SCT Xcalibrator 2 Questions...

Give Me TP · Jan 9, 2006

If you have to buy a performance tune or tunes it should not cost a lot, since many SCT dealers are now offering them and competition keeps prices reasonable. I would be surprised if does not even allow you to adjust your stock tune, since both the Predator and Superchips tuners allow some user adjustments to your base factory tune. Also, consider a dyno tune from a shop using SCT software.

A Predator, when bought new or used, is set up with a generic performance tune common to all Predator tuners and the option to apply coarse adjustments to that performance tune or your stock tune. Like the XCal 2, a dealer or a dyno shop can write a custom tune or tunes for it.

blackfang · Jan 9, 2006

Like i have said earlier, they are locked according to the code on that cars ecu. So you can not sell your Xcal to any other person unless they have the exact same ecu code.

02_TruBlu · Jan 9, 2006

blackfang said:
Like i have said earlier, they are locked according to the code on that cars ecu. So you can not sell your Xcal to any other person unless they have the exact same ecu code.

Clarify locked. The one that I have is not locked so far as it has the prior owners tunes on it which I can program my car with. I can read codes and datalog which can be done if it is locked or not. But I can not modify the tunes on the device nor make changes to my car other than flashing with the tunes on it.

jstreet0204 · Jan 9, 2006

blackfang said:
Like i have said earlier, they are locked according to the code on that cars ecu. So you can not sell your Xcal to any other person unless they have the exact same ecu code.

While it appears that you have done alot of research, unfortunately, you have misinterpretted some of the information you have received as far as how over all tuning works. The ECU code has to do with the strategy required for the tune, not the hardware. Whether it is diablo, SCT, Tweecer, shiftmaster, etc. any tune needs to base on the available parameters which vary between ECU codes.

The XCal can be used on another vehicle, but it has to be unlocked from the vin and reflashed with the proper ECU strategy.

This is straight out of the XCal manual.

The XCalibrator 2 can store up to three programs plus the stock tune from a vehicle. The dealer will create up to
three different tunes for the vehicle and then upload these tunes to the XCalibrator 2. The first time it is used, it
downloads the stock processor tune of the vehicle and the VIN. The XCalibrator 2 is then locked to that vehicle
– it will not work on multiple vehicles. The dealer CAN re-use a XCalibrator 2 up to three different times on
different vehicles, but before that can happen, the vehicle it is currently VIN-locked to, must be flashed back
to stock configuration. The dealer can change tunes for a customer as many times as desired, as long as the
XCalibrator will be used on the same vehicle.

blackfang · Jan 9, 2006

jstreet0204 said:
While it appears that you have done alot of research, unfortunately, you have misinterpretted some of the information you have received as far as how over all tuning works. The ECU code has to do with the strategy required for the tune, not the hardware. Whether it is diablo, SCT, Tweecer, shiftmaster, etc. any tune needs to base on the available parameters which vary between ECU codes.

The XCal can be used on another vehicle, but it has to be unlocked from the vin and reflashed with the proper ECU strategy.

This is straight out of the XCal manual.

Again proving my point. Like I said, that you can't just use the same xcal among different cars.That is what I have said in this thread. I have stated that the Xcals are vin locked to that car. You can not use them on any other cars unless they are reflashed back to stock and new tunes loaded into it by a rep with the new ecu code.

They are locked to that vin and you the customer cant change that. you can reflash it back to stock and then

ForPointSex · Jan 9, 2006

02_TruBlu said:
My 2c.

I bought a used XCal2 and was not aware of SCT's business setup. This is not a bash or anything negative about SCT, but a buyer be aware. If you buy a new one, you are good to go. But since the one I bought was for a different car, the tunes were of no use. If I want a tune, I have to pay for one, unless I can find a willing person with a base GT tune that can send me a tune file. If I want to make simple changes such as traction control or tire size changes, I am SOL. So I can use it to read codes and datalog, but to make changes or tune I have to spend more money. I thought it was flashed with a generic base tune and that if purchased of a dealer, extra tweaked tunes would be loaded onto it.

So for everyone's knowledge, is the Predator setup this way, as in a generic ODBII device that is setup by the dealer or does it come with generic tunes and things u can change so even if it exchanges hands (unlocked of course) changes can be made?

Any first hand knowledge/experience with the Sniper lineup?

If you ask for a base tune for your car at SCT forums, they will give it to you. You can than change your tire size, gear ratio's... and if your lucky and get a ll3 file, minor adjustments (timing +- 2 deg), (minor A/F ratio), cooling fan on/off temps...

But for a performance tune, you gota pay a SCT dealer.

Xcal2 SF comes with 3 canned tunes for all mustangs (just like the Predator). They are NOT locked to a perticular ECU code. You should of bought this instead of a xcal2 with a custom tune for a different car.

jstreet0204 · Jan 9, 2006

blackfang said:
Again proving my point. Like I said, that you can't just use the same xcal among different cars.That is what I have said in this thread. I have stated that the Xcals are vin locked to that car. You can not use them on any other cars unless they are reflashed back to stock and new tunes loaded into it by a rep with the new ecu code.

They are locked to that vin and you the customer cant change that. you can reflash it back to stock and then

no, you said it was locked to the ecu code and could only be used on another vehicle with the same ecu code, when in fact it is locked to the VIN and can be reused on up the three vehicles regarless of ecu code as long as it is unlocked from the original cars VIN. It also can not be used on another vehicle even with the same ecu code if it is not unlocked from the original VIN. The customer can unlock it from the vin by returning it to stock and unlocking it with the XTreme tune software.
http://www.sctflash.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3417&highlight=locked

Regardless, I'm not pushing either product, but I don't see how this differs much from the way the predator works with a custom tune.

jstreet0204 · Jan 9, 2006

menasci said:
Well, I work with a guy who has one and will sell it to me.
He has a 98 v6 stang.
No idea where he got it, it was a gift.
Should I buy it?

Here is the answer to your question.
http://www.sctflash.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3417&highlight=locked

COramprat · Jan 9, 2006

I think it has been answered many times here but I will say it again. IF you buy the Xcal 2 used you WILL have to get the original owner to flash his car back to stock and then have your own tune loaded.

I was going to have mine reflashed with new dyno tunes for the cost of dyno and tuner time...no extra cost to load the tune. I decided to trade for a SCT switch chip and let the tuner have my Xcal2 because, realistically, I had no use for all of the features plus I didn't like the process for loading different tunes. My year model (96-98) required you to disconnect the battery after flashing the computer. All other cars require you to disconnect the fan and fuel pump fuses during the flash. The switch chip I can change on the fly.

So the cost of my Xcal new($325...don't ask where I got it...there are none at this price anymore ) Plus my dyno tune ($215) came to $540 compared to $625 my friend paid at the same shop for his chip and dyno tune. I came out a little ahead (at this shop...others may be cheaper or more expensive).

blackfang · Jan 9, 2006

jstreet0204 said:
no, you said it was locked to the ecu code and could only be used on another vehicle with the same ecu code, when in fact it is locked to the VIN and can be reused on up the three vehicles regarless of ecu code as long as it is unlocked from the original cars VIN. It also can not be used on another vehicle even with the same ecu code if it is not unlocked from the original VIN. .

Yeah I know way upo before you posted I said it was vin locked
http://forums.stangnet.com/showpost.php?p=5815979&postcount=30

I am not going to go into extra details on the entire operation of the device in an argument when it would be irrelevant. Read some of the first posts on this page and you will see vin locking was mentioned a long time ago by me. However, I didn't go into the process of how to unlock it and re use it as its wasnt a topic.

02_TruBlu · Jan 10, 2006

ForPointSex said:
If you ask for a base tune for your car at SCT forums, they will give it to you. You can than change your tire size, gear ratio's... and if your lucky and get a ll3 file, minor adjustments (timing +- 2 deg), (minor A/F ratio), cooling fan on/off temps...

But for a performance tune, you gota pay a SCT dealer.

Xcal2 SF comes with 3 canned tunes for all mustangs (just like the Predator). They are NOT locked to a perticular ECU code. You should of bought this instead of a xcal2 with a custom tune for a different car.

Thanx ForPointSex. I will go there and see if I can get such a file. I am not really concerned about a performance tune, just a basic that I can do small changes to. I wasn't aware of the Strategy Flasher till after I had the XCal2 already.

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