I lost my tunes on my XCal and returned it to stock tonight. I'm thinking my is my car going to be a pig now.

I went out to my favorite road and moving at about 5 mph floored it and it broke loose and then when I hit second it slid to the left like it always does and roasted the tires, chirped 3rd and then I started slowing down. The car felt exactly like it did with the CIA and 91 tune.

I guess the secret here is buy loud exhaust and use at least 91 octane gas and your car will perform just great.

BTW, I am getting new tunes and will be putting the cold air kit back on the car!

 

Nice.. by the way, are you power shifting into 3rd? I've never managed to chrip the tires going into 3rd yet..

 

I can get 3rd gear chirp when driving solo and shifting between 4k-5k, near the peak torque. No power shifting here. I am not a long time manual tranny driver so not sure what technique to recommend. I am running the stock rubber on 18" wheels.

Rich's technique is to use super hard Nitto rubber!

 

I guess that just goes to prove my theory/ideal, most folks probably can't really feel the difference of 10-15hp (unless the powerband has been shifted dramaticly). I hear people talking about one muffler brand (or other part) over another when one gives you 2 or 3 more hp. I highly doubt you can feel the difference! And I think you are correct, sound plays alot of part in what "feels" more powerful.

That's why I have things done in 'stages' on my car, I don't do one little part at a time when I'm looking for more power/fun. Like I had exhaust, intake, gears, and tune done all at once. Because the combo of all them will be much more satisfying than if I did them all individually.

Would be interesting to see a time slip from before and after :-) That's probaby where you'll notice it.

 

i can catch third in my car with 20's. of course i have 4.30 gears so i guess thats cheating.

 

If the ambient temperature was cooler and the humidity was lower when you ran with the stock tune and intake on your favorite road as compared to the previous times when you ran with the modded tune/CAI, then that will account for the stock and modded setups performing similar.

 

Rich, your car still had some 'muscle memory' even when you flashed it back to stock.

 

I went back to stock a few weeks ago, took off the CAI and delete plates. It sucked. Car felt like crap. I put the stuff back on and the 93 tune and it felt like heaven.

 

+1 that has also been my experiance any time i have taken the tune and CAI off.

In fact my wife yelled at me when i did it and she drove the car. She was like WTF did you do to my car? I told her and she said Put it back on NOW!!!

Richard

 

For what reason are you guys going back to stock? Going to the Dealer for service? Smog check?

Those are probably the only 2 reasons why I would even consider going back.

 

I lost my tunes on my XCal and returned it to stock tonight.

I drove my car today and it is a pig. Got to get those tunes back in there as soon as I can. Empty Xcal sucks!

 

I'm confused!! First post you said your car felt the same when you returned it to stock. Now you say it is a pig and you need the tunes back soon. Which is it??

 

It's not what it used to be Steve. Last night on a short run it felt the same. Today after putting some miles on it, it is much less responsive. Maybe TacoBIll is right and it had some muscle memory last night?

Just reporting my observations. Don't shoot the messenger.

 

Sorry, I was cornfused there. That is strange that it could act that differently after putting on some miles.

 

I had to go in and get the alternator looked at. Figured I'd run stock for about a week between the time they looked at it and replaced the alternator. They had to order an alternator and after 2 1/2 weeks of waiting, I put everything back on. Now the alternator finally got here, so I have to take everything off, get them to put on the alternator and then I can put everything back on again. PITA but worth saving the $400 for a new one.

 

The throttle lag in the autos is horrible..I will never go back..I take it to my nearest lincoln mercury dealer and they don't care about the tuner or cai

 

Which dealer would that be?

 

Yep for warranty work when i had the fuel pump issue. And any time i have to take it in. Better to simply remove it than to deal with any possible BS. Even though my service advisor knows I have it from seeing the car at local car shows.

Richard

Richard

 

Northgate lincoln mercury on Florida Ave