Question about Tune

[Jayhawkfan614]

Guys, I have been hanging out - asked a few questions - but I have one other. Looking to buy a SHO and one of the 2 in particular I really like - but not sure how the tune that it has effects it.

2013 SHO - PP.
It has had some upgrades done to it - looks like Livernois upgrades as it had the air raid with their sticker all over it and the stickers on the rear windows.
It definitely has a tune or something as it runs better than any stock SHO I have test driven.

It has less that 4K miles on it and the only option it doesn't have is the Contour seats.

Question.... there is not tuner box with it.
If it does have a tune - and I don't have the original box - is this a problem? I plan on purchasing a MyCal tuner from Livernois - but is there an issue with not having the original base stock tune? ( sorry I am a little older school on this stuff back in the Mark VIII days, I used chips and the Mustang is a 66 (real old school).

My hesitation is I want to buy the car, but it will be my daily driver. Additionally I want to be able to use the remainder of the factory warranty and possibly get an extended warranty from ford for the car.

So how does it work, do I just purchase the car and get the tuner and the base codes are still there with the tune that has been done is stored in another manner?

Can someone explain and what I should watch out for? Understanding that I want to leverage the MyCal and return it to stock tune and use/reuse the Livernois tunes that you get when you guy the MyCal from them..?

I just want to make the right decision - I already will have 1200 in tire swap (need all seasons for Ohio weather) and a MyCal right of the shoot.... might purchase an extra set of wheels down the road but budget doesn't allow right away...

Thanks in advance....

 

[Dave]

When you buy your MyCal from LMS and get your tunes, the stock tune will also come with them. When ready to tune, return to stock first. Then load tune. It will take twice as long but it will be safer that way. You may also get more recent updated tunes. LMS has been tweaking the 2013+ tunes. Last I heard they were on V7.

 

[PokerMunkee]

Skip the warranty, you are going to void it anyways. Put that money in your bank account to fix anything that breaks down the road. Worth it not to stress over taking it in and wondering if they are going to find out if you tuned it.

I'm in same boat, looking for a '13 SHO. I'm not sure if the PP is worth it. You give up adaptive cruise control option, anything else? Finding fully loaded non-PP '13 SHOs ($47K MSRP) with 20k miles for around $30K. Best ~1 year old used car on the market, IMO!

 

[Jayhawkfan614]

When you buy your MyCal from LMS and get your tunes, the stock tune will also come with them. When ready to tune, return to stock first. Then load tune. It will take twice as long but it will be safer that way. You may also get more recent updated tunes. LMS has been tweaking the 2013+ tunes. Last I heard they were on V7.

How is the stock tune coming from them? I thought that in the scenario that you had a new car - untouched - that you get the box, download the stock tune (fresh), send it to LMS so they can then build you tune stages 1-5 on 91 or 93 octane ..... then if needed flash it back.

My point is I wont have the original stock tune...correct?

The issue is the car I am looking at has been tuned - and the box and provider that did the tune is unknown.

 

[Dave]

What they need from you is the strategy code and ECU serial number. If they get the strategy code from you they will know which stock tune you have or in this case had. They already have all the stock tunes. They just need to know (by your strategy code) which stock tune your vehicle is using. So when they send you tunes, they will send your choices along with the stock tune for your car. Actually, they will send you links to go to to download an updater and the tunes. THEN, you can go load the stock tune, then the new tune of your choice. Feel free to PM me along the way if I can help.

EDIT-They will also need the serial number to your MyCal.

 

[SHOrod]

Jayhawk, I think you will want to call Livernois. Every SCT tuner I've used with Fords, including my 2011 SHO, pulls the stock load from the car before uploading the selected tune file. The SCT does NOT arrive with a stock tune.

I had to provide the strategy code from my car to the tuner, but that wasn't so they could provide me with a stock tune in the tuner. In fact, they were very clear that I should save off the stock tune to my PC so that I would always be able to get back to it.

-Rod

 

[Dave]

LMS is using MyCal Now.

 

[FoCoSHO]

The MyCal tuner I got from LMS came with the stock tune pre-loaded after I supplied them with the proper strategy code.

 

[Jayhawkfan614]

Ok, so where would I find the strategy code?

Also, would they have the latest versions ( with any updates that ford put out or would have updated?).

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dave]

When you get the MyCal there will be instructions for getting your codes from the ECU. You'll plug it in under the steering wheel and hold two of the buttons to get to Engineering Mode. Then scroll through the numbers. If there is ever an update on the stock code your dealer will update it. Always be sure to return to stock any time you bring your car in.

 

[Jayhawkfan614]

When you get the MyCal there will be instructions for getting your codes from the ECU. You'll plug it in under the steering wheel and hold two of the buttons to get to Engineering Mode. Then scroll through the numbers. If there is ever an update on the stock code your dealer will update it. Always be sure to return to stock any time you bring your car in.

So if that is the case, how would LMS send the base tune with the MyCal, if that is how I have to get the code to tell them what the base tune should be to start with??

Would the base tune be the same for every matching strategy code? And I assume the strategy code is there even if a tune was done on it previously?

My goal is to possibly buy the car, buy a tuner - figure out how to get the base tune into the tuner - save that off, and then load the LMS tunes. I assume that an LMS tune is already loaded but that is the issue - I dont know and the dealer doesn't have the tuner.

 

[Dave]

When you get the MyCal, there are no tunes in it. When you plug it in and go to Engineering Mode, then you can retrieve the strategy code and the ECU serial number. You email that to LMS along with the MyCal serial number and requested tunes ie: 91 octane, 93 octane, or both. If you have a 2010-2012 you can request like I did 4/91, 4/93 and 4+/93. For 2013-2014 I think you can only order by Octane. They will then send you links for update software and tunes including your stock tune. Then you use the update software to load them into the MyCal. Then you are ready to tune.

Yes, even if it is tuned, you can get the strategy codes in Engineering Mode.

Always return to stock before you bring the car in. They might do an update on your ECU without telling you.

 

[Jayhawkfan614]

Thanks DJE - that makes sense now.

Not sure if I should start another thread... but I noticed on the window sticker reprints of a few of the cars I am looking at , some list as a line item California Emissions , some do not.

Is there really any difference between the two cars if it is listed or not? Impact? Additional parts or difference enough maybe in the CATs? And does that change the tune?

Just curious and again thanks to all for the information.... I just need to get over the idea of not having my 2010 F-150 Lariat Supercrew with all options for a car again - the SHO.

CK

 

[Dave]

Don't know about CA cars.

You'll be having too much fun in the SHO to pine over past vehicles!

Good Luck and Have fun!

 

[SIRSHO]

Guys, I have been hanging out - asked a few questions - but I have one other. Looking to buy a SHO and one of the 2 in particular I really like - but not sure how the tune that it has effects it.

2013 SHO - PP.
It has had some upgrades done to it - looks like Livernois upgrades as it had the air raid with their sticker all over it and the stickers on the rear windows.
It definitely has a tune or something as it runs better than any stock SHO I have test driven.

It has less that 4K miles on it and the only option it doesn't have is the Contour seats.

Question.... there is not tuner box with it.
If it does have a tune - and I don't have the original box - is this a problem? I plan on purchasing a MyCal tuner from Livernois - but is there an issue with not having the original base stock tune? ( sorry I am a little older school on this stuff back in the Mark VIII days, I used chips and the Mustang is a 66 (real old school).

My hesitation is I want to buy the car, but it will be my daily driver. Additionally I want to be able to use the remainder of the factory warranty and possibly get an extended warranty from ford for the car.

So how does it work, do I just purchase the car and get the tuner and the base codes are still there with the tune that has been done is stored in another manner?

Can someone explain and what I should watch out for? Understanding that I want to leverage the MyCal and return it to stock tune and use/reuse the Livernois tunes that you get when you guy the MyCal from them..?

I just want to make the right decision - I already will have 1200 in tire swap (need all seasons for Ohio weather) and a MyCal right of the shoot.... might purchase an extra set of wheels down the road but budget doesn't allow right away...

Thanks in advance....

Can you send your file you had for the SHO? [email protected]