I'm trying to get into learning this mass of information for programming our vehicles. I have all the tools to physically program my car but still working on the knowledge part. I know the basic stuff like fans, and idle adjustment, speedo, etc but I need help on tuning for regular driving and WOT. I've also tuned carbed cars so I have some experience in regular tuning.

As far as computer tuning, I searched and couldn't find very much in depth assistance. I found the pcm tutorial but it seems to be more of a broad explanation of everything and covers more how it all works in general.

Does anyone have assistance for what it actually takes to program. Do you have specific formulas that you have to use everytime, or maybe a spreadsheet that simplifies it a bit.

Which tables if any are calculated off each other and require changing both at the same time?

Is there a source that puts all the equations required in one spot to reference?

If you don't have specific assistance what are your best resources that you used to learn about programming?

I'm really trying to get into this in depth but seem to be spinning my wheels at the moment and not getting anywhere.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

I don't think you'll find much of a "start here and do this, then do this, then do this..." kind of tutorial.
If I were you I'd start by setting up all of my ECM constants, then work on idle tuning, then part throttle tuning, then do the wot tuning last.
As you're doing each part of it ask a question or two on here and there should be plenty of people to help out and give you ideas on what to try. Or run a search real quick first and see if what you're asking has been covered. If you can't find what you're looking for ask away.

 

Yeah I've got past all the constant stuff and I figured as much that there was no complete do this do that guide because I had looked around. That's why I posed a few specific questions as well ... such as

But if that is too broad let me narrow.

Timing can be done by logging and looking for best MAP, no knock, correct? If that's ok let me move on to idle.

See I'm pretty new at this so I am not even sure what to ask sometimes.. I think I see that a lot for others too and so they just get unanswered.. thanks for helping on that a bit.

 

Assuming your using tunercat...

Not that I can think of. Well, there is a formula in the help section of tunercat that is supposed to help you figure out your wot fueling based on the pe tables. But I wouldn't trust it as I think it is incomplete. It does however work well enough to give you an idea of what your changes to either pe table will approximately do.

The 2 retard vs rpm tables are the same and the 2 retard vs map tables are the same. That is, if you change the value in one of the retard vs rpm table, the other retard vs rpm table will show the change. Same with the retard vs map tables.
Also, I think some of the A4 tables need to be changed together.

No.

The people on this site. That's why I said when you come to an area of programming that you're a little unclear of to ask here.
Also, a couple of the guys on here have their own sites that they have some bits and pieces of good info on. Maybe they'll see this post and chip in with links.

 

Thanks, well I guess let me start on idle.

I found a bin that tunes for 1.6rr's and headers which is basically what I have. I looked it over a lot and there wasn't any timing changes that I noticed but some small fueling adjustments (which I have no clue how they were arrived at). I loaded it up and logged and the car is running 10 times stronger and smoother, with a lot more throttle response. It was a really good tune.

But at idle it's got a real quiet pop or putt putt in the exhaust. It's next to unnoticeable, but I think that maybe it just needs a small adjustment. It is similar to when I tune my carbed car and have the fuel off or maybe the timing just a tiny bit off.

 

Not sure what all you could do to tune for rr's and headers. Maybe a little more timing down low to help make torque?

In cell 16 what are your blm's?
What kind of timing do you have in the closed tps spark advance?
What kind of map are you seeing in cell 16 at an idle?

To be honest, on a stock car the stock program is pretty good. The only real gain to be had, imho, is straightening out the wot fueling. The timing is actually quite aggressive.
But I think there is quite a bit to be had in the part throttle timing stuff. I've found on my car that by adding 2-4 degrees under certain conditions the car felt "torquier" and throttle response seemed crisper.

 

BLM's appear to be split at 128 on the left and 121~ 123 on the right... I'm not sure why they are split though.

The map is around 34~ 35

Closed TPS is stock settings.

I did bump up the idle a little.. maybe that has a little to do with it?

The changes are mostly in the fueling. Main spark is up 1 degree all around. No changes in extended spark.

It's running awesome though I know that for sure.

 

Look at this and read his pcm tutorial and see if it answers any of your questions.

http://para.noid.org/~lj/

 

With the 121-123 blm on the right side you could have a slight miss on that side. Could that also be the "quiet pop" you're hearing in the exhaust at idle? Maybe a little fuel burning in the header or something?
Or it could be absolutely nothing.

 

Yeah plugs and wires are past due.. I had ordered the OVC plug wires but they didn't have what I needed in stock. I bet that's a very likely cause.

Everyone posts that tutorial but it's pretty cursory. I've read through it a few times.

Anyway thanks for following this thread Dan.. I'll probably end it here until they get those wires in stock and I can install. Then I'll see about making a new post for whatever I get into between now and then.

Thanks,
Ross