As the title states, I just got a xcal2 for LS. Does the disc that comes with it have a basic tune on it for my car? Or do I have to just purchase a tune? Is there anything I can do with it before a purchase a tune?(besides read codes) Thanks in advance.
Just got an Xcal2...Now I have a question??
- Thread starter SlickLS
- Start date
Where did you buy it from? Normally what happens is, you buy that device from a tuner. You receive the device, hook it up, and read your strategy code. YOu then email that strategy to your tuner. He will make you your tune files from that. It should not have any tunes on it right now, due to the different strategy codes for the same model. Different LS's have different strategy codes. They are not vehicle specific, but there are a multitude of different ones.
Oh ok thanks. So I have been talking to ILLS back in forth and he hasn't mentioned sending him a code. He said I just need to send him a performance mod list and rim/tiretire sizes. Does that sound correct or will there be additional information he will need?
He will need your strategy. The mod list is for him to more finely tune if he needs to. He can build in for intake/exhaust, speedo calibration for different diameter wheel setups, etc. I need to get a new tune after I stall/gear the LS. Probably won't go through ILLS though. I *may* have pissed him off when I was trying to chase down a rattle issue. No clue though. It was around the time he disappeared.
Man he prolly will take care of you. He was busy for awhile because he was being restationed from virginia to mississippi. So how do I get the strategy code? Can you tell anything by the code? Like is it running rich or lean? So the xcal2 right now only will read codes? Then what is the disc for?
The disc probably has the software to put on your computer to load the tune onto the device. ILLS will send you your tune via email. Then you need to upload it to the program (live-something-or-other, I forget what it's called). Then you download the tune to your device.
To read your strategy, you just plug the device inot the OBDII port (under the dash, right of the steering wheel). It will power on, then you go to vehicle info or something like that. There will be a heading that says "read strategy". select that, and it will spit back a 5 or so digit number/letter combo. I think mine was JTAAY or something like that. He needs that, since that will tell him the stock calibrations. He needs those to see what to modify.
To read your strategy, you just plug the device inot the OBDII port (under the dash, right of the steering wheel). It will power on, then you go to vehicle info or something like that. There will be a heading that says "read strategy". select that, and it will spit back a 5 or so digit number/letter combo. I think mine was JTAAY or something like that. He needs that, since that will tell him the stock calibrations. He needs those to see what to modify.
I got the sct livewire and the disk that it came with just gave some warranty things and some information on the device. The tunes were already loaded on it I think but I still got a tune from ILLS.To upload the tune onto your device you have to go to the sct website and download the program to be able to download the tune from the email into your computer, then into your tuner device.
Is there any difference between the xcal2 and the livewire? I think the disc that I have is those programs you said I would have to download off the website. The disc says "Resource CD version 1.3" "includes livelink 3 & liveload." Is that what I need to put the tune on the programmer and the tune on my car?
Ok so you are saying that all I need to do, once I get the emailed tune, is put the disc in and it will run from there? Did you pull your fuel pump relay? Did you put a battery charger on while loading the tune onto your car? How long does it take?
Silver_LS
Dedicated LVC Member
It take a couple minutes, you don't need a battery charger.. On mine (gen2) it kicks the cooling fan up to like "ludicris speed" while loading the tune, it also says ETC Failsafe Mode, Service Park Brake, Gear Selector Error and a bunch of other warnings... but I don't know what the reaction on a (gen1) is.
After the tune is loaded, you turn the key back off and then when you go to start the car all is normal again. Except the car is faster and shifts better
After the tune is loaded, you turn the key back off and then when you go to start the car all is normal again. Except the car is faster and shifts better
gcwimmer
Dedicated LVC Member
Load the disk onto your computer, then you use it like any other program(excel, word) from your computer to access the email tunes and the hand held device.
Just turn off all accessories, heater, radio, auto lights, anything that comes on when you turn the key on. As long as your battery has a charge you should be OK. putting a charger on your battery will not do any harm, the fan on my 2nd gen does run for the 5+ minutes it takes to down load factory stock tune to the hand held device before loading custom tune. The hand held SCT Excal2 holds your stock OEM tune and up to 3 custom tunes. If your turner allowed, you can make minor adjustment to the tunes before loading. You can change the tire size, idle speed, rear end size, remove or change top speed governor, transmission shift points, transmission line pressure and the timing, again, minor adjustments.
It is recommemded that you pull the fuel pump fuse and the fan. I didn't and I had a bad battery to start with. I just needed to jump the car real quick but it didn't completly drain my battery. I'm guessing oif you have a good battery, you'll be good, but some pull the fuses just to be safe