Help with EFILive
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Hill Ontario
Help with EFILive
I just received my EFILive Scan & Tune program and was hoping someone could provide some simple steps to using it for the first time. I've done a lot of reading on LS1Tech and have looked at the documentation that came with the program but would really like basic instructions on:
1. Logging the data from my PCM.
2. Downloading the data to my PC.
3. Saving the data as a tune file for backup.
4. Reading the downloaded data.
Just some basic stuff to get me started so I can play with the program and familiarize myself. Also, do I need to drive the car around before I try and download the data or will the information already be saved in the PCM?
I'd really appreciate some guidance.
Thanks
1. Logging the data from my PCM.
2. Downloading the data to my PC.
3. Saving the data as a tune file for backup.
4. Reading the downloaded data.
Just some basic stuff to get me started so I can play with the program and familiarize myself. Also, do I need to drive the car around before I try and download the data or will the information already be saved in the PCM?
I'd really appreciate some guidance.
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,154
Likes: 1
From: Murphy TX
Cruise-In II Veteran
The installation process will leave EFLive Scan Tool and EFLive Tuning Tool shortcuts on your desktop.
The scan tool is used to log OBD-II data. You'll need to connect to the vehicle and select some items (PIDs) to view. This data can optionally be recorded to file.
The tuning tool is used to read your flash from and write your flash to the PCM, in addition to actually editing the flash. To download your current flash, go to the Flash menu item in the tuning tool, select "Read PCM calibrations..." and follow your nose.
The flash resides in the PCM and is always available for download. The OBD-II data is dynamic and only present when the vehicle is operating (though there are some items of interest that are stored in non-volatile memory when the vehicle is shut off.)
These are more fully explained in the documentation which I stongly encourage you to give a good read. The scan tool is pretty harmless (if you stay away from the bidirectionals) so poking around is safe. The tuning tool is just as safe as long as you don't upload anything.
I'd suggest examining some of the sample *.tun files that ship with the s/w to get a feel for the basic features of the tuning tool. Be sure to visit EFLive's forum, you'll find lots of good info there.
The scan tool is used to log OBD-II data. You'll need to connect to the vehicle and select some items (PIDs) to view. This data can optionally be recorded to file.
The tuning tool is used to read your flash from and write your flash to the PCM, in addition to actually editing the flash. To download your current flash, go to the Flash menu item in the tuning tool, select "Read PCM calibrations..." and follow your nose.
The flash resides in the PCM and is always available for download. The OBD-II data is dynamic and only present when the vehicle is operating (though there are some items of interest that are stored in non-volatile memory when the vehicle is shut off.)
These are more fully explained in the documentation which I stongly encourage you to give a good read. The scan tool is pretty harmless (if you stay away from the bidirectionals) so poking around is safe. The tuning tool is just as safe as long as you don't upload anything.
I'd suggest examining some of the sample *.tun files that ship with the s/w to get a feel for the basic features of the tuning tool. Be sure to visit EFLive's forum, you'll find lots of good info there.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 8
From: Hayward California
Yes.... it starts w/ the PID's and is done in the scanning tool. They are what you want to log depending on what exactly you want to monitor. I think you want to keep the number of PID's to monitor to equal or less than 25 at a time.
1). Connect to the PCM by clicking on the green button at the top right (Ctrl+F3).
2). Select the PID's tab and check support for them (validate) by hitting Shift+F2. The validated PID's will become enabled (turn green). Double-click those which did not enable to deselect.
3). Ctrl+M will start the monitoring real-time and F3 will start recording. Either will allow you to now see data in the graphs or tables.
4). If you've recorded data F4 will stop and bring up a dialogue allowing you to save session for later playback.
Now that you know that you can get to and read the PCM correctly you can set up black box logging. You can not do this while recording a session.
Ctrl+PgDn will load the selected/validated PID's into the black box. Once complete hit start on the black box and when the green light stays on steady, you are good to go. By default it will log 2 minutes at a time so just restart if you need to keep it going. It will keep a separate file for each session and can be retrieved onto the computer via usb by hitting Ctrl+PgUp.
Have fun!!!!
1). Connect to the PCM by clicking on the green button at the top right (Ctrl+F3).
2). Select the PID's tab and check support for them (validate) by hitting Shift+F2. The validated PID's will become enabled (turn green). Double-click those which did not enable to deselect.
3). Ctrl+M will start the monitoring real-time and F3 will start recording. Either will allow you to now see data in the graphs or tables.
4). If you've recorded data F4 will stop and bring up a dialogue allowing you to save session for later playback.
Now that you know that you can get to and read the PCM correctly you can set up black box logging. You can not do this while recording a session.
Ctrl+PgDn will load the selected/validated PID's into the black box. Once complete hit start on the black box and when the green light stays on steady, you are good to go. By default it will log 2 minutes at a time so just restart if you need to keep it going. It will keep a separate file for each session and can be retrieved onto the computer via usb by hitting Ctrl+PgUp.
Have fun!!!!
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 575
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Hill Ontario
Guys, let me say thanks for your words of advice. There's definitely a lot of reading I have to do. I've starting going on the EFILive forum and looking a posts. Looks like they'll soon have a good tutorial to help us newbies. Hopefully this weekend the weather allows me to take the car out and log some data as well as create a back up file. Then I can have something to look at and analyze before attempting any actual tuning. I'm going to be installing a Hurricane cold air box if weather permits after I download my PCM calibration. I may even get the car to the track. Baby steps first.
Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your input.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 8
From: Hayward California
Originally Posted by vetpet
Guys, let me say thanks for your words of advice. There's definitely a lot of reading I have to do. I've starting going on the EFILive forum and looking a posts. Looks like they'll soon have a good tutorial to help us newbies. Hopefully this weekend the weather allows me to take the car out and log some data as well as create a back up file. Then I can have something to look at and analyze before attempting any actual tuning. I'm going to be installing a Hurricane cold air box if weather permits after I download my PCM calibration. I may even get the car to the track. Baby steps first.
Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your input.
Yes.. don't forget to add notes to why changes are made in the tun files saved (the actual changes are already logged for us). The first thing I would do is a nice log compare on the before and after of the airbox install..
Have fun!!!!
