Engine tuning through carPC rather than piggyback or standalone?

**scENFORCER** · 02-23-2013, 07:16 PM

Hey all, I've searched through the forum but couldnt seem to get a definite answer to my question..

My question is - is there a way/program/software/hardware to tune the AFR and MAP on a modded car through a carPC, rather than having to spend hundreds (if not thousands) on a piggyback or standalone system to tune your car?
(I was quoted $1500-3500 to dyno tune my car, which includes a standalone unit custom wired into my car)

I've done some engine mods to my car and also installed a carPC. The engine mods now require a tune to the car. It seems it should be easy enough to simply download a program onto my computer and use an OBD2 to USB connector and just start tuning my car from the carPC. This would eliminate the need to install another computer into my car, whether it be a piggyback or standalone unit (such as an Apexi, AEM, sfac, etc). It would be ideal to tune my car from a frontend program (I have Centrafuse).
From the reseach I've done, I cant tell if the Palmer OBD software is what I'm looking for? It has some of the things I'm looking for (engine load, dyno times, etc), but I'm still not sure if I can actually tune my car from there.

**kegobeer** · 02-23-2013, 08:43 PM

If you are talking about Palmer Performance, then the answer is no. Their software is for reading OBDII, not writing anything back to the car. Depending on the make/model of the car, you can buy a handheld tuner for around $300 and probably a custom tune from the same distributor for a little more. SCT is a very popular tuner hardware/software manufacturer, and they make very good tuners.

AFAIK, there is no carpc + frontend solution. I believe there are pc solutions available, but they are very expensive and you pretty much have to be a distributor or a tuner to get it, from what I recall anyway.

**scENFORCER** · 02-24-2013, 12:38 PM

Thanks for the reply. I looked into SCT but they only do domestic cars. I have a Lexus SC400.

Does anyone know any other way I can integrate a standalone or piggyback computer into my existing carPC? If integrating it with frontend software is not an option, it would at least be nice to not have extra gauges and computers installed in my cabin. I'm going for a clean OEM look.

**Gullimonster** · 02-25-2013, 09:30 AM

The MAP-ECU3 at least is able to connect to a PC via USB and you can use the software supplied. Dunno how well it can be integrated in a frontend though, especially due to low resolution issues with monitors. However you can ask the guy who developed it, he is a pretty nice guy and helps fast with issues with new version of software, firmware, etc.

**scENFORCER** · 02-25-2013, 06:21 PM

^ thanks. I looked it up and it seems a few guys are using the MAP ECU3 on SC's. I'll do a bit more research on tuning cars then come back to this thread to see if/how I can intergrate it with my carPC.