How long for a tune?
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 1
From: Earth
I paid $400 for a road and dyno tune. It only took a couple of hours and I was out the door.
They let me hang around and watch and he explained what he was doing while he was going through it.
I wish they were closer haha, 3 hours away sucks.
They let me hang around and watch and he explained what he was doing while he was going through it.
I wish they were closer haha, 3 hours away sucks.
I hate to say this but if you're complete tune is done in a couple hours, then you are not getting the best tune possible. Sorry. Cold starts, complete fine tuning parameters...plus basic street and dyno tuning can't all be done, and done to the best of it's ability within a couple hours like that
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 1
From: Earth
I hate to say this but if you're complete tune is done in a couple hours, then you are not getting the best tune possible. Sorry. Cold starts, complete fine tuning parameters...plus basic street and dyno tuning can't all be done, and done to the best of it's ability within a couple hours like that
I was there for a better part of the day. But being involved made the day go by.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 1
From: Earth
The first shop I went to would not tell me what they were doing at.
After driving it home, which was a struggle and having to have it towed back for them to fix it. I requested them to put the stock tune back. Long story short. They lost my stock tune file.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,869
Likes: 99
Yeah. Under the circumstances they were very understanding and willing to share.
The first shop I went to would not tell me what they were doing at.
After driving it home, which was a struggle and having to have it towed back for them to fix it. I requested them to put the stock tune back. Long story short. They lost my stock tune file.
The first shop I went to would not tell me what they were doing at.
After driving it home, which was a struggle and having to have it towed back for them to fix it. I requested them to put the stock tune back. Long story short. They lost my stock tune file.
Lost files????
Just speculating, but they probably really didn't lose your tunes. Or if they didn't save a progression of tunes while they tuned makes them even more suspect as a legitimate tuner. Saving a history of tunes is 'Tuning 101'. IMO it's best to move on as fast as you can from this tuner.
FTW - assuming they are using Windows platform. Most times you can recover lost files simply by opening up the recover folder. Or if they are not there, then the OS maintains a 'previous' version of most docs assuming of course that 'system protection' is turned on'. It's hard to imagine a business would not have a daily backup running in the background or have system protection turned on.
"Previous versions are automatically saved as part of a restore point. If system protection is turned on, Windows automatically creates previous versions of files and folders that have been modified since the last restore point was made. Typically, restore points are made once a day. If your disk is partitioned or if you have more than one hard disk on your computer, you need to turn on system protection for the other partitions or disks. Previous versions are also created by Windows Backup when you back up your files."
Last edited by dlandsvZ28; Aug 27, 2018 at 07:35 AM.
Yeah. Under the circumstances they were very understanding and willing to share.
The first shop I went to would not tell me what they were doing at.
After driving it home, which was a struggle and having to have it towed back for them to fix it. I requested them to put the stock tune back. Long story short. They lost my stock tune file.
The first shop I went to would not tell me what they were doing at.
After driving it home, which was a struggle and having to have it towed back for them to fix it. I requested them to put the stock tune back. Long story short. They lost my stock tune file.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 1
From: Earth
IMO the reason they don't want you around when tuning is because then you learn just how little time they spend tuning your car and as as result you can calculate what their true hourly rate is for tuning.
Lost files????
Just speculating, but they probably really didn't lose your tunes. Or if they didn't save a progression of tunes while they tuned makes them even more suspect as a legitimate tuner. Saving a history of tunes is 'Tuning 101'. IMO it's best to move on as fast as you can from this tuner.
FTW - assuming they are using Windows platform. Most times you can recover lost files simply by opening up the recover folder. Or if they are not there, then the OS maintains a 'previous' version of most docs assuming of course that 'system protection' is turned on'. It's hard to imagine a business would not have a daily backup running in the background or have system protection turned on.
"Previous versions are automatically saved as part of a restore point. If system protection is turned on, Windows automatically creates previous versions of files and folders that have been modified since the last restore point was made. Typically, restore points are made once a day. If your disk is partitioned or if you have more than one hard disk on your computer, you need to turn on system protection for the other partitions or disks. Previous versions are also created by Windows Backup when you back up your files."
Lost files????
Just speculating, but they probably really didn't lose your tunes. Or if they didn't save a progression of tunes while they tuned makes them even more suspect as a legitimate tuner. Saving a history of tunes is 'Tuning 101'. IMO it's best to move on as fast as you can from this tuner.
FTW - assuming they are using Windows platform. Most times you can recover lost files simply by opening up the recover folder. Or if they are not there, then the OS maintains a 'previous' version of most docs assuming of course that 'system protection' is turned on'. It's hard to imagine a business would not have a daily backup running in the background or have system protection turned on.
"Previous versions are automatically saved as part of a restore point. If system protection is turned on, Windows automatically creates previous versions of files and folders that have been modified since the last restore point was made. Typically, restore points are made once a day. If your disk is partitioned or if you have more than one hard disk on your computer, you need to turn on system protection for the other partitions or disks. Previous versions are also created by Windows Backup when you back up your files."
I'm not sure if he was just slacking or if he really lost. But I agree, with the knowledge of a tuner, I would assume he would have several ways to recover a file.
I had spent more time at this particular shop to try to figure out what was going on than I'd like to admit. I think since they had no clue what was going on and I was not willing to have them chop up my Tahoe or mess with the tune any more. They just wanted me to disappear.
The lost file was what they told me when I wanted them to return my tune to the factory settings. You are absolutely correct, that is a part of tuning 101 and the majority who I have spoken with drop there jaws in aww. I wish I knew more about tuning as I would have brought all this up. Unfortunately I had dealt with them and the issues they created for far too long and was thankful to find the second shop to clean up my tune and mrvedit to help diagnose what was wrong with my trans.
I debate about spending the money for HP Tuners and try to figure it out but I think I need to take some computer classes first, haha.
Sounds like you found a good shop. I spoke with the folks who have mine and the owner is looking into it, I suppose at this point I'll give them another few days instead of getting in line at another tuner. I appreciate all of the first hand info on tuning from this thread.
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I typically explain to the owner what I'm doing and why. Sometimes it takes some time to figure out what the car wants, but the thought process should be straightforward unless its an exotic setup or there is something mechanical/electrically wrong with the car. Then it's off to hunting down the bugs.
Best result would be to get a baseline tune, then buy HPTuners and learn how to use it. Like the other guys said, getting a comprehensive tune in one day is like winning the lottery. Not a great chance. But by logging and analyzing the results, making small discrete changes at a time (so you can evaluate the changes positive or negative effects and either increase or diminish them) you'll end up with great drivability and performance. There's tons of videos out there on how to tune idle, startup, dialing in the MAF if you have one, etc. I'm don't want to make this sound like it's ultra easy, but it's another way to enjoy your car and define it.
Best result would be to get a baseline tune, then buy HPTuners and learn how to use it. Like the other guys said, getting a comprehensive tune in one day is like winning the lottery. Not a great chance. But by logging and analyzing the results, making small discrete changes at a time (so you can evaluate the changes positive or negative effects and either increase or diminish them) you'll end up with great drivability and performance. There's tons of videos out there on how to tune idle, startup, dialing in the MAF if you have one, etc. I'm don't want to make this sound like it's ultra easy, but it's another way to enjoy your car and define it.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,011
Likes: 1
From: Earth
I typically explain to the owner what I'm doing and why. Sometimes it takes some time to figure out what the car wants, but the thought process should be straightforward unless its an exotic setup or there is something mechanical/electrically wrong with the car. Then it's off to hunting down the bugs.
Best result would be to get a baseline tune, then buy HPTuners and learn how to use it. Like the other guys said, getting a comprehensive tune in one day is like winning the lottery. Not a great chance. But by logging and analyzing the results, making small discrete changes at a time (so you can evaluate the changes positive or negative effects and either increase or diminish them) you'll end up with great drivability and performance. There's tons of videos out there on how to tune idle, startup, dialing in the MAF if you have one, etc. I'm don't want to make this sound like it's ultra easy, but it's another way to enjoy your car and define it.
I think that's a great idea to purchase HP Tuner and learn, it just seems so hard to understand for me. And I cant agree with you more, another way to enjoy and really know your car. I'll eventually take the plunge and purchase HPT. I should start watching some videos now, haha.