VDI ECU for Grizzly 700 - reviewby nyroc, 2007-01-17
The fire in your ATV
I installed a VDI ECU for my 07 Grizzly 700 last week and it has added new life to my ride. If you haven't heard about the VDI, or haven't ordered one yet, you need to read what people that are using the VDI ECU have to say so you can get better enjoyment or work out of your ATV. The current ECU offered by VDI fits the 07 and 08 Grizzly 700, and they have an ECU for other vehicles like the Rhino 700 and KQ700/750.
VDI Benefits
The first benefit you get from VDI is simply that your stock Grizzly 700 will run better than Yamaha tuned it in the first place. After I installed mine, the stalling was all gone. The idle was a bit fast because the VDI timing is more advance than OEM. I had to turn the idle down a little to keep the clutch from partially engaging and making shifting difficult. On my first test ride on difficult rock crawls, trails, hills and streams, I never got a hint of stalling, and the throttle response was a lot crisper. I always said the Griz doesn't run like at all like a Kawasaki.
The second benefit is if you have modified your Grizzly's intake, exhaust, camshaft, displacement or compression ratio, you will need to adjust the fuel mixture and timing. You can do all of this easily and set the EFI parameters on your grizzly as you want in the VDI ECU by simply purchasing the programmer and USB cable and downloading the firmware and maps from VDI's website. VDI makes tuning a fuel injected ATV simpler to tune than a carbureted atv.
The third benefit is that the VDI is a REAL ECU, not a pulsewidth modifier like the cheaper systems you see on Ebay. VDI ECUs adjust for altitude. If you add a pulsewidth modifier to your ATV, and enrichen the mixture at a certain range, that adjustment is really only valid at the altitude you set it at. Pulsewidth modifiers do not compensate for higher altitudes and need to be re-adjusted. Additionally, the pulsewidth modifier systems do not alter spark timing.
Photo: The VDI ECU
You need to follow VDI's instructions when installing your VDI, it isn't very hard to install but you could get things wrong if you don't read the instructions. Don't plug it into your PC before installing it, leave the USB cable and programmer aside. Keep the male and femail DB9 connectors plugged together except when reprogramming your ECU or your speedometer will not work.
While following VDI's instructions, you will remove the Power steering controller. This is not an easy task. It only has one screw, the instructions say slide it back. After you remove the screw, you will find that it doesn't slide back easily because stiff wires and plastic are holding it in tight enough without the screw. I used a very large screwdriver to pry it back, and I was able to remove the OEM ECU and get the VDI connector plugged in.
Photo: The Connector in place under the EPS controller
After you put the EPS controller back, plug the VDI connector into the VDI ECU module and mount the module on the batter bracket. I used zip ties to hold my VDI on to the battery bracket, mostly because I was in such a hurry to try it out. Suprisingly, it holds the module very securely. It works just fine here as I have shown it, but if you follow VDI's instrucions precisely and place the module in the center of the bracket and more to the rear of the ATV, the cover plastic will go on better.
Photo: ECU installed (the DB9 connectors need to be plugged together, not apart as shown)
Results
A map became available after I installed my ECU, so I need to follow the reprogram instructions and download the right map. My grizzly has only minor intake, exhaust, and clutch (Dalton) mods, and I only use 87 octane fuel. I also prefer to keep the rev limits on (especially for reverse) since I have seen some bad things happen when people inadvertently bump the throttle with their thigh while backing up. So I download the map named Grizzly700 safety_87_Rev2.1-20081118.efi (newer maps will be named differently.
A firmware update that is newer than my ECU and fixes a minor issue was also available on the VDI website for me to installed. Again, I followed the reprogram instructions and downloaded the firmware file named 2007+_GR700_Rev2.1a.VDI (newer firmware files will have a different name).
You do not need a PC near the ECU to update your map (fuel and timing), but you do need a PC (laptop) near the ATV to update your ECU.
These instructions came from the KQ guys, but I edit them to make them specific for the Grizz700.
First, download all of the needed software from VDI. Go to http://velocitydevices.com and click the support button. Scroll down (near bottom) and click "ECU Software and Documentation - For Fuel Injected Machines", then click "CopperheadEFI Rev2.5" to download the ECU flash program.
Save the file to a known location, preferably to a folder on your desktop for simplicity.
Go to where you saved the file you just downloaded and double-click the file and install it. To verify if it's on your PC, click on the "start" button, click "programs", and you will see "Copperhead EFI" folder, and under that a "CopperheadEFI" shortcut to the program.
Now, we have two more items to download. Neither of these two items are applications, so you will not need to install them like applications. You just need to remember where you saved them. I created a folder named VDI on my desktop to put them in. They will be uploaded to the VDI via the Copperhead EFI application you downloaded. One is the firmware file, the other is the map.
To download the Firmware, click "ECU Firmware", then click Yamaha, then right click and download "2007+_GR700_Rev2.1a.vdi". Save it in the VDI folder.
To download a map, click "ECU Maps (EFI)" If you just downloaded firmware you need to click on "Parent Directory" twice to get to this folder. Click on the date or revision you want. For example "20081222 Rev2.1" is the current as of the time of writing this article. Click on the map you want and save to the VDI folder (for example, Grizzly700 safety_87_Rev2.1-20081118.efi).
AT THIS POINT, BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH UPLOADING THE SOFTWARE TO YOUR QUAD, YOU NEED TO CONFIRM YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
-One application fully installed: CopperheadEFI
-Firmware 2.1a
-At least one map, preferably in a folder with the firmware.
If you do not have all of this, you need to back up and ask for help, as all are essential before moving forward.
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PROGRAMMING THE VDI
STEP ONE-Load your map into the USB Memory Interface
You must have a map loaded before the atv will run. You should use the maps that are for the 2.1 firmware if you have the 2.1 version loaded to the VDI.
1- Connect the USB Memory Interface to your computer. DO NOT connect the USB Memory Interface to the VDI.
2- Open the CopperheadEFI program.
3- Click the yellow file icon at the top. It looks like a file folder opening.
4- A new window will open called Open. Find the map file you downloaded. If you created a file called 5.3 to hold your downloads it should be in that file.
5- To load the Grizz 700 OEM/87 octane stock pipe map, choose the one called Grizzly700 safety_87_Rev2.1-20081118. Select it and click open. If you only downloaded one map it will be the only option to pick.
6- You should now see the values populated with different numbers. You can make tuning adjustments on this screen.
7- Click Map at the top of the screen and select Write to Pod. The Pod is the USB Memory Interface.
You might get a screen that says Press OK when ready. If you do, make sure the USB Memory Interface is connected to the computer and press OK.
If you get an error or retry screen, click OK and Click the Map and Write to Pod again. It should work the second time.
8- A new window will open that says Writing Data to Pod.
9- After it finishes you will get a new window called Success. Click OK and close the CopperheadEFI program.
10- Disconnect the USB Memory Interface from the computer. You are now ready to load the map to the VDI.
STEP TWO-If you are not installing new firmware skip to STEP THREE
You must install firmware before your map is installed automatically to the VDI.(unless you are just updating a map)
1- Connect your computer to the USB Memory Interface (black box) and connect the USB Memory Interface to the VDI.
2- Open the Copperheadefi program.
3- Turn on key on the atv.
4- Click Flash at the top of the screen and select Write Flash
5- A new screen will come up called open. Find the file called 2007+_GR700_Rev2.1a.vdi. Select it and click the open button. A new screen called Programming CDI will open and it should load the firmware automatically.
6- When the firmware is finished loading, your map will load automatically and the light on the VDI will turn on solid.
7- Turn off the key and remove the USB Memory Interface from the VDI.
You skip STEP THREE until you want to load a new map to the VDI.
STEP THREE-If you want to load a new map and you already have firmware version 5.3 uploaded to the VDI, follow STEP ONE and skip STEP TWO above.
1- Follow STEP ONE to load the map you want into the USB Memory Interface.
2- Connect the USB Memory Interface to the VDI only. (computer not connected)
3- Turn on the key. The USB Memory Interface will automatically load the map. This may be instantaneous or it could take about 5 seconds depending on how much info needs changed. (per Lyle)
4- When the map is loaded you should see a steady red light on the VDI (not the interface) at this point. (Lyle said some may be more like amber.)
5- Turn off the key.
6- Disconnect the USB Memory Interface from the VDI and you are ready to ride.
If you have any problems, please ask for help.
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RonK
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Subject: VDI ECU for Grizzly 700 - review | 2009-11-04 01:23:22 |
Posts: 413
Grand Junction, Colorado , USA
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You've given a lot of very specific info--good! It sounds like there are some good performance improvements with the unit on--good! But, jeez, there's sure a lot of messing around for someone who just wants a "plug n' play"--bad! 
Maybe I'll wait until I go by your house and offer you a beer if you'll put mine on??? 
RonK
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'07 Grizzly 700 w/ Bighorns, power tip, Ricochet skid plates, several small mods.
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I have no idea what path I'm on, and no idea when and if I'll get anywhere. This strongly restricts my ambition--which explains alot.
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nyroc
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Subject: VDI ECU for Grizzly 700 - review | 2009-11-04 06:53:56 |
Posts: 3451
Advance, North Carolina , USA
 
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I got mine early, if you get it now it will most likely have the latest firmware on it and it will plug and play on most grizzlys that aren't heavily modified.
I actually have not adjusted mine, I only updated the latest maps and firmware. I am still using it and it runs great.
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08 Atlas Brute Force - snorkled (3" inlet), Works shocks, Gibson steering stabilizer
07 Atlas Grizzly 700 - VDI, Ricochet skid plates
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