeks.

ohmy's got it. there's always a way to fool a computer. some times it is through elaborate means, but a computer is only as smart as the person who programmed it.
Wed Apr 9 2008 7:46 PM
Ayax says

But I dont really get how this is new news... Cobb is like the third one to do it. At least 2 Japanese tuning houses have already delimited the GTR... we're talking like a month ago at least that it was announced...
Sun Apr 13 2008 12:21 PM
Bandora says

@ Ayax.. I know! lol This old OLD news..
Sun Apr 13 2008 3:10 PM
Andy says

Ayax / Bandora, are you sure about that? I was under the impression the Japanese tuning firms haven't been able to remove the speed limiter, but have been able to get the ECU to accept changes to the engine. As far as I'm aware, the Tsukuba times were done with the speed limiter in place, but feel free to (happily) prove me wrong

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