Switching Tunes: Failed switch led to dead car

[MrClean]

So I was at Qwkcoupe's house, and when I was leaving I switched from the 93Tq to 93Race tune, but the uploading failed. I tried starting the procedure again, and it just wouuldn't do it. The car wouldn't turn over. At this point I was FREAKING OUT! So instead of trying to load a tune, I loded the stock tune, and the car started, but idled real rough. and would fall on its face when I revved it. Shut it off, then tried loading the tune again, and this time it worked. I'm not messing with it anymore: it's staying on 93Race unless I have to go in to the dealer for a warranty related issue, or I'm in BFE and I can't find premium gas (97Prf).

What do y'all think happened. is this a commom occurence once in 100 times?

 

[94tbird]

my tune failed to upload once, but thats cause my foot got caught in the wire and pulled it out of the port. i jsut reconnected and started over. no problems. it is a weird prob. if you could load the stock tune, you shouuld be able to load ur custom tune again i would think

 

[cekim]

my tune failed to upload once, but thats cause my foot got caught in the wire and pulled it out of the port. i jsut reconnected and started over. no problems. it is a weird prob. if you could load the stock tune, you shouuld be able to load ur custom tune again i would think

I would think so too...

Its posible there is some noise in your system (poor solder joint, misplaced wire, etc...) and every now and then it will bomb...

It _shouldn't_ but then PCs shouldn't crash either but they do...

The rough running cycle is not surprising - if the load half completed, who knows what state the PCM was in? All the trim tables could have been garbage... Once it starts up - it has been normal practice for a long time in car ECMs to not apply changes until the next time it starts... So that cycle sounds normal...

Worth keeping an eye on, but try the "microsoft one button solution"TM for now...

 

[DynoJoe]

the ruff idle was most likely because you loaded the stock tune and it has an aftermarket intake.

 

[MrClean]

the ruff idle was most likely because you loaded the stock tune and it has an aftermarket intake.

Yes, correct; the stock tune loaded successfully, and that's when it ran/idled rough, felt like it had a leak in the vaccum....but that was because the C&L is so much more efficient at sucking the air in. After I shut it down, I was able to reload the 93Race tune successfully. one element that I hadn't mentioned is that Qwkcoupe was in the pass seat, and moved while the load was happening...could he have triggered the "pass airbag-off" momentarily as he shifted his weight and the ECM go haywire as a result?

Anyway it was a good lesson....don't swap tunes for the hell of it, and DON'T swap them anywhere but your garage if you can help it!

 

[ZmanM3]

Don't you have to put the stock tune back in when switching between tunes with some tuners?

 

[MrClean]

Umm...I don't know....anyone? anyone?

 

[don_w]

Don't you have to put the stock tune back in when switching between tunes with some tuners?

Not with the SCT...

 

[S197 GT]

Just a fluke issue.

It's happened to me a couple of times in the last few years.

Just pull out the ODB II plug and try it again. You should be fine.

No big deal...

Don't be afraid to reload the tune that you wanted to.

If you still cannot load it, it may be time to look into the tune being corrupted from email issues or whatnot. Maybe Doug could resend the tune to you.

 

[MrClean]

Just a fluke issue.

It's happened to me a couple of times in the last few years.

Just pull out the ODB II plug and try it again. You should be fine.

No big deal...

Don't be afraid to reload the tune that you wanted to.

If you still cannot load it, it may be time to look into the tune being corrupted from email issues or whatnot. Maybe Doug could resend the tune to you.

Thanks; I guess I also think it was a 1 in 100 fluke, because after loading the stock tune, disconnecting the OBDII & restarting the process, I was able to reload the 93Race tune without an issue, and that's what Ive been driving around with today. The reason I started the thread was to see if this has happened to anyone else and if it was common occurrence.

Thanks for your responses.

 

[MikeVistaBlue06]

You might of experienced a voltage sag or spike, especially if something switched on in the middle of loading your tune. We call this a "transient" in the EE world.

I turn everything off, and even go out under the hood and disconnect the fuse to my Saleen intercooler pump so it won't turn on, when I change tunes.

Also, I try to change tunes when the engine is cool enough so that the radiator fan won't be switching on as well.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[VSOP]

Hmm.. that is weird.. But at least it loaded back up for you... Would suck to have to have a dealer reset the computer code

 

[MrClean]

Hmm.. that is weird.. But at least it loaded back up for you... Would suck to have to have a dealer reset the computer code

Yeah, that would qualify as one of the definitions of "suck". BTW, I left a vmail for Doug asking if the Tq tune has a much richer A/F mixture in the 750-4000 rpm range. I'm interested to hear his response. I really like the Tq tune, but since it is soooo easy to hammer it for a short time, taking advantage of the tq, to accelerate, and then back off, I'm wary of fouling the plugs. I'm hoping the tq also comes from a different timing setting.

 

[MrClean]

So, at how many posts do you graduate from being a "member" to a "senior member"?

 

[MikeVistaBlue06]

Yeah, that would qualify as one of the definitions of "suck". BTW, I left a vmail for Doug asking if the Tq tune has a much richer A/F mixture in the 750-4000 rpm range. I'm interested to hear his response. I really like the Tq tune, but since it is soooo easy to hammer it for a short time, taking advantage of the tq, to accelerate, and then back off, I'm wary of fouling the plugs. I'm hoping the tq also comes from a different timing setting.

I got an idea for cleaning fouled plugs. It sounds crazy but I believe it will work.

Put a fouled plug in a vise, and torch the hell outta it with a propane torch. That will burn all the carbon off.

I took the plug out of the lawnmower and did this and it cleaned it right up!

Be DAMN SURE to let it cool REAL GOOD before putting it back in the car!

One problem we all may be experiencing with these plugs is if they are relatively new and we go WOT on them, they "glaze."

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

[MikeVistaBlue06]

So, at how many posts do you graduate from being a "member" to a "senior member"?

I believe it will be 100.

I just made member when I hit 50.

Mike

 

[VSOP]

That would be a question for the pit of suggestion/board area

 

[94tbird]

does it matter? we are all site admins now hahaha

 

[VSOP]

site admin with ZERO Powers

 

[ZmanM3]

VSOP just wants the power to change Rons post count.