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| Q. What is the EEC Tuner? A. The EEC Tuner is an electronic device that connects to the PCM and allows the user to change calibration data. The calibration data includes things like fuel mixture, timing, shiftpoints, idle rpm, rev limit, and many more tuning parameters set up at the factory. What you can change depends on the type of processor you have and the support that is currently provided in the EEC Tuner software. In a general sense, the EEC Tuner can change any data in the EEC-IV address map from 2000 Hex to FFFF. Q. Does the EEC Tuner support non-Ford applications? A. No. Q. What Ford vehicles does the EEC Tuner support? A. In general, the EEC Tuner supports ‘89 – ‘95 Mass Air equipped 8 cylinder Mustangs. Specifically, the EEC Tuner supports processors, not vehicles. The following processors are supported, there are 5 general families that support several processors in each family: includes A9L, A3M, A3M1, D3D1, X3Z, S0Z A9M -- 88-93 Mustang includes A9M, A9P, C3W, C3W1 A9S -- 88-93 CA Mustangs includes A9S, 8LD PE -- 2.3l Turbo applications includes PC1, PE, PF2, PF3, PK, PK1 ZA0 -- 94-95 Mustang includes T4M0, U4P0, W4H0, J4J1, ZA0 Each family has a specific set of data parameters that are supported in the EEC Tuner software. See sample.htm for the Modification file for a given family. Q. How do I know what processor is in my Mustang? A. In order to be certain, you must look at the label on the outside of the processor. Q. My processor is not listed – will the EEC Tuner work for me? A. No – not really. If you are a developer, a chip tuner, or computer hacker/car enthusiast, the answer is maybe. Here’s how. You can use hex addresses to change memory locations to values you supply. The only value to this is if you know that, for example, location 0x8C10 and 0x8C11 is where the idle is stored and it is a value that is multiplied by 4. You could calculate the changes and deposit the new value by adding the following lines to the modification file you download to your Tuner: 0x8C10 0xFA #in this example, this changes the idle to 1000 (250*4). 250=0xFA 0x8C11 0x00 If the previous description does not make sense to you, forget about it. Its only important for developers and tuners Q. How do I get the stock settings for my PCM? A. Get a copy of the Ford ROM image using your EEC Tuner. Then use the Parse Binary function from the EEC Tuner software, specifying the ROM binary file you just captured. The Parse Binary function extracts the stock values for the given ROM file, then opens the file and displays it in the edit window of the EEC Tuner software. The values shown in this file, named extract.eec, are the stock settings for your PCM. Q. Do I need a laptop to use the EEC Tuner? A. No. The EEC Tuner kit comes with a AC-DC adaptor that allows you to download modifications to the EEC Tuner board from your home desktop computer. The power supply is used to power the EEC Tuner board when it is not connected to you vehicles PCM. Connect the power supply and serial cable, download your modifications from your home desktop computer system, then disconnect the power adapter and install it in your vehicle. Modifications that are downloaded to the EEC Tuner are stored in EPROM. They stay there even after power is disconnected. Note that this also means that modifications are not cleared when the battery is disconnected on the vehicle. Q. Is the EEC Tuner simply an EPROM emulator? Does the EEC Tuner work like a chip? A. Not really, sorta, kinda. Performance Chips and emulators store modified copies of the Ford ROM, while the EEC Tuner stores only your modifications. The Ford ROM image is copied into temporary memory on the EEC Tuner board when the key is turned to the ON position, then the stored modifications are applied to that stock image. The result is a temporary ROM copy that goes away once power is removed (when the key is turned off). Functionally, with the key in the ON position, the EEC Tuner works just like a chip. Q. I know the data locations of a Ford PCM that is not currently supported in the EEC Tuner software, but I don’t want to give out that information. Can I use the EEC Tuner to tune these vehicles? A. Yes. You have to use the direct address and data byte modifications feature of the EEC Tuner in combination with the All tag. For example: ALL Q. How can I tell if my EEC Tuner is working? A. There are two things to check – communication with your PC and Operation with your PCM. Use Shift-F4 to verify connection to the EEC Tuner. Change the idle to see that the modifications are taking effect. Q. When do I use the power adapter supplied in the EEC Tuner Kit? A. When downloading modifications to the EEC Tuner while it is not connected to the EEC-IV(V)PCM. Useful when you don’t have a laptop, but do have a home computer or access to a friend who does. Q. Will the EEC Tuner work with my Speed Density Mustang processor? A. No. There is currently no EEC Tuner support for processor DA1, speed density processor. Q. The Tuner mod file, XXX.eec, looks pretty complicated. Can I use the EEC Tuner without being a Techie? A. Yes. Find a techie friend, bug someone on the forum, or have your local engine tuner contact ShiftMaster. Or, a better answer is, only download the modifications you do understand. For example – A9L The above is a simple modification file that sets the idle 900 rpms and adds 8 degrees of timing at wide-open-throttle. Q. Do my modifications stay after I disconnect the battery? A. Yes. EEC Tuner modifications are stored in EPROM memory and exist until they are overwritten or erased. Q. Does the EEC Tuner have any data logging capabilities? A. No. However, if you have a Crane Interceptor, you can download the ShiftMaster data logging software on the ShiftMaster website. Q. What about the EECV? A. The latest EEC Tuners, v5.1 on the printed circuit board, can modify data in EECV processors in bank 8 and bank 1 over the entire ROM address range from 0X2000 to 0XFFFF. Q. What about my T-bird, 6 cylinder Mustang, SHO Taurus, Lightening Truck, etc…can you add support for my vehicle? A. First thing, get the processor code from your vehicle. Support is added by processor, not vehicle. I don’t know what processor you have in your specific vehicle. Send an email to support@eec-tuner.com with the processor number, and someone will get back to you. Q. Can I use my EEC Tuner in more than one vehicle. A. Yes. You can hook up the EEC Tuner in any vehicle you have that has one of the supported processors. Of course, you can only use it in one vehicle at a time, and the active modifications must correspond to the processor in the vehicle you are working with. Q. I want to use the EEC Tuner to change my idle from the stock 725 rpm to 950 to accommodate my new E303 Camshaft. I have an A9L processor. What do I do? A. Open the EEC Tuner software. Click on the File->New menu item. Enter A9L Save the file, then click on the DOWNLOAD button on the upper left of the application window. Q. Why the EEC Tuner? Why not a chip or an aftermarket Engine management system? A. Chips are great if you want someone else to set up you car, and don’t want to make further modifications. Any changes once the chip is set up require going back to your chip vendor (and paying for reprogramming). All computers and engine management systems require the user to set up the base operation for their vehicle. The EEC architecture is widely accepted as the best mass produced engine management system around. It makes sense to leverage off an excellent base that is already integrated to your current vehicle wiring harnesses, sensors (throttle position sensor, egr position sensor, oxygen sensors, mass airflow sensor, etc.) and actuators (fuel injectors, solenoid control, idle/bypass valve control, egr control, etc.). If you want to retain the Ford EEC computer, built for your vehicle, backed by extensive Ford research and development, and want to make you own modifications with no additional charges, the EEC Tuner is for you! Q. Can I use low impedance injectors with the EEC Tuner. A. The EEC Tuner alters the software used to operate
your EEC-IV(V) processor. It does not change any hardware characteristics of the engine
management system. Low impedance injectors require low impedance injector drivers in the
PCM. The 89-95 Mustangs use high impedance drivers that would have to be changed. Q. How do I get support for tuning my car? A. The best answer is to get your local tuning expert to help tune your car. Remote tuning is risky and difficult. Your local Tuner has access to a dyno is a direct route to increase performance. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, check out the Forum discussion group and library of sample modification files on this website. Also, here is documentation I have been working on: EEC Tuner tuning notes.rtf Q. What type of performance increase can I expect from the EEC Tuner? A. That depends entirely on the modifications you make to your current vehicle set up. Q. Is the EEC Tuner the most cost effective performance enhancement for my vehicle? A. No – a K&N air filter is! But if your car is modified from stock then you already have a K&N air filter, and the answer is yes. |
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