ODB 2 tuning

[voss]

hey guys. i am looking into getting into tuning. i do not want to have it done by someone else. what i am wondering is what all is needed?

[Aloicious]

depends on what you're looking to tune. from your sig it looks like you have a '92 and a '04. both of those will be completely different as far as hardware/software that is required.

typically for OBDII like your '04, you'll need a tuning and logging suite, as well as a laptop or netbook. it can be done without the laptop, but they make life easier when you can do it all in the truck and on the road. Ideally you'll also want a wideband O2 sensor so you can also monitor the AFR correctly to alter the VE table and some other fueling tables. you can get away without using a wideband if you're close to stock, but in reality, that is the best way to do it regardless of modifications.

[voss]

i am looking at messing around with my 04, i got a laptop. just trying to find out what i all need. ie pro scan tool, odb link and what software

[Badass69]

EFILive or HP Tuners then. I personally bought efilive myself because of all the diagnostic capabilities it has ( anything a Tech II can do more or less) and it has more parameters covered and so on. Plus simple custom OS's and segment swaps that are really handy and HP lacks. HP is probably excellent software too, and seems to be what more novices go with. It's cheaper to buy and to license, and is apparently more intuitive, although I find nothing difficult about the EFILive platform myself.

http://www.efilive.com/

http://www.hptuners.com/

Look up both softwares yourself, hit up their forums and make your decision that way. I bought my EFILive locally from a guy in Sherwood Park who is one of only 2 dealers for EFILive in Canada( Xtreme FX Tuning). He is a diesel tuner and I didn't get any tunes from him, although he said he would do a couple if I liked. Outfits like Blackbear as an example will supply one custom tune for you if you went that route.

I already tuned my 05 1500HD's LQ4 myself, and a friends who has the identical truck and thus far it runs very hard over stock. It needs some more transmission changes( more for his as I am adding an HD2 and he is not), and I might add a bit more timing ( no knock at all right now on premium) but it's all about learning.

Seeing you have a 2500HD you have the same powertrain as I do, and with what I have done it's like a totally different truck, loaded or empty! Gm detunes these engines to death.... If I had 4.10's instead of 3.73's this thing would burn rubber pretty good now but even with the 3.73's it's miles better. Feel free to pm me if you have questions.

[Aloicious]

+1 on everything he said.

[voss]

thanks i will do some reading and see.

[91chevZ71]

EFILive is pretty good, man. WOrks good for me, lots of support, they ave their own forum, etc. I'm sure HP Tuners does, also, but EFILive is pretty easy to use.

[maroonchevy305]

I'm not too interested in doing this type of thing myself, but just curious how much the software and all the cables, etc cost? It might be kinda fun and useful if its not too expensive and its as easy to use as you guys say!

[Badass69]

It's not that easy to do for anyone. I have a pretty extensive background with engines/cars and with the fact I can program PLC logic in a plant environment, no I don't find it hard. That will not be the same for everyone however.

The big thing is to understand what parameter you are tuning actually does, so you really need to know the fundamentals inside and out. Anyone can learn how to tune, you truly can. It just takes time, patience and the ability to sit down, read and absorb. I have been reading up on this stuff for a long time before I ever purchased anything. Am I some self proclaimed pro????? God no. I can navigate and make changes but I need to look things up to do it. Some stuff is pretty intuitive and some isn't......... That's why there are forums.

HP goes for around $600 for the pro version and I don't know how much a license costs...... I didn't buy it.

EFILive is $899, comes with enough credits to tune 2 vehicles and additional licenses are $125 a pop. I chose EFILive for the reasons in my first post. HP has a wider array of PCM's it can tune as well, but less things I wanted in the software itself.