I just ordered my HPT, I hope I didn't do a wrong thing.

I'm Wester's Tuned. You do the math

 

I wish HPtuner is the leader in terms of being able to edit all tables necessary for more power.

and not just a follower to other software vendors.....

I'm stuck with HPtuner....so I'll just wait until they are able to provide us with the necessary stuff.....

but in terms of convenience of scanning and editing other stuff....hptuner, i guess, is very good and worth the money......

 

I have 18 credits on my doggle, all but 2 are used on various V8's. What can be done to a 6spd auto in a Vette is really great. But it's really a shame that HPT will NOT do anything for our auto's. Our auto trans is the worst I've ever driven, firming up the shifts along with quicker shifts would make it worth the money to buy it.

But the scanner part is great and handy, but way more than most members on here need.

Seeing the results from a friend's Cobalt canned tune I would go with a one of those vice HPT if I was going to tune my Solstice above the GMPP tune.

 

I wish there was a cheaper way to load and log tunes. Most people who buy HPT don't really use it to it's full potential.

 

i do wish they unlocked more tables. especially for the gmpp tune.
but i have used hp tuners a lot. i bought it for my last car, and kept it for this car. i use it to switch between tunes, try my own tuning, and have done a bunch of scanning. just for this car i have over 40 scan files and 13 different tunes saved. and it was used to tune two rx7's with ls1's. its put 2 cars over 400 rwhp, but neither mine. so it has its uses.

 

Thanks for the input guys over the past year or so we've added several new tables & scanner features/pids for these applications here is just a short list of what we've done

1. Fixed MAF table axis for frequency instead of voltage
2. added new RPM limiter params, likely cadidate is the "RPM Limit Transient" value or the Trans Limp table (maybe)
3. added some new max torque tables and fixed up the gear based limit table (the axes were backwards, although it would still function if you set everything to 100 it just didn't look right).
4. added the desired air load table. This table is what the ECM uses to translate the final desired torque (after limiting) to a desired air load, this value then gets used by the ETC code to control the throttle such that the desired air load = the measured air load (ie. measured by the MAF). In theory this should control the boost as well, but i'm not quite done with that part yet.
5. optimum engine torque, this is the inverse of the air load table, it takes the airload and RPM and calculates the base engine torque.
6. lambda efficiency, this table modifies the base torque based on the current lambda
7. max air load torque, this table is used by the ECM to calculate the maximum desired airload allowed. The torque value here is fed into the desired airload table and the resulting air load lookup is used as a maximum that the regular (pedal torque based) air load cannot exceed. Try increasing this by say 10 or 20% if you increase the desired air load table in a certain area.
8. Added Wideband afr pid to scanner

after reading some of the requests here i just want to clarify:
- cam stuff is already there, not sure what extra is needed if anything. Will look into the overlap definition and if anything needs changing if you actually change the cams.
- COT is already there, the fuel richen and also the torque limits
- gear based torque limits are already there (although the table was incorrectly formatted, it still worked)

Ok so for the other stuff:
- i am working thru the PIDs
- Fuel Pressure (SAE) should work (not sure if this is the DI pump pressure or the tank pump pressure)
- IAT2 should work, it is defined
- MAF voltage, not needed, use MAF freq.
- Cam PIDs, working on it
- FAN control, not sure if the ECM actually controls the fans, the code seems to have gone missing compared to the earlier E55 ECM's.

When we released support for this engine people were shouting at us for "any tuning capability would be a blessing" so basically we took what we knew from the V6 code (same PCM) and applied it so that people could at least do something. It was a tough call but most people we asked at the time were really pushing for something rather than nothing..."

Several overboost tables were also added into beta fairly recently.

From my understanding the fan code is in there somewhere, it was just moved so we need to try and find it, our next developement cycle will start early next year at which time we'll try and look into those as well as the fuel pressure table and possibly the map scaler if it isn't already hardcoded. So don't give up on us yet guys, the bosch code is far different & more difficult compared to anything else gm has offered to this point and is a big reason there aren't many other tuning solutions currently available.

-Bill

 

Ok so for the other stuff:
- i am working thru the PIDs
- Fuel Pressure (SAE) should work (not sure if this is the DI pump pressure or the tank pump pressure)
- IAT2 should work, it is defined
- MAF voltage, not needed, use MAF freq.
- Cam PIDs, working on it
- FAN control, not sure if the ECM actually controls the fans, the code seems to have gone missing compared to the earlier E55 ECM's.

When we released support for this engine people were shouting at us for "any tuning capability would be a blessing" so basically we took what we knew from the V6 code (same PCM) and applied it so that people could at least do something. It was a tough call but most people we asked at the time were really pushing for something rather than nothing..."

Add boost pid from the tmap sensor(maybe this will get around the 22.5psi limit from the map pid) and boost solenoid duty cycle control to that list please.

 

For anyone that wants to trash talk HP Tuners, especially on Automatic transmissions,
Most of the top 5 quickest Solstice's (dragtimes.com) are tuned using HP Tuners including my auto GXP. My fastest run on stock tires is 13.145 secs in the 1/4 Mile. If your tuner is skilled, HP Tuners will beat all other canned tunes. The best tune is the one that is constantly being tweaked, and if you are "dedicated" you would be spotted frequently connected to your ECM at coffee shops, alone in parking lots or at the track. It's a hobby right? It's worth the money for the fun factor, I would highly recommend that if you are just starting out like me you have a local tuning expert/mentor to get you started faster. I am in search of any other canned tune that has a 1/4 Mile timeslip to prove it can beat an HP Tuners tune. Please provide if you discover one OK?

 

<cough> HPT has NOT worked on the TCM nor does it look like they have any plans of working on that TCM. <cough>

My C6 TCM has been tweaked by a tuner using HPT. On the 1-2 shift it will jump sideways if you are at WOT in Sport mode on a very well prep'd track running GY F1's. It shifts hard and fast, something that can't be said about the Solstice Auto. I will have to say that HPT helped me shave some time off my ET with their software for the TCM.

A HPT tune may have a side effect to help the trans some but there is A LOT of performance left on the table. I understand our transmission is a very limited market and they are going where there is more money in other markets. Do I like that, no, but can't fault them for going that route.

There are only a handful of Solstice autos that have been to the track. Most owners rather drive slow, nuts to butts, while looking at pretty flowers/foliage or go flying off a turn cause they are breaking the speed limit on a public road. So finding a canned tuned auto Solstice time slip might be like finding a needle in a hay stack, but you never know when one might turn up.

It's interesting that 3 of the quicker times on that site are the same car with 2 different drivers. It has a manual boost controller, cutting a 1.6 60ft time on stock tires running a 12.01. He must have ordered some sticky "stock" tires.

 

I didn't buy HPT because they stopped development.

If I'm going to toss my warranty....I better have full access.

Check the recent dynos. Custom tunes are not doing much better than GMPP. I'm near the top of Drag times if I bothered to log it. Doesn't say much...really.

Everyone and their dog with a copy of HPT is trying to sell their tuning ability. There's 2 chances I would let a stranger tune my car. Slim and not at all. When you think about it, your trusting them with 10 grand.

 

1) HPT didn't stopped development
2) If your are up to your warranty why you post here?
3) Do you know what a dyno means and all aspects if you make so comparatives ?
4) People are not posting too much on drag times, people generally don't go to drag strip this doesn't mean they are same fast as you
5) Stop talking BS about people doing custom tunes, they are far more knowledgeable than you when is about engine and power

Someone should show you the door of this topic, I will be the one.

"The roads are closed, find another way home pizza boy."

 

Can we at least agree on the fact that HPT will allow you to push the stock motor (no mods) to it's maximum limits? But for the rest of us, who choose to modify the stock setup with aftermarket components, it is more of a challenge?

Seeing that the original question is "whether or not you are satisfied with HPT", all that's going to continue is a debate that gets us all nowhere. Depending on their goals, there are those of us who would obviously think that it is good enough for their uses. There will be others who it will not be enough. I think that the poll results show that.

So "where do we go from here?" is probably the better question to ask at this point. If HPT is not a complete solution yet and the other "tuners" out there do not have a complete solution either, what does that leave us with?

Pissing and moaning about this is not going to make things happen any sooner, that's for sure. I'm pretty sure that Bill at HPT is very aware of how we all feel at this point. This is not the only forum that they are getting this feedback from.

 

It's not meant to be a pissing match. You vote, share your specific experience and that is that. Of course HPT is aware of the needs of the LNF camp, you'd have to live under a rock on the moon not to hear our voices.

That said, I'll respectfully agree for the most part that HPT can push an unmodified car to its limits. The reason I voted "under supported" was because I bought this car to make big power (>400whp). The hardware is up to the task, the stock bottom end, the fuel system and the options for bigger turbos from our supporting vendors. When I bought HPT, I read all the success stories in the LSx world - people were doubling and tripling their horsepower with HPT as the sole tuning suite. Here I am with the same suite and a stock "tuned" car at well under double its factory output, waiting to pull the trigger on a big turbo because the tuning suite cannot accommodate those power levels completely and effectively on our platform.

The poll was meant as an evaluation from a cost-to-result standpoint considering your experiences and the alternatives in tuning.

Thank you to all the HPT owners who have and will post and vote.

 

Yeah good point. What can't HP Tuners do that other tools or tuners CAN DO.

 

With all 32 replies in this thread I think it shows how big a market we really are and why we're not higher on the priority list.

Having 32 Mustangs at our local Saturday afternoon car hangout is nothing but a slow evening. From June till Oct I only saw one other Kappa attend, a NA Sky. The only other LNF car was my best friend's Cobalt SS. Our slice of the tuning market is but a sliver.

That is also why we don't have aftermarket heads, cams or intakes avaliable.

 

Many companies have moved on from the Kappa. The market just isn't there. There might be enough cars, but the drivers simply are not modding like many other platforms.

I can't blame them for prioritizing.

I believe, as more cars come up on the used market, that more owners will play. I hope they are ready for them.

 

Here's my $.02
I've been using HPT myself to write tunes and now am working with Vince at Trifecta to tweak them. I've used HPT to get up to 28psi on the GMP2 tune without problems, but I don't run that high daily on 93 octane. Although there are limits to the boost you can get with the factory turbo and tune, I think thats because we cannot get a 100% closed duty cycle on the BCS with HPT alone and the factory Wastegate is so large by design that it can't be held closed. But that turbo is too small to live long generating boost over 23psi at redline anyway. Aftermarket turbos and wastegates don't have that problem. I make mods with HPT and test, then Vince writes them into his tunes for my customers, so HPT is still very useful to me. Right now I'm making MAS air flow calibrations that would be impossible without HPT. Sure there are tables still to be developed, but we have alot now!

I'm working on a 2008 MINI-Cooper S which has a similar torque based ECM OS and there is no HPT type support. It goes into limp mode and I can't stop it. And the WGA and TB are totally OS operated. Fortunately there is another "VINCE" developing his own tunes, but he cannot yet load them remotely. I'd love to have our HPT capability on that car.

 

I didn't vote, but have been using HPTuners 2 days after it was released for the LNF. I love to understand tuning, and their forum helps tremendously. My tune is great. I have just a catback. I really enjoy tuning, and understanding everything that I'm doing. Anybody can do it that has patience, and can read. Would I do it all over again... YES

You still can't add a 3 bar tmap sensor yet, so your limited to about 22 lbs of boost (without the pill, MBC, or EBC)
You also can't get the NLS yet.

 

You still can't add a 3 bar tmap sensor yet, so your limited to about 22 lbs of boost (without the pill, MBC, or EBC)
You also can't get the NLS yet.

Buy then mod a GMPP tune and you have 3 bar TMAPs. Or just buy the TMAPs and connectors and see if anyone has put a GMPP tune up on HPT's site.

 

The results are no surprise. I am not happy at a stand still, but I am happy for what we have.

And the GMPP sensors are available now... lol. I will be ordering an extra pair for ****s and giggles.

Thanks HPT for what you have done. I know I have been rough the past month or 2, but I have been rather frustrated at a couple dead ends I have approached. I have found solutions that will hold me 'til we get more tables (if we get more). Keep up the work on the platform though.

 

Just voted. The product is okay, but as far as I know there is no alternative for a reasonable price. The Tech Support is fair. I have had an issue with my Beta version that has gone unresolved I have to use the Beta to load files from Lyndon Wester and play with the tables, but .must use the non-Beta to Scan/save files to send Lyndon. ANY attempts to modify the graphs and gauges screws up most of the data stream - i.e. MAP reads hundreds of PSI instead of correct values. At that point the only fix is uninstall and reload. It's been documented - even offered to send them my laptop - but I guess I just have to keep switching between the two versions. Glad I don't have to make money with it!!