FAQ: Tuning a 1996 Riv SC?

Erm, are there any floating around these forums? Not too sure where else to look for them. This is for the DHP Powrtuner right, not the HP Tuners?

Correct , HPtuners doesnt support 96 cars. You'd most likely have to go to regalgs.org , clubgp.com , or bonnevilleclub.com to find one as this forum is kinda small , and people usually only sell them during a demod. i have two different guys im considering buying from so if you want me to lateral one to you if you're really serious i probably could after i find out for sure if this will work. I hope so. I wanna break 13s someday!

TonySmooth89 wrote:

Reply from guy i want to buy a tuner from:

"I'm wondering what they meant about downloading the software to tune a 96.
There are not different versions of the software for different cars.
Everyone gets the same version of the software, and each release had more
cars mapped into the software, so that the latest version has the most cars
mapped into it. However, I did not think that the wide-open feature included
1996 cars.

Here's how it used to work, and how it works now:
When the Powrtuner was first developed and sold, you could specify 1 or 2
cars to be tuned (by model, year, and engine) and those cars would be coded
into the Powrtuner hardware. So I specified a 1997 Regal GS L67 and a 2000
Regal GS L67, and that's all that I could tune. My Powrtuner hardware had
those 2 cars coded into it, and in addition, the software, which is the same
for everybody, needed to include PCM maps for those 2 cars.
The software would check the hardware and only let you tune the cars you
specified when you bought the tuner.

Later, DHP decided to open up the Powrtuner software to ignore which cars
were coded into the hardware and let you tune any car 1997-2003 that was
mapped into the software. However, supposedly you could still not tune 1996
or 2004 unless they were coded into the hardware. If you bought the
Powrtuner and specified a 1996 or 2004 car, it was coded into the hardware,
and you could tune it.

Later, some people claimed that the latest version of the software (1.2.4),
would allow any year to be tuned, as long as the PCM is mapped in the software.
I don't know if this is true, because I have no way of testing it.

So, what I'm saying is that there is no such thing as software that can be
downloaded to tune a particular year. Everybody uses the same software,
and it includes all the maps for all the PCMs that have been mapped, and I
don't know for sure whether the current software is wide open for 1996 or
if you need to have hardware that was specified for 1996.
I recommend asking people who are tuning 1996 cars whether their Powrtuner
was originally ordered for a 1996 car"

So to Bill , oldsman or drew, or anyone who knows , i just need the 1.5 bin and then i can tune right? i have two guys willing to sell right now and money is not a problem due to overtime , holiday pay and a nice bonus.

I dont know if simply getting the 1.5bin will work for you. I know I bought my DHP tuner directly from them a couple of years ago and it was specifically coded for my car. I might be wrong, but I think it was coded only for my exact car via the VIN, not "any 1996 model cars".

That being said, I have not tried to use this tuner on any other GM vehicles. If you buy a tuner, I would guess it would at least have to be coded specifically for 1996 year models - and even then it might not work unless coded exactly for your VIN. DHP asked for my VIN when I ordered it.

Update:

Reply from guy im trying to buy a powertuner from:
"If you can get a 96 Riv 1.5 Bin file, email it to me.
I will attempt to edit it with the Powrtuner and see if it works or if
it is rejected as not licensed."

Yeah...worth a shot.

TonySmooth89 wrote:

Update:

"If you can get a 96 Riv 1.5 Bin file, email it to me.
I will attempt to edit it with the Powrtuner and see if it works or if
it is rejected as not licensed."

Yeah...worth a shot.

you have a powertuner now?

No I'm very close to having one if i can find out for sure if this will work. Mr. Riviera has tried the open software and it will not work on a 96 , so i'm trying to figure out if i can , but i'm half tempted just to buy it and resell it later if i can't get it to work. If nothing else , i could tune my brothers park ave.

i emailed the guy who tried to tune my car and he says he has the most up to date software for his powrtuner. (1.2.4) and it doesnt work
Tony, have you tried contacting dhp to see if they will unlock the hardware if you send in a tuner?

btw i am still game to throw down some $$ for a tune if it works

I've tried contacting dhp a while ago, but have yet to get a response. I know on gmv6pcm.com it says you can download bins ,so maybe there is a chance , however, i can't register there because when i type in my name and birth year it says theyre in the wrong format...tried on both IE and firefox.

i got past it by bs-ing the fields
you can use my name/pasword : riviera
i wouldnt know who to contact over there.

Sweet , how riv style. I'll see what can do.

Ok i don't have a clue as to what to do on that forum. this is looking kinda grim.

TonySmooth89 wrote:

I've tried contacting dhp a while ago, but have yet to get a response. I know on gmv6pcm.com it says you can download bins ,so maybe there is a chance , however, i can't register there because when i type in my name and birth year it says theyre in the wrong format...tried on both IE and firefox.

There are very few stock bin files available off the powrtuner site. I've never seen a stock Riv file for any model year.

Tony, I've been tempted to resell my DHP also, and buy an HPT a bit later. I know the HPT is simpler program to use, but haven't checked if my 98 is supported.

The 97-99 rivs are supported by HPtuners , the 96 is not. I'm beginning to lose hope on this one.

ok, so do ya'll need a 96 riv 1.5bin?

well the guy told me to send it to him so he could see if he could edit it with the open software so it couldnt hurt. I'll PM you with my email addy i guess.

TonySmooth89 wrote:

well the guy told me to send it to him so he could see if he could edit it with the open software so it couldnt hurt. I'll PM you with my email addy i guess.

k, its on my laptop with no internet connection. give me a bit to transfer it when I get home.

*crosses fingers*

...

Good news! The open software will edit the 96 riv 1.5 bin , so i'm gonna buy it and see what i can do. Thanks to everyone for your input.

But to be on the safe side , you might wanna keep those fingers crossed Matt.

sweet! what did i do wrong when i tried it? btw it was dave (Z34phoenix) on cnfcgp that tried to do it.

Mr.Riviera wrote:

sweet! what did i do wrong when i tried it? btw it was dave (Z34phoenix) on cnfcgp that tried to do it.

It edited the 96 riv 1.5 bin , from what i gathered you need the bin first to tune on 96 and 04 cars... Lets hope i'm right. if not i guess i'll have a powertuner up for sale soon.

so now all you have to do is reflash your pcm with the edited one?

I sure hope so!

So my powertuner is purchased and should be on its way on monday. Let the mod-ness begin!

no tuner for me! im the few..the proud...the brave...THE 95's

robotennis61 wrote:

no tuner for me! im the few..the proud...the brave...THE 95's

At least they don't send me mail asking me to join them every week...

OOHRAH!