Can any of you DIYers tell me how difficult it is to learn how to use HP Tuners software ?

After looking around and pricing what it would cost to tune my car. I'm considering purchasing the software and doing it myself.

Can anyone shed some light for me ?

 

Anyone guys... comments ?

 

It helps if you know the very basics of how an engine functions...airflow, fuel delivery, ignition timing, etc. If that escapes you, tuning software is probably not for you.

Even for the old school pros who could turn a distributor or jet a carb to perfection, although modern tuning remains the same basic principles, it's much more detail-oriented and that aspect makes it overwhelming and difficult for many to initially grasp.

If you're computer-savvy, and know how an engine works, it could be the best investment "mod" you'll ever make....but it does take time to learn and apply.

If you're just needing a tune for a newly-modded car and just want to drive it, or don't care to devote a lot of time to learning the tune game...then paying a pro to fix you up is still a good bargain.

 

I do know my way around a car. I do most of my own work and I'm a pretty good do-it-yourselfer. I also know my way around a computer.



As for you last comment. My car will be newly modded and a local tuner wants $500 bucks to do a tune. So I figure if I'm going to pay that much money, I may as well buy the software and do itmyself.

 

You sound like you thought Y2Kvert4me was attacking you ... he's just answering your question .....

You need some understanding of how the PCM functions, such as the difference between when it is in "open loop" versus "closed loop" operation, for example.

If you have the time to learn to tune your car, it is a great thing to do, but remember if you get it wrong (for example you run too lean in open loop) you can do way more than $500 in damage to the engine.

Also, a tuner should be putting your car on a dyno and verifying that everything is operating properly after the tune, you should ask what a dyno run would cost to verify your tune.

I wouldn't look on self tuning as a way to save money .... it is a GREAT way to learn about how the PCM operates and controls your car but that is all.

 

I don't believe that you will be able to learn tuning software and tuning quickly. One option is to buy the tuning software and start learning. Then mod your car and get a mail order tune for about $150 from someone like ECS when they have a deal going. Then you can load the tune with your software instead of shipping PCM around. This will allow you to learn quicker by seeing what changes they made. This will still cost you more than $500, but depends on your long term plans and desires!

 

Putting it on the dyno for an hour is another $100 bucks on top of the tune fees.

 

What are you doing to the car?

Are you going to do more to the car?

Don't expect to put a new cam in and get it running in a timely fashion with tuning software. Guys on efi live readily admit it takes 2 yrs to figure out and they still don't know all the tricks.

I would go with HPtuners if I were to do it again. I like learing how to log and use the software, but it sucks to have all the mechanical work (I did all the flycutting cam head and clutch install myself) done but the car just sits there because it runs like **** while you poke around with 1000 different parameters after trying to figure out how to wire the wide band 02 up when there are different schematics and instructions that conflict between the innovate O2 and the efi live not to mention the schematics reference more wires with different colors. I was left there testing the wires resistances and conductivity.

You'll hear Follow the tutorial or the installation guide, it's not interactive after you press start except for the fact you can pause it over watch it again. It's like an onion with endless layers to peal off. Like levels in a vedio game. Do you want your car to be held hostage while you try to consult forums instructions and make phone calls?

I got fed up after 2 months of dicking around.

So I'm ending up with the efilive software and going to a tuner. That's a lot more expensive than just going with a tuner. Funny thing is when I called the guy that sold me efilive for help, he recommended a tuner that uses hptuners and he wasn't able to help me because of that!

The only positive thing that came out of it was finding a good local tuner through the efilive forum. Use the HPTuners forum to locate a good tuner in the area that can do a speed density tune. You will find someone really compitent who won't rip you off that is local.

 

I use EFI Live and love it. I didn't know really anything about tuning when I first started but the more I mess with it the more you will learn. As said above you need to learn how the pcm works and what controls what or you will be setting in the dark. I just figured if tuners can do it then I can learn also.. I'm no pro but I'm getting it all figured out, just takes time. Just remember one thing, always save your current tune before ya go changing things. If ya screw up and the car won't run just flash it back to stock, no harm done..

 

Your in Texas!

There are a ton of good tuners down there, don't mess around with the software, go to them and make sure they don't have a rookie on it. Stand there and watch the process. They should use the dyno as well as take it on the street.

Depending on your mods a good tune should take 2-3 hrs.

Don't get caught by the tail pipe pirates that cram an O2 in there and "tune" your care in 30 min.

If you pay a mechanic $75/hr labbor, how much time would you expect a $600 tune to take if done properly?

 

I'm going to install a G5X3 cam and LT headers. So I'm looking into buy the HP Tuners software after I was quoted basically $600 bucks for a tune and dyno time. the HP Tuners software is about $450 bucks. So there in is my delema.

 

That's exactly what I'm thinking. If they can do it, why can't I ? They had to start somewhere as well didn't they ? And I do realize that working with software, that one thing always affects something else.

 

Check out the Scan & Tune section and LS1 Tech.

 

Here's a typical "new" user still trying to figure out how to tune using a newly installed WB (Wide Band) O2 sensor ..... If you understand what they are talking about .... you're off to a good start .... otherwise, realize this is not something you'll figure out in a week .... as a previous post points out, there are many people who are still learning after working with the tune software for over 2 years .....

http://www.hptuners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19276

Unless you have a LOT of time to "play" with your tune ... trust me .... a tuner is reasonable at $500 or $600 ......

 

Don't forget you have to get a wideband O2 to make this work right, and that's another $200.

I'm sure you could learn the software just as I'm sure I could, but do you want it to consume every spare minute of your free time?

I have better things to do than sit there in a garage all summer and make my living other places than tuning a car.

 

I'm one of those "old school" guys. I had several 1st gen Camaros that I've built from the ground up. I assemble my own motors and fix my own stuff when it breaks.

I don't want to spend "all" my time in the garage, but at the same time I don't want to turn a blind eye to my Vette just because all the engine managment runs off a computer. I'd like to be able fix it myself sooner or later.

 

I may be differant but I'm always out there for an adventure. I hate to have people do things for me. I wanted to learn just for my self. I guess I like knowing how to do things that other people don't.

 

A little food for thought:

The engineers that created the PCM tables for the LS1 spent YEARS developing and testing them. The tuners out there who actually know what they are doing have been at the game for just as many years. Not saying you can't learn, but no one on this board is going to give you bad advice on this subject. It is easier to mess up your car by tuning something incorrectly than it is to get everything right the first time around on your own. I remember one of the supporting tuners on here offering a class on how to tune (don't remember the software used) I really recommend you take advantage of something like that

 

That's funny, because Iwas thinking the same thing. I'm going to see if anyone around here offers classes on how to use the software. I'm with mvvette97, I'd wanted to learn it just for myself.

 

6 months ago when I bought the software I was of the same mind set.

How cool modern day version of jetting a carb and setting the timing...

lol.. I agree with the post that say don't htink tuning your car yourself will save you money.

Get the software, I don't regret having it as a tool, but also be open to getting a tuner to work with you and the software to expedite the process. The class sounds like a great idea if you can get to it, I saw a post up about it in June. It was an HP Tuners based class as well.

Just know all the little extras really add up fast and you may get to a point where wish your car was running and you had the $500 spent on figuring out the software in your pocket so you can blow the $$ driving your car.