[JASonic]

I've been reading all these threads about tuners. Which one is better and if it should be dyno tuned or not etc. There are quite a few 6er enthusiasts that dont have major mods and could benefit from a tuner.

The problem is sifting through all the crap. Some people around here are somehow "hooked" up with certain brands which is fine and all but it somehow makes you biased just a bit.

Once and for all, whats the best tuner and why? Is there really a good way to do it without having to take your car a billion miles to some shop for a dyno run? Is it worth it even if you never get nitrous or turbos and just want a little more from a 6?

[Onemanzu]

there is no best when it comes to tuners like that for a stock car... its best to use what ever your local people use

[HMUSN]

^ exactly. it's not the tuner.. it's the person tuning your car that matters.

[JASonic]

so when I order one online and it comes to my house I cant just plug it in and make my car a bit better? I have to take it to a shop. See, the shop is 45 minutes away and they will make me buy it through them... which is fine but if I can do it myself that would be better. Im not needing to tune for spray or turbos, just to get a little better gas mileage or maybe on occasion to change shift points. Isnt there one that is safe to do that with on your own? Something I can learn with and change as a hobby right from my own garage and computer. My reality is that Im not driving a dragster nor am I trying to get a tenth of a second off of a time. This car will never see competition in anyway on any track. I just want one to have fun with. Maybe feel a little difference in my butt dyno.

[HMUSN]

you can buy an xcal with a canned tune on it and your able to change some of the basic settings by yourself at home.
beware.. if you don't know what your doing leave it to the pros.. tunes can be done through e-mail

[JASonic]

Originally Posted by HMUSN you can buy an xcal with a canned tune on it and your able to change some of the basic settings by yourself at home. beware.. if you don't know what your doing leave it to the pros.. tunes can be done through e-mail

Cool, this is what I was hoping for. A canned tune. I dont care if it doesnt tune it tune its most perfect optimal setting. I just want it to make enough difference for me to feel.

I thought I seen one once that had different settings in it. For example, the shift points. The screen reads "soft" "hard" and "agressive" or something like that. You could just pick one and run with it. It didnt seem like you NEEDED a shop to do it. Whats your opinion on this???

[HMUSN]

this is the one you would be looking at then
SCT Flash custom tuning, XCal2, Datalogging, PLX Devices Widebands and gauges

you don't "need" a shop to tune your car but like a said.. know what your doing or you might blow you car up. lol

[JASonic]

SHIT! Dont want to blow up anything but my girlfriend.

Seriously, if I just use the basics and use common sense, would I be alright? In combination with bugging the shit out of you when I get it?

[HMUSN]

you should be fine. my personal opinion is why mess with it in the first place? if you buy an xcal from trick tuners the tunes are free for 2 years anyway.

[gooberhead320]

you can do a lot with sniper. dont need to have an email tune. most of the stuff you can do without blowing up your engine... when it gets to like timing and a/f you can just leave it alone. it will ask you simple questions like what exhaust you have, cai etc... simple stuff

[JASonic]

where can I get the best deal on a wideband O2 sensor and can I install that easily myself? Says its required for the Xcal.

[JASonic]

Originally Posted by gooberhead320 you can do a lot with sniper. dont need to have an email tune. most of the stuff you can do without blowing up your engine... when it gets to like timing and a/f you can just leave it alone. it will ask you simple questions like what exhaust you have, cai etc... simple stuff

This is the one Juggs says is great. I looked at the Sniper. It looked safe and easy as well.

[vfast]

$$$$$ depends if you want to put it together yourself

[HMUSN]

Originally Posted by JASonic where can I get the best deal on a wideband O2 sensor and can I install that easily myself? Says its required for the Xcal.

it's only required on a highly modded car for data logging.
for a bolt on car you don't really "need" one but I would recommend it regardless.

trick tuners also sells wide bands, mafs, ect.. anything tune related..

[vfast]

if this is a stock car..why bother? 350-400 bux....were not talking alot of hp from one of these without a wide band tune

[Trick Tuners]

Originally Posted by HMUSN it's only required on a highly modded car for data logging. for a bolt on car you don't really "need" one but I would recommend it regardless. trick tuners also sells wide bands, mafs, ect.. anything tune related..

right!

[2002BLGT]

Originally Posted by JASonic This is the one Juggs says is great. I looked at the Sniper. It looked safe and easy as well.

It is about as easy as it gets and like everyone else says , with bolt ons a wideband is not required , but definitely advised for power adder cars ...

[Onemanzu]

i just tuned... like JUST tuned my car ... email tunes are easy once you find where you saved the program too...

cleared all my CEL's and it doesn't bog in the upper RPM's anymore