Ford Performance Tune install in California?

[Buckin' AYE]

I have a question that hopefully I won't get roasted over. A friend of a friend said he was given a ProCal tuner and said he'd sell it cheap. Don't they need your vin. to make it function properly for your vehicle? He claims that it was given to him, and he doesn't know much about it. I think it's probably worthless. Your thoughts?

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[ironmike]

I have a question that hopefully I won't get roasted over. A friend of a friend said he was given a ProCal tuner and said he'd sell it cheap. Don't they need your vin. to make it function properly for your vehicle? He claims that it was given to him, and he doesn't know much about it. I think it's probably worthless. Your thoughts?

If it’s still in the box, i.e., uninstalled and unregistered, then anyone can use it. Once someone registers the device with Ford Performance it becomes tied to the VIN of the registering user’s vehicle.

 

[Buckin' AYE]

So I believe that answers my question! It's probably worthless! Thanks!

 

[superchar1982]

Has anyone had the tune installed in the Sacramento area that they recommend? Dixon Ford offers $112 install via the ford accessories website, but only if you buy it with the tune. I bought the tune from Lethal Performance, so the dealer wants to charge $235 to install...

 

[duke90]

$235 isn’t bad. Most dealers in my area want $300+. Had mine installed yesterday and honestly…the “gains” feel underwhelming. Sure it feels a little peppier, but not worth the $$ in my opinion.

 

[CrystalRedTintCoat]

$235 isn’t bad. Most dealers in my area want $300+. Had mine installed yesterday and honestly…the “gains” feel underwhelming. Sure it feels a little peppier, but not worth the $$ in my opinion.

Sport feels more extreme to me than normal.
Also, my mileage has improved. Just drove to Reno and back from San Jose and the overall average was 20.2 mpg.

 

[superchar1982]

Ended up paying $215 for Dixon Ford Mobile service. They came out to my house and installed it in my driveway. With the 2.3 manual it’s definitely peppier. More noticeable in normal mode. I almost don’t have to run in sport mode. No change in mpg. 16.4mpg using 91. No top.

 

[PlayTime]

Any recommendation for a shop in SoCal, HB area? I've done all the hard work of registering, backing up, downloading the tune; but I don't have a garage or battery tender and need someone to load the tune now.
Or lacking that, how big of a battery tender is good for this?

 

[superchar1982]

Any recommendation for a shop in SoCal, HB area? I've done all the hard work of registering, backing up, downloading the tune; but I don't have a garage or battery tender and need someone to load the tune now.
Or lacking that, how big of a battery tender is good for this?

The mobile ford techs didn’t hook mine up to a tender

 

[Brian_B]

Or lacking that, how big of a battery tender is good for this?

First time I did it I used a small 1Amp model. Let it charge overnight so I was starting with a full battery. Left the tender on while I did the tune. Did fine.

You probably don’t need a tender so long as your battery is good - BUT if the battery does float low enough that a computer gives up while it’s rewriting code, you are screwed. So it’s just cheap insurance against that.

 

[PlayTime]

So it’s just cheap insurance against that.

I think I'll go with the cheap insurance option, when I can arrange that. Just because they're shaped like Lego bricks doesn't mean that I want ti brick it

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