What's a "tune"?... duh.

[BlkOnBlk04Cobra]

Ok, I'm going to risk sounding like a complete moron, but after all I come from a time when cars didn't possess enough computing power to produce solutions to quantum physics! I'm looking at several mods for my '04 Cobra. A "custom tune" / "custom chip" is being suggested with these. ....Ok here's the dumb question - What exactly is done when you have a custom tune and how does this impact the cars performance? What are the "intelligent" questions to be asking anyone performing this on your car? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

 

[The Factor]

Ok, I'm going to risk sounding like a complete moron, but after all I come from a time when cars didn't possess enough computing power to produce solutions to quantum physics! I'm looking at several mods for my '04 Cobra. A "custom tune" / "custom chip" is being suggested with these. ....Ok here's the dumb question - What exactly is done when you have a custom tune and how does this impact the cars performance? What are the "intelligent" questions to be asking anyone performing this on your car? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

A custom tune is installed in your car via chip whitch is installed, or by flashing your computer using a hand held such as a diablo predator, whitch I highly reccomend.You should pick out your mods for your car first ,such as catback exhaust, x-pipe with or with out cats, 2.93 pulley with ported blower or 2.76 with ported blower, cold air intake, and if your reaching 500rwh with mods then a maf extender.Those are good basic mods to get you going.By getting a custom tune you can utilize those mods and have a safe air /fuel and timing curve, closed loop and open loop "wide open throttle" or partial throttle.I'm realtively new to this so hopefully I was some help and not to confusing, I also highly reccomend Jon at KrazyKoncepts, or james with RWTD For your tuning and aftermarket go-fast parts.Theyve been really good to me and allford performance.Good luck and enjoy your cobra

 

[TXSnakeCharmer]

Essentially the newer electronic cars do not provide the ability for the typical owner to make certain adjustments or changes to the car, everything is controlled by the PCM which is hard coded by Ford. A chip or flasher returns that ability in varying ways. You can do it yourself or have an experienced tuner do it for you.

Below are some of the devices you you use;

SCT Extreme Flasher or Chip
Diablo Predator
Hypertech

What are some of the things you would want to change?
*Timing/spark
*Air/fuel
*Shift patterns
*Speedo recal of different gear ratios, wheel and tire sizes
*Turn off MIL's due to O2 sensor failure from aftermarket exhaust or missing cats
*Torque retard
*etc.......

It's not as convenient as rotating the distributor or turning a screw on the carb anymore, but done correctly while being monitored can be very accurate and efficient.


That said, it wouldnt make much sense to do this untill after you had your mods installed.

Check out SuperChipsCustom (SCT), Hypertech or Diablo for good info on their devices.

 

[BlkOnBlk04Cobra]

Thanks All - Just one more way in which I'm finding this forum to be so useful. I hate sounding like an idiot, but we all learn sometime. (I'm starting off at a disadvantage to begin with - I used to think Chevy's were the bomb.... Then I bought my first mustang.. )

 

[Dr. Wu 2000]

Like was said earlier, a custom tune will optimize your upcoming mods and have your snake running at it's best while being safe at the same time.

 

[BlackenedSVT]

So how do the dyno shops tune your car then if you already have the Diablo chip in? How do they tune it if you DONT have a chip?

 

[Dr. Wu 2000]

So how do the dyno shops tune your car then if you already have the Diablo chip in? How do they tune it if you DONT have a chip?

If the tuner uses Diablo for their tunes they can just download their tune onto your existing chip if they have that capability. If you do not have a chip you will have to purchase whatever tuning software they use for their tunes (DiabloSport, SCT, Hypertech, etc.) either the chip or handheld tuner.