Sorry to start a new thread but I could go into different threads and respond one by one or do it here all in one post.

I was fairly critical on the Trackey tune when I got it. I was one of the first to get to use the tune on track and things did not go well. I jumped to conclusions about the programming that were incorrect. It was a big mistake to do that and I regret some of it but I was able to work with Ford Racing to get the problem (singular) corrected. There are others that have the same impression of Trackey as I had, peculiarly with the idle. For the most part my idle is now the same as the Miller car, it shakes my cars about 85% and getting better but does level off for a few seconds here and there.

Two things I have learned

1) The Trackey program we were suppose to get (like Miller cars) is what we got! Nothing was changed or watered down. I can not stress that enough, some might not believe me or think Ford did something special for me but come on they have better things to do then please one guy because he did not like his tune.

2) Ford Racing and others with Ford have not released this and forgot about it. They are actively working on making sure the tune is running correct for all. I am proof of that as Ford Racing has been personally working with and checking in with me to get it right. They are not doing me a special favor, they are doing it to figure out why some people are happy and others say they do not feel things like the idle. I was just lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to get the help that was needed to fix my Boss.

Without getting overly technical, my car had something along the lines of stored errors from prior tracking. The crank sensor was reset or as it was told to me re-learned. There was no new programming added that everyone else does not have. Even after doing this I still did not see the idle. I followed further instructions to run the car again with the black key then let it sit and idle for 15 minutes or so. I did this and when I re-started the car with the red key it seemed to have a little more lope in it, more but not constant. I continued to drive from there last week and slowly the idle get better and better until it felt the same as the car I drove at Miller.

During my last track day the car was shaking and rocking waiting to get out on track. As I said it will level off for a few seconds but then it comes right back. The big thing I saw was the fact I did not throw any codes, that is why I was as upset as anyone here. By not throwing codes it proves the reset worked and at the same time fixed the problem with the idle.

Again the main point here is that the people working on this will not rest until we are all happy and all have the same experience with our Trackey tune. They are not doing this between 9-5 on weekdays, I talked with them after working hours and on weekends. They want to understand why some people have no problems from the get-go and others do. Hopefully some of what was done to my car will make it all local techs and everyone will be happy.

Will I recommend getting Trackey now after I first said no? Well yes but only if you understand three things.

1) The idle is not the same as early youtubes of prototype cars. That should not have gone public, they would have had less problems.

2) It is not a magic bullet adding globs of HP. It was never meant to do that, it is track specific outside of the idle.

3) You are willing to risk warranty. I have been told it is nothing to worry about but Ford did worry about it and changed the warranty so you must take that into account.

If you want the lopely idle get it, if you are tracking and throwing codes get it, if you would like a better throttle response without HP gains get it, if you want the launch control get it ... but don't expect a totally different street machine - after all how much could they improve an almost perfect car to begin with?

 

So did it definitely remove the top speed limiter?

 

I do not know, it was not suppose to but who knows.

I think there is a good chance the top speeds could be an error. I know I had some runs that I went faster then others. It had a lot to do with entering the NASCAR part of the track, shifting at the right moment and being on a good line. I watched my third session and did not see the speedo go above 160, it was hard to gain much speed in 6th since the car does not pull well at all in that gear. Third session is not where the top speeds came from as far as I know at this point it was 2 and 4.

However it is a bit strange that the GPS would give me these numbers, if they are false then why not 255MPH or 410MPH? When the GPS would not get a good signal in the banking it would drop off not speed up. At this point I do not believe the top sppeds 100% but I am not ready to throw them out completely. I wish I had time to look while running but that wall was very close and taking you eye off it for a second was a whole lot of distance

 

You could use a CanBus datalogger.

 

i've had good luck at least with speed recording using trackmaster for android phones, its right on with my speed within a few mph, it records your top speed and lap times along with a few other things. Cheap too and the latest update will overlay data for Gs and more on video the smartphone camera records.

 

I believe you. I'm glad you were able to gain some satisfaction from the TK tune and that it worked better for you at Daytona this week.

 

Thanks for the update Scott. Nice to see Ford wants to make all the Boss owners happy. My car is sitting for the winter but I hope I get the same lopey idle that you're now getting.

 

As far as I know they are still working out every detail. When you are ready to take it out again do what I did.

Drive it around on black key for a little while (5-10 minutes) then without turning it off let it idle for 15 minutes. Put the red key drive it a few times over a couple of days. If at that point you still don't see it I think they will have the dealers ready to do the re-learn sensor process (takes one minute to do). Repeat the above and all should be fixed.

 

Isn't the "sensor re-learn" the fix for the P-300 CEL problem?

 

Yes, I do not know if every dealer has the ability to do this yet Did you get your Boss done?

What I was saying is that even after this was done my car still did not have the idle and they told me what to try. So far it is working for me but they want to figure out why some people have the idle and others don't. It was a fix for a car that has seen track duty but what about other cars that did not.

I am under the impression they are still working out some minor details.

 

Thanks for the update. Glad you are satisfied.

 

Very Nice write up Scott. Do you think that running your car at high speeds for longer periods of time at Daytona also had an impact on how trackey preformed better. What was you top speed?

 

I haven't taken mine in yet. I haven't thrown any codes yet. If there was a TSB on it, I would take it in anyway. With out a code or TSB I figure they give me a funny look when I ask them to fix something that's not acting up.

Did you get the sensor re-learn done by your dealer or by Mark at the track?

 

Scott, can we get another short exhaust vid? I can hear a difference in my exhaust, but I'm wondering if it's the same as yours.

 

All I have to say is....................... I have been saying this exact same thing this entire time.........look back at my posts.........

I am glad to hear you are finally seeing the REAL benefits of the trackey Scott. It has been shown time and time again that Ford is on OUR side with this car............

 

I posted somewhere else on this site about this, but after getting TK on-track, it was definitely worth the money. Makes a noticeable difference (improvement) in the on-track behavior of the car.

 

I do not think so, I tracked at PBIR where the track is also fast and I run high RPM's. I think it comes down more to learning the idle. I admit I do not completely understand this but if any one has cleaned a MAF sensor on a car with 80K you need to start it up and let it idle for a while. You will see the idle change and smooth out. If you don't and just drive it off it will take a long time until that car has a smooth idle. They are two different thing but same concept of the car re-learning the idle. Speed at PBIR is 142 and Daytona is 160+

Jeff, call Ford Racing and ask if this can be done yet, sorry but I do not have all the info on this. Yes my was done at Daytona, right place at the right time

If you are happy with the idle nothing needs to be done. My car did not idle at all like other cars I drove, no shakeing etc. Seems many cars worked well right after having the program installed and other do not. I would assume if the idle is working correctly the car will not throw codes after hitting the rev limiter on track or off.

If people are not getting codes and not getting the idle, try what I explained. It if does not help or the car is throwing P030X codes call Ford racing for the fix.

I mainly drive black key on the street but have to admit the idle is very cool when using the Trackey. What I am very happy with now is no more limp mode, that was scary on track.

 

Scott- as always, good stuff. I hope Ford is paying you consulting fees.

 

I will try but the car is going in tomorrow for a clutch issue. My car did have a different idle at first, 750 vs. 650 with the blackey. There was also deeper tone to it but now it is much better, sounds a bit like the 70 and shaking the car at the same time. Give the blackey idle a try and let me know after two day of driving on the red key after that.

Ha! I was treated like a VIP at Grand-Am testing, that was an experience I could not put a $ sign on !!! I am just glad I can pass on the info to help you guys out.

 

Scott, i am glad you are experiencing the Red Key tune finally!! I do believe I finally felt the lope too whiles your car remembered how a race car should sound. Enjoy!!! Go Ford Racing ;-)