SCT X2

[JoshT]

Hello, hope I'm posting in the correct section. I see a thread about the X3 below so though this might be good spot.

Starting a rebuild on a 2000 Explorer 5.0L that has been swapped with it's EFI into my 1999 Ranger. No EFI related issues, but engine is worn out. Don't intend to rebuild it completely stock, so tuning will likely be needed. Not going wild, but can't go in there and leave it stock.

I have a SCT X2 device that was purchased from Bama Tunes for the 4.0L in the Ranger back in the early 2000s. I ensured that the device was unmarried from the truck prior to doing the engine swap. I should still have the software downloaded from the SCT website back then tucked away on a drive somewhere. I may have to set up an older computer to comunicate with it, but that is no problem.

Can you still support remote tuning with this old of a device?


While making inquiries, I was also wondering if you support tuning Holley EFI systems? I have a different vehicle with a Holley Sniper EFI that could probably stand some attention after I get this Ranger sorted.

[decipha]

as long as the x2 physically works it shouldn't be a problem

if you have a copy of the old sct updater to load the file please do post it, others were asking about it since sct no longer supports it or has it for download

I don't tune any aftermarket ecu's remotely, I do those in house as they usually always require some finesse and verification.

[JoshT]

I've located those files on my old drive and verified that they install on a Windows Vista VM. I'm not sure what other operating systems they work on, or even what OS I was running at the time that I purchased the X2 device.

I don't recall what's what, but I have the following downloaded from the SCT website:

LiveLink3131_Setup.exe
LiveLinkV417.exe
liveload131.exe
LiveLoadFord.exe
LiveUpdate2.exe
liveupdate220.exe
LoadingCustomTunes.pdf
XCal2_Drivers.exe
XCal2F-V1.14.lu2


I don't mind sharing these files, but I'm not sure of the best way to do so. Can I just add them to the "add files" button in attachments for the post? Do you want me to send them to you in some way so you can host and provide to people that need it?


I can start a new thread for this next question if that is preferred.

As said previously I installed 2000 Ford Explorer 5.0L and efi system into a 1999 Ford Ranger, in place of the original 4.0L V6. Is it possible to change the VIN in the Explorer ECU to match the VIN of the 1999 Ranger? If so, how would one approach doing that?

[BOOSTEDEVERYTHING]

Depending on model year there won’t be a vin in the PCM. And to share the files just compress them into a zip file and add the zip file to the add files section.

[JoshT]

No offense, but I wouldn't have asked if I didn't think there was a VIN stored in the PCM. I'm not at the vehicle to check right now to verify, but I'm pretty certain that when I connected ForScan after the swap that it recognized the original vehicle AND original VIN that the PCM came out of.

The files are attached below if it uploads

[JoshT]

Not sure if those files posted. I can't see them if they did. I wanted to follow up on the whole X2 and VIN situation. I will no longer be using the X2 tuner. I got my hands on a reset (pre EPA crackdown) X4 device for a good enough price. I gave the canned tunes a try on the new engine I assembled for the truck. Transmission shifting was improved, Engine did not like the tune adjustments, not surprising.

More important, apparently no vin stored in PCM on a 2000 Explorer V8. When the SCT tunes was loaded into the PCM the VIN shown on the device was not a true vehicle VIN, but something made up starting with "SCT". I'm assuming that when a VIN is not found it assigns one for purpose of tracking usage on device, how else are they going to make you pay for unlocks.

[decipha]

A lot of vehicles dont have a vin saved in the vid block its just blank. You can plug in any vin you want but you'll have to send the ecu in to do that.

no, the zip file did not post

x4 was a waste, for the money you could have bought a quarterhorse which is far superior

correct, sct device assigns a vin tag if none is present.

[JoshT]

no the zip file did not post

I might try it again in a few days.

x4 was a waste, for the money you could have bought a quarterhorse which is far superior

Quarterhorse may be superior (I'm certainly not arguing that), but I was not aware that you had them available at the time and the X4 is readily available out there. Also, I was going to use very little of the capability of the Quaterhorse, so IMO better to leave it for someone that actually needs it.

The X4 is what I have now, I did not pay 350 for it, and it will accept custom tunes. I knew full and well that the engine tuning on the X4 device was very conservative. I was not buying it for the onboard tuning and, knowing that, never would have paid full price for it.

That said, I was hoping that I'd be able to use the canned tune temporarily for improved transmission transmission shifting while I was getting some other work finished and things ironed out. (full exhaust, suspension, etc) Then once that squared away and recouperated a little from rebuild, I'd spend on getting the proper engine tuning done.

Unfortunately, that plan does not seem to be working out. The shifting was improved, but the canned tune really is not agreeing with the engine (not too surprising). I get a P0340 and P0300 with the tune installed that have not appeared without the tune yet, but I did get a P0308 without the tune. Also possible that I've got other issues to work out, I've read about several potential causes that I want to investigate before starting on the tuning route. Before I spend too much time trying to diagnose that I'm fixing some exhaust leaks, they seem to be at the collectors and repair will likely include a full exhaust pipe and CAT replacement with 2.5" header back dual. Might also be leaking at the EGR pipe since it doesn't fit great, but I thought I'd gotten it tightened down properly.

Once I have the exhaust and these potential issues resolved, as well as a larger set of fuel injectors ready to install (currently stock 19lb), I'll reapproach the tuning angle.

[Cougar281]

Keep in mind for flashing the PCM, you could get PCMFlash and a J2534 device to flash Tunerpro tunes. I use my GM MDI2 to read and flash the PCM.

[JoshT]

IIRC, I looked.into that in the past and it does not work with my application. Just looked again and my application is not listed on that page.