Any SCT Livewire Experts?
12-20-2010 | 05:34 PM
#1
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
From: Durham
Any SCT Livewire Experts?
I've had the tuner for awhile, and have been in contact with american muscle who have tried to help but no such luck. SCT just blames it on my car.
Problem is using 91 tune, and running 91 gas (I've tried Sunoco, Petro, Shell)
I can't get rid of detonation... I've got it pretty minimal but where should I look.
On the tuner I've tried even running 87 tune on 91.
It usually only sounds like a can of marbles if I lug the motor.. but if I idle for a long time, and get some heat soak. Like driving downtown... It begins to detonate very easily..
I've tried 0-2000 -4, -8, -10 and I think I went up to -14
I even used seafoam as recommeneded by American Muscle (with obviously no difference)
I changed my plugs to a heat range cooler, and they are copper core.
I've even tried 94...
What else should I do..
Problem is using 91 tune, and running 91 gas (I've tried Sunoco, Petro, Shell)
I can't get rid of detonation... I've got it pretty minimal but where should I look.
On the tuner I've tried even running 87 tune on 91.
It usually only sounds like a can of marbles if I lug the motor.. but if I idle for a long time, and get some heat soak. Like driving downtown... It begins to detonate very easily..
I've tried 0-2000 -4, -8, -10 and I think I went up to -14
I even used seafoam as recommeneded by American Muscle (with obviously no difference)
I changed my plugs to a heat range cooler, and they are copper core.
I've even tried 94...
What else should I do..
12-20-2010 | 06:48 PM
#2
Administrator
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 17,778
From: Ontario
I was going to say to try 94 as they could have mixed the octane info.
Has American Muscle offer to take a look at it?
It obviously doesn't do it on the stock settings?If not,it's definitely something with the tune!
Has American Muscle offer to take a look at it?
It obviously doesn't do it on the stock settings?If not,it's definitely something with the tune!
12-20-2010 | 07:37 PM
#3
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
From: Durham
Thanks,
No it doesn't do it on the stock tune. American Muscle can't help me as I am not the original buyer, and do not have a bill of sale (I did buy it unopened though)
I have tried the 93 tune with 94 gas and it does the same thing
No it doesn't do it on the stock tune. American Muscle can't help me as I am not the original buyer, and do not have a bill of sale (I did buy it unopened though)
I have tried the 93 tune with 94 gas and it does the same thing
12-20-2010 | 10:30 PM
#5
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
From: Durham
I am just using the canned tunes, I was wondering if anyone who had tunes for life could get me one... not sure how that would work... Id be willing to pay for it, I just wanna isolate the problem, if its my car or just these tunes or what.
12-20-2010 | 11:26 PM
#6
CMOC Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 465
From: Calgary, AB
It sounds like it is DEFINITELY the tunes if you do not experience this with the OEM setup. I would not use the tuner until we figure this out.
I need to know a few things. Have you updated to the latest firmware from SCT? Do you have any mods? What are they? Is your car supercharged, unless it is you should not need a range colder in plugs but it will help the knock. Have you checked for vacuum leaks? Unfortunately someone with tunes for life cannot help you here. The tuners each have a individual strategy code.
I take it that when you say you tried 0-2000 -4, -8, -10 and I think I went up to -14, you are talking about retarding the timing between 0-2000 rpm.
This seams to be a common problem from what I can tell from the inter webs.
Try the following:
Most premium (91 & 93) tunes are made pretty aggresive. They advance timing quite a bit and many 4.6's cant handle that much. All engines will respond different to the tune....this is why a hands on dyno is the best. Anyway to fix your problem...try to decrease your overall global spark....not the rpm ranges. Try to do it -2 at a time and test with a load in 5th gear....Try to bog it a little in high gear on a incline and pump the pedal a little to listen for detonation. You may need to retard the global spark by as much as -8.
We will pinpoint this for you.
I need to know a few things. Have you updated to the latest firmware from SCT? Do you have any mods? What are they? Is your car supercharged, unless it is you should not need a range colder in plugs but it will help the knock. Have you checked for vacuum leaks? Unfortunately someone with tunes for life cannot help you here. The tuners each have a individual strategy code.
I take it that when you say you tried 0-2000 -4, -8, -10 and I think I went up to -14, you are talking about retarding the timing between 0-2000 rpm.
This seams to be a common problem from what I can tell from the inter webs.
Try the following:
Most premium (91 & 93) tunes are made pretty aggresive. They advance timing quite a bit and many 4.6's cant handle that much. All engines will respond different to the tune....this is why a hands on dyno is the best. Anyway to fix your problem...try to decrease your overall global spark....not the rpm ranges. Try to do it -2 at a time and test with a load in 5th gear....Try to bog it a little in high gear on a incline and pump the pedal a little to listen for detonation. You may need to retard the global spark by as much as -8.
We will pinpoint this for you.
Last edited by Kaisoboy; 12-21-2010 at 12:19 AM.
12-21-2010 | 08:07 AM
#7
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
From: Durham
Thank you for showing interest in my problem, I really appreciate it.
The device is up to date, zero mods as of now, no supercharger, only went with cooler plugs as directed by SCT, I cannot find any vaccuum leaks.
Yes I have tried 0-2000, my tuner doesn't have an option for global spark, unless I am not looking in the right places?
It only has 0-2000 and I forget the other two but they are ranges like 3000-4000 and 5000-6000
The device is up to date, zero mods as of now, no supercharger, only went with cooler plugs as directed by SCT, I cannot find any vaccuum leaks.
Yes I have tried 0-2000, my tuner doesn't have an option for global spark, unless I am not looking in the right places?
It only has 0-2000 and I forget the other two but they are ranges like 3000-4000 and 5000-6000
12-21-2010 | 01:54 PM
#8
CMOC Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 465
From: Calgary, AB
Hmmm...let me look into that global spark for you. It would appear that you are right about being able to adjust spark globally with the livewire. Thier Xcal can but not with the live wire. Wounder why they would take that out. When you experience the knock is it under load? Are you experiencing this at WOT? If you are try adding fuel a bit at a time.
So this is an absolutley stock OEM car?
Still researching for you.
So this is an absolutley stock OEM car?
Still researching for you.
12-21-2010 | 05:04 PM
#10
Thread Starter
CMOC Rookie
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 26
From: Durham
When you experience the knock is it under load? Are you experiencing this at WOT? If you are try adding fuel a bit at a time.
Under load yes, lets say if I am climbing a incline and rpms drop it would do it, and not only WOT. It happens all the time. I would have richen'd it up, but it only allows that at WOT.
Yes car is stock...not even a bolt on. (sad isnt it)
Under load yes, lets say if I am climbing a incline and rpms drop it would do it, and not only WOT. It happens all the time. I would have richen'd it up, but it only allows that at WOT.
Yes car is stock...not even a bolt on. (sad isnt it)
