Need Some Help
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13
From: California
Need Some Help
buddy has a 2006 mustang gt and just got a SCT Tuner well hes having a few problems..
problem one alternators keeps going out on him hes on his fifth one..
problem two he cant get the tuner to load and tune his gt any suggestions on what can cause all these problems
problem one alternators keeps going out on him hes on his fifth one..
problem two he cant get the tuner to load and tune his gt any suggestions on what can cause all these problems
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,182
From: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)
First, he needs to have his battery and alternator tested. The charging system in these S197's are marginal and if one component starts to go, it often takes out another.
Second, where did he buy the tuner? Was it 2nd hand? A 2nd hand tuner needs to be unlocked for starters. The previous owner must reload his car to stock. Assuming the previous owner unlocked it, THEN it depends on whether the handheld is loaded with the garbage canned tunes from the manufacturer (in which case they SHOULD work on most any S197 GT) or custom tunes from a quality tuner (in which case those tunes most likely won't work on your buds car).
What message(s) is he getting on the handheld?
Second, where did he buy the tuner? Was it 2nd hand? A 2nd hand tuner needs to be unlocked for starters. The previous owner must reload his car to stock. Assuming the previous owner unlocked it, THEN it depends on whether the handheld is loaded with the garbage canned tunes from the manufacturer (in which case they SHOULD work on most any S197 GT) or custom tunes from a quality tuner (in which case those tunes most likely won't work on your buds car).
What message(s) is he getting on the handheld?
6th Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 16,182
From: PA to KY ('07) to IL ('09) to MS ('10) to FL ('11)
Also, understand that the tuner only STORES pre-written tunes. There are very few parameters that you can adjust yourself and if you don't know what you're doing you can really destroy an engine or brick the PCM. Places like Brenspeed and American Muscle, to name 2 of the better places, write quality tunes that can be e-mailed and downloaded to the handheld. When you load a custom tune, the handheld stores your stock tune.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13
From: California
First, he needs to have his battery and alternator tested. The charging system in these S197's are marginal and if one component starts to go, it often takes out another.
Second, where did he buy the tuner? Was it 2nd hand? A 2nd hand tuner needs to be unlocked for starters. The previous owner must reload his car to stock. Assuming the previous owner unlocked it, THEN it depends on whether the handheld is loaded with the garbage canned tunes from the manufacturer (in which case they SHOULD work on most any S197 GT) or custom tunes from a quality tuner (in which case those tunes most likely won't work on your buds car).
What message(s) is he getting on the handheld?
Second, where did he buy the tuner? Was it 2nd hand? A 2nd hand tuner needs to be unlocked for starters. The previous owner must reload his car to stock. Assuming the previous owner unlocked it, THEN it depends on whether the handheld is loaded with the garbage canned tunes from the manufacturer (in which case they SHOULD work on most any S197 GT) or custom tunes from a quality tuner (in which case those tunes most likely won't work on your buds car).
What message(s) is he getting on the handheld?
5th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,645
From: Oregon
He needs to get it unlocked and assigned to his car. Handheld tuners get locked to the car's ECM number, so it won't work until he pays the company to free it up. And unless his mods are exactly the same, he'll want to get a tune for HIS car, not his buddies.
4th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,597
From: Gallifrey
After you clean them up, and their contact points, check them with a multimeter for resistance, the corrosion may make it into the wiring.
The other biggie to check is the PCM connector on the back of the alternator.
http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=361&viewfil...g%20System.pdf
http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=366&viewfile=Battery%20Cables%20-%204.6L%20(3V).pdf
http://iihs.net/fsm/?dir=358 (appropriate section)
Last edited by wayne613; Jul 28, 2012 at 08:47 PM.