HPTuners or EFILive?
 

Anyone using either of these two programs? I'm thinking about getting one, but not sure which one would be "best". Both seem well liked by people using them, so maybe either would be sufficient. EFILive has a pending upgrade last time I checked, so I'm not sure how far that one is from being released. I think HPTuners just had a new upgrade not that long ago.

But one question I have in mind is how useful these programs would be WITHOUT a wideband O2 sensor? Honestly, there just is no practical way for me to get under my car to dink around with the sensors, so what I have in place is what I am going to have to use. I've heard you can use a through the tailpipe sensor, but if you have cats it will throw off the readings.

So would getting one of these $600 programs be just a waste of time and money?

They are both very good in different respects. the more popular seems to be HP tuners. Here are some useful links: (1st is a PDF)
http://mysite.verizon.net/whenn1/HPTUNERSvsEFILIVE.pdf
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...uners+efi+live

these programs come with a certain number of user accounts so you can get access to one of those for cheep from someone who already has the software (as it was explained to me). Even without wideband, both are better than the LS1 edit.

:wavey: SRQC5

P.S. Excellent site By the way. thanks for the invitation. Ill look forward to spending alot of time on this forum.

Rich, I know FRC TOM uses HP Tuners. I haven't seen him in a while. He was having issues with his transmission I know.

Ivo was thinking about getting and learning HP Tuners as well.

I've been to both of the forums for those products, and HPTuners appears to definitely have a larger customer base. I like the idea of EFILive's where it appears that they are developing a handheld along with the PC based program to work in conjunction. But unless I am mistaken, it appears the HPTuners does do black box logging so you don't have to lug the laptop out to the vehicle to do data logging. I'm not sure if you can use the cable box to do flashes to the PCM without having the laptop attached, however. Just haven't had time to look real hard at the two products spec sheets. EFILive does have a testdrive program you can download, which is a nice touch, which HPTuners does not offer. But I think EFILive is having some big problems with their latest upgrade, so they just may be out of the running for that fact alone.

I bought some books recently to dig into the background info of what makes these new fangled motors tick, so maybe I will have a better understanding of what is going on. Not too keen on playing trial and error if I could smoke the engine in the process.

Oh yeah, another plus for HPTuners is that they take PayPal. I always think of PayPal as being play money, so this definitely helps out......

I just bought HPTuners last week.I have a Predator on my vette but did not do what I wanted.I will be tuning a 2004 GMC with the LQ9 6.0L 345 HP-a 2004 Escalade with the LQ9 6.0L 345HP and my 2002 Vette.I have started on the GMC tune and have it almost dialed in.I like being able to log and come back home and look at the log.With the Predator you just get part of the picture.I can not say anything about EFLive because I have not used it but I do like HPTuners so far!

I have a little gizmo called "CarChip" that does data logging for me, but it can only capture 4 data streams at a time from a list of options. Does HPTuners capture everything, or do you have to select from a list of options that limit the number of streams as well? The CarChip only samples as often as every 5 seconds, and I would like a quicker sample rate as well.

This stuff is probably on their website, but darn I just can't find the time to wade through the screens to try to figure it out.

Thanks.

Well all things considered, I ordered a copy of HPTuners and was amazed that it showed up in about 2 days. Came from a Florida address, so I guess that explains the speedy shipment. Haven't had a chance to do much more then open the box, however. No sort of manual included so I guess either there is one on the CD (which I HATE! - I like PAPER manuals, please!), or I will have to hunt around on their website for a Getting Started tutorial.

I'm actually looking for another laptop to load this software on. I have a Gateway, but it just seems heavy and bulky. Plus it must have the slowest harddrive in the universe in it as it takes FOREVER to load up Windows. Saw a really nifty little 3 or 4 pound notebook at Sam's the other day that I may get for this purpose. But I did see a bigger Toshiba that had an incredible graphics screen display.

I bought a Dell laptop a few weeks ago to run HPTuners on.It was the one on sale with free printer and it has 15" widescreen-DVD-wireless card and it works great but it is kinda heavy.I am new to the tuning also.I have tuned my 2004 GMC VHO 6.0L(345HP) and it is running good.I had a SuperChips programmer on it before.I can tell I have a better tune than what it had with the SC's.I have just started on my 2002 vette so it had a Predator before.
Good Luck.I have a few links for tuning if you would like them.I am still learning and would like to get a wide band O2 now.I guess the buying never stops!:D

Yeah man, I would appreciate the links. I bought some books about tuning and engine management theory, but just finding the time to flip the pages is tough to do.

Thanks.

http://www.turbofirebird.com/Tuning/...3/Default.aspx
http://www.hptuners.com/help/index.h...to_user_sd.htm
http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...dit/tuning.htm
http://ls1lt1.com/forum/faq.php?faq=...q_pcmtuningpt1
http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/te...rtrain_module/
Here is a few to get you started.:thumbsup:

I went with HPtuners, I had my mind set on EFILive.
only reason I went with HP tuners, is because I went halves on it,my buddy has a GTO, Efilive live dont support GTOs. so HPTuners it was for me.

my first mod was a short shifter, second mod HPTuners :thumbsup:
I havent done any tuning yet because i havent installed my wideband, but did couple logs, tryin to get familiar with the program. its fairly simple to use, it has description of what every setting can do. and the forums covers alot of the newb stuff

Yeah, I looked hard at EFI Live too, but decided on HPTuners. The user base seems much larger for HPTuners and EFI Live has been working on their latest upgrade for about forever. I just got tired of waiting for them.

Guess I need to load it onto my computer(s) so I can at least take a look at it. Probably will load it on my older Gateway laptop just so I can read the help files when I go up to Maryland later this month. The wife tends to like to do most of the driving, so I have a bunch of time to catch up on some reading.

Don't think I'll get a chance to get a better laptop before the trip, so the Gateway will have to do for now.

dont know if you can download the program like how you can with efilive.

if you dont find it, PM me or something and I can try send it your way.

here's a link http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=368718

Been playing around with my HPTuners program a bit today, and it seems pretty neat. Did some black box data logging after I figured out how to do that. Kind of interesting to set up the graphs on the computer after downloading from the "box" and playing it back to watch the display.

Wonder if I can figure out a way to convert it to a .WMV file? Now THAT would be cool.....

I think I have a problem with my IAT sensor. Been logging some DIC errors every now and again, but seeing it on the graph shows me there may be a definite problem. Temps should be pretty much constant, I would think, and pretty near ambient temperature. But I saw some sudden spikes come out of nowhere that shot up close to 125 degrees, and dropped just as suddenly. That just shouldn't be normal.

Tell you what, I can see where something like this would be a Godsend for diagnostic purposes where an intermittent problem is taking place. The list of sensors and variables that can be monitored us absolutely UNREAL. Personally, even without the tuning capability, I believe this product would be worth the money for this fact alone.

Still have LOTS to learn, of course, but I think it will be one hell of a valuable education in itself.

I went out and bought another laptop just for this purpose, since my Gateway is just too darn heavy and bulky. Bought an Averatec that weighs just a hair over 4 pounds and is just great for this sort of thing. But I do wish someone would invent some sort of cybernetic input for these things. I really just don't like the finger "squeegee" pad that takes the place of the mouse.

the AIT sensor isnt seperated is it?
I believe its in the maf

Beats me.... I'm going to ask Greg to take a look at it when he is doing the STS install. I've been getting intermittent DIC codes pointing to a MAF problem for a while now.

Just out of curiosity, where does the car pick up the outside temperature that displays on the a/c and heater unit? The other day it was showing hotter than I believe it actually was outside. If the signal comes from the MAF/IAT, that would be another nail in that coffin, I think.

well according to GM Service information
the HVAC has 2 sensors for that
Ambient air temp sensor and an inside air temp sensor.
the ambient temp sensor sits near the horn, kinda near to where air going to the radiator.

mines usually a lil off when first starting up.its needs airflow to figure the temp

HPTuners
 

HPTuners is more user friendly i Use it and program vehicles for others have tuned trucks,vettes,gtos,and many others :thumbsup:

i got hp tuners and got spare licenses for another vette,so far i turned off all my check engine codes since i have no cats,lg headers with no air pump fitting and lower fan temps for a 160 stat,i love it.:thumbsup: