Coyote Tuner Blues

[legend42]

I will try and keep this short. After returning 2 new SCT tuners to American Muscle because they did not work, the 3rd new one works fine with my lap top and downloaded the Lund custom tune no problem, but now will not recognize/communicate with my Coyote gen 3 when plugged into the OB2 port. After multiple hours on the phone with SCT tech support and no success, they said send back the tuner and PCM, they will try to program it there. I guess this will work, but I really wanted to program it in my shop. Thinking about calling Ford Performance next week to see if they can help. Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

[Just puttering]

Will a code reader work on the odb2 port?

Check continuity from the odb2 to the computer. Maybe a bad wire or contact ?

[edwardb]

I'm confused. I know Lund Racing sells the SCT tuner. But they mainly promote the nGauge (what I've used...) and it communicates with the Gen 3 Coyote fine. Been there done that. The Lund Racing website doesn't list an SCT tuner option for the Gen 3. You bought the SCT from American Muscle? With a Lund Racing tune installed? Is it specifically for the crate motor version of the Gen 3 Coyote? A standard Mustang calibration isn't the same. Also, the device has to be paired to the engine PCM. At least it does with the nGauge. Should do normal stuff like read and clear codes. But can't be used to load tunes or whatever unless paired. Sending in the device and PCM for a one-time load (assuming they're successful...) isn't a very good option IMO. Normally it's an iterative process that takes 3-4-5 cycles of log and updated tunes to get everything technically working and you happy with how it runs.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Just a thought. Is it possible the gen 3 crate engine ECU has a different protocol than the earlier versions. Had one of the first if not the first Coyote's crate engine ECU's to be programmed with an SCT. Went through a whole lot of back & forth including a bricked ECU before FORD Tech, SCT & AM figured it out. The initial hand shake between the SCT handheld & the ECU had to be rewritten as the crate engine ECU was a stripped version of the passenger car one & certain data the SCT was looking for was not on the crate engine ECU.

OOPS Looks like we were posting at the same time!!

Agree on not doing a one time load. Have reloaded or used different tunes over the years. You need a fully functional device.

[legend42]

I'm confused. I know Lund Racing sells the SCT tuner. But they mainly promote the nGauge (what I've used...) and it communicates with the Gen 3 Coyote fine. Been there done that. The Lund Racing website doesn't list an SCT tuner option for the Gen 3. You bought the SCT from American Muscle? With a Lund Racing tune installed? Is it specifically for the crate motor version of the Gen 3 Coyote? A standard Mustang calibration isn't the same. Also, the device has to be paired to the engine PCM. At least it does with the nGauge. Should do normal stuff like read and clear codes. But can't be used to load tunes or whatever unless paired. Sending in the device and PCM for a one-time load (assuming they're successful...) isn't a very good option IMO. Normally it's an iterative process that takes 3-4-5 cycles of log and updated tunes to get everything technically working and you happy with how it runs.

After I bought the SCT X4 from American Muscle, they put me in touch with Lund who took all the motor info/control pack and emailed me a tune to load into the SCT tuner, which seemed to work fine the 3rd time. Lund tech told me he has done these Factory Five Coyote create motors all the time, so I think you are correct that pairing is the issue. BTW, I do have a OB2 code reader, and that seems to work fine as well. As you also mentioned data logging is important for the fine tuning, so I need to be able to work this SCT tuner. Maybe its possible I am trying to use the wrong tuner? SCT seems lost about how to make this work.

[legend42]

Just a thought. Is it possible the gen 3 crate engine ECU has a different protocol than the earlier versions. Had one of the first if not the first Coyote's crate engine ECU's to be programmed with an SCT. Went through a whole lot of back & forth including a bricked ECU before FORD Tech, SCT & AM figured it out. The initial hand shake between the SCT handheld & the ECU had to be rewritten as the crate engine ECU was a stripped version of the passenger car one & certain data the SCT was looking for was not on the crate engine ECU.

OOPS Looks like we were posting at the same time!!

Agree on not doing a one time load. Have reloaded or used different tunes over the years. You need a fully functional device.

Thanks BEAR-AvHistory, That certainly sounds possible. The SCT tuner I have is trying to read vehicle/ VIN info which of course is not there. I will check with Ford Performance Monday if I cant figure it out.

[legend42]

Will a code reader work on the odb2 port?

Check continuity from the odb2 to the computer. Maybe a bad wire or contact ?

Yes, the code reader does work. The motor runs fairly well with a 4" cold air intake, but runs pretty rough with the FFR 3.5" MAF cold air intake is installed.

[edwardb]

After I bought the SCT X4 from American Muscle, they put me in touch with Lund who took all the motor info/control pack and emailed me a tune to load into the SCT tuner, which seemed to work fine the 3rd time. Lund tech told me he has done these Factory Five Coyote create motors all the time, so I think you are correct that pairing is the issue. BTW, I do have a OB2 code reader, and that seems to work fine as well. As you also mentioned data logging is important for the fine tuning, so I need to be able to work this SCT tuner. Maybe its possible I am trying to use the wrong tuner? SCT seems lost about how to make this work.

Yeah, I just don't know too much more unfortunately. I don't have any experience with the SCT device and how it might compare with the nGauge I've used. I know that I wanted to use my nGauge on the Coupe that I already had for my Roadster. Didn't see any reason to buy another one. Lund worked with me to "reset" my existing nGauge to work with the Coupe. I can no longer use it on the Roadster, but that's OK. Involved deleting some files in a subdirectory on the memory card and replacing with new received from Lund. But you're saying you were able to load tunes (and I'm assuming log data) several times already but now it won't? Don't know about that at all. Seems once it's paired it shouldn't stop working. I have several different ODB2 code readers, and I've never had any trouble with any of them communicating with the Gen 2 or Gen 3 ODB2 ports for the normal stuff. Sounds like you're the same. I doubt the problem is on that side. I guess I'd be talking to Lund since they do sell the SCT device and should know how to make it work. When all this stuff works it's pretty cool. When not... well kind of a black box. At least for me. Good luck.

[legend42]

Yeah, I just don't know too much more unfortunately. I don't have any experience with the SCT device and how it might compare with the nGauge I've used. I know that I wanted to use my nGauge on the Coupe that I already had for my Roadster. Didn't see any reason to buy another one. Lund worked with me to "reset" my existing nGauge to work with the Coupe. I can no longer use it on the Roadster, but that's OK. Involved deleting some files in a subdirectory on the memory card and replacing with new received from Lund. But you're saying you were able to load tunes (and I'm assuming log data) several times already but now it won't? Don't know about that at all. Seems once it's paired it shouldn't stop working. I have several different ODB2 code readers, and I've never had any trouble with any of them communicating with the Gen 2 or Gen 3 ODB2 ports for the normal stuff. Sounds like you're the same. I doubt the problem is on that side. I guess I'd be talking to Lund since they do sell the SCT device and should know how to make it work. When all this stuff works it's pretty cool. When not... well kind of a black box. At least for me. Good luck.

Only the 3rd tuner( X4) from SCT has got far enough to actually download the tune from Lund onto the X4 tuner. I have not been able to load anything to the actual PCM, or log any data for that matter. When I plug the X4 into the ODB2 port, the menu comes up but will not download the tune because I think it is looking for some kind of pairing data or flash? Oh well, more phone calls Monday:(


Thanks for your input.