So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car?

CenCali07STI · 04-21-2008, 06:47 PM

I decided to start this thread after I had some major issues with my first stage 2 tune and then got it retuned by another tuner to fix the problems. Since then I have been getting several emails asking about both situations. This thread section is helpful if you take the time to look through it, but I want to make a cliff notes version if you will of the Bad to Good Re-Tunes since I was a little uninformed when researching tuners. Possibly just due to me not reading enough in here but a man can only do so much reading. So my goal is to have a thread that gives very quick and simple info about your Retunes. I want this to be retunes only or just bad tunes and keep it simple and comments to a minimum. I think that simple posts of things like this is what a lot of people would really like to hear about, even though the good tune reviews are nice too.

And please, please only state facts when it comes to posting. Do not post speculation about anything. If you don’t know, don’t answer. I don’t want to start speculation wars in here either. I hope that the mods do not mind me starting a thread like this. I feel there is nothing wrong with giving a little info just like this section already does, even if it is bad a experience. I do not want it to be seen as a tuner bashing thread either, just an informative thread about the first hand experience.

Basic Format I am thinking should be like this

Tuner:
Mods:
Results Day of Tune:
Problems after Tune:
Damages (if any):
Tuners comments of issues:
Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet)

Who Retuned:
Mods:
Results:
Problems after Retune: (if any)
Comments about tune: (short and sweet)

If anyone can think of something add to this format or change it let me know.

Tuner: Mike @ GST Motorsports

Mods: Walbro 255, Gm Solenoid, Custom TBE

Results Day of Tune: 280hp 314tq 91 octane

Problems after Tune: The car started feeling sluggish, so I datalogged it. The data log showed up to 8 degrees of timing being pulled 5 degrees on average. Link to Data logs here 2 log files 2008.csv

Damages (if any): After seeing the data logs I decided to do a leakdown test. It revealed cylinders 1 and 3 at 2%, cylinder 2 at 4% and 4 at 15%. Comments of experienced people both import and domestic say 15% is not that bad, but compared to the other 3, its a sign of slight damage or premature wear you could say.

Tuners comments of issues: Leakdown numbers did not concern him; said he has seen worse on stock cars that were never tuned before and would like to check it himself; ofered to recheck car; claimed to have pulled another 07 sti in with the same map as mine and that car was still running perfectly. Tuner did send me a modified map with different DA Tables to try. Here is the log for it Modified DA map logs.csv FLKC cleaned up but FKC still pulling high numbers.

Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet) Initially very pleased with numbers; even gave him a great review in forums; a couple weeks later, I noticed the car felt weaker and after logging and leakdown results (15% compared to other cylinders not good) I chose not to have him retune it based on the first experience. I was charged $300 for 30 minutes of tuning. Tuner refunded full amount back for the tune on his own, I accepted. Not happy to find out that he puts same maps on other stage 2 cars and does not make map custom per car (as per comment of checking previous tune on another 07).

Who Retuned:Ed @ Eqtuning

Mods: Same

Results: 275hp and 307tq 91 octane 295hp and 330tq 109 octane (low boost tune for now)

Comments about tune: Idles smoother; driveability under normal driving 100% better than factory or first tune; Pulls harder than first tune; Spent over 2 hours tuning 91 map and same for 109 map. Total 5 hours of tuning for $600.

Problems after Retune: None

Just wanted to add an email I recieved from Mike at GST explaining something about my post that he feels i misunderstood. I want this to be a fair post so if I stated something wrong I want everyone to see the tuners comments too.

Brandon,

I think you may have missunderstood me on our last conversation when I said I tested your map on another 07, I tested another 07 STI with similar mods that I put your map on when it came in to test the basic ignition stratergy. It did not have your map on it prior to that or after it left I simply loaded up your map and tailored the boost for it to test out the any issues there may have been in the base and dynamic timing.

I don't and have never used the same map on any tuned vehicles, I may start with a map tuned on a previous vehicle with dummed down timing and boost to gather a starting point but never use the same map without adjusting it to the actual car.

The only exception to this rule would be for start up/break in maps for customer cars that need a remote map emailed to them for either a break in or significant mod change to enable them to get to the shop and those maps all run wastegate boost and 4k rev limits simply to enable the cars to drive.

I just wanted to clarify that as your post implies that I simply use the same map untuned for likewise modified cars which is not the case.

Regards,

Mike

BBBsti LTD · 04-21-2008, 07:33 PM

Are you data-logging your car with the new tune??

This is a good idea, the only thing I dont like is putting tuners on the spot, but I understand WE NEED to look after our cars.

All I have to say is that CLARK tuned my car and the logs looks really good. Experience with him was good.

CenCali07STI · 04-21-2008, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBBsti LTD

Are you data-logging your car with the new tune??

This is a good idea, the only thing I dont like is putting tuners in the spot, but I understand WE NEED to look after our cars.

All I have to say is that CLARK tuned my car and the logs looks really good. Experience with him was good.

Good point and no I have not but I have not I have driven it with a full tank of 91 in it yet as I still had several gallons of race gas in it for a while. I will though very soon. I dont want to put them on the spot either but I have recieved so many emails questioning what happened with my car that I felt I needed to post something if people were that concerned with my experience. The emails came from people either tuned or going to be tuned by my first tuner. Although it may seem wrong to some and the situation has been buried between the first tuner and I, I do not see any issue with stating facts. My main thing is I dont want people to be afriad to post the bad experiences because we all know they happen but not all speak about them.

Brandon

Peleg · 04-21-2008, 07:54 PM

Tuner: Mike @ GST
Mods: AP v.1, Titek catted dp, walbro 255, Blitz drop in air filter.
Results Day of Tune: 252/286
Problems after Tune: some hesitation in the mid range.
Damages (if any): None
Tuners comments of issues: One of the strongest 04's, least amount of mods.
Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet)

Who Retuned: Mike @ GST
Mods: same as above, added the APS 65mm CAI
Results: 262/293
Problems after Retune: none, hesitation is gone.
Comments about tune: More power, still minimal mods.

This car pulls like angry bull, whistles like a Cobra snake and does really well. Very smooth.

Mike said the A/F was doing ok. I asked if it could be made PERFECT and he said yes, so we got right to it.

My philosophy: research your mods very carefully, sometimes too many is too much, keep it simple. Don't aim for peak numbers only, but think about the power under the curve, throttle response, smoothness.

BBBsti LTD · 04-21-2008, 08:02 PM

I understand, this is a very informative thread for us (07 owners) and hopefully informative for the tuners as well. Tuner are like MD's they needs to stay updated, 2007's are completely different compared to previous years and seem like 08 and future STi's will be vary similar.

I hope that the tuners start reading this and accepting that previous tuning techniques are not compatibles.

I don’t think any tuner will tune your car bad on purpose, it is just lack of knowledge.

Peleg · 04-21-2008, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBBsti LTD

I understand, this is a very informative thread for us (07 owners) and hopefully informative for the tuners as well. Tuner are like MD's they needs to stay updated, 2007's are completely different compared to previous years and seem like 08 and future STi's will be vary similar.

I hope that the tuners start reading this and accepting that previous tuning techniques are not compatibles.

I don’t think any tuner will tune your car bad on purpose, it is just lack of knowledge.

I apologize, didn't know this was meant primary for 07's. If you want me to delete the post, let me know.

CenCali07STI · 04-21-2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peleg

I apologize, didn't know this was meant primary for 07's. If you want me to delete the post, let me know.

Any year is fine its just for tuning experiences yours was appreciated.

Brandon

BBBsti LTD · 04-21-2008, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CenCali07STI

Any year is fine its just for tuning experiences yours was appreciated.

Brandon

Just 07 are more sensitive
Everuboby experiences will be valuable

CenCali07STI · 04-22-2008, 08:32 AM

Updated the end of my first post with an email from mike at gst explaing something on his part.

Brandon

jermdeez · 04-22-2008, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBBsti LTD

Are you data-logging your car with the new tune??

This is a good idea, the only thing I dont like is putting tuners on the spot, but I understand WE NEED to look after our cars.

All I have to say is that CLARK tuned my car and the logs looks really good. Experience with him was good.

I'd get it doubled checked, hah. But i have the right to say that.

jermdeez · 04-23-2008, 01:47 PM

Tuner:Mike GST
Mods:Fp green, fmic, etc...
Results Day of Tune:best of 301/310, worst of about 287/300
Problems after Tune: No problems I was aware of until I had the map checked out which revealed some knocking in higher gears, as well as some more significant "shift knock".
Damages (if any):No damages, didn't run it for long.
Tuners comments of issues:Only comment was that this is normal hp for the car, and that he couldn't get anymore out of it.
Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet)
I was a little upset and worried because Mike tuned my car in for 30 minutes or less. I was pretty pist because he spent a lot longer on my st. 2 which is a lot easier to tune.
Well I was REALLY bummed when I got into my car, because it felt slower than my st. 2 which Mike had tuned as well when he was at Gruppe-s. I need to add that right away I knew my car wasn't what it should be, having put 50k on my st. 2 and ridden/driven numerous sti's. My real problem was lack of response with the car.

Who Retuned:Ed EQ Tuning
Mods:same mods with an EWG added
Results:335/345............my baseline before mods or anything was almost identical to all my GST.
Problems after Retune: (if any) Yes, Can't slow down, and my car has too much torque thru tight corners, making exiting the turns spawn the question "Am I going to fly away, I sure wish I kept my big wing if so"
Comments about tune: (short and sweet) Basically I went to ED right after, and told him my issues with the car, had him check it out and see what he thought. He was disappointed in the response of the car, but excited to see he could definitely make more hp with it, while making it run even safer. At this point I decided I might as well wait and do EWG so I don't have to get tuned and retuned by him.

To make this clear here are my impressions. The response and spool of the car really are night and day. It rips between shifts.

Next map- Next I told Ed I wanted to run around 25psi on vp109, he mentioned it might be wise to stop at 23.5 psi since my car was already doing 395/401, especially If I wanted to track it on that map. I wanted to get the most power but it was already so ridiculous I decided to hold off.

CenCali07STI · 04-23-2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jermdeez

just go to Ed and you won't need to read this thread. save yourself the trouble.

Thats what I would recommend to. Ed more than made me happy with the tune on my car.

13onesti · 04-25-2008, 01:37 AM

ED FTW...

my car has been retuned alot of times..
and has been SO DAMN BADASS from the start..

every time i get retune with new parts i get good result on the track E.T. and TrapSpeed

subi4justin · 04-25-2008, 02:48 AM

wow, it sounds like ed is the man.

rmo55c · 04-25-2008, 06:45 AM

I'm sure muffnbluff will chime in on this thread...

But just to note about the actual thread topic, Jorge tuned my car in september 2007 and Ron datalogged in on Sunday. Still running perfectly. No issues from the tune. I think you just need to take the time and really think carefully about your tuner choice.

04-21-2008, 06:47 PM	#1
CenCali07STI Professional STI Racer Car: 07 STI SWP Fav Mod: Custom built TBE FTW!!! Location: Modesto, California Posts: 819 Join Date: Feb 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? I decided to start this thread after I had some major issues with my first stage 2 tune and then got it retuned by another tuner to fix the problems. Since then I have been getting several emails asking about both situations. This thread section is helpful if you take the time to look through it, but I want to make a cliff notes version if you will of the Bad to Good Re-Tunes since I was a little uninformed when researching tuners. Possibly just due to me not reading enough in here but a man can only do so much reading. So my goal is to have a thread that gives very quick and simple info about your Retunes. I want this to be retunes only or just bad tunes and keep it simple and comments to a minimum. I think that simple posts of things like this is what a lot of people would really like to hear about, even though the good tune reviews are nice too. And please, please only state facts when it comes to posting. Do not post speculation about anything. If you don’t know, don’t answer. I don’t want to start speculation wars in here either. I hope that the mods do not mind me starting a thread like this. I feel there is nothing wrong with giving a little info just like this section already does, even if it is bad a experience. I do not want it to be seen as a tuner bashing thread either, just an informative thread about the first hand experience. Basic Format I am thinking should be like this Tuner: Mods: Results Day of Tune: Problems after Tune: Damages (if any): Tuners comments of issues: Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet) Who Retuned: Mods: Results: Problems after Retune: (if any) Comments about tune: (short and sweet) If anyone can think of something add to this format or change it let me know. Tuner: Mike @ GST Motorsports Mods: Walbro 255, Gm Solenoid, Custom TBE Results Day of Tune: 280hp 314tq 91 octane Problems after Tune: The car started feeling sluggish, so I datalogged it. The data log showed up to 8 degrees of timing being pulled 5 degrees on average. Link to Data logs here 2 log files 2008.csv Damages (if any): After seeing the data logs I decided to do a leakdown test. It revealed cylinders 1 and 3 at 2%, cylinder 2 at 4% and 4 at 15%. Comments of experienced people both import and domestic say 15% is not that bad, but compared to the other 3, its a sign of slight damage or premature wear you could say. Tuners comments of issues: Leakdown numbers did not concern him; said he has seen worse on stock cars that were never tuned before and would like to check it himself; ofered to recheck car; claimed to have pulled another 07 sti in with the same map as mine and that car was still running perfectly. Tuner did send me a modified map with different DA Tables to try. Here is the log for it Modified DA map logs.csv FLKC cleaned up but FKC still pulling high numbers. Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet) Initially very pleased with numbers; even gave him a great review in forums; a couple weeks later, I noticed the car felt weaker and after logging and leakdown results (15% compared to other cylinders not good) I chose not to have him retune it based on the first experience. I was charged $300 for 30 minutes of tuning. Tuner refunded full amount back for the tune on his own, I accepted. Not happy to find out that he puts same maps on other stage 2 cars and does not make map custom per car (as per comment of checking previous tune on another 07). Who Retuned:Ed @ Eqtuning Mods: Same Results: 275hp and 307tq 91 octane 295hp and 330tq 109 octane (low boost tune for now) Comments about tune: Idles smoother; driveability under normal driving 100% better than factory or first tune; Pulls harder than first tune; Spent over 2 hours tuning 91 map and same for 109 map. Total 5 hours of tuning for $600. Problems after Retune: None Just wanted to add an email I recieved from Mike at GST explaining something about my post that he feels i misunderstood. I want this to be a fair post so if I stated something wrong I want everyone to see the tuners comments too. Brandon, I think you may have missunderstood me on our last conversation when I said I tested your map on another 07, I tested another 07 STI with similar mods that I put your map on when it came in to test the basic ignition stratergy. It did not have your map on it prior to that or after it left I simply loaded up your map and tailored the boost for it to test out the any issues there may have been in the base and dynamic timing. I don't and have never used the same map on any tuned vehicles, I may start with a map tuned on a previous vehicle with dummed down timing and boost to gather a starting point but never use the same map without adjusting it to the actual car. The only exception to this rule would be for start up/break in maps for customer cars that need a remote map emailed to them for either a break in or significant mod change to enable them to get to the shop and those maps all run wastegate boost and 4k rev limits simply to enable the cars to drive. I just wanted to clarify that as your post implies that I simply use the same map untuned for likewise modified cars which is not the case. Regards, Mike This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad. Last edited by CenCali07STI : 04-22-2008 at 08:30 AM. Reason: sorry editing so much correcting mis spelled words haha

04-21-2008, 07:33 PM	#2
BBBsti LTD Senior STI Driver Car: 2007 STi LTD Fav Mod: Stg. 2 with Knocklite Location: Boricua en So Cal Posts: 398 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? Are you data-logging your car with the new tune?? This is a good idea, the only thing I dont like is putting tuners on the spot, but I understand WE NEED to look after our cars. All I have to say is that CLARK tuned my car and the logs looks really good. Experience with him was good. Last edited by BBBsti LTD : 04-21-2008 at 07:49 PM.

04-21-2008, 07:54 PM	#4
Peleg STI Guru Car: 04 Subaru WRX STi Fav Mod: Whooshing sounds Location: NorCal Posts: 5,565 Join Date: Nov 2003 Trader Rating: (11)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? Tuner: Mike @ GST Mods: AP v.1, Titek catted dp, walbro 255, Blitz drop in air filter. Results Day of Tune: 252/286 Problems after Tune: some hesitation in the mid range. Damages (if any): None Tuners comments of issues: One of the strongest 04's, least amount of mods. Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet) Who Retuned: Mike @ GST Mods: same as above, added the APS 65mm CAI Results: 262/293 Problems after Retune: none, hesitation is gone. Comments about tune: More power, still minimal mods. This car pulls like angry bull, whistles like a Cobra snake and does really well. Very smooth. Mike said the A/F was doing ok. I asked if it could be made PERFECT and he said yes, so we got right to it. My philosophy: research your mods very carefully, sometimes too many is too much, keep it simple. Don't aim for peak numbers only, but think about the power under the curve, throttle response, smoothness. Last edited by Peleg : 04-21-2008 at 08:07 PM.

04-21-2008, 08:02 PM	#5
BBBsti LTD Senior STI Driver Car: 2007 STi LTD Fav Mod: Stg. 2 with Knocklite Location: Boricua en So Cal Posts: 398 Join Date: Apr 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? I understand, this is a very informative thread for us (07 owners) and hopefully informative for the tuners as well. Tuner are like MD's they needs to stay updated, 2007's are completely different compared to previous years and seem like 08 and future STi's will be vary similar. I hope that the tuners start reading this and accepting that previous tuning techniques are not compatibles. I don’t think any tuner will tune your car bad on purpose, it is just lack of knowledge.

04-22-2008, 08:32 AM	#9
CenCali07STI Professional STI Racer Car: 07 STI SWP Fav Mod: Custom built TBE FTW!!! Location: Modesto, California Posts: 819 Join Date: Feb 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? Updated the end of my first post with an email from mike at gst explaing something on his part. Brandon

04-23-2008, 01:47 PM	#11
jermdeez Spec C Club Posts: 1,583 Join Date: Feb 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? Tuner:Mike GST Mods:Fp green, fmic, etc... Results Day of Tune:best of 301/310, worst of about 287/300 Problems after Tune: No problems I was aware of until I had the map checked out which revealed some knocking in higher gears, as well as some more significant "shift knock". Damages (if any):No damages, didn't run it for long. Tuners comments of issues:Only comment was that this is normal hp for the car, and that he couldn't get anymore out of it. Your Comments about tune: (short and sweet) I was a little upset and worried because Mike tuned my car in for 30 minutes or less. I was pretty pist because he spent a lot longer on my st. 2 which is a lot easier to tune. Well I was REALLY bummed when I got into my car, because it felt slower than my st. 2 which Mike had tuned as well when he was at Gruppe-s. I need to add that right away I knew my car wasn't what it should be, having put 50k on my st. 2 and ridden/driven numerous sti's. My real problem was lack of response with the car. Who Retuned:Ed EQ Tuning Mods:same mods with an EWG added Results:335/345............my baseline before mods or anything was almost identical to all my GST. Problems after Retune: (if any) Yes, Can't slow down, and my car has too much torque thru tight corners, making exiting the turns spawn the question "Am I going to fly away, I sure wish I kept my big wing if so" Comments about tune: (short and sweet) Basically I went to ED right after, and told him my issues with the car, had him check it out and see what he thought. He was disappointed in the response of the car, but excited to see he could definitely make more hp with it, while making it run even safer. At this point I decided I might as well wait and do EWG so I don't have to get tuned and retuned by him. To make this clear here are my impressions. The response and spool of the car really are night and day. It rips between shifts. Next map- Next I told Ed I wanted to run around 25psi on vp109, he mentioned it might be wise to stop at 23.5 psi since my car was already doing 395/401, especially If I wanted to track it on that map. I wanted to get the most power but it was already so ridiculous I decided to hold off. Last edited by jermdeez : 05-23-2008 at 04:18 PM.

04-25-2008, 01:37 AM	#13
13onesti Professional STI Driver Car: aka - DownSTi Fav Mod: Big Thanks to Jeremy @ Crucial Racing and ED @ EQ - Tuning Location: BayArea Posts: 496 Join Date: Aug 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? ED FTW... my car has been retuned alot of times.. and has been SO DAMN BADASS from the start.. every time i get retune with new parts i get good result on the track E.T. and TrapSpeed

04-25-2008, 02:48 AM	#14
subi4justin Senior STI Driver Car: OBP 05 STI protuned Fav Mod: HKS EXHAUST Location: BAy ARea Posts: 343 Join Date: Apr 2007 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? wow, it sounds like ed is the man.

04-25-2008, 06:45 AM	#15
rmo55c Professional STI Racer Car: 05 WRB STi Fav Mod: I Heart Boobs Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 846 Join Date: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: So Who Tuned Your Car Then Who Had To Retune Your Car? I'm sure muffnbluff will chime in on this thread... But just to note about the actual thread topic, Jorge tuned my car in september 2007 and Ron datalogged in on Sunday. Still running perfectly. No issues from the tune. I think you just need to take the time and really think carefully about your tuner choice. This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.