Tuner Questions -- Looking Up to Date Info

[favjr]

I'm sorry to start another thread about this, but a search yields a LOT of conflicting information, and some of it is obviously out of date. So I am looking for up-to-date answers to all the stupid questions.

I have an '03 B with no mods. I'm planning on upgrading the air intake and the rear sway bar, but that's about it for the near future. I am interested in getting an SCT Tuner. I do not want to switch my stock chip right now -- I'll do that when the warranty expires. I am not planning on racing this car -- it has to double as the family truckster. I just want it to perform a bit better than it does right now. Here are my questions:

1. Are there tuners for stock chips? It appears to me that there are, but believe it or not, there are conflicting posts on this. A google search yields even more confusion.

2. I see references to a plain "SCT", a "9100 SCT", and recently a "9300 SCT". What's the difference?

3. Is the tuner re-programmable (i.e., can I download new programs from somewhere and use them), or is it just a hard-wired box that you plug in, select 1, 2, or 3 and that's it?

4. How much do they cost (today)? I've seen prices ranging from $350-$800. I know several vendors here sell them, and - hint, hint -- I do plan to buy from one of them HERE if I can find something that makes sense for me. And no, much as I'd like to, I don't have time to call each and every one of you to find out what you have right now that might suit my needs. But you can pm or email me if you don't want to make the info public.

Thanks for your answers in advance.

Frank

'03 Marauder
'62 Falcon Ranchero
'48 Plymouth Special Deluxe
Unmentionable mini-van and small sedan

[crom]

1. Yes there are tuners to reprogram your ECM.

2. There is 3 tuners mentioned a lot on the board here. First there was the SuperChips Tuner (SCT) 1725. Then the updated tuner that followed was the SCT 9100. Now the latest tuner from SCT is the "Xcalibrator".

3. Yes. The latest Tuner I know you can get from vendors here. Lidio of Alternative Auto and Dennis Reinhart of Reinhart Automotive, they be others also. They both have their own "tune" that they load on the SCT when you purcahse it. The xcalibrator can hold 3 different programs (tunes) along with your stock program. The way it works is you plug it into your ODB port under the drivers side dash. Then you hit either P1, P2 or P3 to load the program you want. The tuner will do the rest, it will first upload your stock program into the tuner in the "F" slot. Once this is done it will automatically download the program you picked tour ECM. Then you just unhook it from your OBD port and your done! The nice thing is you can switch your ECM back to stock when you take the car in for servicing. i recently purchased one myself and it is definitely worth the cost. It is great improvement. Also if you purchase the optional data cable with your tuner, you can have files emailed to you and download them onto your tuner.

4. Cost is around 400 bucks give or take a little.

[GarageMahal]

^^^ good summary ^^^

[MainEngDwarf]

I have the 9100, and it's simular to the newest tuner. It also holds up to 3 programs plus the stock program, It's easy to use and you can scan for trouble codes also. I'm not sure if their are any differences between the two. My car is also a daily driver and the programing wakes it up and depending on the tune can improve every day driveability.

[Murader03]

^^^^^what they said^^^^^

It's almost a no brainer to plug in the tuner and replace the program. Takes about 5 minutes or so. You can revert back to the original program when you take the car in for service. You can also buy the pc hook up cable so that when you make any mods, like gears, etc., you can have the program updates sent to you and then load them on the turner yourself vice sending it back and forth via mail.

[ADE 1000]

I also have an 03 300B and have the Excalibrator from Lidio. I strongly recommend the combination. The Excalibrator is extremely easy to use, you will have the new program in your car in less than 5 minutes. And let me say that Lidio's tune is top notch and made a significant performance difference. I was skeptical at first, but so far its the best $425 I have spent.

[Bradley G]

I can second that Lidios program is the route I would go.he has the shift schedule down pat.

Bradley G

[RF Overlord]

1. Are there tuners for stock chips? In essence, ALL tuners are for "stock chips". As was explained so well by crom, the tuner simply off-loads whatever programming is currently in your PCM and replaces it with a modified program of your choice.

3. Is the tuner re-programmable (i.e., can I download new programs from somewhere and use them) Yes.


4. How much do they cost (today)? I've seen prices ranging from $350-$800. Frank, it's a sort of unwritten rule here that we try not to discuss vendor pricing in posts. You really need to call or e-mail the vendors directly for that. I will tell you that chips are around $325, hand-held tuners are around $375-400, and the $800 you saw was probably the SCT Pro Racer package that allows you to change ALL the individual parameters in the PCM at will, as opposed to simply downloading a complete program all at once.

[fastblackmerc]

1. Yes there are tuners to reprogram your ECM.

2. There is 3 tuners mentioned a lot on the board here. First there was the SuperChips Tuner (SCT) 1725. Then the updated tuner that followed was the SCT 9100. Now the latest tuner from SCT is the "Xcalibrator".

3. Yes. The latest Tuner I know you can get from vendors here. Lidio of Alternative Auto and Dennis Reinhart of Reinhart Automotive, they be others also. They both have their own "tune" that they load on the SCT when you purcahse it. The xcalibrator can hold 3 different programs (tunes) along with your stock program. The way it works is you plug it into your ODB port under the drivers side dash. Then you hit either P1, P2 or P3 to load the program you want. The tuner will do the rest, it will first upload your stock program into the tuner in the "F" slot. Once this is done it will automatically download the program you picked tour ECM. Then you just unhook it from your OBD port and your done! The nice thing is you can switch your ECM back to stock when you take the car in for servicing. i recently purchased one myself and it is definitely worth the cost. It is great improvement. Also if you purchase the optional data cable with your tuner, you can have files emailed to you and download them onto your tuner.

4. Cost is around 400 bucks give or take a little.

Also what he said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.

I got mine from DR and it does make a difference, especially the new shift points and higher idle speed.