Laptops in cars

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DJ_andercore

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Does anyone know how to set up and effectively use a laptop in a car to tune the engine,nos,other or the sports chip? Can someone explain this to me clearly? And dont go on about ricers please!
 
Me and my brother use a Data logger (laptop) in our DSM's. I cant really explain alot about it in how to use it because Im not very experienced at it. But the software is different for different cars. All I know is that I boot up the computer in the staging lanes, hit the space bar when im staging and viola, it logs my run. Than when you get back to the pits you can go through the software and look at every point of your run down to shift points, air/fuel, nock ect.
 
First, you have to have a piggyback ecu, or a full stand alone unit. If the unit is pc compatible, which most are, you basically install the provided software onto your laptop, plug the laptop into the unit, and adjust whatever parameter you need to.

Prior tuning knowledge is definately recommended in most cases. A good start would be to look into the Apex'i Power FC, it is a full stand-alone plug and play unit, if you don't have a laptop, you can tune it with the optional, FC Commander.

For a more advanced setup, a Haltech is a must. Plug and play harnesse's can be bought for popular platform's, other's will need to be installed by a competent mechanic. Good luck! :)
 
The AEM EMS can be hooked up to a laptop and is 100% PnP I don't think the MOTEC ones are PnP. If your looking to buy one go with the MOTEC it has many more features and is worth the money. As for the laptop you don't need a high end one, I'm pretty sure any pentium based one will work...unless you are running really high numbers you wont need to tune your car with an EMS.
 
Thanks for all the information guys, but you kind of confused me a bit :confused: . I wanted to know how to get a laptop to tune the engine and maybe the NOS like in the fast and the furious. But your information was even more helpful, thats if I can understand it!
 
Originally posted by skylineGTR_guy
The AEM EMS can be hooked up to a laptop and is 100% PnP I don't think the MOTEC ones are PnP. If your looking to buy one go with the MOTEC it has many more features and is worth the money. As for the laptop you don't need a high end one, I'm pretty sure any pentium based one will work...unless you are running really high numbers you wont need to tune your car with an EMS.
Click to expand...

Unless you have $5,000 PLUS, to spend, a MOTEC saems is completely out of the question. Not to mention the hour's of custom work that have to be put into the new wiring harness.
 
Originally posted by DJ_andercore
Thanks for all the information guys, but you kind of confused me a bit :confused: . I wanted to know how to get a laptop to tune the engine and maybe the NOS like in the fast and the furious. But your information was even more helpful, thats if I can understand it!
Click to expand...

Bottom line, it's over your head. The Fast and the Furious is fake. You can tune your engine/nos from a laptop, but it's not something you just go out and do.

The reason ricers are ricers, is because no one teaches them the right thing's. Instead of talking **** to this guy, help him out. (Rumple-Viper)
 
He's asking a perfectly valid question. Thats how people learn. He just used F&F as an example what's so funny about that? I agree with monster that this is not somethign you can learn easily. I mean unless you are extreemly rich and can waste money on "trial and error" or take some serious classes it's not something you can just do and expect to learn in 1 day. As I said unless you are pushing REALLY high numbers the ECU tuning wont do much good. Some people may think it's funny that people want to tune cars with their laptop but think about it, unless the person is just trying to be a poser, if they actually NEED to tune their cars with a laptop you are seriously screwed. Once again monster is right. If all people do is laugh at and criticize other people when they ask questions how is anybody going to learn? Then you wonder why the world is so full of ricers. Instead take some responsibility and do the world a favor and EDUCATE them. Thats the only way we will ever get rid of ricers.

👍 to monster7
 
Here is a converstion I had earlier with RazorGTR about EMS (engine managment systems)

One of the biggest draw backs to "plug and play" (like the AEM EMS) is you are using the car's existing wire loom, sensors, and other factory items. I prefer a wire in ecu as you are going to make sure that any potential problems within the wire loom or sensors are eliminated.
The Motec M800 is without a doubt one of the most serious aftermarket ECU's avialable. The expandability and programmability is phenominal. You can control boost at a given rpm range/gear/and throttle position all at the same time. Thus you are able to launch at say 1 bar, but as the road speed increases only slightly increase boost. Hook second and another boost setting that could also be progressive and so on. Not to mention the launch control which has a built in anti-lag system allowing you to sit at the line at a given rev range with the clutch in and still maintain optimal or programmed boost. It has 3 times the load points or mapping points of a good aftermarket ecu such as a microtec or haltec and 5 times that of an early Link. This would also include full data logging not to mention the ability to download that information to your laptop for further data comparisons of earlier runs. I honestly don't know how much or how far that ecu is capable. It is also not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
 
on another note another awsome ECU is the HKS F-CON V Pro. another extreemly high priced item but if you learn 1 thing JUST 1 thing about cars, it should be YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Sure a cheap EMS might be better now but it wont look too good when your engine blows. All the top tuners use name brand stuff. how many awsome tuner cars do you see running parts from Wal-Mart? none. so even if you get an expensive one like the MOTEC or HKS it will be worth it! I mean if Veilside can trust the HKS F-CON V Pro to run their 1360 HP skyline, I dont think you'll need to worry about any car you may tune....IF you know what you are doing.
1360 street legal horses all controlled by a computer.
p89459_image_large.jpg
 
Originally posted by DJ_andercore
Thanks for all the information guys, but you kind of confused me a bit :confused: . I wanted to know how to get a laptop to tune the engine and maybe the NOS like in the fast and the furious. But your information was even more helpful, thats if I can understand it!
Click to expand...





o goodness....... thats just for show, u know, joe.....

any how i read u can get a program that lets u hook up ur palm pilot and monitor engne systems
 
You can use a Palm as a half-assed datalogger, you have to get the required software of course.

This still leaves the issue of tuning..
 

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