Sct programmer help

mac2720 · Jun 30, 2012

I just picked up an sct tuner for my 03 powerstroke. I was wondering how to set my tire size with it. I guess you have to set the revs/mile but I'm not sure what that is. I have 38s on my truck and wanted to set the truck up for them to correct my speedometer and help with the tune. Any help would be great.

Pizza pig · Jun 30, 2012

revs per mile for a 38 inch tire is around 530. it wont correct the speedometer you need another tool to do that, the only thing the ev per mile in the sct is to help shifting.

Get some custom tunes

mac2720 · Jul 1, 2012

Ok thanks I just set that so I will take it for a ride and see how it does in a little while. I had noticed the truck didnt want to shift being on a street tune. It kept grinding the gears out so hopefully it will do better now. Also is there anything I could adjust as far as the shift firmness to help that? I'm not exactly sure how the shift firmness option works so I haven't messed with it.

Does it cost anything to get the custom tunes?

Pizza pig · Jul 1, 2012

depends who you get them from, gearhead charges 100 for a 3 tune package, Some charge 40-50 per tune. Its worth the money and lightyears ahead of the pre loaded tuning.

mac2720 · Nov 6, 2012

This thread is a few months old but have a few more questions about the sct so no point in starting a new thread. I just had the egr, studs, oil cooler, and hpop done on the truck. The main question I have is what option is for when you delete the egr. On the sf3 it has the option for egr on an egr off under the adjust options category. Question is, do I select egr off since I deleted the egr? I'm not sure if that's referring to the egr delete kit or actually having the egr on or off the truck. Thanks!

Zmann · Nov 6, 2012

it just controls the EGR valve so you can choose to not have it activate the EGR valve if u like

mac2720 · Nov 7, 2012

ok thanks Zmann, so it really has no effect on the truck other than a possible check engine?

Also, this may be a stupid question but what are the saved options when you go in to program the vehicle? It has the saved options, default options and cancel options when you go to program. I am assuming that you must adjust the saved options (tune, egr shift, etc.) in order to actually put the tune on the truck rather than adjusting the default options and programming? Again, this may be a dumb question but its something that I am not exactly sure about and would like to know for when I put a tune on the truck.

One other question, what do you guys normal adjust the shift firmness to? I have 10 inches of lift on 38s along with the studs, egr delete, and oil cooler so I probably need to adjust the shifting somewhat. Feel free to chime in on what you all think would be the best tune and all for my truck. I like the power and acceleration of the street tune although I am only getting 11 mpg. Havent tried any bigger tune frankly because I am afraid of causing problems, so feel free to give me some opinions. Thanks!

Zmann · Nov 9, 2012

if u use the SCT to bypass the EGR you get no soot in the intake and no CEL

I think 11 mph is your deal i get 12 ish with an 8 inch

Nic · Nov 9, 2012

The 03s won't throw the CEL for the egr. 04.5s - 07s will.

TXGLASSMAN · Nov 9, 2012

The saved options feature is cause you can go in and adjust shift pressures for the tranny, you can change your tires revs per mile and other stuff to. So when you re tune it back to that particular program it will ask if you want to go back to what you adjusted. That's the saved files or if you want to just use the standard default stuff

Nic · Nov 9, 2012

mac2720 said:
ok thanks Zmann, so it really has no effect on the truck other than a possible check engine?

Also, this may be a stupid question but what are the saved options when you go in to program the vehicle? It has the saved options, default options and cancel options when you go to program. I am assuming that you must adjust the saved options (tune, egr shift, etc.) in order to actually put the tune on the truck rather than adjusting the default options and programming? Again, this may be a dumb question but its something that I am not exactly sure about and would like to know for when I put a tune on the truck.

One other question, what do you guys normal adjust the shift firmness to? I have 10 inches of lift on 38s along with the studs, egr delete, and oil cooler so I probably need to adjust the shifting somewhat. Feel free to chime in on what you all think would be the best tune and all for my truck. I like the power and acceleration of the street tune although I am only getting 11 mpg. Havent tried any bigger tune frankly because I am afraid of causing problems, so feel free to give me some opinions. Thanks!

The saved options are for what previous settings you chose.
Say you chose the street file, set your egr off, set the revs per mile and everything like you want and program the truck.
The next day you decide you're going to pull a heavy gooseneck or something and want to go into a tow tune...to do this you have to change the tune. When you simply want to change the tune type, you would want to select "saved options" and then just go in and change the tune type. By selecting saved options, it saves everything else you entered ( revs per mile, egr settings etc) default will restore the original settings and you would have to do it all over again each time. Hope this helps

Extended Power · Nov 9, 2012

My Xcal 2 was taken when my truck was stolen...
Since I was running Eric's Xtreme X tune, and I don't have the ability to return it to stock now....what do I do?
What is the best tuner to get now, the SCT3? I don't need anymore gauges, but data logging, and being able to adjust transmission shift pressures would be great.
Sorry for the derail.

Nic · Nov 9, 2012

You would get another programmer and have to call SCT (some tuning companies might be able to do this too) and have them send you a recovery file to load into the truck to return it to stock

As far as best tuners, it's all personal preference. A simple cheap handheld would do you just fine for what you do.

Zmann · Nov 10, 2012

you didn't save the stock file anywhere else ?

I have mine in three places LOL

Nic · Nov 10, 2012

Zmann said:
you didn't save the stock file anywhere else ?

I have mine in three places LOL

no kiddin I have mine on 2 computers

Extended Power · Nov 10, 2012

Deleted.

Nic · Nov 10, 2012

once you program your truck, it "uploads" your stock file then places in the file you choose. So while your truck is programmed, your stock file is in the programmer. You would have to hook the device up to a computer (with the SCT software installed) and select "retrieve file from device" or "retrieve stock file"..something like that. Then you would save the file wherever you want (documents etc)

Nic · Nov 10, 2012

this way, if anything ever happened to the programmer or the PCM in this case, you always have your stock file.

Extended Power · Nov 10, 2012

I will never go back to a Vgt turbo, or stock injectors again, so I really shouldn't need I anyways...
A new tuner, upload the PCM, and TCM codes...get the new programs, download to truck.
It has the Extrme X in it now...nice "stock" tune.