Trans Tuning Question

[tbone]

If my trans builder set up and built my trans for 100% line pressure, is it best to have the tuner not include trans tuning in his supercharged dyno tune? Just tune the engine and leave the trans alone?

I've experimented with different pressures on my Xcal and I am not 100% satisfied with the results.

[Zack]

If its my file, the pressures are jacked up.
It would need to be returned to stock.

[tbone]

Tim has his tune at 100% pressure. Trans was built for 100% pressure, no tuning required for 100%. I had to back off Tim's tune to -25% across the board for it to behave properly. Tim sent a new tune with normal trans pressure, stock, and the trans doesn't like any pressure I set it at now. Had to go back to old tune. Trans guy suggested not to "tune" the trans at all. Not sure what to do now. I did ask Tim to send tune without the trans involved.

[Zack]

Dialing in an auto trans that's been modified is simple when you have the software.

I would not rely on any tuner to make potentially infinite changes to suit your specific liking.

Time for PRP.

[tbone]

What is PRP?

This is why the trans builder suggested I don't "tune" the trans.

[Zack]

PRP = Pro Racers Package

[tbone]

Too much $$$$. Would like to have it though, if I knew how to use it.

[Zack]

Right...... Its only $350


I love pissing away money on my car. It's the only hobby I have left after all the sh** I used to do, but don't have the time or energy for anymore.

Tomorrow I'm going to piss away $10 and buy a quart of Dot 3 and bleed my brakes with the new speed bleeders I bought and pissed away money on.

Then I'm going to piss away another $350 and buy Metco's Watts link setup.

And THEN.......

[tbone]

I already paid BIG bucks to have it professionally tuned. Now I gotta spend another $350 for a DIY on the trans tuning that I'm not trained on using?

[Marauderjack]

Just curious.....did they do the "J-Mod"??:confused:

[tbone]

Not needed.
I guess it just needs to be street tuned with the pro software that I have no interest in buying, since I am not trained on using it. It's fine at normal cruising around. It sometimes jerks and shudders at WOT and doesn't downshift the way I like. As soon as I tried the last modified tune from Tim, it hasn't been the same. I put it back to the last tune that worked reasonably well, but it isn't the same now.

[jwibbity]

I already paid BIG bucks to have it professionally tuned. Now I gotta spend another $350 for a DIY on the trans tuning that I'm not trained on using?

before you burst a blood vessel, Joeboomz has a whole thread about using the Pro Racer to set trans tunes

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=72435
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=73276
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=73913

[tbone]

Thanks for the info. Convinces me even more that I don't want to deal with this myself....My trans guy knows a tuner in the area that will clear it up. More than just tune pressure I see......

[lji372]

Thanks for the info. Convinces me even more that I don't want to deal with this myself....My trans guy knows a tuner in the area that will clear it up. More than just tune pressure I see......

Put it on your tuner to fix IMHO

[justbob]

Put it on your tuner to fix IMHO


That's like mounting an ashtray on a motorcycle. Sorry, my personal experience when I was in need. Great guy in person, but after tuning...

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/09/04/deve2uja.jpg


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[tbone]

My experience too. I would rather pay another tuner $350 to fix it than to do it myself.

[lji372]

My experience too. I would rather pay another tuner $350 to fix the it than to do it myself or wait until the end of time for you know who to deal with it.

Really sucks to have to pay over and over. Can't Marty hook you up via email? :dunno:

[tbone]

Maybe I could email the tune and he could tweak it. But I'm thinking someone has to do it while driving the car and test different calibrations.

[guspech750]

Yeah man. Give Marty a try. Fook Tim.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[tbone]

Mike Post is local. I'll give him a shot. Car goes in for trans checkup in the morning.

[Limited360]

Put it on your tuner to fix IMHO

Always just blame your TOOONEEEERRR?




TBONE

What ECU code are you running? I am willing to take a look at it as well.

Shift quality has a lot more to it than just trans line pressure. Take a data log of the issue and feel free to send it to me as well?

Maybe LJI372 will step in as he is waiting on me to look into his trans cal on his silver beast... :bunny3:

[Limited360]

Mike Post is local. I'll give him a shot. Car goes in for trans checkup in the morning.

If your not confident in the trans cal, you should not be beating on the car at all. You can fail that recently built trans very easily.

[Zack]

Jesus Christ. Always blaming Tim.
99% of cars that come in for tuning are stick.
You go to the dyno to get air fuel at wot dialed in and cruising air fuel dialed in.

Then you expect him to adjust your transmission remotely after you had it rebuilt?? After the dyno tune?
I'd tell you to pound sand brah. No ones time is free. Pay to play

[Limited360]

Jesus Christ. Always blaming Tim.
99% of cars that come in for tuning are stick.
You go to the dyno to get air fuel at wot dialed in and cruising air fuel dialed in.

Then you expect him to adjust your transmission remotely after you had it rebuilt?? After the dyno tune?
I'd tell you to pound sand brah. No ones time is free. Pay to play


+1 on this

Very well put Zack.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so I may sound retarded.

[jwibbity]

Maybe I could email the tune and he could tweak it. But I'm thinking someone has to do it while driving the car and test different calibrations.

Why not buy the software and tweak it yourself, saves the time of communicating back and forth with a "tuner", and plus when they make the changes it will be changed to how they think the car should drive.

You may hate it but the tuner might think its shifts perfect. Auto Trans shift schedules are all subjective to whoever is driving the car

[tbone]

Jesus Christ. Always blaming Tim.
99% of cars that come in for tuning are stick.
You go to the dyno to get air fuel at wot dialed in and cruising air fuel dialed in.

Then you expect him to adjust your transmission remotely after you had it rebuilt?? After the dyno tune?
I'd tell you to pound sand brah. No ones time is free. Pay to play


I told him to dial back the pressure, which he did. It got worse no matter what pressure I dialed in. I never expected, nor asked him to do anything else.

Yes, the trans has been rebuilt. I fully understand that at this point it has to be "street tuned" with the pro software, (the whole reason I posted this thread was to find this out) and may need to go back on the dyno. The engine runs perfect though, so I don't see the necessity for that. A street tune should suffice.

ALL I SAID is that he takes his sweet time to do anything. Nothing else. I DID NOT BLAME HIM FOR THIS TUNING ISSUE. However, I could list the comedy of errors that were done when he tuned my car, but choose not to. It's a long list. Push me too hard and I will.

[tbone]

Why not buy the software and tweak it yourself, saves the time of communicating back and forth with a "tuner", and plus when they make the changes it will be changed to how they think the car should drive.

You may hate it but the tuner might think its shifts perfect. Auto Trans shift schedules are all subjective to whoever is driving the car

I don't have the training to use the software and I don't want to make a fatal mistake.

Clunking and shuddering during spirited driving is not normal. I refer you to post #12 as well. Read it.

[tbone]

If your not confident in the trans cal, you should not be beating on the car at all. You can fail that recently built trans very easily.

I'm not "beating" on it and the trans builder is well aware of the issue and is not concerned that I will ruin the trans.

[Zack]

If the trans is jerking and shuddering, its probably the trans itself.

you should be able to bolt it in and have zero issues regardless of the tune that's installed.

[tbone]

It changes based on the pressure dialed in. Minus -20% on Tim's 100% pressure tune is the best setting, but not perfect. Post #12 1st thread attached talks about my exact issue and how it's in the trans tune and what to do, although not in great detail.

[Limited360]

shuttering and clunking without a shift is most likely torque converter control. Did you not get a stall converter during rebuild? Was it re-tuned after that without just a remote tune?

[tbone]

It only does it when you get on it. Right now it isn't too bad. Tuner just sent me new tune with no trans tuning. Just stock calibrations. Going to bring it over to the trans shop shortly and download it.

[Limited360]

It only does it when you get on it. Right now it isn't too bad. Tuner just sent me new tune with no trans tuning. Just stock calibrations. Going to bring it over to the trans shop shortly and download it.

So when you get on it and it does this... is that pre shift? post shift? without a shift.

Once again this could be torque converter control. Lock or unlock. An aftermarket high stall converter needs different cals for this control. It will not behave like the stock one and will cause 'shutter' issues.

[tbone]

My trans guy is going to flatbed the car to Modern Muscle in Plainfield, IL and have the engine and trans tuned with a state of the art dyno with a huge screen that shows all major parameters of the engine and trans, go over everything with me in detail and make sure the car is a beast that shifts perfectly before it leaves. The trans guy is going to pick up half the cost of $650, which really means he got his friend down there to do it for $325.

This afternoon when it dries up he is going to drive the car and inspect everything. If anything is wrong he will cover it under his warranty as promised.

[99SVT]

Fine tuning an auto takes time, most of the time when I get mine on a dyno it takes about 2hrs to get A/F dialed in then another 4-6 to set up the trans shift schedule. Even after setup on the dyno there's usually a test drive and a couple more tweaks in real world driving conditions.

[tbone]

The engine runs like a r*p*d ape. No complaints there. Just got to get the engine, trans and torque converter to work in harmony.

[justbob]

Modern muscle has some seriously bad reviews Bud. You need to do your research before jumping.

You will not come out of this ahead, but you rarely take any advice on here anyways. Just trying to help you as i looked into them as well as others a couple years ago and didn't like what I was smelling. No personal experience.

At $325.00 you aren't exactly getting a deal anyways.


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[tbone]

I've taken tons of advice on here. How do you think I have a supercharged motor that runs flawlessly that I personally acquired the parts for and built? Do I take every piece of advice that people give on here? No. Nor do you. Why some people get so offended when you don't follow their recommendations like it's gospel is beyond me.....

My trans guy has a connection there. $325 is a lot better than my last tuner experience that cost me nearly $800. Every business has at least some negative ratings on the net. I did flawless work in my construction company and some imbecile gave me bad ratings on Angie's list due to a misunderstanding. Fair? I think not.

Mike Post wants $500. I would like to go to him but I also want my trans guy to be happy. If he recommends a tuner and his trans goes south during the one year warranty, he has no one to point blame at. I attempt to think these things through.

Oh, and thanks for the positive thinking Bob. I appreciate it.

[guspech750]

Tom, I've read a lot of bad reviews on Modern Muscle on The Chicago Garage. I'm not talking minor mess ups. I'm talking about very bad tunes, cracked mounting locations on the block, horrible service and such. I'd steer clear of them as far as possible bud.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[tbone]

I googled them and didn't find much. I'll talk to my trans guy about taking it to Mike Post.

[tbone]

I just spoke with Mike at Dynotune MP and he says he isn't an expert on trans tuning the Marauders and doesn't want to deal with it.

Next......

[justbob]

My negative thoughts were to help you maybe get your car done for once, not botched and not further emptying your wallet and simply relax and enjoy it. **** it, it's your car, I'll but out from here on. Figured I've pretty much been there done that on way more than MM's making plenty of mistakes along the way and gaining gob loads of knowledge from others and certainly try and look out for others the very best I can.

I truly wish for a great experience and I still wanna be buds of course, just minus the taxi talk hard head. Your gonna give me an aneurism, hell I can see your blood pressure in your typing every time you have an issue. Not healthy! Have a coke and a smile, life's too short already..


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[Zack]

Simply ask Tim for the dyno file and take it with you..
Then the new guy wont have to charge you for a dyno tune again.

ROOKIE!

[tbone]

My negative thoughts were to help you maybe get your car done for once, not botched and not further emptying your wallet and simply relax and enjoy it. **** it, it's your car, I'll but out from here on. Figured I've pretty much been there done that on way more than MM's making plenty of mistakes along the way and gaining gob loads of knowledge from others and certainly try and look out for others the very best I can.

I truly wish for a great experience and I still wanna be buds of course, just minus the taxi talk hard head. Your gonna give me an aneurism, hell I can see your blood pressure in your typing every time you have an issue. Not healthy! Have a coke and a smile, life's too short already..


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

The "You will not come out of this ahead" remark was uncalled for.

[tbone]

Simply ask Tim for the dyno file and take it with you..
Then the new guy wont have to charge you for a dyno tune again.

ROOKIE!


Already in the plan. IF I go there, I will tell them not to change a thing in the engine tune.

I have the tune on my xcal and both of my computers, so why would I have to ask Tim for it?

[martyo]

My prior offer stands.

Bring your car down and we will make you happy with it.

If you don't, I will not charge you. :cool:

[tbone]

Thanks. :)

[Zack]

Already in the plan. IF I go there, I will tell them not to change a thing in the engine tune.

I have the tune on my xcal and both of my computers, so why would I have to ask Tim for it?

Because no shop can convert an email file to a usable file they can read.
Unless you have received the file in .mtf format.

[tbone]

I emailed Tim asking him for it. Thank you.

[Limited360]

I emailed Tim asking him for it. Thank you.

No offense to the aftermarket tuning industry... but you do not calibrate (not tune) an automatic trans on a dyno, that is not representative at all of real world driving. Vehicle mass plays a large role into the operation of the transmission during shifts, on a dyno you are simply dealing with a standard dyno inertia not an inertia relative to the vehicle mass.

If you end up with the .mtf I am willing to take a peak at it also for you. Zack would be a great starting point to help out as well as I know many people are in love with him and his trans calibration... *wut*

99SVT was correct at the amount of time spent dialing an engine in and most of the time you end up with a trans calibration that will shift wonderful at WOT but majorly marginal for standard drivability.

PM me if you would like my input at all and I would love to help out the same as Zack is offering. Luckily he is closer than I!

[tbone]

They are planning on dyno and driving it too.
Thank you as well for your offer to help.

[JoeBoomz]

Difficult, if not impossible to dyno tune a transmission. Street time is needed to test all the possible variables.

A good trans tune is built over time, tweaking it day after day of driving and making mental notes of where something happened that shouldn't have, and where something didn't happen that should have.

It's also the drivers preference.

My tune is almost built perfectly to my liking after years of daily tweaks. Others might have different tastes and not like it.

Further, different transmission mods, torque converters, rear end gears, and even drive shafts can change many or all of the parameters or how the whole thing feels. If we plug my trans settings into your car they might not work at all. Or you might just hate them.

Last year I changed ONLY my torque converter. Literally pulled out the old one and put the new one in. No other changes to the transmission. I had to rebuild my trans portion of my tune almost from scratch because of the difference in feeling and adjust the line pressures just so that the shifts that worked perfectly before, worked again after the TC change.

Your best and safest bet is to trust someone who has worked on a lot of marauders and who has lots of experience tuning them. You have a great offer on the table from Marty-O that I would really consider. Even if he is double the cost, you have a guarantee that it will be correct, and the comfort in knowing that your marauder is not his first or second that he's tweaked. My advice would be to let him handle it. And if it's a far drive, make a mini vacation out of it and come home with the car you've always wanted.

[tbone]

11 hours, 58 minutes and 748.59 miles door to door. I may have to do this at some point.....

[chief455]

My prior offer stands.

Bring your car down and we will make you happy with it.

If you don't, I will not charge you. :cool:


11 hours, 58 minutes and 748.59 miles door to door. I may have to do this at some point.....

Do this. You will not regret it. I paid extra to transport my car down and back, and have no regrets. Other guys here and locally kindly offered to do the job, probably would have been fine, but I wanted one stop build/dyno/street tune capability.
After sale tuning help via phone call/email discussion of tweaks will be needed. I have had several tweaks until my shift/lock/unlock/O.D. schedule is exactly to my liking.
No way you can get this in one day - it takes time behind the wheel under various conditions to feel what the trans is doing.
Marty and Jeff have Marauder tuning down, period.
All the guys in here are super helpful and no doubt could get it done also, but just pay one guy and get it done once.
My .01 cent.

[martyo]

Do this. You will not regret it. I paid extra to transport my car down and back, and have no regrets. Other guys here and locally kindly offered to do the job, probably would have been fine, but I wanted one stop build/dyno/street tune capability.
After sale tuning help via phone call/email discussion of tweaks will be needed. I have had several tweaks until my shift/lock/unlock/O.D. schedule is exactly to my liking.
No way you can get this in one day - it takes time behind the wheel under various conditions to feel what the trans is doing.
Marty and Jeff have Marauder tuning down, period.
All the guys in here are super helpful and no doubt could get it done also, but just pay one guy and get it done once.
My .01 cent.

What do you know? You are just a Yankee!!!! :o

[chief455]

What do you know? You are just a Yankee!!!! :o
Easy, Trigger !
I'll expose your true origin and have Rebel flags for your blanket party :eek:

[martyo]

Easy, Trigger !
I'll expose your true origin and have Rebel flags for your blanket party :eek:

Now that made me laugh!!!!

[jwibbity]

Do this. You will not regret it. I paid extra to transport my car down and back, and have no regrets. Other guys here and locally kindly offered to do the job, probably would have been fine, but I wanted one stop build/dyno/street tune capability.
After sale tuning help via phone call/email discussion of tweaks will be needed. I have had several tweaks until my shift/lock/unlock/O.D. schedule is exactly to my liking.
No way you can get this in one day - it takes time behind the wheel under various conditions to feel what the trans is doing.
Marty and Jeff have Marauder tuning down, period.
All the guys in here are super helpful and no doubt could get it done also, but just pay one guy and get it done once.
My .01 cent.

+1 I happily travel 4 hours each way to get that warm and fuzzy feeling knowing my car is in good hands

But with you being so heavily invested into the people you have already been working with I would stick it out, but know that your trans will take more than just a day to dial everything in. If possible while they're tuning it you should be there with them so that way you can drive the car and tell them any changes you want, :beer:

[tbone]

Trans guy just called. He says that since I installed the stock trans tune that Tim sent me yesterday, the car shifts, downshifts and runs perfectly. He can't believe the power the thing puts down. No burnt clutches. I'm at work, but I will be going over there for a ride at lunchtime. Hoping for the best.

If I buy the Pro Racers Package from SCT, then do I need to get the .mtf file to download to it? Do you download the tune from the computer to the xcal2 and then to the car? Or do you simply connect it to the car directly? I will be calling them but any light shed on this before I call would be great.

Thanks guys!

(Blood pressure returning to normal.....)

[Zack]

Trans guy just called. He says that since I installed the stock trans tune that Tim sent me yesterday, the car shifts, downshifts and runs perfectly. He can't believe the power the thing puts down. No burnt clutches. I'm at work, but I will be going over there for a ride at lunchtime. Hoping for the best.

If I buy the Pro Racers Package from SCT, then do I need to get the .mtf file to download to it? Do you download the tune from the computer to the xcal2 and then to the car? Or do you simply connect it to the car directly? I will be calling them but any light shed on this before I call would be great.

Thanks guys!

(Blood pressure returning to normal.....)

Tim will send you the .mtf.
Then you open it with pro racers and make any changes.
Then to the tuner, then to the car.

[tbone]

Tim will send you the .mtf.
Then you open it with pro racers and make any changes.
Then to the tuner, then to the car.

Perfect. Thanks Zack!

[tbone]

Can the laptop be hooked to the xcal and then to the car for real time data tracking?

I looked at SCT's site and it doesn't describe its' capabilities in much detail.

[jwibbity]

Can the laptop be hooked to the xcal and then to the car for real time data tracking?

I looked at SCT's site and it doesn't describe its' capabilities in much detail.

for trans tuning or data logging in general??

I have used my Xcal 3 with my laptop in the car for data logging while driving, you can monitor certain trans parameters but thats my extent of knowledge on it

[tbone]

Data logging in general.

Like the shifting graph shown in the link on post #12.

[Limited360]

Yes you can do liveGenII... XCAL3 can use the newer program, I have an Xcal2 so I use livelink2.

Real time plots while driving, it buffers the log and you save it when you stop it.

[tbone]

Awesome. Thanks.

I'll be ordering it and skipping the dyno tune at Modern Muscle.

[tbone]

Software on the way. Going to get the book on tuning too when funds allow.

Picking up the car tomorrow. Had to order a part to fix a small leak in the trans. I think he said it was a cracked speed sensor.

[03sport007]

Becareful because most of the time the tune that you paid for is locked and can't be modified. So if you buy the software you can't just tweak the transmission part of your tune because it's locked. You can build your own using the software but will lose the engine management part of the tune that is specific to your engine and mods.

I went through a similar issue with my eaton swap and it was very frustrating

I Wish you the best

[chief455]

Software on the way. Going to get the book on tuning too when funds allow.




Becareful because most of the time the tune that you paid for is locked and can't be modified. So if you buy the software you can't just tweak the transmission part of your tune because it's locked. You can build your own using the software but will lose the engine management part of the tune that is specific to your engine and mods.

I went through a similar issue with my eaton swap and it was very frustrating

I Wish you the best
If you are emailed the tune file from the same software, I think you will be able to change anything. Worth asking tuner with your current file.
While many have learned and tweaked their cars, it is not easy or for everyone.
If you still don't intend to touch the engine parameters and only play with shift schedules, you'll still have plenty to learn. And plenty at risk.
I went down the road of - email tune, bought software and tuning myself, then to a $700 day of dyno tune - then final tweaks myself for drivability.
It was a two year process, and lost the motor during the time it went lean and I did not catch it.
On this build I left it all to the experienced professionals.
Point = drive it awhile now that your shifting might be pretty close.
You have the option of sending your tune file to a pro and ask them to send back a couple of tweaked files, then final tweak the best one - all via email and your handheld.
This method will be faster and safer than you learning by doing with you buying the software, and probably not needing it again.
Of course, you may get the software, learn quickly, tweak it yourself and be proud. Good luck either method you choose.

[1stMerc]

Awesome. Thanks.

I'll be ordering it and skipping the dyno tune at Modern Muscle.

Now you're talking. Software can look daunting at first glance, but it's not hard to get acclimated to it, just takes patience. Along with the folks here, there are good sources to help understand it. There is also a built in safety option to keep you from making changes that could cause harm. The "help" section in the software itself is a good starting point for what's going on, then on to JoeBoomz excellent tranny write up. Lasota Racing
http://www.lasotaracing.com/MOPRPvideo.html#anchor has a good cd /video that explains SCT tuning software and howtos.

As was said it won't happen in a day or even a week, but it will happen and you will feel all the better for it.

Welcome to the world of tyo..

[tbone]

Just got the car back. Trans is absolutely fantastic now. The car is a beast. Just have to raise the rev limiter a bit. At work so no time right now.

I want the software regardless and will be incredibly careful in any minor changes I make. I think Tim will send be the unlocked tune. I'm sure he wants me to go away. We've been screwing with this tune for 3 months now.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

[chief455]

Just got the car back. Trans is absolutely fantastic now. The car is a beast.
WINNING!:banana:

[tbone]

Tim will send you the .mtf.
Then you open it with pro racers and make any changes.
Then to the tuner, then to the car.

Tim finally got back to me. He won't send the .mtf file because it has his tuning secrets on it. He did agree to send me a dumbed down version of the engine tuning so I can play with the trans tune, send it back to him, and he will overlay it into his secret tune. The trans will probably behave differently when he puts his super tune back on it. Kind of defeats the purpose of buying the software.....
When I continue to tweak it, I'll have to send it back to him everytime. He'll get tired of that real quick.

Do other tuners give you an .mtf file version of their tune if you have the tuning software?

Marty @ Mo's - How do you handle this?

[tbone]

As a sidenote, the trans works great at WOT and medium accelleration, but easy in town cruising sucks. It behaves just like it does from the factory. Quick shifts to 4th and lockup! The stock trans tune was the only way to get rid of the clunking and shuddering. I asked Tim if he had a secret trans tune too.

[Zack]

That's not like Tim to say.
Did you explain that you bought the SCT PRP?
Im not sure what the legalities are on this matter, but its your file, you paid for it.

[martyo]

Im not sure what the legalities are on this matter, but its your file, you paid for it.

That stuff gets pretty dicey.

Did he pay for the .mtf file or the .cef file? My guess is he never discussed with Tim which file he was paying for. Although I have not spoken to Tim In quiet some time, my guess he will say that only the .cef file was paid for.

[Zack]

I never leave any tuning facility without the .mtf file on a flash drive.

[Limited360]

I never leave any tuning facility without the .mtf file on a flash drive.


Agreed... I luckily got my .mtf file for my car from 7 years ago from Lidio as a starting point...I did pay him for a pointless dyno session as a gesture of good faith :banana: Also promised him I would never nag him about how it was calibrated. Which I have honored...

[tbone]

That's not like Tim to say.
Did you explain that you bought the SCT PRP?
Im not sure what the legalities are on this matter, but its your file, you paid for it.

Yes, I explained that I bought the program, all the difficulties in tuning the trans and the lousy stock shifting like it came from the factory since he took out his shift program that didn't work for spirited driving.

He said he doesn't give out the file because it has his secrets on it that "make him who he is".

[tbone]

That stuff gets pretty dicey.

Did he pay for the .mtf file or the .cef file? My guess is he never discussed with Tim which file he was paying for. Although I have not spoken to Tim In quiet some time, my guess he will say that only the .cef file was paid for.

In the end, the tune cost me $775, which included "diagnosis" which didn't happen. For that money, I should get the .mtf file wrapped with a bow on it.

[tbone]

I never leave any tuning facility without the .mtf file on a flash drive.

I never thought I would buy a tuner program and need to calibrate it myself.

[Zack]

Wow.
Well, maybe SCT will convert the email file for you.

[justbob]

He wouldn't send me mine either when I was lined up to have the emissions all turned on. He said he would take care of it for me himself. I said that's fine and I'll even pay whatever extra (although he promised it would pass at dyno) but after having to constantly beg in a long email chain for the update it was always another excuse?

My car ended up getting the plates yanked from IL eventually and he all but became a ghost. This was this time last year. Still nothing done about it and at this point I don't want a single thing.

I just don't understand people like him?


Self proclaimed Builder Of Badassery.

Buy it, Break it, Build it BETTER.
"Since 2004"

[lji372]

Sounds more like a toooner. :shake:

[JoeBoomz]

Yes many tuners have this opinion now, they believe since they paid for the training and the equipment and that file is their intellectual property.



SCT will also protect the tuner and probably will not convert the file for you to an mtf. I was able to get it done once under special circumstances but they were very cautious throughout the whole process that there were no other options.



It's a sticky subject for sure. But if Mo's is willing to hand out MTF's, there's another great argument for using him.

[tbone]

I'll have to take it back to him for a street tune on the trans and get his dumbed down version of the engine tune so I can play around with it.

Eventually I will take it to Marty or Lidio (since he is a lot closer) and have the whole shebang done again, depending on if I can get the .mtf file with the tune. Otherwise I just spent $349 on the program for ****ing nothing.

[Zack]

I can always negotiate for you. He likes me

[tbone]

Any help would be appreciated. In my frustration I ticked him off once but I have been super polite since then. And patient.

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

I just contacted him about having my car dyno'd next week. @Zack, anything fancy I should have him do or not do since my car shifts strong as hell with the jmod done?

[tbone]

My patience is wearing thin....Still no answers from Tim. Just no. Then silence.

[chief455]

My prior offer stands.

Bring your car down and we will make you happy with it.

If you don't, I will not charge you. :cool:


11 hours, 58 minutes and 748.59 miles door to door. I may have to do this at some point.....


Do this. You will not regret it. I paid extra to transport my car down and back, and have no regrets. Other guys here and locally kindly offered to do the job, probably would have been fine, but I wanted one stop build/dyno/street tune capability.
After sale tuning help via phone call/email discussion of tweaks will be needed. I have had several tweaks until my shift/lock/unlock/O.D. schedule is exactly to my liking.
No way you can get this in one day - it takes time behind the wheel under various conditions to feel what the trans is doing.
Marty and Jeff have Marauder tuning down, period.
All the guys in here are super helpful and no doubt could get it done also, but just pay one guy and get it done once.
My .01 cent.
I repeat.......

[tbone]

I hear ya.......

[Marauderjack]

Road trip......go for it!!:beer:

[Zack]

You could drive 1.5 hours and pay me in beer to dial it in.
It's not hard at all

[tbone]

I need the file .mtf file. The dumbed down version he promised me, but he won't get back to me on it.

Problem is, if I tune the trans to the reduced power of the dumbed down version without his secrets, then he puts that trans tune on his secret high power tune, the trans may not shift properly again. Back to square 1.

[chief455]

You could drive 1.5 hours and pay me in beer to dial it in.
It's not hard at all


I need the file .mtf file. The dumbed down version he promised me, but he won't get back to me on it.
Aww man - that's a great offer! Get a new tuner. Get it all right. Get your file. Dollars to donuts, Zack will have you running and shifting happy, at 1.5hr away, = WINNING!
Perfect solution.:banana:

[chief455]

Problem is, if I tune the trans to the reduced power of the dumbed down version without his secrets, then he puts that trans tune on his secret high power tune, the trans may not shift properly again. Back to square 1.
I believe you are correct in this thinking. Your current engine tune isn't the only one that will run mint. I'd talk offline with Zack about this, he will no doubt conquer your fears and tuning solutions. I wish he or Marty were 1.5hr from me offering to dial in my car :eek:

[lji372]

You could drive 1.5 hours and pay me in beer to dial it in.
It's not hard at all

^^^^^this^^^^^^

[Limited360]

^^^^^this^^^^^^


Beer payment is always the best... I take Rumchata


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so I may sound retarded.

[lji372]

Beer payment is always the best... I take Rumchata and skittles!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so I may sound retarded.

Fixed........

[Limited360]

Fixed........


See you forgot the Red Bull, this is why we only sorted your intake temp sensor and didn't move on to the MAF upgrade... *WUT*


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so I may sound retarded.

[Bradley G]

If it helps you Tom, I can try and extract the tune from my car and you can sample it.
After my car was tuned by Lonnie Doll, it was mild mannered cruising and a beast otherwise.
He spent hours on the street tune with his laptop(me driving) after he had it on the dyno.
He told me while we were test driving, "Anybody can tune for WOT, the tricks are in the drivability"
You would have to make me a promise though, that going forward you don't go to unscrupulous people to work on your car. :beer:

[tbone]

If it helps you Tom, I can try and extract the tune from my car and you can sample it.
After my car was tuned by Lonnie Doll, it was mild mannered cruising and a beast otherwise.
He spent hours on the street tune with his laptop(me driving) after he had it on the dyno.
He told me while we were test driving, "Anybody can tune for WOT, the tricks are in the drivability"
You would have to make me a promise though, that going forward you don't go to unscrupulous people to work on your car. :beer:

You nailed it on the head. Driveability is what my car lacks sorely right now. Shifts like from the factory. WOT is great. I have to get this sorted before I go insane. :help:

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

If it's shifting like from the factory, that is disgusting.

[tbone]

Like I said, I had Tim put the stock tune for the trans back on to stop the clunking and shuddering. So that's gone but the stock trans tune absolutely stinks for normal cruising.

[chief455]

Go to Zack = END IT!!!!! :)

[tbone]

Need......mtf........file.

[Zack]

You forget SCT almost took me to court for using their programs (they way were designed to) to suck files out of PCM's.

Its a non-issue for me

I may or may not have the hardware to do such a task.

[tbone]

I got SCT's Pro Racer program today on a USB drive. Doesn't show up as an available drive. Nothing happens. Tried on my wife's laptop too. WTF?

It occured to me today that I never set the revs/mile on my Xcal. When I load Tim's file, it just says "stock value" for gear ratio, so I have to manually set it to 4.10's. For tire revs/mile, same thing. But I never messed with it, thinking he would have set it. I looked up and found that my Nitto tires are 28.98" tall and that equals 720 revs per mile. So I set that on the xcal. Car shifts much better with stock trans tune. Played with 100% trans pressure tune and it's much better, but still some evidence of clunking at different shift pressures. Going to try stock pressure/performance shift tune Tim gave me tomorrow.

I would have thought he would have set the revs/mile in the tune for me. Maybe I should have left them both at "stock value"?

[Limited360]

I change gear ratio in cal, not rev/mile.

USB stick is there for the sync with their server to give access to only the ECU code you provided.

[Zack]

Stock revs/mile is 723 in the tune. No need to change that.

[Zack]

I got SCT's Pro Racer program today on a USB drive. Doesn't show up as an available drive. Nothing happens. Tried on my wife's laptop too. WTF?

It occured to me today that I never set the revs/mile on my Xcal. When I load Tim's file, it just says "stock value" for gear ratio, so I have to manually set it to 4.10's. For tire revs/mile, same thing. But I never messed with it, thinking he would have set it. I looked up and found that my Nitto tires are 28.98" tall and that equals 720 revs per mile. So I set that on the xcal. Car shifts much better with stock trans tune. Played with 100% trans pressure tune and it's much better, but still some evidence of clunking at different shift pressures. Going to try stock pressure/performance shift tune Tim gave me tomorrow.

I would have thought he would have set the revs/mile in the tune for me. Maybe I should have left them both at "stock value"?


You need to install the actual program on the computer before anything will happen.
Im not sure if they include that on the dongle or not.

[lji372]

^^^^damn I missed the 5am I should not have said that post :mad:

[martyo]

^^^^damn I missed the 5am I should not have said that post :mad:

I just did not want it to be taken the wring way and when I read it I thought it might be.

[tbone]

Yes, I know you have to install the program first. It doesn't show up as an available drive when you plug it in. No auto install.

The box came with a USB drive from SCT. That's it. No instructions whatsoever. No thank you. No card. No SCT stickers. No catalog. I figured the program was on it. Looked at their site. Do not see any instructions or links of any kind on how to get started with the program. Nothing.

Would it have been hard for them to include half a piece of paper with minimal instructions?

[tbone]

The car shifts better since I set the revs/mile. No, I should not have had to set it, which is why I never looked at it before. The tune should automatically say 4.10 for the gears too. But it says "stock value". It was most likely never set at all. He probably did his street tune for 3.55's even though I specifically told him it had 4.10's. When I did my n/a tune with him he forgot I had 4.10's and said he's missed that before......

[chief455]

the tuner will default saying 'stock value' regardless of the tune you are flashing in. If the tune was written with 4.10, that would be the 'stock value'.

[tbone]

I have never tried stock value. I got out my GPS and checked my speedo against it and it's dead nuts on. Stock value may very well be 4.10, but I did not trust it, so I manually set it every time.

The gear ratio reverts to stock everytime but when I change the trans shift pressure it stays where I last set it.

[Limited360]

I have never tried stock value. I got out my GPS and checked my speedo against it and it's dead nuts on. Stock value may very well be 4.10, but I did not trust it, so I manually set it every time.

The gear ratio reverts to stock everytime but when I change the trans shift pressure it stays where I last set it.


You need to leave revs / mile alone. That's a calculation based on wheel size.

Axle_ratio is what you want to change. Did you et your .mtf yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk so I may sound retarded.

[tbone]

I found a chart with the wheel size. It's 720 revs/min.

No mtf file. I'm not holding my breath on getting it. I've been asking for almost 2 weeks.

[guspech750]

Hell, I've asked Tim for my file. Told me I was not even in the computer system. No record of my existence.

Toolbag.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[tbone]

Tim got back to me. He's been busy with some race car for 2 weeks and hasn't been checking his emails. (??) He promises to get to me this week.

[tbone]

Finally got hold of SCT after emailing and being put on hold for 45 minutes and being forced to leave a message after I was 3rd in line to be answered. Finally resorted to calling the dealer line. The tech sent me a link to download the software. He said they removed the link from their website. That makes sense. Then the dongle didn't work because I didn't sign the license agreement. Problem is, I did it already electronically. OMG! Now I have to call sales tomorrow and get that resolved.

[Zack]

They are a-holes over there.

[guspech750]

Send car to the crusher.

Buy a Volt.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

[tbone]

Send car to the crusher.

Buy a Volt.


Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.

DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom

:bunny3::beer::banana2:

[tbone]

So I got the ***ker to finally load on my home PC after doing the update and entering ECM code BMD0 literally like 7 times. Now I want it load on my laptop. Access denied. Tell me this program loads on more than one computer as long as you have the stupid dongle......

[Limited360]

So I got the ***ker to finally load on my home PC after doing the update and entering ECM code BMD0 literally like 7 times. Now I want it load on my laptop. Access denied. Tell me this program loads on more than one computer as long as you have the stupid dongle......



I have the program on 4 laptops and 1 desktop. User Error....

Try to install and update from a hardwire connection for the first time on the laptop versus wireless.

[tbone]

User error?

I installed it on my PC (hardwired) and now on trying on my laptop which says access denied.

How is that user error?

[Limited360]

User error?

I installed it on my PC (hardwired) and now on trying on my laptop which says access denied.

How is that user error?

Access denied is a generic statement... User Error... something on your end.

Have you tried reading the forums at all for help with advantage III?

[tbone]

They got a new phone system yesterday and it messed up their servers for a while. They were supposed to send me a software disc and instructions with the dongle. All installed and working now.

Also got a revised shift point, full engine power (Tim's secrets) cef file, and a reduced engine power (no secrets), stock trans shift mtf file from Tim to fool around with today. Good timing.

Finally. :banana2:

[tbone]

Well, neither tune works well. The revised trans tune clunks and doesn't downshift well at speed causing it to feel like it's slipping. The stock motor tune has the highly annoying bouncing idle and the a/f gauge doesn't go below 13.0 when I got on it a little which scares the hell out of me. The stock trans tune works the best out of anything I've tried so far.

Going back for a street tune in mid October. Wondering if I should send the Pro Racer program back. It's pretty complex, although I only played with it for a short time.

[martyo]

Wondering if I should send the Pro Racer program back. It's pretty complex, although I only played with it for a short time.

Let us know how that goes.

[Zack]

I have offered my help....

[tbone]

I have offered my help....

I sent you a PM earlier..... (???)

Tim says it was your trans tune.

[tbone]

Let us know how that goes.


I know. I'll just keep it.

[chief455]

My prior offer stands.

Bring your car down and we will make you happy with it.

If you don't, I will not charge you. :cool:


11 hours, 58 minutes and 748.59 miles door to door. I may have to do this at some point.....


Do this. You will not regret it. I paid extra to transport my car down and back, and have no regrets. Other guys here and locally kindly offered to do the job, probably would have been fine, but I wanted one stop build/dyno/street tune capability.
After sale tuning help via phone call/email discussion of tweaks will be needed. I have had several tweaks until my shift/lock/unlock/O.D. schedule is exactly to my liking.
No way you can get this in one day - it takes time behind the wheel under various conditions to feel what the trans is doing.
Marty and Jeff have Marauder tuning down, period.
All the guys in here are super helpful and no doubt could get it done also, but just pay one guy and get it done once.
My .01 cent.


I repeat.......
I repeat, again.......and Zack offered to help for beer!!!!!

[chief455]

Aww man - that's a great offer! Get a new tuner. Get it all right. Get your file. Dollars to donuts, Zack will have you running and shifting happy, at 1.5hr away, = WINNING!
Perfect solution.:banana:
I did say that :cool:
I'm reading much frustration on your part, and have been there.
Gotta know when to fold 'em....

[tbone]

I PM'd Zack before his last post asking for help. I need my entire tune in mtf format. The low powered engine tune in mtf format is a POS. So going there is pointless at this juncture.

I want to email him the low engine power mtf file Tim sent me that doesn't work well so he can look at the trans tuning part of it. Then I will send it back to Tim to overlay it into my good engine tune. But Tim said the tune he sent me IS Zack's trans tune.....so.....

[martyo]

Beatrice says.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ0yD-9CDwI

[8UWITH6]

I wish you best of luck with this man. Two well respected members have offered to fix your problem. I would take them up on it asap. Just sayin'

[chief455]

Beatrice says.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ0yD-9CDwI
:banana::D "that's not how any of this works...."

[martyo]

I wish you best of luck with this man. Two well respected members have offered to fix your problem. I would take them up on it asap. Just sayin'

I'll up my offer and help you cut your costs. I will let you stay at my fizzle fo' ****zle if you can put up with some big ass dogs.

[1stMerc]

Anyone tried running PRP on a tablet?

[chief455]

I'll up my offer and help you cut your costs. I will let you stay at my fizzle fo' ****zle if you can put up with some big ass dogs.
Sleep with Marty or drink with Zack, that is the question.:eek:

[lji372]

Sleep with Marty or drink with Zack, that is the question.:eek:

Hmm too bad the options weren't sleep with zack or drink with Marty :eek:

[martyo]

Hmm too bad the options weren't sleep with zack or drink with Marty :eek:

I only drink Diet Mountain Dew.

[martyo]

Anyone tried running PRP on a tablet?

I am not 100% positive but I believe you can only run it on a PC based laptop because of the need to have the dingle installed.

YRMV

[lji372]

I only drink Diet Mountain Dew.

That's why it would be such a hard decision :lol:

[martyo]

That's why it would be such a hard decision :lol:

You said "hard."

[chief455]

I only Mount and Dew.
fixed:help:

[lji372]

I only drink Diet Mountain Dew.

That's why it would be such a **** decision :lol:



You said "****."

cleaned it up...sorry :P

[tbone]

Beatrice says.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJ0yD-9CDwI

That was Tim's idea. Don't kill the messenger. ;)

[tbone]

I'll up my offer and help you cut your costs. I will let you stay at my fizzle fo' ****zle if you can put up with some big ass dogs.

I'm selling Harley soon so money will free up. I very well may take you up on this. A road trip would be fun. I need to get out of this town for a couple days. :burnout:We'll see what happens. Thanks Marty.

[1stMerc]

I am not 100% positive but I believe you can only run it on a PC based laptop because of the need to have the dingle installed.

YRMV

Hmmm, shouldn't be a problem, long as there is a usb port for the dongle. Getting the software on it might be.

[Zack]

SCT software will only run on a Windows operating system.

[tbone]

Everything is operating AOK with the software now.

[1stMerc]

SCT software will only run on a Windows operating system.


Plenty out there that fit that spec and with a usb port, so it's probably doable.

[MM2004]

Tom,

I can't believe you are still dicking around with this?

Initially, my car was tuned by Tim after being S/C'd last year.

My trans schedule was all over the damn place.

Much so, that I hated driving the sunuvabitch. Literally.

This past June, I had mine re-tuned by Lee Blankenship, and is a completely different car, and a blast to drive.

Not being totally happy with how the trans was shifting (too soon), I asked Lee to revise my tune, and voila! File emailed to me within 1 day.

You should not have had to go thru this BS.

[tbone]

Your description is exactly accurate.

Someone with skills is working on it now. Stay tuned.

[1stMerc]

I am not 100% positive but I believe you can only run it on a PC based laptop because of the need to have the dingle installed.

YRMV


SCT software will only run on a Windows operating system.

The answer is yes you can run PRP on a tablet. Bought a little 8 inch screen with Windows 8.1 (Winbook TW801) yesterday and just finished loading PRP on it and tested. Screen size is adequate, but 10' would probably be better. You also need to purchase at least a 4 port usb hub so u can connect both the dongle, the hand held and a mouse at the same time. You can use the touch screen, but it is easier using a mouse. Had to also network it wireless with my laptop as did not have a flash drive large enough to copy software to. Once original software installed from disk it launched the updater at first click. I then copied my tune files from laptop to SCT\Advantage III folder on tablet.

[Zack]

What I said....windows OS

[1stMerc]

What I said....windows OS

:D...................:beer:

[tbone]

Mr. Wonderful no longer returns emails at all after his 2 weeks hiatus working on another race car and not returning inquiries.

[martyo]

Mr. Wonderful no longer returns emails at all after his 2 weeks hiatus working on another race car and not returning inquiries.:bs:

It's late and I'm obviously lost but didn't you switch to another tuner?

[tbone]

The tune didn't work out. "And that's all I have to say about that".

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ-qQPmq2ZDIxT-LVCuTeMadOaKqukNy9hKJjfJ9D1Nvt IZ5ERk (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=Ub0FSCLuZ88Q1M&tbnid=5N-fzV9MG9w-gM:&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdealbreaker.c om%2F2014%2F09%2Fcall-the-alibaba-close%2F&ei=3WIsVMinLtaxyASs1oDACQ&bvm=bv.76477589,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNFOjN4tmL7a9ShMdBV17 fc6kpf0-g&ust=1412281431167137)

[martyo]

The tune didn't work out. "And that's all I have to say about that".

Our prices are going up!

[Zack]

The tune didn't work out. "And that's all I have to say about that".

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ-qQPmq2ZDIxT-LVCuTeMadOaKqukNy9hKJjfJ9D1Nvt IZ5ERk (http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=Ub0FSCLuZ88Q1M&tbnid=5N-fzV9MG9w-gM:&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdealbreaker.c om%2F2014%2F09%2Fcall-the-alibaba-close%2F&ei=3WIsVMinLtaxyASs1oDACQ&bvm=bv.76477589,d.aWw&psig=AFQjCNFOjN4tmL7a9ShMdBV17 fc6kpf0-g&ust=1412281431167137)


I got the file for you.
And you have the Pro Racer's Software...
You are 99% there

[tbone]

It threw out the weird codes I told you about, wouldn't stay in lock up and I don't know how to make the necessary adjustments to the shift schedule. Yet.

[8UWITH6]

Ugh. Hope you get this figured out.

[tbone]

Tim finally just got back to me. He sold his shop, moved, and is in the final stages of getting his affairs in order after the loss of his son. He sounds like he is in much better spirits and promised he will address my trans shift schedule shortly. :beer:

[Marauderjack]

I just gotta ask.......12 pages and 171 posts......why haven't you tried Zack's offer??:confused:

Am I missing something here??:cool:

[tbone]

I just gotta ask.......12 pages and 171 posts......why haven't you tried Zack's offer??:confused:

Am I missing something here??:cool:

Yes, you are missing something.

[martyo]

Yes, you are missing something.

473 Gagillion bytes of bandwidth later people are entitled to know what they missed!

Just sayin'.

[chief455]

473 Gagillion bytes of bandwidth later people are entitled to know what they missed!

Just sayin'.
I gave up reading this thread and started watching The Godfather series. Saving my time.

[Zack]

I don't even remember.

[lji372]

I don't even remember.

Where is the like button!!!!

[Marauderjack]

Yes, you are missing something.

Well...........care to enlighten those of us in the dark??:confused:

[martyo]

Well...........care to enlighten those of us in the dark??:confused:

The big reveal does not come out until this thread hits 20 pages!

[Marauderjack]

The "suspense" is killin' me!!!:eek:

[ChiTownMaraud3r]

Plot twist, sells Marauder for a prius.

[martyo]

Plot twist, sells Marauder for a prius.

This has all the makings for a bad TV series.

[tbone]

Zack's trans tune didn't work. Weird codes thrown. TC wouldn't stay in lock up. Tim won't give me an mtf file. If you took the time to read posts 168 and 169 it would tell you everything you need to know.

Would you guys rather have another "What's the best oil filter" thread? ;)

[lji372]

Where's the like button??????

[chief455]

at least it's staying light hearted, not locked up like a hate crime.:argue:

Anyone just tuning in should just move on, nothing to see here.:run: