IMO, I wouldn't spend the money unless I was going to back it up with a tune!

 

well wait until I find the piece of paper that came with my kit. They even state that their kit will cause the engine light to come on and they are working with several "tuners" to fix this problem.

My engine light came on after installing the kit, well after I stomped on it that is. The light then stayed on until I flashed it with the SCT Xcalibrator (which I told them that I had the MMR intake) and the light was no longer on.

So do you need a flash, well, if a light comes on that didn't come on tells me the computer says "What the &*#$ did you just do to me" and that tells me it isn't gonna run properly until I get it fixed. The "tune" fixed it

 

well wait until I find the piece of paper that came with my kit. They even state that their kit will cause the engine light to come on and they are working with several "tuners" to fix this problem.

My engine light came on after installing the kit, well after I stomped on it that is. The light then stayed on until I flashed it with the SCT Xcalibrator (which I told them that I had the MMR intake) and the light was no longer on.

So do you need a flash, well, if a light comes on that didn't come on tells me the computer says "What the &*#$ did you just do to me" and that tells me it isn't gonna run properly until I get it fixed. The "tune" fixed it [/b][/quote]
Adrenalin, got a question about the xcalibrator. I was under the assumption that it came pre-programmed with a couple of mods and that you didn't actually just plug it in and have it "tune" for you. We need a good post on exactly what the xcalibrator does and how it works... (any takers for those that have).

 

Well there was one today in this very forum..... laid out your options rather nicely!

http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index.php?showtopic=13479

Just look down a few posts..... It's been there all day.

 

Ya, what sixty six said. We put lots of info in that link.
Anyway, it does come pre-configured but only with the info you provide them with. When you order they will send you an email asking you for Make, model, year and mods so I told them that and also said please program it for Octane 87 and Octane 93 (incase I want to change fuel) which they did.

 

Thanks guys. That link was what I was looking for and it explained things very well.

1. Determine what mods you will do, at least in the near future or even a year from now.


2. Buy the excalibrator and get a "picture/download" of your stock config. along with at least 2-3 programs for future mods.

example: Mod 1 might be just a CAI.
Mod 2 might be cai with axel back.
Mod 3 might be cai with axel back and pulleys.
Mod 4 would actually be the mod 1 of (original profile).

3. This would be the basics. The only thing is that it probably should be dyno'd, which if this is the case, wouldn't it be better to just go to a tuner shop and have them set it up for you after you mod? I assume the shop would keep a track of your stock profile so why would you waste money buying the tuner if you need to dyno it at a shop? Once it's setup, would you ever really need to do anything again unless you added something more, which would just result in going back to the shop and have them run a second flash and dyno? I guess if you don't want to dyno and take a chance that the "program" was correct then ok but tweaking is usually necessary. Am I correct in my analysis?

 

Yes! Except IMO, skip the pulleys in your mods.

Paul

 

I feel the same way. I want to have my tune tweaked on a dyno. The only catch is that if you need to take your stang in to the Ford dealer for warranty work you won't be able to switch it back to factory without going to the dyno tuner's shop.

I not too happy about needing to spend 300-400 bucks for a handheld tuner just to be able to switch my EEC config back to stock for warranty work. I wish there was a cheaper way to backup and restore your original config.

 

I was at the tuners all day today. I'll call him tomorrow and try to find out the answer to your question. I've already spent the money and should be able to find out fairly easy.

 

Just so you know, the SCT allows you to backup and hold 4 configs. THe stock and 3 others. Just an FYI.

-Bryan

 

More on this please. Doesn't the Diablo allow the user to reconfigure themselves? [/b][/quote]
From what I understand they both let the user tweak things a little.

And as far as returning to the stock flash for warranty work, I have heard (no confirmation yet) that the warranty man can tell that you flash and reflash the car. If this is true then they can still deny the claim if it is determined that the claim is caused by the flash.

 

From what I understand they both let the user tweak things a little.

And as far as returning to the stock flash for warranty work, I have heard (no confirmation yet) that the warranty man can tell that you flash and reflash the car. If this is true then they can still deny the claim if it is determined that the claim is caused by the flash. [/b][/quote]
that's true, they can tell if you have had your computer flashed. from what i hear there is a database called "oasis" which has a record of all the ford dealerships and who's cars they have had to flash the computers. so they can see your compy has been flashed, check the database, and if there is no refrence to your car in their records they can tell it was done elsewhere.

that's what i've been told.

 

With that in mind, there is no need to flash back to stock before returning for a warranty call.

 

exactly.....why risk flashing it back to stock and then having it not take the good tune again for some reason after ya get back home....if they can see it anyway then why mess with it.......

 

I've been thinking about this. Since when does getting a tune-up invalidate your warranty? That's all it is: a tune-up.

 

One other thing to consider. Why would you change the tune back to a stock config? Warranty service would be worthless anyway(maybe) UNLESS you took off all of the goodies as well as flashing back. You put the flash back to the stock config and your car will run like crap and from what it sounds like, the engine light will come on. I kinda think the service depts. aren't that stupid even if they didn't check anything else but what they can see. Also, do you think you would ever go back to stock, even if you were going to sell it (unless you bought a newer model that the same parts would fit on and how often does that happen).. Me, I guess I would just go to the tuner that provides you with configurations, the dyno, and the xcalibrator (other post says somewhere around 700.00) after getting most of my mods, and then, when you mod again, go back to the same tuner and have him dyno the thing again and save that configuration. That's about the only thing that makes sense. (does this sound about right????) IYO'S.

 

Yes. That is what I am doing. Except I am trying to get feedback at each mod, which shouldn't be necessary for most others.

 

Well, if I'm taking my car into Ford for ENGINE work, I better think about putting it back to stock (or at least clearing it with the Service Manager first).

For me right now, all I have to do is a 90 second flash on the SCT plus the HC trap if I really think they are going to open that stinker up.

 

Fortunately for me the service manager is my neighbour so he is letting this slide. He said it all comes down to the attitude of the car owner and the service manager. If the 2 get along great, you have nothing to worry about. If they clash, well....kiss that warranty goodbye.