Recommended Tuning Datalog Device

[VacuumLeak]

I’ve been doing research. I have a tuned gen2 mustang with a really rough return to idle. i’m trying to diagnose if it’s mechanical or tune based.

-gen 3 manifold
-irmc lockout
-pmas intake
-lu47 injector
-exhaust
-flex tune from ortiz performance

I am trying to datalog at the very least cam phaser commanded vs actual positions.

I see the following tuning devices

-SCT Livelink
-HPTuners MPVI
-Diablosport Intune
-PCMtec

For non tuning and diagnostics check I could use

- Forscan/Ford IDS with OBDLink (wired / bluetooth) or any J2534 interface

Whatever it is. I need to get it running because low speed drive-ability until it stables out is terrible.

From reading the forums it seems some tuners have stopped support for SCT (which was cool since you have multiple tunes to toggle through if it is the flex tune acting weird). There seem to be some tuners still supporting it.

PCMTec has multiple tune slots seems like a successor to the SCT approach.

Pretty sure my current tune has been loaded via HPTuners. I am NOT looking to modify the tune since that is outside my skill. (Don’t even know if the tune is locked/if HPTuners would be able to pull it)

What device would you recommend going forward. It looks like I will have to get a new tune since i’m leaning to get rid of the PMAS and it’s different MAF diameter and sensor value modifications. Might as well save some money and get a compatible tuning device with the tune I’d be buying.

The issue is that the car hunts at low rpm when off gas or at light throttle for while before the computer stabilizes it to be solid. (it’ll drops below idle, overcorrects back up past 1000, then bounce between the ranges like a spring before it stabilizes). Issue is more pronounced if you do non smooth clutch engagement. It’s like a vacuum leak or timing going off. Checked for vacuum leaks now want to check cam phasers. It doesn’t happen every time i return to idle.

I will go over all the mechanical diagnosis before assuming it’s the tune. (will do compression, leakdown, boroscope, monitor cam phasers via datalog, pull the intake manifold to see if the intake runner flaps are gutted, pull heads and check for spring cracks and verify everything is spinning as should) hopefully it’s not intermittent coilpack or injector functionality. If it a dirty cam actuator screen clogging it up intermittently it should show up the datalog.

I already did vacuum test. I can try record videos of what I do as a guide for others chasing this issue.

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[robvas]

How much vaccum does it pull at idle when warmed up?

a SCT X4 that's locked it's a cheap way to datalog ($75 or so) if you have a laptop

 

[VacuumLeak]

How much vaccum does it pull at idle when warmed up?

a SCT X4 that's locked it's a cheap way to datalog ($75 or so) if you have a laptop

pulls stable 20 vacuum when the rpm’s are stable from memory (will double check and update post if different).

Vacuum does bounces up and down as if i was giving it gas while it’s hunting for rpm.

thanks for the SCT tip. Is a locked device just permanently mated to another car or is it disabled online like HPtuner family?

 

[robvas]

Locked means married to another car

you can still use it for logging and code reading etc

and you can unlock it for something like $150 online if their are unlocks left

 

[Rolls]

You get access to about 40,000 dmrs in pcmtec for logging if you know what you are looking for. Any option will work if you can identify the problem, it may be tune related in which case a log and sending it to a tuner may be a cheaper, more effective solution.

 

[Logan@Lethal]

I’ve been doing research. I have a tuned gen2 mustang with a really rough return to idle. i’m trying to diagnose if it’s mechanical or tune based.

-gen 3 manifold
-irmc lockout
-pmas intake
-lu47 injector
-exhaust
-flex tune from ortiz performance

I am trying to datalog at the very least cam phaser commanded vs actual positions.

I see the following tuning devices

-SCT Livelink
-HPTuners MPVI
-Diablosport Intune
-PCMtec

For non tuning and diagnostics check I could use

- Forscan/Ford IDS with OBDLink (wired / bluetooth) or any J2534 interface

Whatever it is. I need to get it running because low speed drive-ability until it stables out is terrible.

From reading the forums it seems some tuners have stopped support for SCT (which was cool since you have multiple tunes to toggle through if it is the flex tune acting weird). There seem to be some tuners still supporting it.

PCMTec has multiple tune slots seems like a successor to the SCT approach.

Pretty sure my current tune has been loaded via HPTuners. I am NOT looking to modify the tune since that is outside my skill. (Don’t even know if the tune is locked/if HPTuners would be able to pull it)

What device would you recommend going forward. It looks like I will have to get a new tune since i’m leaning to get rid of the PMAS and it’s different MAF diameter and sensor value modifications. Might as well save some money and get a compatible tuning device with the tune I’d be buying.

The issue is that the car hunts at low rpm when off gas or at light throttle for while before the computer stabilizes it to be solid. (it’ll drops below idle, overcorrects back up past 1000, then bounce between the ranges like a spring before it stabilizes). Issue is more pronounced if you do non smooth clutch engagement. It’s like a vacuum leak or timing going off. Checked for vacuum leaks now want to check cam phasers. It doesn’t happen every time i return to idle.

I will go over all the mechanical diagnosis before assuming it’s the tune. (will do compression, leakdown, boroscope, monitor cam phasers via datalog, pull the intake manifold to see if the intake runner flaps are gutted, pull heads and check for spring cracks and verify everything is spinning as should) hopefully it’s not intermittent coilpack or injector functionality. If it a dirty cam actuator screen clogging it up intermittently it should show up the datalog.

I already did vacuum test. I can try record videos of what I do as a guide for others chasing this issue.

Best is probably PCMtec, but HPT is adequate for most all applications and SCT a close third. SCT datalogging is likely your cheapest option as you can find a used X4 for cheap. If you end up wanting new for HPT or SCT, let us know and we would be happy to assist.

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