My newest rant.. This should actually work out well as it should give people a checklist of things to understand. Some topics are a bit more advanced, and I'd expect people to have questions about it.

Although I try to be as patient with people as possible.. I have come to the realization that there is a basic level of computer literacy that one should have before you might want to start tuning your own car..



-If you have to ask how to connect or set up your hardware, maybe you shouldn't be tuning

- If you have to ask how to start or extract the program, maybe you shouldn't be tuning

- if you have to ask what is an immobilizer code, maybe you shouldn't be tuning

- If you have to ask what a directory is, or where to find one, maybe you shouldn't be tuning

I'm sympathetic to people who want to learn, but an ECU is also a computer, and possessing some basic computer literacy and the ability to think through problems in a logical fashion are critical to successfully logging, troubleshooting, and tuning. So, if simple questions that have been answered before, cannot be found, then I would definitely consider getting some help from someone who has some computer experience. At the least a few hours browsing the existing threads and searching before you start doing anything, or even just following threads in this forum for some time should eventually get you comfortable and familiar enough to figure things out.

Okay guys, feel free to add yours..

 

I hope I'm not one of those guys you're thinking of MJ. I just do datalogs to send my tuner to ensure things are running right.

 

- If you have to ask how much timing can I run, maybe you shouldn't be tuning

 

Wow - inspirational

This should be a big help!

 

anybody else getting a hint of jeff foxworthy there with that list?

 

Don't take it personally.. Its actually a joke that started after I watched Jeff Foxworthy last night.. If you've already gotten far enough to get logs, find them, and send them to your tuner, your doing fine.

I'm kind of hoping that it just gives people a little food for thought when some of the sillier questions get asked.

 

DING DING.. Winnah..

This is not totally an off-topic post without merit.. I'm trying to give people an opportunity to get up to speed by reading some of this stuff first and getting a chance to read up on it before someone goes Warrtalon on them..

I don't get PM'ed on stuff that often anymore.. But the past week was weird, I got tons of questions from people for things like "how do I install xxxx" or "Where do I plug in the cable" and I try to be patient and answer some of them, but at that moment, while emptying my PM's, it occurred to me that its just necessary to understand some basic concepts. I totally understand the "where do I plug in the tactrix cable" type question as its not always clear since its not something that I've seen documented more than once in this forum, but its still the diagnostic port. (yes I did answer that persons question)

 

So do I absolutely need a computer to do a datalog or can I just plug the tactrix cable I bought directly into my ear to do a mental datalog?

What's a computer?

 

Don't forget to staple it in place..

 

Oh noes I failed... I used a zip tie instead.

 

If you dont know what a wideband is....you shouldnt be tuning

If you think that you can tune yourself without a wideband...you shouldnt be tuning

If you spend more time searching for free maps then you do searching for informative topics....you shouldnt be tuning

*edited for people not capable of taking jokes about policitcal leaders* God Bless America...and the idiots in it

If you understand less than 10% of what malibu jack's posts you shouldnt be tuning.......if you understand more than 85%....you should apply to MIT

 

.Please refrain from posting political preferences from the list, it might fit in OT but even there political expressions fly like lead bricks.

 

I'm curious, why is this not a competent question? Getting an idea of what others have found is extremely helpful. Sure I mean you can take it slow and inch up to the limit but it can save alot of time if someone has general guidelines as to how far they can take their timing - or maybe someone is already at the limit and they shouldnt be pushing it and others can weigh in on it. I realize every car is different but there can be some general guidelines that could be helpful.

I agree that if you dont have basic computer skills or understand simple topics like extraction, compression, basic knowledge of how an engine works, competent wiring, basic parts installation then you have no business working on your own car in this capacity and are only likely to do damage rather than good but this is a forum and I thought it was a place to share information.

 

edited....hopefully the "god bless" reference wont offend you

 

I don't believe it's a competant question because it's discussed in nearly every thread that has a title similar to "review my maps"

Just do a search and it becomes painfully clear what you need to do.