In this article I want to cover how a tune works in relation to its function in your car
I can not express enough emphasis on how often we get calls from not just our customers but from random vehicle owners that state "i think i lost my tune" so we are going to clear that up today in a Q&A style so its super easy!
Q - Can my car lose its tune?
A- NO,
If your vehicle lost its tune then it would not start or run.
In fact if for some reason it did some how magically disappear or get erased you would have no engine functions at all, it would not start or run. It would be completely dead dead.
Q - * I think my tune has gone bad, doesn't run like it used to. Do i need a re-tune it?
A- NO,
A tune can't go bad or change, tunes don't degrade or wear out! Some tunes do allow for some adaptation but it is not possible a tune to change on its own. Your tune is always going to run all processes as it was calibrated to do till the end of time or your ecu fails, which ever comes first!
Q- * my car is definitely slower lately so there has to be a problem with the tune.
A- Unless your car is having problems from the moment you got the tune, it is most likely not a tune problem. Most often it is an outside condition that is causing the tune to react in a way that it is, most likely trying to protect your engine.
Bad fuel! Excessive heat! Or low octane are the most common conditions.
But the number 1 culprit is a mechanical issue. Note: don't always expect a check engine light with a mechanical problem, a failing or partially worn part may cause poor performance but not be bad enough to set a Check Engine Light or CEL!
Q- * I just had my car serviced and now it doesn't run the same, is the tune is the problem?
A- Possibly,
Tunes do not change unless some one has deliberately changed them, and that is not a simple task. Most likely the place you took your car for serviced updated your car, and in doing so, removed your cars performance calibration by inserting a stock tune. If your car is highly modified this can be damaging.
Q- * I had my car tuned a couple years ago but recently i took my car in for a repair due to a running problem and the Dealer or repair shop told me they could not find a problem so it has to be the tune?
A- NO,
Again a tune can not change so unless you had the running problem from the moment the tune was installed, it is not a tune problem. Most repair shops and dealers do not have the expertise or experience with tuning so they often end up blaming what they don't understand and that ends up being the tune, if they are not skilled enough do find the mechanical problem the tune ends up being the Hail Mary as a diagnostic result.
Q- * I have a performance tune, my power seats have stopped working, the tune caused this right?
A- NO
A performance tune has no effect on unrelated systems in your car. Your cars engine computer is the only component that gets modified and its called a ECM (or a variation of) for a reason, the Engine Control Module only has effects on engine and engine related system, such as cooling fans, exhaust flaps etc. On some modern cars, semi related systems may have some effect as they use data from the ECM such as transmission, differential and stability control systems. If you key fob stops working, widows don't roll up or your head lights flicker every time you mash the gas its most likely as unrelated condition. If it was a problem with the tune it would have happened at the time the tune was installed.
Q- * I recently moved from the East to the West across country and up in to the mountains, now my car runs poorly and has no power. It has to be the tune right?
A- Very possible
Tunes are based on octane (fuel type) and most performance tunes are calibrated to get the maximum performance possible. If you have had a premium fuel 93oct tune installed east of the Mississippi and moved to the west coast where premium fuel is limited to 91oct then your tune will struggle to learn down to the lower grade fuel causing a host of performance, drive ability and even engine damaging problems. Its important to get re-tuned to your areas fuel availability.
Bonus:
On older cars that have less sophisticated ECMs, elevation can cause many performance problems as the ecu can not adapt far enough to compensate for the higher elevation and a re-tune may be needed. Keep in mind that no mater what, a vehicle will always make less power at high elevation.
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