SCT LiveWire VS SCT SF3?

Alpha · 09-11-2009

Right now I'm debating between the LiveWire and SF3 + CAI combo. The LiveWire will actually be more expensive than the combo, but I want to add a CAI later if I go with it.
What I'm basing my decision on (apart from you guys

) is the difference between the two tuners. I got a GPS, so I don't need the LiveWire for MPH. What else makes the LiveWire a better tuner than the SF3?

My personal biggest pull to the LiveWire, is the ability to estimate 1/4 mile, HP and TQ. The Air/Fuel ratio is a nice bonus, but how will it help me? I was under the impression an average joe couldn't use that data to, say, tune for a CAI for optimal performance.

Any thoughts?

05horse · 09-11-2009

hey i just told u what i thought lol

shifter87 · 09-11-2009

It's always good to know your air fuel but most people dont need to know becuase there cars are mostly stock and unfortunatly you cant find air/fuel with live out of the box you have to spend another almost $200 on the Wideband Air/Fuel Module and adapter cord I was luck and found a PLX Device Air /Fuel Module on ebay for $160 but still had to uy the connector for $20.

What is your goal for your car if your not going to be a avid racer dont bother taking advantage of the livewire it would be a waste becuase the useful part of it is being able to hood sensor module up to it and the livewire be your gauge so you save money on wasted gauges or shift lights.

I hope this helps I know it jumbled really tires sorry.

amustangrocks · 09-12-2009

i guess i would get the sf/cai/custom tunes combo if you cant afford to get the live wire and the cai. you can always buy gauges later. this is just my opinion. its your call though

burnrubber4.0 · 09-12-2009

livewire blows....looks cool and flashes a neat little shift light on your face, other than that i hate mine. the led screen sucks, dosent look anything like whats on the website, and my screen is getting too dim to read. also its estimations on 1/4 and 0-60 is way off. if you ever have a problem, they ask you to send it in, so you can get it back in a month. iv done it twice. im seriously thinking about buying an sf3

Alpha · 09-12-2009

Awesome, thanks guys. Exactly what I needed, as always. And sorry to hear your livewire sucks so hard, burnrubber... Though it does help me make an informed decision.
I'm getting the combo with the JLT as soon as I can.
Might have to do the tuner first, and then the CAI though, at the rate my funds are going... If I do that, will I still be able to load a custom JLT tune without having to contact Bama, Brenspeed or Tillman? Basically, if I order a tuner/CAI combo, do those preloaded tunes come with a single tuner as well?

burnrubber4.0 · 09-14-2009

it comes with user adjustable options.....you can run a tune on the stock air box but you wont get much. id save up and get it all at once, saves you a little money as well. *cough* im getting rid of my old JLT in 2 weeks, its for sale pm me *cough* i would highly reccomend a tune from bama or tillman though...its night and day difference over sct pre load tunes.

amustangrocks · 09-14-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alpha

Awesome, thanks guys. Exactly what I needed, as always. And sorry to hear your livewire sucks so hard, burnrubber... Though it does help me make an informed decision.
I'm getting the combo with the JLT as soon as I can.
Might have to do the tuner first, and then the CAI though, at the rate my funds are going... If I do that, will I still be able to load a custom JLT tune without having to contact Bama, Brenspeed or Tillman? Basically, if I order a tuner/CAI combo, do those preloaded tunes come with a single tuner as well?

call tillman speed and see what he will sell a tuner for w/3 custom tunes. the tunes have to be matched to your car to work. so you cant use someone elses custom tunes. if you tell him you have or are getting a jlt, he can go ahead and write the tunes for the jlt and put them on the tuner. the first time you use the tuner, it will store your factory tune so you can always return the car to stock( with the stock air box) get maybe a 87 performance, 91or93 performance and a 91or 93 race tune

then you can compare with a.m., the tuner will come with 3 generic tunes and you would still have to buy the custom tunes from someone else, and load onto the tuner yourself. so in the end, it might be cheaper to get the tuner and custom tunes from tillmans. not sure, but get some prices.at tillmans, ask for chris rose and tell him you are a member here for a discount

Alpha · 09-14-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnrubber4.0

it comes with user adjustable options.....you can run a tune on the stock air box but you wont get much. id save up and get it all at once, saves you a little money as well. *cough* im getting rid of my old JLT in 2 weeks, its for sale pm me *cough* i would highly reccomend a tune from bama or tillman though...its night and day difference over sct pre load tunes.

I would buy it from you but my plan is to get the free custom tunes for life at AM, that way I can get all my mods together, adding tunes as i go, and then when i got my car together I can get a real tune from bama or tillman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by amustangrocks

call tillman speed and see what he will sell a tuner for w/3 custom tunes. the tunes have to be matched to your car to work. so you cant use someone elses custom tunes. if you tell him you have or are getting a jlt, he can go ahead and write the tunes for the jlt and put them on the tuner. the first time you use the tuner, it will store your factory tune so you can always return the car to stock( with the stock air box) get maybe a 87 performance, 91or93 performance and a 91or 93 race tune

then you can compare with a.m., the tuner will come with 3 generic tunes and you would still have to buy the custom tunes from someone else, and load onto the tuner yourself. so in the end, it might be cheaper to get the tuner and custom tunes from tillmans. not sure, but get some prices.at tillmans, ask for chris rose and tell him you are a member here for a discount

I would like to save that investment for when i get all my parts on Cheyenne (my stang), i dont want to dish out for a tune just to have to dish out for replacement tunes as i go along. And besides that, none of the tuners seem to have a V6 jlt combo anymore

amustangrocks · 09-14-2009

tillman or bama who work with dynos every day write alot better tunes than you will get from a.m.( not knocking a.m., i love the place) also, tillman will update your tunes for any mods you get in the future, like gears or tires ect. with the exception of a supercharger for free too. i got my jlt/sctx3 from tillman.
but with that said, a.m. is also a sponsor, so you can get your combo from them and you can always order tunes from tillman or bama after you have the tuner( which you will want)

either way, its a win/win

burnrubber4.0 · 09-15-2009

ok, id still cut you a deal save you some money for those custom tunes but ok. also, if you get em from AM, pm amnick and ask for a promo code for a discount.

Vinson · 09-15-2009

Hi guys. On that sct, does it read and store a code for your car when you flash it the first time that keeps you from using it on any other car ?
It seems like I read something about having to send in the used ones to get them cleared to work on other cars.
I could be wrong on this, so just asking if anyone knows for sure.

Alpha · 09-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by burnrubber4.0

ok, id still cut you a deal save you some money for those custom tunes but ok. also, if you get em from AM, pm amnick and ask for a promo code for a discount.

PM sent

Vinson · 09-15-2009

Okay, now I remember. There are a couple on e-bay and one guy says his is "locked" as he forget to unlock it when he sold his car and it will have to be sent to the factory and reset for $150. The other one says "This is flashed with my previous VIN. You might have to get it reprogrammed with your VIN to work"

Any info on this will be greatly appreciated.

burnrubber4.0 · 09-16-2009

the programmer has to have your computers strategy code, basically a password so that the tuner will be accepted to your car. if its locked youll need to send it to sct for a recalibration. if you order online a brand new tuner, youll need your (6 digit i think) code from a sticker on the side of your pcm box under the hood, next to your fuse box i believe.