Best Handheld Programmer?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 720
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From: TEWKSBURY MA
Best Handheld Programmer?
I have an 04 ZO6 with borla exhaust and adding vararam b2 also have 19" wheels on order. Will you get much out of the performance tune that is in programmer? Thanks in advance 
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Roanoke VA
You can tune with a handheld to increase the performance of your car and change other parameters such as fans, tire size, and gear ratio.
I have a Predator for a 2004 for sale, make a fair offer.
Dick Abbott
I have a Predator for a 2004 for sale, make a fair offer.
Dick Abbott
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 2
From: Tallahassee FL
Originally Posted by robinde
Don't bother with the hand tuner just have your car tuned on a dyno by the pros. Its a lot more bang for the buck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Originally Posted by Rich Z
But what if that isn't really an option? It appears I am in a tuner-poor area here in Tallahassee, FL. Or is that really normal and people will drive 3 to 4 hours to get a tune?
Check out the website Jesse Bubb is very helpful.
http://www.wait4meperformance.com/
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 2
From: Tallahassee FL
For some reason the idea of pulling the brain out of my Z and sending it off just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. Do much risk of an "oops" event. And the car is DOWN the entire time, being brain dead.
So what does it take to remove the PCM? If someone can do a tune like this by having my PCM on the bench without TESTING the results on the car itself, why couldn't one of the handhelds be programmed via a downloadable file to do the same thing?
Or even with HPtuner or EFILive, don't they have the option to accept a custom file for a tune created remotely?
So what does it take to remove the PCM? If someone can do a tune like this by having my PCM on the bench without TESTING the results on the car itself, why couldn't one of the handhelds be programmed via a downloadable file to do the same thing?
Or even with HPtuner or EFILive, don't they have the option to accept a custom file for a tune created remotely?
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,793
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From: Northville, MI
Ideally find someone with locally with HPtuners, EFILive or other enhanced GM scan software, log a 20 minute run from regular driving to high speed and send email the log to the appropriate tuner. They can give you and excellent tune when you send them your PCM. Unless you are setting up for drag racing or NO/FI you will get a more thorough tune from a 20 minute log run than a dyno.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 2
From: Tallahassee FL
Originally Posted by Gordy M
Ideally find someone with locally with HPtuners, EFILive or other enhanced GM scan software, log a 20 minute run from regular driving to high speed and send email the log to the appropriate tuner. They can give you and excellent tune when you send them your PCM. Unless you are setting up for drag racing or NO/FI you will get a more thorough tune from a 20 minute log run than a dyno.
Is there an inexpensive product that can be used just for the log capture process? I really can't see the need to purchase something from $400 to $800 for what could be a one shot use.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by robinde
Don't bother with the hand tuner just have your car tuned on a dyno by the pros. Its a lot more bang for the buck.
I did AFR tuning with a handheld; and it was on the street - not simulated on a dyno.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Originally Posted by Rich Z
If someone can do a tune like this by having my PCM on the bench without TESTING the results on the car itself, why couldn't one of the handhelds be programmed via a downloadable file to do the same thing?
Because a good handheld programmer will run you $400 and a mail order tune will run you $75-$150.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 2
From: Tallahassee FL
Originally Posted by D_BlueVette
Because a good handheld programmer will run you $400 and a mail order tune will run you $75-$150.
So ideally what I would want (I think) is a handheld that could capture the logging data for my car, send that off to a mail tuner, and have them send me back a file based on the data I sent them, and then install this tune through the handheld.
Does any handheld offer this capability?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,736
Likes: 217
From: Arizona AZ
Originally Posted by Rich Z
Well yeah, but there is shipping both ways for the PCM (hoping UPS doesn't send it to Siberia), plus the car is dead in the water for the duration waiting for the PCM to be implanted again. And if the tune is botched, start over again. (Yeah I have an intimate relationship with Murphy's Law.)
So ideally what I would want (I think) is a handheld that could capture the logging data for my car, send that off to a mail tuner, and have them send me back a file based on the data I sent them, and then install this tune through the handheld.
Does any handheld offer this capability?
So ideally what I would want (I think) is a handheld that could capture the logging data for my car, send that off to a mail tuner, and have them send me back a file based on the data I sent them, and then install this tune through the handheld.
Does any handheld offer this capability?
Inquiring minds want to know............is there??????????????
