Fried Dobeck box. Buy new one or switch to PC V, BD, or ???

[BigAir]

Had my Dobeck box reprogrammed by them, and now it won't even turn on. They say it can't be anything they did, it is just coincidence, and I need to buy a new one. I assume they will cut me a deal on a new one, but I forgot to ask. This is the fourth or fifth time they have reprogrammed it because we never have been able to get the tuning quite right. I think we may have finally nailed it, but unfortunately I couldn't ride it to find out. Now I am left with the decision of whether to buy another Dobeck box or switch to a Power Commander, Boondocker box, Boost-It, or could even try a Vipec. Jeff at Dakota Performance has a programs for both the PC V and Vipec. He says the PC V works good, but you do have to tune on it once in a while. He says the Vipec is amazing and works perfect all the time, but obviously costs A LOT more. I have heard you can't get a Boost-It in the U.S. anymore. Don't know much about the BD box on a TM1000. Don't really want to spend the money on the Vipec and I don't mind a little tuning, so I am leaning towards the PC V or just replacing my Dobeck box and hoping the tuning is finally right. Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[RobertTrivanovic]

Do you mind carrying a computer around to tune? You need to on the pcv... I know you can buy a screen for the pcv which I'm assuming you can tune off of?? Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that but it's still extra money from the base unit. Just something to think about, the box itself works really good and is extremely adjustable

 

[maniac mechanic]

Sounds like you are relying on and waiting for someone else to tune the fuel box. for that reason alone, I would go with something different.

The boost-it is fully tunable by you and no need for a laptop. Downside no way to pull fuel and you said you heard hard to get where you are!

The Boondocker is fully tunable by you and also no need for a laptop. Downside is the overlap of the way the tune is and I personally have not had luck with them.

The Vipec is fully stand alone and tunable, so it gets rid of the problems of the piggy back. Downside Cost$$$ and you need a laptop.

The PCV is fully tunable by you. Downside you need a laptop.

That being said, I would opt for the PCV. Fully tunable, sure you need a laptop, but taking a laptop and tuning is way less grief than sending in your box for mapping, to find it still is not right! plus with the PCV if you opt for the LCD and the Auto tune or the Wide band commander, you can dattalog your run. this can cut tuning time in half. Plus with the dash, you can tune like you did with the Dobeck, up to 20% change. sure the parts add up, but still a whole lot less than the Vipec.
To get a good tune you need to be able to tweak the whole range of the map. So Either spend the mney on the best there is for now, the Vipec or start with the next best, the PCV and you can add the LCD and such after if you want.

Just my 2 cents!

 

[snow4shover]

Dobeck Box Fried

BigAir,
We would sell you a new box at Disconnected Price, but like I said yesterday. I would really suggest to bring the controller over to Us at Dobeck, which i know is about an hour drive for you, so we can test it. I'm sure the controller is fine. We have never had any Gen 3 controllers program successfully and then not work. The Micro processor has to have power and ground when being programmed and this is achieved through our Docking station connected to a computer. Arctic Cat sleds have horrible grounding issues and sometimes I've seen where the controller will not have a good ground anymore. I know this might sound ridiculous cause it was just working but this does happen. You should remove the ground wire from the where it is attached to the chassi and inspect it for any breaks. If there are no visible breaks in the wire, start the sled with this wire off and then touch it to different ground locations to see if the box will light up.

 

[BigAir]

I would love to bring it over and have it tested, but you said you were swamped and couldn't get to it anytime soon. If you are too busy, I understand, you have to take care of customers as they come. It took over a month to get my sled reprogrammed, so I have already missed way too much riding. I am not missing any more days of riding. That leaves me the only option to buy a new fuel controller. From you or someone else. Not sure I want to risk my sled still not running right and having to wait another month to get it reprogrammed again. I do think we may finally have the tuning right and I like the simplicity of the Dobeck box. I don't like the idea of tearing my whole sled apart to remove my Dobeck box and then waiting who knows how long for you to have time to test it. I am not blaming you for being busy. I just don't want to wait.

I have power on both the red and red/blue wire. I also speared into the ground wire at the box and had continuity to ground, so that should mean my ground is fine, correct? If I have power and ground, and my box won't turn on, doesn't that mean it is broken? Is there something else I need to check or can try?

 

[m8magicandmystery]

I also speared into the ground wire at the box and had continuity to ground, so that should mean my ground is fine, correct?

no...it means you have continuity between those points...

that ground circuit can still be interrupted further down the ground stream , so make sure you have continuity at the furthest extremes and at all places it matters..frame ground/engine ground/ccu or reg ground/ ecu ground etc etc..

 

[m8magicandmystery]

ps...hope you get it working...I had the pure logic box for 5 years...just got the new boondocker box this year with 13 rpm points and plugs directly to the ecu instead of the injectors...its an amazing box , i love it.

 

[BigAir]

ps...hope you get it working...I had the pure logic box for 5 years...just got the new boondocker box this year with 13 rpm points and plugs directly to the ecu instead of the injectors...its an amazing box , i love it.

I wish Boondocker had more info on their box on their website. There isn't much. I read through the instructions on their 3D turbo box and it still talked about plugging into the stock injectors and made no mention of powering secondary injectors. It is also $918...ouch!

 

[Vi-PEC Powersports]

Get a Vipec powersports Ecu from Jeff and you won't regret it i promess. It might be a little more money but you will never look back after you try it....also, the 800cc arctic cat is back next year if you trade your sled. Fits 2009-2015.

Vi-pec Powersports

 

[m8magicandmystery]

It is also $918...ouch!

ouch...is right

 

[Polarisrocks]

I had a chance to tune a m1000 in with a pure logic box/dobec with the new EZ tune program.. So easy to tune.. had it running in 10 min..

No blue yellow or blue red..

The blue green is the power jet and
red-main
yellow- mid range
green- idle

Thanks To Garr at OVS

 

[BigAir]

It is also $918...ouch!

ouch...is right

Vipec will be more than double that. PC V would be about the same as the BD. Makes it hard to give up on the Dobeck box quite yet. Especially when I want to think we finally got the tuning dialed.

 

[BigAir]

I had a chance to tune a m1000 in with a pure logic box/dobec with the new EZ tune program.. So easy to tune.. had it running in 10 min..

No blue yellow or blue red..

The blue green is the power jet and
red-main
yellow- mid range
green- idle

Thanks To Garr at OVS

That is similar to what we did on my new program. I wonder what boost level Garr is turning on the secondaries. What fuel pressure did you run? How much boost? Any bogs or stumbles?

 

[carlc]

Boondocker is super easy to tune. Ebc is pretty awesome too if you ride various elevations to keep your power and clutching spot on. The vipec is in a league of its own though and if you don't mind dropping the coin it is definitely the best option

 

[kcdavidak]

2013 boondocker box plugs in at ecu 2 plugs done !!!!!!!

 

[fredw]

hard to believe you can find a wiring issue, take it to someone else to trouble shoot

 

[mmsports]

Yes then sell me your ECU

Get a Vipec powersports Ecu from Jeff and you won't regret it i promess. It might be a little more money but you will never look back after you try it....also, the 800cc arctic cat is back next year if you trade your sled. Fits 2009-2015.

Vi-pec Powersports

Anyone done this on a 09 or newer M1000? ISO of stock ECU

 

[DLS]

I would try to get your hands on the Boost-it box. That is the box im currently running on my TM8. Super easy to tune and adjust. I started with the BD box on my sled and it was ok. Felt like my sled was only 75% of where it should be performing at because of the large span of adustability with the rpm trims. Next up was the PCV. Thought it would be the answer because of everything it claimed with the auto tune program. Laptop was fine building a map at the shop but absolute PIA up in the alpine. Had a lot of weird looks while trying to build a map at a cabin in Revy. Looked as if i had a **** addiction! Could not hardly read my computer out their ever! Broke my piston skirt off on my mag cylinder and my aero66 got a nice bunch of pieces of piston for lunch. Only half a day trip on the box. I would not reccomend this box for a sled.
Hope this helps and this is just my opinion. Good luck!

 

[rsaint]

I have a boost it box i may sell. Brand new.

 

[Polarisrocks]

That is similar to what we did on my new program. I wonder what boost level Garr is turning on the secondaries. What fuel pressure did you run? How much boost? Any bogs or stumbles?

I am not sure what psi the injector turn on.. We run a fuel pressure at 38-40 and 10 lbs of boost.. A few stubbles when the fp was lower.. Raised it up a bit and it was good. I have a boost it on my sled and it has been a good box too.

Your budget should determine what system you will end up with.

Most struggle with the altitude and the effect it has on your 2 stroke turbo. The box wants to do its job of altitude compensation and your sled ecu does it too. Both systems changing for altitude and pressure changes seems to be the troubling issue with sleds.