I am thinking about this tune for my 2012 GT as well.

Any updates on the pinging issue? Still liking the tune?

 

I am still loving it in my 2012 GT, still no issues on KC's crappy 91 oct fuels.

I raced a couple manual 2013's and waxed them from a dig, granted I know the ProCal is not a "Race" tune, or anything close to it, but the added TQ downlow seems to really perk the cars up.

Make sure if you do it, don't pay anything more then $299 for the Tuner ( http://www.buyfordracing.com/product...IR-FILTER.html ) and also makesure to have a Ford Dealer do the "Installed and Warranty Registration" for you so you will have keep some form of Warranty.

 

Thanks KC. How does the tune drive in the winter/cold months? Mine is a DD. Or do you go back to stock?

 

I have only had my 2012 GT for a few months now (I was waiting for prices to come down a lil on the 5.0's before I bought mine, finally I found one that was loaded with the options I wanted, dealership was asking $28k, talked them down to $23k and the deal felt good enough for me so I stopped waiting and actually bought it, and I have loved it ever since).

 

I had my ProCal installed today... my former dealer charged me $232! When I questioned 2 hours of billed labor for a procedure that I could have done in my driveway in 20 minutes, the service tech said "Well, that's what we always charge to install the ProCal, and hey- you wanna keep that warranty intact right?" Of course, I'm sure it did take a bit of the tech's time to rack up 15 miles on the test drive...
Anywhoo, I guess I'll be visiting the other local Ford dealer from now on for any future service!

Rant over- how about the performance? Well, the easiest way to describe it is to say the car is "fixed." All the little quirks that annoyed me before have evaporated. No more delayed / surging acceleration, the shift between 1st and 2nd is much smoother, and backing up the slight incline on our driveway no longer requires finesse to avoid stalling. Its pretty easy to pass in 6th now, and even the Summer use Track Pack tires chirp as they try to maintain traction in 2nd during a hard acceleration.

If there is any change at the top end, I don't notice it- but I've never had any complaints about the top end.

In short, this is the tune that should come standard with the Track Package (with a 93 octane requirement- I have to believe almost everyone who orders the performance package is using 93 anyway).

Surprisingly, the GT500 mufflers sound a bit tamer with the tune installed. After going back and forth on whether to install the K&N filter, I just installed it... I'll take it out again later and see if there is any appreciable difference.

 

So what did you end up paying for the install?

 

I ended up paying $232 for the install- which was the source of my rant (and the reason I referred to them as my former dealer).

As I mentioned, I questioned the service rep on the charge, he indicated it was "the normal charge," and- rather than turning things into an argument- I decided to pay it and just take my business elsewhere in the future.

I'm not someone who usually uses the term "stealership," but this is one case where I think the term definitely applies. I could understand if they wanted to bill a complete hour for the install- but two hours is just robbing me (especially considering I purchased the car new there 2 months ago).

So... while their service department stole $116 from me today, their new car sales department just lost the sale of an F150 next year (for the wife). I'll just take my business to the other Ford dealer in town.

I understand the whole "have it installed at the dealership for registration purposes" policy of Ford Racing (I'm sure it helps their relationship with Ford as well), but they should also secure an agreement with dealers for a set price for the install and develop a list of FRPP friendly dealers for their customers.

 

Just curious... Did they quote you a price before the repairs were started?

 

Before purchasing the Procal, I asked one of the service reps how much the install would cost. He said it would depend on the amount of time it took- but they typically charged at least one complete hour- so I should expect to pay at least $110 and possibly as much as $180 if it went to 1.5 hours.

This morning, the rep I dealt with said it would be around $232 for two hours. I said, "hold it, the other guy said it would depend on how much time it took and should be $110-180." He said, "Of course, it will depend on how much time it takes to do the install." Having read the directions (and having installed tunes on other cars myself), I knew this was going to take them 20-30 minutes- but was comfortable paying the one hour to keep the warranty intact. I never dreamed it would take them 2 hours to install a tune.

When I returned, the rep said the bill was $232. I said, "So you're telling me it took two hours to install a tune?" He said, "that's what the techs billed it at." I said that was insane, but I'm not one to argue over $100 (like I said, I'll just take my future business elsewhere, since I now understand the service department insanely pads their hours).

In retrospect, I should have challenged the $232 harder this morning, and made the rep confer with the one who had given me the original quote. However, since they all indicated the charge would be on the actual labor time spent (and since there is no way it should take a trained tech even an hour to install an OBD tune), I made the (erroneous) assumption everything would be on the level. Lesson learned (and I've learned plenty of more expensive lessons over my 45 years ).

 

Unfortunate that had to happen... And even more unfortunate it had to hit you so hard in the pocket... I am a Service Advisor so it is a frustration when greed of a few bad ones gives others a bad name... Sorry it had to happen to you...

 

So if I was out of warranty can I do this install myself? Or do they require a Ford dealership to do it?

Regardless of warranty, I like having a tune thats designed by people who made it in the first place. I dont care for anything spectacular. I want more throttle response and whatnot.

 

If you are capable enough to use a OBD II scanner to check engine codes, then you are capable enough to install the ProCal tune (assuming your Warranty is already expired).

 

Never used one but how hard can it be?

 

Having to pay them to install the tune is ridiculous. That's like paying someone 200$ to install Internet explorer for you. Except the tune is probably even easier to install.

 

If you are out of warranty, just install the tune yourself (given the fact that I have yet to read about an issue caused by this tune, I would have installed myself if I had known what the charge would end up being).

The tuner comes with step by step instructions which are very easy to follow (and should you have any question, you can call FRPP's number and they'll walk you through the process).

 

How do they know if you have used another Tuner? Does the computer log it? Even if you put it back to stock?

 

Tuners leave a "footprint", even if you were to put it back to factory stock, a dealer can tell.

 

We've evolved to the point that computers are so small... that well they fit in a car but yet no one has hacked the ability to delete a "footprint"?

 

Diablosport's i-1000 tuner claims not to leave a footprint of any sort. I will most likely jump the gun and get a tuner by months end and try my luck with the diablosport.

 

Geez, Pete! You sure did pull that tune trigger awfully fast. Get used to those 3.73s yet?

Seriously though, I would have installed a tune as well, but I've been focused on exterior striping, decklid panel painting, painted tail light trim, Airaid CAI and so on. I know very little about tunes, as I've never done one, but a Ford Tech friend of mine has. Regardless of warranty, I thought I'd go Bama on my first one. Several members have told me they are good and the tuner folks are polite, helpful and patient with first timers.

Did your tune help spice up the low end too?

I gotta get one of those MGWs short throws too. I hate hunting for 3rd near the limiter.