Newbie Scan/Tune Questions

Subject: got my DHP tuner and need some help Sat Sep 12, 2009 8:59 pm

ok, i finally got my DHP power tuner and need some help with where to start. the tuner came with the box and two cables. one was the usb interface and the other was the car interface. now there was no software disc. can this software be downloaded? i have a 96 riv that i'd like to do a scan on first to get a baseline. then i want to gradually get into tuning and then into modding. i know the 96 isn't the easiest to work on from reading on this site, but apparently people have done it.

so a step by step would be great. and i'm also trying to get access to the powertuner site, but as of yet i have been unsuccessful.

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Sun Sep 13, 2009 6:43 am

A couple things:
This is a recent topic. Search is your friend.

Start by joining DHP's powertuner forum. Ownership of the box entitles you to forum membership. On the forum are all the downloads you need, and you will get your activation info through there.

http://www.powrtuner.com/index.php

Your ownership needs to be transferred, I think the previous owner needs to also go on that forum and PM the mod stating the sale/transfer. His membership will be cancelled and yours approved. I forget exactly who he's supposed to contact, but it's in the first few 'public' threads on the forum.

There are tuning guides, step by steps, etc all at the forum.

Once you are up and running, there are a few of us here with some DHP experience who can help you get rolling.

_________________
'98 Buick Riviera; Gen V 3.25 pulley, N*, VS Cam, 180 stat, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj.

Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Sun Sep 13, 2009 7:55 am

i've registered over there and i'm waiting for approval from the mods. currently it tells me i have no permissions to view anything yet. i also emailed jeff at his gmail acoount to hopefully speed things up. if he's not the guy then let me know who is as i'm eager to get started.

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:18 pm

OK guys, I hope I am not gonna be too ridiculed here, but I have no idea what OBD1or OBD2 means. I would also like to get a code reader but I have never decoded an SES light or tuned my car using a PC. Most of the work I have done on the Riv has been maintenance, or replacing things like the water pump or oil pan gasket. How do you decifer a code once you get it? I am not even really sure where the code reader plugs in, but I believe its under the glove compartment? Up here there are no shops or parts stores that do free code readings. Anyway, I little 101 on code reading would be great as well as what brand of code readers are good. Thanks!

_________________

Modern "Muscle"

1996 Supercharged Riviera, Black Cherry Ext., Burgundy Int., over 200K

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Thu Nov 12, 2009 7:48 pm

BMD wrote:

OK guys, I hope I am not gonna be too ridiculed here, but I have no idea what OBD1or OBD2 means.

On Board Diagnostics
meaning you can scan via the OBD port under the steering column inside the car
OBD1 is used with pre-1995
OBD2 is 1996-current
im not sure what exactly changed between OBD1/2, i think they just made it easier to work with cause diagnostic troubleshooting on an OBD1 car is a PITA.
most scanners/code readers are both OBD 1 and OBD 2 compatible

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:30 am

97 park ave wrote:

BMD wrote:

OK guys, I hope I am not gonna be too ridiculed here, but I have no idea what OBD1or OBD2 means.

On Board Diagnostics
meaning you can scan via the OBD port under the steering column inside the car
OBD1 is used with pre-1995
OBD2 is 1996-current
im not sure what exactly changed between OBD1/2, i think they just made it easier to work with cause diagnostic troubleshooting on an OBD1 car is a PITA.
most scanners/code readers are both OBD 1 and OBD 2 compatible

OBD-2 or -II is used on '96 and newer. '95s use this odd hybrid though, OBD-1.5. If you have a '95 it can be very difficult to scan. They also used OBD-1.5 on some '94s - my '94 Regal was not scannable by anyone with a regular OBD-I scanner, you had to have a special adapter and special scanner.

I would not say that most scanners do OBD-I, most scanners do OBD-II. OBD-I is generally left to the professionals, with the exception of the 'code flash' where you can make the SES light flash in code for the error message. None of the last gen Riv's have OBD-I. The '95s are OBD-1.5.

But all this doesn't matter to BMD's question, because you have a '96 so an OBD-II scanner should work.

_________________
'98 Buick Riviera; Gen V 3.25 pulley, N*, VS Cam, 180 stat, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj.

Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:58 am

Oh OK

, thanks for the response guys. Just a few quick questions...

Do all OBD-II scanners work on all makes and models or just for GM models?

Any particular brand that you guys feel works better?

Also, once the scanner finds a code, how do you de-code it?

Thanks

_________________

Modern "Muscle"

1996 Supercharged Riviera, Black Cherry Ext., Burgundy Int., over 200K

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:13 pm

I think all your answers are in this thread. I like AutoTap, as far more than a code reader, but a scanner too. For reading codes, the cheapo Actron $30 OBd-II code reader will tell you what the code is. The 'free code scanning' offered by our local auto parts chains use no more than this cheezy code reader. It will tell you the codes. Then you have to figure out what the codes really mean, which can be a whole different topic.

For basic code readers, that's the whole point of OBD-II - a code is a code, and any code reader should be able to read any make.

_________________
'98 Buick Riviera; Gen V 3.25 pulley, N*, VS Cam, 180 stat, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj.

Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:04 pm

Thanks for the advice guys

deekster_caddy wrote:

I like AutoTap, as far more than a code reader, but a scanner too.

What is the difference betwenn reading a code and scanning?

_________________

Modern "Muscle"

1996 Supercharged Riviera, Black Cherry Ext., Burgundy Int., over 200K

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:49 pm

BMD wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys

deekster_caddy wrote:

I like AutoTap, as far more than a code reader, but a scanner too.

What is the difference betwenn reading a code and scanning?

You have to scan the computer to get the code. A true scan tool can read the actual sensor values, and display them, in real time. A code reader usually just reads the codes. It may or not be able to clear the codes.

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:16 pm

LARRY70GS wrote:

BMD wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys

deekster_caddy wrote:

I like AutoTap, as far more than a code reader, but a scanner too.

What is the difference betwenn reading a code and scanning?

You have to scan the computer to get the code. A true scan tool can read the actual sensor values, and display them, in real time. A code reader usually just reads the codes. It may or not be able to clear the codes.

Cool, thanks Larry!

_________________

Modern "Muscle"

1996 Supercharged Riviera, Black Cherry Ext., Burgundy Int., over 200K

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 4:33 pm

BMD wrote:

LARRY70GS wrote:

BMD wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys

deekster_caddy wrote:

I like AutoTap, as far more than a code reader, but a scanner too.

What is the difference betwenn reading a code and scanning?

You have to scan the computer to get the code. A true scan tool can read the actual sensor values, and display them, in real time. A code reader usually just reads the codes. It may or not be able to clear the codes.

Cool, thanks Larry!

Yes, and some more advanced, like AutoTap, or other Tuning software, can not only read one sensor, but can record multiple sensors over time, so you can follow your engine's operation and see if it's running too rich or too lean, what the timing and throttle position and many other things, all at the same time. Then it can be exported as a file and shared to others of us who can help you figure out what performance tweaks you need to make next!! smile

If you are considering spending a few hundred, you can get a full fledged tuning program that can read the PCM's control file, make edits and re-upload that new file to the PCM, that's a tuner. Most tuners can scan multiple sensors at once. But now we've gone way past your original request wink

_________________
'98 Buick Riviera; Gen V 3.25 pulley, N*, VS Cam, 180 stat, Custom PCM (Powrtuner), headers & HF cat , 42.5 lb inj.

Grant-built/PRJ/Thrasher trans 3.29 gears, 7/8 chain, zzp hardened IS

Subject: Re: Newbie Scan/Tune Questions Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:49 pm

deekster_caddy wrote:

Yes, and some more advanced, like AutoTap, or other Tuning software, can not only read one sensor, but can record multiple sensors over time, so you can follow your engine's operation and see if it's running too rich or too lean, what the timing and throttle position and many other things, all at the same time. Then it can be exported as a file and shared to others of us who can help you figure out what performance tweaks you need to make next!! smile

If you are considering spending a few hundred, you can get a full fledged tuning program that can read the PCM's control file, make edits and re-upload that new file to the PCM, that's a tuner. Most tuners can scan multiple sensors at once. But now we've gone way past your original request wink

Yes, but still, this is very informative and interesting, thanks!

_________________

Modern "Muscle"

1996 Supercharged Riviera, Black Cherry Ext., Burgundy Int., over 200K