Anyone lose their SCT tune and have to reload?
6/11/07, 08:53 AM
#1
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: July 7, 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone lose their SCT tune and have to reload?
I could swear I read a thread about this somewhere, but after looking on TMS and two other large sites, I've decided to post this here.
I have the SCT Xcal-2 and I was out with my Passport G-Timer this past weekend. My 0-60 times have dropped off from 4.8/4.9 (with a best of 4.75) to 5.5, 5.4, and 5.3 on three consecutive runs. Note the 4.8s were BEFORE the Steeda UDPs. The best I could muster WITH UDPs was a 5.38.
Granted, it was much hotter and more humidity than when I ran my 4.8s. But to drop off .5 seconds AND have the pullies installed? So yesterday and today I was just driving around trying to remember how the car launched from stop lights right after I installed the tunes. It seemed very 'quick'. Today on the way to work I noticed the launches had a little 'bog'.
So I'm going to re-load my 93 Octang Tune (pun intended) tonight when I return home and see if I get that crisp throttle response back. YES, I realize it's June and it's hotter, but c'mon. To lose .5 second in 0-60? That would make it a second in the quarter, or darn close to it.
So let's hear it. Can the on-board computer adjust on the fly or throw out the tune and cause me to lose that sweet performance? Let me know your thoughts and I'll update this thread tonight/tomorrow after I re-load the tune.
I have the SCT Xcal-2 and I was out with my Passport G-Timer this past weekend. My 0-60 times have dropped off from 4.8/4.9 (with a best of 4.75) to 5.5, 5.4, and 5.3 on three consecutive runs. Note the 4.8s were BEFORE the Steeda UDPs. The best I could muster WITH UDPs was a 5.38.
Granted, it was much hotter and more humidity than when I ran my 4.8s. But to drop off .5 seconds AND have the pullies installed? So yesterday and today I was just driving around trying to remember how the car launched from stop lights right after I installed the tunes. It seemed very 'quick'. Today on the way to work I noticed the launches had a little 'bog'.
So I'm going to re-load my 93 Octang Tune (pun intended) tonight when I return home and see if I get that crisp throttle response back. YES, I realize it's June and it's hotter, but c'mon. To lose .5 second in 0-60? That would make it a second in the quarter, or darn close to it.
So let's hear it. Can the on-board computer adjust on the fly or throw out the tune and cause me to lose that sweet performance? Let me know your thoughts and I'll update this thread tonight/tomorrow after I re-load the tune.
6/11/07, 10:02 AM
#2
Bullitt Member
Join Date: July 24, 2005
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Temperature could easily account for that. How about altitude? That also can make a huge difference. Your before and after tests MUST be run at the same altitude and as close possible to each other in terms of temperature, humidity, ect. otherwise it's not a direct comparision.
6/11/07, 11:28 AM
#3
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: July 7, 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I could not agree more, 281GT. It should be done on the same day. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury. So for just a minute, read the first post without the background, and go with the important question first and foremost:
"Can the on-board computer adjust on the fly or throw out the tune and cause me to lose that sweet performance I noticed when I first uploaded it? So much so, that I would need to RE-upload to get me back to the 'full tune'."
"Can the on-board computer adjust on the fly or throw out the tune and cause me to lose that sweet performance I noticed when I first uploaded it? So much so, that I would need to RE-upload to get me back to the 'full tune'."
6/11/07, 12:37 PM
#4
Although re-downloading the tune can't hurt.
6/11/07, 12:44 PM
#5
Bullitt Member
Join Date: November 11, 2006
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think the computer can re adapt like it does with the stock tune, just install the tune again and find out if that fixes your problem....its not like the car will explode if you do.
6/11/07, 01:03 PM
#6
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: July 7, 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TacoBill, I read your post, too. Thanks for the reply...
6/12/07, 08:52 AM
#7
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: July 7, 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
While waiting for responses to this thread, I emailed Brenspeed to confirm a few things. This was my (same 
day) response:
Your adaptive learning is turned off meaning the car will not adapt. BUT outside temperature makes a HUGE difference on the all aluminum 3 valve engine.
Well, I gotta tell ya. That may be the case. But last night before hitting the hay, I uploaded my 93 tune again for the first time in 4 months (give or take). Here is what I observed on my way to work this morning:
1. The car lurches/launches from a dead stop instead of bogging down. (Good thing)
2. Pickup in 2nd between 2000 and 3000 rpms has returned!
3. Gas mileage has increased from 17.6 to 19.1 on my commute in. (Mostly city.)
4. SOTP says the car has returned to its old self again.
Now, I'm not saying Brent and crew is wrong. I love these guys. The best. The only ones I recommend for SCT & CAI to my friends. But uploading the tune made all the difference in the world. Not sure why I had to do this if adaptive learning is turned off, but in my case, the car needed a reload.
And no, I'm not imagining all this. The difference in the gas mileage via onboard computer is confirmation of what the SOTP feel was giving me. The lesson here is, nobody knows your car like you do. If you feel it's off, it's off. Go with your gut feelings. The Passport G-Timer helped me to confirm this, too. I'm sorry, but to go from consistent 4.8s to 5.3's ... EVEN WITH THE TEMP CHANGE was a bit much. Guys at the track talk about losing 2-4 tenths in the quarter on hot days in nasty weather. To lose 6 tenths in 0-60... that puppy was off. But it's fixed now.
I kinda had a feeling the reload would solve the problem. I was just surprised that I would have to do it as I remember now that 'adaptive learning' is disabled by all the big tuners.
day) response:Your adaptive learning is turned off meaning the car will not adapt. BUT outside temperature makes a HUGE difference on the all aluminum 3 valve engine.
Well, I gotta tell ya. That may be the case. But last night before hitting the hay, I uploaded my 93 tune again for the first time in 4 months (give or take). Here is what I observed on my way to work this morning:
1. The car lurches/launches from a dead stop instead of bogging down. (Good thing)
2. Pickup in 2nd between 2000 and 3000 rpms has returned!
3. Gas mileage has increased from 17.6 to 19.1 on my commute in. (Mostly city.)
4. SOTP says the car has returned to its old self again.
Now, I'm not saying Brent and crew is wrong. I love these guys. The best. The only ones I recommend for SCT & CAI to my friends. But uploading the tune made all the difference in the world. Not sure why I had to do this if adaptive learning is turned off, but in my case, the car needed a reload.
And no, I'm not imagining all this. The difference in the gas mileage via onboard computer is confirmation of what the SOTP feel was giving me. The lesson here is, nobody knows your car like you do. If you feel it's off, it's off. Go with your gut feelings. The Passport G-Timer helped me to confirm this, too. I'm sorry, but to go from consistent 4.8s to 5.3's ... EVEN WITH THE TEMP CHANGE was a bit much. Guys at the track talk about losing 2-4 tenths in the quarter on hot days in nasty weather. To lose 6 tenths in 0-60... that puppy was off. But it's fixed now.
I kinda had a feeling the reload would solve the problem. I was just surprised that I would have to do it as I remember now that 'adaptive learning' is disabled by all the big tuners.
6/12/07, 09:07 AM
#8
6/12/07, 10:49 AM
#10
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: July 7, 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When I ordered the SCT from Brent, I got JUST the tuner and kept my stock air box for the first two weeks. And used 87 octane gas. The car ROCKED! So I followed up with the DeMolet CAI and new tunes... went to 93, the car really rocked.
Lately, the car was feeling like before I got the bare tuner. So something wasn't right. Being in the IT field myself, sometimes a 'reboot' is all that is needed. I have nothing but praise for Brenspeed... I think it was just one of those things. But I certainly DO notice a difference. I will keep an eye on this and post additional findings should they come up.
I like the 'planned' maintenance of uploading every XXXX miles!
6/14/07, 05:44 AM
#11
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: July 7, 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As I suspected... I put the Passport G-Timer in the car. With 1/8th tank and 25 psi I ran a 4.93 0-60 Granny shifting. I went to the Sunoco, FILLED the tank, brought the pressure back up to 32 psi and drove 3 miles on the full tank. I decided to make one more run. I pulled a 4.92 WITH the gas and 32 psi tires. This compared to the 5.38 I ran the other night before the tune re-load.
Whether the G-Timer is accurate or not isn't the point. It shows relative times, if not true times. .46 seconds in 0-60 is big. Very big. And, as I pointed out above, 3 miles short of a full tank of gas and tire pressures at full boat.
Moral to the story? Trust your gut feelings... aka the SOTP!
Whether the G-Timer is accurate or not isn't the point. It shows relative times, if not true times. .46 seconds in 0-60 is big. Very big. And, as I pointed out above, 3 miles short of a full tank of gas and tire pressures at full boat.
Moral to the story? Trust your gut feelings... aka the SOTP!
6/14/07, 06:40 AM
#12
Mach 1 Member
Join Date: December 18, 2004
Posts: 669
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was talking to CR about that adaptive learning stuff. He says it is adjustable in the tune. They don't just have the choice of on or off, but can set a % of learning. His tunes have some adpative learning ability still available. It would be interesting to dyno after a few weeks of driving, then reload the same tune for the next run.
6/14/07, 07:03 AM
#13
Bullitt Member
Join Date: May 10, 2006
Location: NOVA
Posts: 408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm going to reload my tune this weekend. Just took a long trip and my mpg was down almost two mpg from last year. Don't know if the ethanol would make that big a difference but I'll see if there is any change after the reload. Maybe Doug will comment on the adaptive learning issue if anyone is talking to him.
6/14/07, 07:28 AM
#14
Cobra Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: July 7, 2004
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow. Glad I made this post now!
I'm not sure where in the tune you set that 'adaptability percentage'. I've never seen a prompt for it. Perhaps I just didn't know what I was supposed to be looking for.
Chris: Trust your instincts regarding the mileage. I'll bet it goes back up. Make a mental note of your launches from a dead stop and concentrate on your 1st and 2nd gear SOTP feel. AND, this just in...
This morning I noticed when I start the car, I have to turn the key and almost instantly let it go. For at least a week before I reloaded the tune, I noticed this behavior: I'd turn the key and hold it the same amount of time (a split second really) that I did today, but the car wouldn't start. I'd have to turn the key and hold it an additional second, second and a half before it would fire. Since re-loading the tune, it's back to that 'split second and she fires right up' routine.
So looking back, all the signs were right there staring me in the face. The decrease in mileage, the sluggishness off the line, the dead spot from 2,000 to 3,000 rpm, the harder starting. I believe all y'all are correct. The adaptive learning caught up with me. Took a while, but it did.
Oh, and last night when I ripped thru 1st and 2nd getting to 60mph for my G-Timer, the car was 'fun again'. I felt like I was "hauling the mail" and not dropping off 3rd class poop!
I hate to sound like a broken record, but AGAIN, this is not a knock on Brenspeed.com. They RULE. (As does Doug at Bamachips!) This is a Ford thing and I can live with it. I just wish I knew to re-load the tunes every so often. I'm thinking once a month or right before I go out for 'rice'...
I'm not sure where in the tune you set that 'adaptability percentage'. I've never seen a prompt for it. Perhaps I just didn't know what I was supposed to be looking for.
Chris: Trust your instincts regarding the mileage. I'll bet it goes back up. Make a mental note of your launches from a dead stop and concentrate on your 1st and 2nd gear SOTP feel. AND, this just in...
This morning I noticed when I start the car, I have to turn the key and almost instantly let it go. For at least a week before I reloaded the tune, I noticed this behavior: I'd turn the key and hold it the same amount of time (a split second really) that I did today, but the car wouldn't start. I'd have to turn the key and hold it an additional second, second and a half before it would fire. Since re-loading the tune, it's back to that 'split second and she fires right up' routine.
So looking back, all the signs were right there staring me in the face. The decrease in mileage, the sluggishness off the line, the dead spot from 2,000 to 3,000 rpm, the harder starting. I believe all y'all are correct. The adaptive learning caught up with me. Took a while, but it did.
Oh, and last night when I ripped thru 1st and 2nd getting to 60mph for my G-Timer, the car was 'fun again'. I felt like I was "hauling the mail" and not dropping off 3rd class poop!
I hate to sound like a broken record, but AGAIN, this is not a knock on Brenspeed.com. They RULE. (As does Doug at Bamachips!) This is a Ford thing and I can live with it. I just wish I knew to re-load the tunes every so often. I'm thinking once a month or right before I go out for 'rice'...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post