SCT Questions

[cyaford]

I have a few questions for those that are running/familiar with the SCT flash tuner. Tuners are also welcome to share their expertise.

I used a flash programmer on my '03 Cobra several years ago. The tune sent that was pre-installed based on my mods resulted in detonation. It wasn't until the 4th tune e-mailed to me that the car ran perfect. I do realize it is extremely hard for someone to make a tune without having the car present and on a dyno for immediate testing. If the original tune sent by the dealer is "off", will they e-mail you other tunes for free, or is it a new charge every time? I know with the Cobra, it was free, unless the tune was to compensate for a change in modifications.

My current mods are light. Smooth Tubes, filter, exhaust, and thermostat. At the most, I will add headers and a supercharger. Will the SCT tuner do the job, or should I go with a VEC 2/3? What type of gains can be seen with light mods? I see 23rwhp/25rwtq advertised as typical gains, but it doesn't say if it's on a stock car or not. I'm assuming it's on a stock car, and the parameters have been adjusted to reflect the use of 93 octane gas.

Anyone have any issues with the SCT? On 2 different occasions, the flash programmer(DiabloSport Predator) I used on the Cobra caused the car to lock up while downloading a tune. What happened was the tune did not fully take and the car went into lockdown mode. I had to call DiablSport twice and get a code that would allow the programmer to download the stock tune. If the tune did not fully take, it would think the PCM was different on the next attempt. As you know, it only works on one VIN/PCM. I will say the instructions for installing custom tunes were not that organized, so it was most likely user error on my part. I'm curious if the SCT has caused similar issues?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Viper Specialty]

SCT route will be better in this case; cleaner and easier to install, not to mention fan and idle control if so desired. The big reason to add a VEC to the system is when adding boost, that is not the case here yet. when it comes time to ad an SC, there may be FI variations of the SCT software by then to encompass that platform, or you can simply add a VEC 2/3 to the system as well, they work very well together.

We have had a few minor teething issues with the SCT, though are more from a tuner/programmer standpoint that a customer issue. We have not had any issues with tunes causing problems once in the car, only small issues during the tune writing process from parameters missing from the software, etc that have almost all been corrected/added by now.

[cyaford]

Just found some info on SCT's LiveWire flash device. Looks very promising:

Livewire Pre-Loaded / Custom Flash Device

Have you heard if the Viper will be included in the Dodge rollout later this year? Group Buy?

[Viper Specialty]

Originally Posted by cyaford

Just found some info on SCT's LiveWire flash device. Looks very promising:

Livewire Pre-Loaded / Custom Flash Device

Have you heard if the Viper will be included in the Dodge rollout later this year? Group Buy?

Live-Wire is more or less a combination Xcal2/LiveLink/Display setup.

Last I checked with SCT, there has been no movement on LiveWire for DCX products, as the XCal2 is currently filling that void. The market for the DCX product is different than GM/Ford, requiring much more tuner input, and having much higher damage costs associated with engine damage if the tune is not correct.

[cyaford]

Sorry about the other thread. I should've waited for your reply here.

I just read about the early problems you had with the SCT programmer over on SCT's forum. Have they addressed all of the issues you found? As someone who has no tuning experience, most of the talk was foreign to me.

[Viper Specialty]

As far as what was posted over there, yes, the vast majority has been corrected and re-labeled. Its still a work in progress, but at least it is showing direction toward being 100% sorted out. This doesnt matter but for the most extreme of applications, but we started it on that app from Day 1 in order to find all of its weaknesses as quickly as possible. I wasnt as upset about the issues as I was being shrugged off by a couple guys at SCT repeatedly. Once I learned who NOT to talk to, progress was made.

[cyaford]

Did they at least pay you a consultant fee for all of the issues you found? It sounded like you were the SCT Viper tester.

My favorite reply was the numerous: "Did you update it yet?" lol

Thanks for the replies Dan. I'm trying to figure out how I can spend what little tax money I'm getting back before my wife can.

[Viper Specialty]

Originally Posted by cyaford

Did they at least pay you a consultant fee for all of the issues you found? It sounded like you were the SCT Viper tester.

My favorite reply was the numerous: "Did you update it yet?" lol

Thanks for the replies Dan. I'm trying to figure out how I can spend what little tax money I'm getting back before my wife can.

haha, trust me, they would go out of business if I billed them for sorting out those problems. They certainly owe me one, though I doubt I will ever see it. Oh well, at least I learned more about its quirks than anyone else...