PCM Programing/Tuning-Lets make this even better and easier

[juststartin]

There's a guy around here that has a fairly ok name at using tuning software. He helped me out once. Tuned the computer to compemsate for going with no catalytic. Did it for 100 iirc. He made me the offer of 350 for a performance tune. Had a guarantee to put it all back to stock if I didn't love it. I definitely considered it.
Just throwing that out there for info.
I'm definitely very intrigued by the idea Will, especially if i don't have to live without a ECM.

[AstroWill]

Definitely want to keep it as cheap as possible for the group. I was thinking ~$60 plus whatever the return shipping would be for all of the basic stuff.
I don't do any of this for profit, just for fun.

[MI_Ghost]

When it comes to electronics I am going to need the dummies guide just to locate the PCM so this is of considerable interest to me. There are some things I have planned that I know are going to affect the settings so having someone to help with the tuning will be great.

[97cargocrawler]

Wow, can of worms.

I don't know what all you will be able to modify, but if you let people start messing with the reference tables (which is essential for any sort of performance tune) holy ****. I cannot even imagine how many times that PCM will get shipped back and forth for reflashing.

Unless you are going to provide modified tables to upload for those dummies who don't know anything about tuning a computerized vehicle (99.999% of us), I just don't see any actual "tuning" happening. For performance tuning you will need to have pre-configured tables for say "towing," or "street racing," or "super cheap fuks economy cruisin," etc. Do you plan to offer something like this? Are you qualified to make educated changes to those tuning parameters? For the masses who have never seen them, there are about 100 tables with thousands of numbers in them that the computer references to make decisions regarding how to mix fuel and air, shift, you name it. It's extremely complex.

If you have actually been deep into these computers you know it can get crazy ugly real quick. Often needing to reflash a PCM for performance tuning several times in the driveway before the engine will be happy enough to get to the street.

I dunno man, sounds great to be offering the service but I think you're creating quite a headache for yourself.

Good luck!

[TurnNburn]

Yeah something like this. You put a period where a coma should be a boom goes cylinder number 2 or something like that.

Very difficult to do well, and very few people have the time or patience to master. In a past life when I was into tuning subarus I messed with programs like this. You can do pretty well if you tune for air fuel ratio, but without you sitting in the car and doing multiple passes to verify corrections its probably not going to end well.

The only way that becomes convenient or easy is if you have a tune already for someone and then another person comes a long that has the exact same mods. Assuming everything is the same, then they could share a tune.

Performance tuning is a can of worms like CC said, but if you just wanted to turn EGR or o2 sensor codes off that should be pretty simple. Or at least it was on the few tuning systems I have used.

[AstroWill]

Indeed, if you are tuning to the edges of performance there is no efficient way that you can do it without having the vehicle in front of you where you can change, test, change, repeat.

That is why the generic 'mail order tunes' have only very slight changes to them.

Again, that is not what I'm offering right now, it's possible that sometime in the future there might be an equivalent to a generic mail order tune.

But if you want to change the o2, egr(only for off-road use), speed or RPM limit, etc, then this will be a cheap, easy way to do it.


I will be set up to do 2003 - 2005 and 1996 - 97 in January, will add more as needed.

[WimpTech]

Sounds awesome Will. I first need to figure out how to determine which model to select in he TECH2 setup screen, I haven't the slightest idea haha

[chevymaher]

I got a good scanner. But all this talk of the bluetooth dongle is making me want one. Wont work on my van but it is a cool toy/tool to have.

[juststartin]

The blue tooth dealy is cool for sure, and cheaper than a scanner. However I feel like the torque program is really only good for constant and convenient monitoring.

[chevymaher]

I had the HP tuners thing in my other hard drive before it died. I used the this laptop for my van when I was messing with it. I have a usb/obd1 wire. Same thing as the torque program. Gauges on the screen monitoring everything while you drive so you can see what it going on. I need to put that back in this computer and get it working again. Just to have it.

Gauges are so much easier to read diving than little numbers on a screen. I had this with a different choice of side gauges. Just use a different emulator they call it. I had mileage and spark advance instead of the maf sensor and IAT.

[AstroWill]

I have a usb/obd1 wire. Same thing as the torque program. Gauges on the screen monitoring everything while you drive so you can see what it going on. I need to put that back in this computer and get it working again. Just to have it.[/attachment]

If you have an android tablet, try that link that I posted, works well.

[AstroWill]

Thanks Will, I've been researching and thinking about Tech2Win as well. Is this the adapter you've been looking at or something different?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-VXDIAG-VCX-NANO-Code-Reader-for-GM-Tech2Win-and-GDS2-Diagnostic-Tool-/252297917469?hash=item3abe20b41d:g:yZ8AAOSwoudW2k~d&item=252297917469&vxp=mtr

I won a bid on one, but it's on the slow boat from China, will update once it arrives.

[Corsemoto]

Yeah, I submitted a best offer and they came back with a $1 less than the Buy It No so I declined. Must be cutting those margins fine in China.

[AstroWill]

Yeah, I submitted a best offer and they came back with a $1 less than the Buy It No so I declined. Must be cutting those margins fine in China. :lol:

I got lucky with a no reserve auction, got it for less than half price of what it usually is.

[97cargocrawler]

Are those clones or licensed products?

[AstroWill]

It seems to me that the hardware is licensed.

To do online updates requires an account.

[AstroWill]

Yeah, I submitted a best offer and they came back with a $1 less than the Buy It No so I declined. Must be cutting those margins fine in China. :lol:

I got lucky with a no reserve auction, got it for less than half price of what it usually is.

Well, maybe, says it's shipped, but no tracking number and ebay says they deleted their account. So I guess I wait a couple of weeks to see if it actually gets here.

[TurnNburn]

Aww man! Turns out it was to good to be true...Foiled again... Long boat from china is a long wait... Hopefully it turns up after all! Did they purge your Paypal account already?

[AstroWill]

I don't mind waiting, if it doesn't show up ebay/paypal will refund my money, so no worries.

Now my actual programmer will be here on the 3rd, so I can get started with anyone that needs some PCM programming changes.

[AstroWill]

Now my actual programmer will be here on the 3rd, so I can get started with anyone that needs some PCM programming changes.

My new interface came in today, 3 days EARLY even ;)