SCT Tunes in California (tuner has stop doing them)

shabbyblue

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I called my tuner today because I wanted to retune my car if I put headers on. My tuner said he can no longer tune Ford's because of the SCT case. He said he could get fined for $20,000. He said SCT wants him to pay and take classes are something like that and the only way he could do a tune now is if the car is a race car and comes in with no plates and on a trailer, are other people having this same trouble in California?I live in the Bay Area. I guess I'm stuck with the setup I have now because I can no longer can get tuned. So much for going getting a aftermarket blower. I only have a ported Eaton on E85. Things are getting crazy out here.
 

Blkkbgt

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Sounds about right. Even finding a shop that will build an engine for a street car is becoming harder and harder. Whatever you do make sure your monitors are turned on in your tune or you're guaranteed to get a trip to the state ref.
 

01yellercobra

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There's a bunch of info on it. I lost access to some of the system switches because of this.
 

HPLouis

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There's a bunch of info on it. I lost access to some of the system switches because of this.

Talk to SCT about that. There are different levels of access as far as the Advantage software. They have Professional (which is what most people get), Calibrator (dealers get after taking some classes) and then R&D (only a select few get this). The higher the access, the more ability you have to tune and more switches available. R&D is fully unlocked.

I've had the Advantage software since 2004, when it was being sold by Modular Depot and I spent a lot of money with SCT over the past 15 years buying equipment, taking classes, books, buying PCM codes, etc. and I wasn't going to accept any less than R&D access and they gave it to me. I have access to all DBW and emissions parameters (I can turn of EGR or rear 02 sensors), etc. You should call them and tell them you want a higher level access. They can do it right over the phone on their end.
 
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cj428mach

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There's a bunch of info on it. I lost access to some of the system switches because of this.

Did you take all the "classes" online? I did it and didn't notice any lost switches but I don't use sct either.
 

Blkkbgt

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Oh, I see, you're in California. Maybe that's why.

No that is exactly why. These ****s have been running around finding shops left and right to the point where everyone is scared to do business anymore.

There are some builders and tuners who are basically off the books business wise and now work strictly on the side for cash only, no paper trail.
 

01yellercobra

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Talk to SCT about that. There are different levels of access as far as the Advantage software. They have Professional (which is what most people get), Calibrator (dealers get after taking some classes) and then R&D (only a select few get this). The higher the access, the more ability you have to tune and more switches available. R&D is fully unlocked.

I've had the Advantage software since 2004, when it was being sold by Modular Depot and I spent a lot of money with SCT over the past 15 years buying equipment, taking classes, books, buying PCM codes, etc. and I wasn't going to accept any less than R&D access and they gave it to me. I have access to all DBW and emissions parameters (I can turn of EGR or rear 02 sensors), etc. You should call them and tell them you want a higher level access. They can do it right over the phone on their end.
Did you take all the "classes" online? I did it and didn't notice any lost switches but I don't use sct either.
I took all the classes and contacted SCT. I was told that it was because of the level I have. Anymore I just use it to tune my son's basically stock car. I have the MS3 in the Cobra now.
 

shabbyblue

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Man I'm not really that advance in working on motors to even think about tunning. When you say make sure my monitors are on. What does that mean? Can I return the car to stock on my tune when I smog it? Luckily I got the car tunned before this happened but any future modifications for the car are now on hold for who knows how long.
 
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Weather Man

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No that is exactly why. These ****s have been running around finding shops left and right to the point where everyone is scared to do business anymore.

There are some builders and tuners who are basically off the books business wise and now work strictly on the side for cash only, no paper trail.

Cally business law and fee's driving that also.
 

01yellercobra

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Man I'm not really that advance in working on motors to even think about tunning. When you say make sure my monitors are on. What does that mean? Can I return the car to stock on my tune when I smog it? Luckily I got the car tunned before this happened but any future modifications for the car are now on hold for who knows how long.
Depends on the mods. I ran a stock tune when I was upper only. I just stayed out of boost until I was done with smog.

The monitors are for the drive cycle. It keeps people from resetting the computer right before smog to hide issues.
 

96gt02

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Find a new tuner, thats BS, there are plenty of SCT tuners in cali
 

BlckBox04

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I give you guys credit for actually staying and try to survive in Cali. There's no f'n way I would ever move there.
 

JAJ

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This situation has little to do with California. The SCT Settlement was Federal and applies everywhere in the USA. I've written to them twice about it - I'm in Canada so it doesn't apply to me - and so far no response. I'm still sitting with last year's software on my PC so all the settings are still open.
 

Blkkbgt

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Cally business law and fee's driving that also.

Yes that aspect is not helping things either. This state doesn't play fair either when it comes to fining shops though.

For example years ago when CARB stepped in and banned any replacement cats that didn't meet their specs they didn't tell smog shops until the day after. They informed them by walking into smog shops and fining them per cat displayed for sale that wasn't on their approved list. NOT one notice or shred of information was provided to the owner beforehand. The shop I used to take all my cars to closed down because of the fines and I know of one other muffler shop that came very close.
 

shabbyblue

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Northern California people who are you using to modify and tune your cars? I know of AED but they are a little out of the way and seem like they are really busy. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
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gimmie11s

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I called my tuner today because I wanted to retune my car if I put headers on. My tuner said he can no longer tune Ford's because of the SCT case. He said he could get fined for $20,000. He said SCT wants him to pay and take classes are something like that and the only way he could do a tune now is if the car is a race car and comes in with no plates and on a trailer, are other people having this same trouble in California?I live in the Bay Area. I guess I'm stuck with the setup I have now because I can no longer can get tuned. So much for going getting a aftermarket blower. I only have a ported Eaton on E85. Things are getting crazy out here.

So pull your plates and tow the car into AED's shop on a trailer.

Seems simple to me.
 

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