Hello everyone. After searching around here and elsewhere (including vender's websites, emailing tuning shops, etc.) I have not been able to find definite answers to the following. Can someone with a 2009/2010 and SCT x3 programmer tell me first-hand about the following:

Traction control

According to the SCT website, the SCT x3 "Allows you to disable the vehicles Traction Control without using the button in the vehicle."

• Is the applicable to the 2009/2010 F150s? If so, is it always on/off, or can you just change the behavior of the "traction control" button.

Rumor has it, and some posts suggest, that the re-engage speed of the ESC/RSC portion of the traction control system can be increased to an arbitrary value. For example, driving below 35MPH you can press and hold the "traction control" button for 5 seconds. After which all traction control is turned off. Above 35 however, the TSC stays off, and the ESC/RSC kick back in. So, in other words, can this 35MPH speed be increased?

• Is this true? If so, can you adjust it with the programmer, or do you have to adjust it by uploading a custom tune?

On a more technical note, is the TSC/ESC/RSC actually off, or are they a part of an always-running transfer function whose coefficients are simply lowered to the point where they have very little effect?

Engine & Transmission

I know the the programmer has the ability to run the engine richer than 14.6:1 (see here, graph #4) at lower RPMs, thus increasing the throttle response.

But in order to mitigate that "oh crap! I need to accelerate NOW!...wait wait wait" feeling, I was wondering:

• Has anyone with a custom tune from PHP (or other reputable tuner) noticed a significant difference in their transmission shift time?
  
• Lastly, how much better is the down-shift response? Especially how it relates to cruising at highway speeds and then punching the gas (thus causing a down-shift)?

Sorry for the extremely long post. Thanks in advance guys!

 

I asked about the traction control when I ordered my tune from VMP and Justin wasn't aware of the issues at the time. I have since ordered and received a custom tune from PHP with TC disabled. Unfortunately I have not had the chance to install the tune yet to see the difference.

As for tranny response. With my VMP tune the response is fairly immediate and shifts are very quick. The harder you drive the more aggressive the shifting seems to be, as in when you floor it to pass on the highway, the shift is immediate and throttle response is massively improved from stock. Even when just driving normally the tranny always feels to be in the correct gear. Prior to my tune, it always seemed to get caught lugging and was slow to initiate the downshift.

I hope that helps somewhat.

 

Awesome! That's exactly what I was looking for. You cleared up the only thing holding me back from pulling the trigger on the SCT x3. When you get the PHP tune loaded, would you mind posting your results? Thanks Dave!

 

I haven't received my custom tunes for my CTS from PHP yet, but with the Edge "Towing" and "Extreme" tunes, I don't notice any difference in throttle response or shifting on my '09.

 

It seems that the majority of cts owners with 09+ don't really have anything good to say about the canned tunes. I know I noticed a difference in my sct canned tunes and an even better difference when I got custom tunes from VMP.

 

That's good to know.

So, having owned both, which would you recommend? I will likely be running a canned tune for a while (until the custom tune comes in), then running a custom tune from then on. So maybe a better question would be, which device do you prefer (assuming the custom tunes are roughly equivalent on both)?

 

I think that you should call SCT with your questions, or talk to a vendor. I know that Mike Troyer loves talking on the phone. I called his number by accident once, and 3 hours later, I knew his middle name.

 

^^ X1000 !!!


MGD

 

I have run an SCT with VMP custom tunes in my bone stock 2010 FX4 for a few months. At first I thought I had a noticeable power gain, then I switched back to stock and I think I was just feeling the shortened delay the custom tune has in throttle response. The negative side of removing some of the delay is that at highway speeds the throttle seems very touchy. You have to really watch what your foot does because it is a little too sensitive. Regarding the transmission, I felt like I had better control over the shifting, however it did not improve the 1-2 and 2-1 shifting issue and still can be indecisive as to what gear it wants to be in. With the 87 performance tune I have noticed some pinging under heavy throttle. I am planning on doing a couple of dyno runs to determine the facts. In hindsight is kind of bothers me that there are so many places offering "custom" tunes, but there are no dyno graphs to show what they have done. How can they create a "custom" tune without a way to measure the results. In all fairness to VMP, Justin has said that there is not much on the left on the table performance-wise on the 09-10's and I have not followed up with him on any of the issues I have posted about. But I have to say at this point I think I like the stock tune better.

 

I will bock out a chunk of my day next week and give him a call. Thanks for the recommendation.

Pig9r, thanks for the input. I really appreciate hearing about first-hand experiences

Yeah, I can see how it might be a little aggravating to have a really sensitive throttle, but for me, that's exactly what I'm looking for. I came from a good ol' cable driven throttle and loved it. If you sneezed while driving it you might get a speeding ticket I'm not disillusioned, I know it won't be the same as a cable throttle, but a step in that direction is worth it for me.

<$0.02>
Regarding the issue of a custom tune without a dyno, I would imagine that they have done enough tunes with dynos to be able to predict the end result based on past experience. That, and/or their software is able to simulate the trucks characteristics with adjusted vehicle parameters. Since most stock trucks should be the same, it's seems like a viable business decision. *shrugs*

EDIT: also, some tuners require you to datalog before the final tune is created, so not exactly a dyno, but they can at least get a good idea of what your vehicle is doing
</$0.02>

 

This is the reason choosing a tuning system that facilitates end-user datalogging (either on-road, dragstrip or dyno) and iterative data review and tune file corrections/'tweaking', to get to the point where any truck variations, AND user preferences ( e.g throttle behaviour that you specifically want to have), are addressed.

SCT has such a system - it works great - but you have to use it.

As far as performance, the path to better results on the 09+ platforms is high-octane tuning (92-93+) ... stock, it already does a very good job with 87 octane (not accounting for TCM stuff), with that good OEM intake and excellent OEM exhuast system. And that wonderful 1st gear ratio on the 6-speed.

MGD

 

ahh!, I forgot to refresh before editing my post. MGDfan you beat me to the datalogging comment! As always, thanks for that insightful info

 

As I hope to make this somewhat of a reference for the SCT x3 as it relates to the 2009/2010's, here's some more info I dug up. Hopefully more to come as I get emails and phone calls returned.

If you want to buy a used SCT x3 for your 2009/2010, you need to make sure that the serial number of the device in question begins with "XP", if it begins with "X3" it will not work.

Assuming your device begins with "XP", you will be able to download an update to make the device work with your truck.