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Chip vs. Programmer

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  #61  
Old 01-11-2006, 03:17 PM
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XCal and XCal2 are different in that the XCal2 has a programming screen and makes it eaiser to make end user adjustments right on the programmer. The XCal you have to hook it up to the PC to make the changes. The programming files between the two tuners are the same. Actually, the programming files between the two tuners and the SCT 4-Bank chip are all the same.

Each tuner can hold up to four tunes, so getting a regular and premium octane tune is always good. Remember, the better octane tune will give you more HP because we can bump up the timing on the car.

It will help an auto regardless because it will firm up the shift points, making it shift quicker and sooner. You really feel the difference in the Auto's more than the 5-Speeds in my opinion.
 
  #62  
Old 01-11-2006, 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by MTShambles
It will help an auto regardless because it will firm up the shift points, making it shift quicker and sooner. You really feel the difference in the Auto's more than the 5-Speeds in my opinion.
I installed the older style SCT Extreme Flash Tuner on my friends 2003 GT Auto for her, and the difference was quite noticeable.
 
  #63  
Old 01-22-2006, 03:18 PM
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if u guys was going to start adding power to a stock 2001 mustang would u buy a tuner or a 125 nitrous kit first . any suggestions would b helpful . thanks rg
 
  #64  
Old 01-22-2006, 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by inkahootz racing
if u guys was going to start adding power to a stock 2001 mustang would u buy a tuner or a 125 nitrous kit first . any suggestions would b helpful . thanks rg
With a 125 shot be prepared to upgrade fuel pump and a few other things.....to be honest a tune isnt going to get you much....a 100 shot on a stock GT is almost perfect.
 
  #65  
Old 01-22-2006, 07:20 PM
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I would buy the tuner first no matter what. Why? Because it is a mod that will gorw with your car no matter what you do.

Got juice? Great, the tuner can retard your timing and richen up your fuel.

Got gears? You need the tuner to calibrate the speedo.

Got an o/r x pipe? You need the tuner too.

If you stay with a small shot (75), you can run on a stock tune depending on what system you get. But, if you want a 125 shot, you will need some type of tuning device or at least a way to retard your timing.
 
  #66  
Old 01-25-2006, 04:57 PM
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So with any programmer i can pass an emissions test with off road x pipes?
 
  #67  
Old 01-26-2006, 10:19 AM
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Default good price for xcal2

I recently bought a SCT xcal2 for $380 from brenspeed.com. It came with an 87, 91, 93 and stock tune. I found it was best bang for buck. Installed it one week ago and works great. I have c&l intake plenum, 75mm BBK tb, k&n cai, meziere electric water pump and underdrive pulleys.
 
  #68  
Old 01-26-2006, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by 98-GT
So with any programmer i can pass an emissions test with off road x pipes?
no...the inspectors check to see if u have a cat visually and they can read in their computers that it as been turned off....and they also try to throw a CEL by unpluging it from the pipe...well thats wat the dude i go to does....for other people...not me... :banana:
 
  #69  
Old 01-26-2006, 12:16 PM
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Originally Posted by PureStang
no...the inspectors check to see if u have a cat visually and they can read in their computers that it as been turned off....and they also try to throw a CEL by unpluging it from the pipe...well thats wat the dude i go to does....for other people...not me... :banana:
Hold the phone....

That depends on how they do emissions testing.

If they visually look for cats, then no you will not pass. If they read your ECU for egine codes, then you will pass. If they do an actual sniffer test, then you will fail.

I use cats on my car. I think it is the environmentally correct thing to do anyway.
 
  #70  
Old 01-26-2006, 01:29 PM
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what type of programmer would u guys suggest for a 2001 gt ? and who has the best deals ? thanks rg
 
  #71  
Old 01-26-2006, 08:12 PM
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Default sct xcal2

i would suggest sct xcal2.....brennspeed.com has um for about 380 i think....i recently aquired one and love it
 
  #72  
Old 01-26-2006, 09:35 PM
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what about the PMS Programmer....
 
  #73  
Old 01-26-2006, 10:31 PM
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Originally Posted by cook84
what about the PMS Programmer....
Never heard of it.
 
  #74  
Old 01-27-2006, 03:33 AM
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you can get it from Anderson Ford Motorsports it is a piggy back programmer you can tune for any mods your car has and you can change the tune if you change something on your can with without pulling and sending chips off for reburn....it cause bout a grand but it will be the last programmer mustang owners will ever need....heck go check it out at www.andersonfordmotorsport.com they have it for 4.6L and 5.4L and 5.0L and 5.8L they cover all years of the fuel injected mustang...
 
  #75  
Old 01-28-2006, 04:52 AM
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thanks for the info . is the sct complicated to use ? can i get my self in trouble with it ? (mis-tuning ......)
 
  #76  
Old 01-28-2006, 06:14 AM
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Most of the changes that are user controlled are not big changes to avoid getting people into trouble. Regardless, you really should not make adjustments w/o knowing what you are doing.
 
  #77  
Old 02-02-2006, 10:35 PM
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so i guess no one on here has ever used or heard of one??
 
  #78  
Old 02-03-2006, 06:57 AM
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I guess not. I don't see the difference between the PMS and say a $375 Xcal. The XCal can grow with your car no matter what alterations you do to it. A tuner can email tunes to you that you can upload to your car w/o ever pulling a chip and mailing. Which, BTW, I use a chip. Why? Because a chip is the only way you can change a tune on the fly.
 
  #79  
Old 03-02-2006, 07:03 PM
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One more programmer question for you guys .. are all the changes that are made specific to the tunes?? For example, lets say that I got a Diablo or Xcal and it came with a couple tunes that worked good for my car .. now I go and get gears. Can just plug the tuner in and say .. now I got 4.10's or do I have to get all my tunes changed to recognize the 4.10's?? The same question would be for all of those variables (rev limiter, traction control, etc)??

Thanks
 
  #80  
Old 03-02-2006, 07:20 PM
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they will have to be changed manually but u yourself can do it.....u can chage pretty much any parameter on the tuners ur self....
 
  #81  
Old 03-02-2006, 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by PureStang
they will have to be changed manually but u yourself can do it.....u can chage pretty much any parameter on the tuners ur self....
unless its a custom tune. mine i can only adjust my shift pressures add a little bit of fuel take out fuel and my shift points. i never used mail order tune with the x cal. the diablo was real easy to use easier then the x cal when it comes to shift points. the x cal will shift at MPH while diablo sets it by rpms.
 
  #82  
Old 03-03-2006, 03:27 AM
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^^ so you can't change your gears, or any of the other options on yours without getting another custom tune??
 
  #83  
Old 09-20-2006, 02:38 PM
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I ended up getting an SCT SF Xcal2. Where is a good place to get additional custom tunes (not dyno tunes) for a decent price that you can download or get sent via e-mail?
 
  #84  
Old 09-20-2006, 05:27 PM
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You just need to find any SCT dealer. Mustaning Tuning, for example.
 
  #85  
Old 11-15-2006, 02:21 PM
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I just purchased my SCT X2 for about $375 and it and a dyno tune were the saving grace to my new motor pinging like a can of marbles after the rebuild. I wouold go with the SCT personally. I like the adavantage of the email updates.
 
  #86  
Old 01-23-2007, 05:50 PM
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so what if you're thinking of running a tuner and a programmer i have a sct and i ordered a programmer i can run them both cant i?? if not which would you use
 
  #87  
Old 01-24-2007, 05:31 AM
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you cant use both. As they both retune the stock ecu pick one and go with it. There isnt one thats better then the other unless you like messing with them with the hand held tuner.
 
  #88  
Old 01-28-2007, 10:55 AM
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Default chip

the chip is very hard to install
 
  #89  
Old 10-09-2007, 04:53 PM
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Thanks for the tip.
 
  #90  
Old 01-14-2008, 12:59 PM
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jsut to let everyone know yes the programer is the way to go but if you do have a problem and have to bring it to a dealership for warranty service and you unprogram the car and program it back to stock the dealer can plug into the diagnostic port with their compers and tell everyone that has been done to that vehicle from then to 7 days before that so the way aroudn it if you have a problem you would have to program back to stock a week before bringing it in for service their computers can tell them what rpms you turn what fuel you use how fast you go any thing you can think of they can see it
 


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