SCT Tuner review

I just got my new tuner installed! Hoo ah!
First, let me say I am grateful i had it installed at the store. Despite their assurances that would not be a problem, they clearly did not expect me to have them do it for me. In all fairness, it is ridiculously easy once you know the secrets..
Turns out the plug is on the right side of the steering wheel. For some reason i thought it was on the left... I would still be looking if I hadn’t seen her plug it in.
Second, if i had not seen her struggling with the screen, i might have taken it back as broken. The touchscreen is very slow to respond. It works fine once you know... but you have to know that it’s slow.
Finally, despite all the statements on the website, etc., You cannot “just” put in the new wheel size to correct the speedo. For some cars, like my 04 Expy, you have to know and tell it the revolutions per mile of the new tire.
Finally, i can’t tell yet how good it really is. Because i’m stupid. Even though I knew i was getting it today, i still put cheap gas in it. Cheap as in not 93 octane. So i had to settle for the 87 octane performance tune.
More to follow.

EDIT: specifically, it is the SCT Livewire TS+ tuner

To catch everyone up:
Besides the tuner, the truck has new 285/70/17 tires, and I changed the oil to Royal Purple 5W30. I wanted 5W20 HMX, but they didn’t have it.
I also put a K&N air filter on it. It will not be getting a CAI, gotts mod, or eFans.

I hope to put a shorty header full dual exhaust by Christmas followed by the skid plate and sliders.

I’m getting better with the screen, but it is a learning curve.
I have, since installation, driven over 30 miles, almost all highway in heavy traffic. At install, we set the 87 octane performance tune and plussed up the shift performance one click... i think it was one. Anyway, the point is, it makes a noticeable difference. The main issue was that shifting has always been slow, especially going in and out of overdrive. Once you pressed the button on the shifter, it took forever for the overdrive to respond. Now, it is much quicker and definitely firmer, as is every transition at any speed from a standing start to nearly 80 mph. Before this, while I could tell it was a police car, I had to step into the throttle to get it to wake up. Now, it’s always awake!

FWIW the “touchscreen” works much better with a stylus.

Now if only i knew what some of the available gauges were telling me...

the aforementioned tuner is running a 93 perf tune. Can someone tell me how to switch it to a 93 economy tune?
thanks
jg

PS, yes, I have RTFM. i have to say SCT's documentation and support efforts are ineffective. their documentation is a joke, and their "support" is correctly spelled with quote marks. They couldn't be harder to get hold of if they'd moved to a trailer park and burned down all the trailers. they apparently are too busy to use email. Certainly not any email they will share with their customers.
If anyone is looking for a recommendation, I'd have to say the device itself seems to work well, but the interface is a joke, and the documentation and support are worse. Once they get your money, you're on your own.
I'm going to change my handle here to "disillusioned, disappointed, and dismayed".


PPS - i just filled out their "support" form on their website. After a few minutes of typing, jumping through all their hoops they put in place to discourage customers from asking for help, I pressed "submit". their web site crashed. on their form.
This is not $648 dollars and change in value. it's not two cents worth in value. I don't recommend it.
I can't even get their reseller to respond. it's a conspiracy.

PPPS
as i said, the device itself works great! it is currently set at 93 octane performance tune and holy cow! it's a rocket ship. but it drinks gas like a drunk at a free bar.

here are some screenshots from my livewire tuner. does anyone know what these gauge are used for? why should I monitor these metrics?
View media item 7248View media item 7242View media item 7243View media item 7244View media item 7245View media item 7246View media item 7247View media item 7248

I tried to edit the screenshots in my last post, to comment on each one, but the available edit screen makes it impossible to know which picture is which in edit mode.
so here are my comments; sorry for the clumsiness of this process. I appreciate everyone's time who took time to help out.
first, you can pretty much ignore the first and pictures, they just show some available gauge configs.

Here are the metrics I'm asking for an explanation for:
Desired Idle RPM. why would i monitor this? it sounds like a setting, not something to watch.
Fuel Pump Duty Cycle, and Idle Speed Duty Cycle. What are these telling me? why would I monitor them?
Engine Load, Long Term Fuel Trim, Bank 1 and 2, then Short Term likewise. What are these for?
MAF counts? I know what a MAF is, but what are MAF counts? how does watching them help?
is Spark the timing?
What is Throttle Position Absolute for? how does it help to monitor it?

again, thanks to all.

Hall- a - fricking loo ya!!!!
SCT support is heard from. here's their answer: "Hello, Thanks for contacting support. We do not offer a 93 Perf or 93 Eco tune on our of our devices preloaded. If that is what you are seeing than those are custom tunes. You would want to speak with whoever made you those custom tune files. Thanks, SCT Technical Support"

needless to say, I did not buy or have anyone make and install any custom tune files. so, I've emailed them back asking for what exactly their device comes preloaded with.
stay tuned, sports fans!

EDIT / Update:
I've been emailing back and forth with SCT support; one guy there is being very helpful! I'll do a separate post later with what I've learned from him.

so here's what I learned: the stock tunes are ONLY the three octane settings. There are not "performance, tow, or economy" tunes available from the SCT Livewire. those are custom tunes you buy from a programmer.
the device does NOT come with ten tunes. It will hold ten custom tunes if you buy them from somebody.
the website is less than direct about these points.

good luck finding out what the plethora of settings do. whatever the programmers knew when they wrote the code, they're keeping it to themselves.

joethefordguy said:

I tried to edit the screenshots in my last post, to comment on each one, but the available edit screen makes it impossible to know which picture is which in edit mode.
so here are my comments; sorry for the clumsiness of this process. I appreciate everyone's time who took time to help out.
first, you can pretty much ignore the first and pictures, they just show some available gauge configs.

Here are the metrics I'm asking for an explanation for:
Desired Idle RPM. why would i monitor this? it sounds like a setting, not something to watch.
Fuel Pump Duty Cycle, and Idle Speed Duty Cycle. What are these telling me? why would I monitor them?
Engine Load, Long Term Fuel Trim, Bank 1 and 2, then Short Term likewise. What are these for?
MAF counts? I know what a MAF is, but what are MAF counts? how does watching them help?
is Spark the timing?
What is Throttle Position Absolute for? how does it help to monitor it?

again, thanks to all.

Click to expand...

i finally know what fuel trim, long and short term, are, as well as engine load.
Still looking for maf counts and throttle position absolute; and i have yet to access vaccum aka manifold absolute pressure.