Late Model Gen II Coyote ECU strategy?

[Alphamacaroon]

Hey all— going through the process of tuning my Gen II Coyote and the tuner is asking for the ECU Strategy. My SCT-X4 programmer is returning "EMPTYCODE" for the ECU Strategy. I've spent probably 5-6 hours looking around online and it seems to be really difficult to get a straight answer. I've seen everything from "There is no ECU Strategy on the FRPP control pack computer" to "The ECU strategy is M2A3_X01_Crate_Engine_6" to "The ECU strategy is printed on the computer".

The computer I have (Continental CM-12A650-DRA) doesn't have the ECU strategy printed in any of the places people say to look (at least not that I can tell).

Any ideas how I might find out the proper ECU strategy for my particular computer? Or does anyone know of a publicly available base tune strategy that generally works well with the FRPP control pack?

And to be clear— I'm still waiting to hear back from my tuner, and they might say "no problem, we know which one to use". Also, I know Lund has a lot of experience with these engines, but they are a no-go for me right now as their prices have risen by almost 50% recently. But really I'd really like to know for my own education because at some point I would like to be able to tune it myself without being locked into a specific tuner.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Erik W. Treves]

you should be able to use the software to READ and download your current strat off the ECU... you will modify it from there... unless you bought the tune from somebody else the programmers generally come "blank". So you just need to hook up and read your ECU.... there should be some software that comes with the hand held to hook up to the laptop.

"The new updateID(calibrationID) that is loaded into your computer is called a strategy. Many times your SCT dealer will ask you to read your vehicle’s strategy for many reasons which includes creating custom tunes.1.Once the device is powered on using the OBDII cable provided. 2.Scroll down and select “VEHICLE INFO”. You will be prompted to turn the key to the ON position. 3.Make sure you turn the key forward to the positionjustbeforethe crank position. Your dashboard should be lit with indicator lights.Select “Continue”4.Once the X4has detected you turned the key on, it will proceed to display your VIN, COMM and ECU Strategy"

[Alphamacaroon]

you should be able to use the software to READ and download your current strat off the ECU... you will modify it from there... unless you bought the tune from somebody else the programmers generally come "blank". So you just need to hook up and read your ECU.... there should be some software that comes with the hand held to hook up to the laptop.

"The new updateID(calibrationID) that is loaded into your computer is called a strategy. Many times your SCT dealer will ask you to read your vehicle’s strategy for many reasons which includes creating custom tunes.1.Once the device is powered on using the OBDII cable provided. 2.Scroll down and select “VEHICLE INFO”. You will be prompted to turn the key to the ON position. 3.Make sure you turn the key forward to the positionjustbeforethe crank position. Your dashboard should be lit with indicator lights.Select “Continue”4.Once the X4has detected you turned the key on, it will proceed to display your VIN, COMM and ECU Strategy"

Yup, I've done all of that. That's why I'm asking— the strategy reads back as "EMPTYCODE" in vehicle info. I know the SCT unit is communicating with the ECU because I'm not getting any errors and it reads other data from the Vehicle info, but not the ECU Strategy. That's the part where I'm confused, some people say the FRPP control pack doesn't have an ECU strategy name burned into it, whereas others report that it does have one.

As per my other thread, I just need my tuner to make some adjustments to my MAF tables to account for my smaller diameter tube.

As far as downloading and modifying the current (factory) strategy on the ECU— I thought that was not possible? Once the tune is on the computer, isn't it encrypted? Is it actually possible to read the factory ECU program, make changes to it, and re-flash it? I thought tuners had to start with an unencrypted "baseline" tune, and that's why they need your ECU strategy (so they know which baseline to start from)? Pardon the stupid questions, but this is all new territory for me :D

[edwardb]

I can't help you with your basic question since Lund has done my tunes and whatever they do addresses this. I do understand your concern about how much they've raised their prices. But FWIW, the Lund process is the very first time you load their base tune, the Ford stock tune is untouched and saved. It's saved in an SD card in the tuner. In my case an nGauge. So it's possible to restore back to the original stock tune. Their process never messes with the stock tune. Completely replaces it. Again FWIW if that helps at all.

[Alphamacaroon]

I can't help you with your basic question since Lund has done my tunes and whatever they do addresses this. I do understand your concern about how much they've raised their prices. But FWIW, the Lund process is the very first time you load their base tune, the Ford stock tune is untouched and saved. It's saved in an SD card in the tuner. In my case an nGauge. So it's possible to restore back to the original stock tune. Their process never messes with the stock tune. Completely replaces it. Again FWIW if that helps at all.

Yeah that makes sense. I think it's a similar process with the SCT unit. But my understanding is that you can't actually edit the original stock tune— you can save it off and then reload it in again in the future if you want to go back to stock, but you can't actually see or modify what's in it because it's encrypted. So that's why I think in order to make any changes to your ECU you need to start with a baseline unencrypted tune (which is why they ask for the ECU strategy), make changes to that, and flash it. At least that's how I understand it, but I could be totally wrong.

[Erik W. Treves]

Yes- you start by downloading the tune out of the stock ECU (it isn't encrypted) - you save that off as a copy for safe keeping. - You then copy it and make the changes to the MAF table and load it back in - overwriting the current ECU stock programming.

I am not sure what "EMPTYCODE" means - but the control packs do not have a VIN and the reader needs to be told what it's hooked to - at least my HP Tuner does.

so when you plug in the SCT and power the car ON (not running) and hit Vehicle info are you not getting a strat from the car?

[Alphamacaroon]

Yes- you start by downloading the tune out of the stock ECU (it isn't encrypted) - you save that off as a copy for safe keeping. - You then copy it and make the changes to the MAF table and load it back in - overwriting the current ECU stock programming.

I am not sure what "EMPTYCODE" means - but the control packs do not have a VIN and the reader needs to be told what it's hooked to - at least my HP Tuner does.

so when you plug in the SCT and power the car ON (not running) and hit Vehicle info are you not getting a strat from the car?

Correct, no strat (well it says "EMPTYCODE" for ECU Strategy). I'm getting an ECU SWPN number, so I know it's talking with the computer, but no strat code. That is interesting about the stock ECU file— I didn't realize you could make edits to a copy of it. Maybe that's all they need if I can't get it to cough up a strategy.

The no strat issue seems to be something that has come up before: https://www.ffcars.com/threads/sct-x4-and-crate-coyote.586106/

[Erik W. Treves]

My experience is with HP Tuners - it hooks right up - you leave the VIN blank and copy the tune right off the box - I have done it with both the GEN 2 and GEN 3 control packs - I am going to assume the SCT is the same way. I don't think you need any of the "normal" stuff - just copy the tune - make a copy - then change the MAF Transfer Curve - and program it back.