97/4.6w/fangs
New LVC Member
does anyone know what the code is for a 96-98 Mark VIII?
PCM box code
- Thread starter 97/4.6w/fangs
- Start date
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
The Box code will vary depending on the model year. There are usually more than one box codes per model year too. I assume you plan to have someone tune your car for you. If they are using one of the SCT Xcal units then you can read your strategy code with that, send it to your tuner and with their Advantage tuning software can pull the box code itself up and do your tune for you.
Or if you plan to get a chip for your car then have a buddy bring their Xcal unit over and read your code for you.
I would suggest against doing the whole VIN code read BS that some tuners do. If the PCM has been dealer reflashed or has an unpopular box code then there could be a hassle with things unless you have the strategy read directly from the PCM.
Good luck.
97/4.6w/fangs
New LVC Member
actually I've already got the tuning software. Except the problem is I have a 97 Cobra that I blew the motor in so I dropped in a 97 Mark VIII shortblock and heads. I think the the difference in the intake cam durations is causing a small misfire so I want to get a stock 97 Mark VIII tune onto my pcm to see if it would run better
my 98 lsc and most I have seen have catch code BTC0 (last digit is always a number)
there several "catch codes" for the second gen but from what I have seen readhing the strategy on Xcals they all use the same CMBA0 strategy, there is a CMBA1 strategy as well.
But it is very doubtful the intake came duration is causing a missfire though...
far too often people "blame the tune" for a mechanical problem/issue.. very RARELY does the tune cause the actual issue.
One of the key differences between the cobra and the mark 8 tune are "manifold volulme" which wont cause a missfire..and the amount of tip in retard, which also wont affect a missfire.
there several "catch codes" for the second gen but from what I have seen readhing the strategy on Xcals they all use the same CMBA0 strategy, there is a CMBA1 strategy as well.
But it is very doubtful the intake came duration is causing a missfire though...
far too often people "blame the tune" for a mechanical problem/issue.. very RARELY does the tune cause the actual issue.
One of the key differences between the cobra and the mark 8 tune are "manifold volulme" which wont cause a missfire..and the amount of tip in retard, which also wont affect a missfire.
for conversations sake.. I flashed a cmba1 strategy to my cmba0 box and had no issues and flashed it back to cmba0 with no problems.
So "box code" really wont matter if they have the same "cmba" strategy in my limited tuning experience.
So "box code" really wont matter if they have the same "cmba" strategy in my limited tuning experience.
What software and version are you using?
is it SCT or Sniper.. if SCT is it 2.9 or 3.0?
97/4.6w/fangs
New LVC Member
sniper and yeah I just saw your pm. I'll try giving you a call in a bit. Let me see if this makes a difference first
was hoping you had the sct stuff.. i'm pretty fairly familier with the "ins and outs".. I dont know squat about sniper..sorry.
97/4.6w/fangs
New LVC Member
none of those codes worked with the sniper. It's supposed to be a 4 digit code. Can you see if you have another code on your box?
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
To do that with Advantage you will need to own the Mark VIII tune database. I assume it is safe to say that you already have the database for your Cobra...
Edit: NM just read the lower posts and realized that you are using Sniper. Good luck.
that's not correct, you can easily apply a cobra value file to a mark 8 tune.
BUT..there is no benefit to doing so, but it's fairly easy
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
I still recommend actually using the database for the PCM he is actually using. There are sometimes errors that will occur if you try to use value files from one similar PCM and apply them to another.
I try to stay away from value files as much as possible because they really screw some things up in allot of ways. Value files are sufficient for a beginner, but not for someone who is well versed in tuning with Advantage.
Same goes for welding on thin metal, of course it's possible but "not for beginners">
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
You are missing the point. This guy has a Cobra with the Cobra PCM and has swapped the Mark VIII items into it. He asked how he would be able to go about loading a Mark VIII tune onto the Cobra PCM not vice versa.
To even get access to the stocker tune for the Mark VIII he will need to have the database for it first. After all, how the hell would he be able to load a Cobra value file onto a MarkVIII tune when he doesn't even have the database to be able to open the Mark VIII tune to begin with? If you don't have the database for it then you cannot open it to even load the stocker tune into the chip or flash tuning device let alone modify the tune for any differences or further mods.
A value file does not cover what this guy was talking about, it would only cover a portion. Now if the guy had asked the inverse "Take a Cobra tune on Cobra PCM and modify THAT tune with some Mark VIII settings" then we would be talking something a little more similar to what you mention. Ya might want to pay better attention to the details before you tell people they are wrong. If you are going to try to help this guy then help him by first paying attention to what his actual question SPECIFICALLY was.
Tiltedhalo
Well-Known LVC Member
First the Cobra PCM should be fine except for the base timing settings.
I highly doubt the miss is a PCM-tune issue.
If the stock cobra intake fuel rails and injectors are used, the only issue would be the engines base timing. Use the Cobras crank trigger and pick up assembly, the crank base timing is 2 deg different from the Mark, or correct the base timing on the Cobra tune 2 Deg.
I highly doubt the miss is a PCM-tune issue.
If the stock cobra intake fuel rails and injectors are used, the only issue would be the engines base timing. Use the Cobras crank trigger and pick up assembly, the crank base timing is 2 deg different from the Mark, or correct the base timing on the Cobra tune 2 Deg.
which is what I said previously.
More times than not, people will try and blame a mechanical or electrical issue on the Calibration in the PCM.
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
Very true.
No. I upgraded to 3.0 a long time ago when I transitioned from just tuning my own vehicles to tuning customer cars.
I'm running 3.0 and 2.9..
2.9 is much more stable and less PITA than 3.0 for PRP.
When they broke 3.0 out of the dealers area and tried to make it "single user" they really fubared alot of stuff...
For instance..
I have a single 3.0 user for my car.. YET.. everytime I run the update it jams a HUGE General Motors database into my PC along with a dodge DCX database.
I keep deleting them.. but every update just downloads them again.
And at some point my 3.0 got the complete dealer value file database..(all the mustangs, all the lightning pickups..etc I've got @ssloads of value files..{weird wild stuff)
While I've had 3.0 for over a year, I still find my self working predominatly in 2.9.. no goofy splash screen, no automatic updates (which I turned off)
AND.. in the time it takes 3.0 to open.. I can open 2.9 and almost completely create a tune from scratch.
What package do you have? (vehicles you can tune)
2.9 is much more stable and less PITA than 3.0 for PRP.
When they broke 3.0 out of the dealers area and tried to make it "single user" they really fubared alot of stuff...
For instance..
I have a single 3.0 user for my car.. YET.. everytime I run the update it jams a HUGE General Motors database into my PC along with a dodge DCX database.
I keep deleting them.. but every update just downloads them again.
And at some point my 3.0 got the complete dealer value file database..(all the mustangs, all the lightning pickups..etc I've got @ssloads of value files..{weird wild stuff)
While I've had 3.0 for over a year, I still find my self working predominatly in 2.9.. no goofy splash screen, no automatic updates (which I turned off)
AND.. in the time it takes 3.0 to open.. I can open 2.9 and almost completely create a tune from scratch.
What package do you have? (vehicles you can tune)
ILLS
Dedicated LVC Member
I am pretty sure that with the 3.0 PRP ALL recieve the full value file folder. For as many cars as I have tuned with 3.0 I feel it is one hell of allot better than 2.9, especially from a user standpoint. Two of the biggest changes I like are the search feature and incorporating the scalars into each subgroup that they pertain to rather than in their own section. The search feature is nice because rather than opening menu's and submenu's and so on and forth you can punch it in up top and save quite a bit of time. That in turn saves money. It doesn't seem like your 3.0 is working properly if it is taking that long to open. If it if up to date and nothing is awry then it will take maybe 3-5 seconds to open for the boxcode input screen and then another 3-5 sec's once you have entered that before you are to the tunefile screen. If you do not update it often it will get very buggy and eventually stop working.
Ok, we really need to get back on topic for the OP's sake. We aren't exactly steering this thread in its proper direction, especially if this guy is using Sniper and we are talking about SCT.
agree'd...