Do you guys really expect a shop that's not selling a developed "product" to experiment on your car and if they can't produce more power then there's no charge for the attempt?

 

Depends how you define an attempt...As soon as they hook the car up to their tuning computer, they should be able to tell ASAP if they can change things or not...There are a lot of cars that have strong ecu "firewalls" and if the tuner is unable to crack it, then I don't think they should pay...

Now if they're spending hours on the dyno and unable to get improved hp results, due to the car "fighting back" by retarding timing or something, then I do believe you should pay...

 

Like others, I am following this ECU tuning thread in the hopes it'd finally happen stateside with good results and good value. Unfortunately, things have not worked out yet but I'm trying to remain positive and keep my hopes high.

I'm new to the world of ECU tuning but have been intrigued by this practice since the late 1990s when I was racing a 1997 WS6 Pontiac Formula Firebird. Like most people, I have a personal need to become knowledgeable enough to understand and ask proper questions before a purchase is made. I have read many magazines, the web and a few books from my local library to better understand what is involved.
Some of you who have posted to this thread know that last month I had before and after dynos run with my STR following an exhaust modification. After my second dyno, the shop's tuner and I had a conversation. First of all, he said "our sc engines appear to be extremely consistent when under full load". I asked him what he thought about the fuel to air ratio measurements and he said this. "Your ratios for the first dyno are a bit rich to achieve maximum power for a sc engine across all rpms." He then stated that "Your ratios after the exhaust modification were more ideal for maximum power. The exhaust system may have leaned out the system due to higher/better flow - - yielding more power - - more area under the curve across the entire rpm range."
2005 Jaguar S-Type R Exhaust Mod on Dyno Dynamics dyno - YouTube

I have been searching, but not locating, other STR dyno air to fuel ratios. Do you guys have any data you can post or send to me via PM? I have not researched 4.2 XJRs yet but plan to. Shouldn't an XJRs ratio be essentially the same as a STRs?.?.?.

 

Any SC jag 4.2 which uses the SAME Denso PCM is likely very similar. I think recent XJRs do but early ones maybe didn't (maybe those were the 4.0 XJRs - I'm no expert on the guts of the XJR).

I suspect no Ford uses the Denso PCM, but would love to know - anyone know what's in the later year Lincoln LS? Still the PCM150? Same question about T'bird.

 

Thanks for posting the dyno sheet...Man, you're close to the limit, stock on a your AFR (air fuel ratios)...A lot of people tune to a conservative 11.5 with 12.5 being very aggressive...Also interesting to see the AFRs progressively declining, that could mean the car is pulling timing...Also that was only one gear, while generally you can expect the AFRs to be similar in each gear, it's important to know for sure...

What this means, if you're running AFRs near 12.5, there's nothing to tune on the fuel maps/trims...Timing and redline shift points are where the big gains are...I'm now really interested to dyno my car so I can see what AFR puts down on a STR with only 3lb pulley...

 

Today I spoke with the owner of Lomotion Automotive again and he sounded cooled off. He said the tuner had performed an ECU tune on a 4.2 S/C Jag and may have the software/map. He proposed the possibility to bench tune my ECU using known remap and see if I notice any perfrmance increase. I'll ask to see the data. According to Mafioso our STR's have a generous 25 degrees of total timing at WOT and a 10.5 a/f ratio. He advizes a 12 to 12.3 a/f ratio as safe from too lean a burn and max. power.

 

Well let me ask you this. Would you want to deal with a medical colleague who operated in this manner if it was your health at risk?

 

Very true Bob. Thanks for the sobering common sense. I won't let these guys get close to my car again.

 

I'll chip in. I'm Very Interested..... There's also a place in Smyrna GA that does a buch of other cars. They were offering Dyno's for well less than a 100 bucks a pull back on the 8th of this month (October). I posted the flyer in the engine and performance enhancement section, and a few people had looked at it. It might be worth it for us to reach out and contact them. Here's a repost of the flyer sent to me with the address and contact information.

 

Docuzzie, I lived in Smyrna, GA. for a few years back in the late 80's. Where's the dyno outfit? Di they say they had the software for Jaguar?

 

Unfortunately, I don't know if they specifically do STR work. I've dealt with a few engineers that work for that company with my E55 AMG 4 years ago. I think they're "OPEN" to looking into some things. I included a flyer from an email sent to me with the address. In case it didn't show up, I'll post the contact information and address for the organization in text here.

If you pursue, please keep me posted because I'll go in halfsies with you to get some decent results.

B.I. Performance

1500 Cumberland Pkwy SE.
Unit 2
Smyrna, GA 30080

Tony Lawshee
Tuner / Performance Specialist

Performance Location
1500 Cumberland Pkwy.
Smyrna, GA 30080
Tel. 770.874.1807
Fax. 770.874.1809

Buckhead Location
28 Irby Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30305
Tel. 404.816.9606
Fax. 404.841.6481

 

Since I just moved to GA, I called him...No dice for "in house", he sends the ecu out to either Mina or the NY...I care less about AFRs and more about redline shift points anyways...

 

Thanks Docuzzie. Lomotion Automotive called me today. They're going to pull the bone stock STR they tuned in California to the dyno and pull data. They want to dyno tune mine (in NY of course). They said they begin conservatively with a/f ratios, likely 13:1. Since I'm not sure with these guys, I ended the call with a "Let me know what you find with the CA. STR.

 

Interesting. My STR is from CA also, it has CA emissions on it still. I just had it shipped here in Feb of this year because my MB died after 627,000 hard driven miles LOL. <---Car Killer. BTW, I'm in Maryland but I'm a native New Yorker, born and raised. Have a home in LI and go back there every other weekend.

If you're thinking about getting some work done and it's in NY, let me know. Again, I'll go halfsies with you on the cost and remain hopeful of getting our guys something useful.

 

About the Lincoln LS and Tbird ECU's. They don't have the Denso like the Jag. I have a SCT tuner for my wife's 2003 LS sport. Change shift points, tire OD to correct the speedo. For more in-depth tuning I have to send out for a program from a tuner. There are several for the LS. I paid about $100 for the file. You load it into the programmer from your PC then on the you use the OBDII port on your car. The SCT also reads and clears trouble codes.

It made a noticeable different in the LS. Car could chirp the tires a bit longer. Transmission felt better. But it was not a lot. The new cars are tuned pretty good from the factory.
.
.
.

 

Thanks. I had a feeling Ford would not have used Densos. Any idea what CPU is inside the PCM?

I've heard of SCT but just a little, must find out more (curiosity LOL).

How big a file is a tune? Any on the web I could download?

 

Docuzzie, I'll keep you posted as to info. Lomotion gathers from STR they tuned.

 

Nice of you to jump in too Docuzzie! I'm sure Seth doesn't mind a little cooperation on that front. Keep up the fight you guys!

 

How's it going Chris? And yep, I have serious interest in identifying credible mods for our cars. I'll say this, I get looks in the Maz, because of the price tag. I get looks in this car because it's just extra-ordinarily attractive. Additionally, where I live, it seems the really successful ballers are the only ones who drive this type of car so the local police aren't nearly as anxious to chase my Jag as they do the dodges, corvettes and other asphalt scorchers you when you're going 20 mph+ over the posted limits.

"I personally attest to this". Can't say much for those stupid little speed cameras though... To get the STR up to its rightful place and full potential would be fantastic. Heck, if I could get a 16 valve 4 cylinder Eclipse with a base of 215hp with it's default turbo up to 525hp, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE LOL.

 

I'm going to try to get my car down to Brett in Oceanside to see if he can do anything with the ecu in our cars in the next few weeks. I'll let you know how it goes.

Does anyone know if there are tuners such as sct for denso computer units? Maybe not specifically our model, but denso computer units in general? I don't know much about the denso stuff or imports for that matter.