Considering an HP Tuner - 2010 Camaro 2SS

[10_SS]

I bought the pro version but so far nothing that makes it a Pro works (including stand alone datalogging). 2010 Camaro SS LS3 Manual with an OS that doesnt support 2bar OS enhancements. They say a fix is coming for the datalogging. If I would have known these two items.. I would have made a different decision.

Additionally, using a backup ECU I never was able to re-sync the BCM to the ECM to get the security working so the pcm would crank/start the engine with the clutch interlock working... I tried all of the procedures including the HP Tuners re-sync and the manual procedures, minus taking to dealer... so not sure where the problem lies.

[Nextphase2000]

10_SS that sucks. I'm sorry to hear about that. I placed my order for the Pro version yesterday. Man I hope I didn't blow an extra $200. Always a real fear and, as you are proof, these company's aren't quite as up to date as they claim sometimes. Any chance for a refund in your case?

[DSteck]

The Pro is worth it. Don't knock it until you know how to use it.

I never bother using standalone logging.

Take your car to a dealer and ask for the PCM to be updated. It should give you the option to do a 2bar OS then, although the factory OS is MORE than capable of any setup you have.

[Nextphase2000]

I know some ppl aren't fans of Livernois but I've had great luck with Rick LeBlanc sending me tubes and even my original factory file as I am a second owner of this car. I bought my Pro from him and shoul be here next week. Trick will be unlocking my ECM which Rick said a flash to stock will do then getting a workable tune just to build and tweak from. Hockey and egg so to speak. We shall see. Hopefully I can read my current set up ok as is. I can with the Autoenginuity scanner software I have had for a few yrs.

[10_SS]

I'm not knocking anything. OP asked a question about 2010 Camaro SS and I happen to have a 2010 Camaro SS. All facts. Different OS do different things.

I didn't know data logging was broken, not operator error and people need to be aware of it.

[Nextphase2000]

If they admittedly are working on a fix or patch then there is definitely an issue. I appreciate all personal experience feedback on this product. Good and bad. Thanks guys!

[10_SS]

yes they even swapped out my interface for a new one, and when the new one didnt work they remote connected into my computer and tried it for themselves.

They investigated and said the new units chip have a different ID and doesnt work with the current firmware. 1.5 months ago they said a new firmware would be ready couple weeks ago, and now they say it should be ready in another month.

So in the meantime I dont think I can return it since I paid the extra money for something that doesnt work. And I read about other people have the stand alone datalogging working however the wideband input doesnt work while stand alone datalogging, and support agreed that it was disabled and working on a fix but that's been on going for a long time.
So for those people with older cars may be able to use older software and things might work ok but for the 2010 Camaro LS3 it needs the newer software and the current interfaces have newer chips and they are not compatible with stand alone logging as of current.

Computer datalogging of the wideband channel is suppose to work but I have not wired all that in yet I only care about stand alone at this point.

And by the way DSteck.. some EARLY 2010 Camaro SS may have 2 bar support since Support explained they fully covered the first OS's that were released but as new model year 2011 and now 2012 come out then they have to use resources to get them covered.. at least the base coverage, the enhanced OS are "extra" and not guaranteed for any platform at least not new Camaro's, so my Camaro happens to have a newer OS which is not supported by an enhanced OS. I could possibly try one of the earlier Camaro OS's that have 2bar support but Im not going to risk bricking my ECU if its not compatible or having the VATS relink problems I had with the backup ECU after full writing my stock ECU.

[DSteck]

I can put an enhanced OS in any new Camaro, but that's neither here nor there. Lol.

[edcmat-l1]

I can put an enhanced OS in any new Camaro, but that's neither here nor there. Lol.

Same here. Haven't had an issue with them since they first came out.

[10_SS]

Same here. Haven't had an issue with them since they first came out.

I think I did find an older enhanced OS so yes, I guess you can at a cost using extra credits to do that since you need to license the OS, 2 credits, then the enhancement 2 credits, and usually you already licensed your original OS 2 credits. And you don't need a "Pro" to do that either.

After all that licencing the relatively cheap price isn't really cheap anymore, and still the new pro's datalog is broken so if you need something now, like I do months ago.. then no this isn't the ticket.

Lets hope the new firmware comes out soon, and works.

[DSteck]

Just out of curiousity, why are you that concerned with standalone logging? I have never used it in the life of either of my two cables.

[gtautoparts]

I use stand alone data logging at the dragstrip and I have logged probably close to 100 pass's on my 2010 Camaro and it has always worked perfectly.

[10_SS]

Just out of curiousity, why are you that concerned with standalone logging? I have never used it in the life of either of my two cables.

gtautoparts: when did you buy your interface? The current units DO NOT WORK. This is confirmed by Bill, and he sent me a replacement unit that also doesn't work. He remote connected to my computer and saw for himself. Its the interface box, not the car. It doesn't work on any of my 4 GM cars, so the OP will be buying new like me, and odds are stand alone wont work. And if your able to stand alone log the Wideband or analog inputs, I'd be surprised since Bill says that was disabled on purpose at least with the newer software (tons of people say analog inputs are not working with the units that have stand alone logging working).

Why am I concerned with stand alone data logging?

Other than the fact that I paid for it, as it was one of the two major options, here are my reasons since this is how it goes for most people unless you blindly make changes to the tune, or your engine is basically stock and nothing really needs to be changed. I've done this for 7 years with the old TTS Datamaster for LT1, so I know exactly how it goes and why I bought pro mainly for stand alone datalogging:

1) Grab laptop.
2) Put it in car.
3) Connect cables
4) Start up the laptop. But dont start the car cause you want to grab all the data possible, so wait for the laptop to startup, then run HP Tuners.
5) Hope the battery doesn't go dead in the laptop cause everybody says we cant run inverters since it could blow out the interface box.
6) Start logging using the laptop, then start the car.
7) Since your driving, you cant use the laptop anyway, so wonder when they will get standalone datalogging working.
8) As you beat on your car, get mad at the laptop cause it's flying around, scratching your seats and plastic trim.
9) Hope the battery isn't going dead since we cant use inverters.
10) Hope the laptop didn't get hurt from falling off the seat and hitting the floor.
11) Got to work.. now I have to get the data off the laptop.. or just take the interface box into work and view data.
12) Put USB drive in laptop, wait to transfer files, etc.
13) Turn off laptop so you have battery left for drive home.
14) Work all day, come out to car. Opps, left the laptop on now it's dead.
15) Drive home, when you get home grab the laptop, bring it inside to see how the drive went. View knock info, fuel ratio, etc.
16) Cant find the file since you forgot to save the data file at the end of the log. With Datamaster, at least you named the file first so its written as it's logged. No saving after. I used to think this was annoying but now I see it's a benefit.


Or...
Standalone Datalog:
1) Hit record button to start logging.
2) Hit it again to stop logging.
3) Pull it off the cable, bring inside. Download logs.

My Megasquirt MS3 does stand alone anytime the key is on. So I just grab the SD card from the box.. that's it. Much like EFI Live.

I would be perfectly happy with standalone data logging working. At least in theory, I haven't actually used it yet.

[gtautoparts]

gtautoparts: when did you buy your interface?

I believe it was 2009 when I purchased my currant interface.
I don't know what they changed but I can assure you that mine works flawlessly.

[edcmat-l1]

I tune cars everyday. Every, single, day. It's all I do. I NEVER use the standalone feature. Actually, I do every once in a while. When? When I'm at the track, tuning cars, and the track officials get pissy about having a laptop in the car. Then, and only then, do I use the standalone data logging.

I don't sling my laptop around inside cars. I don't drive like a maniac. I don't want to beat up the interior, or my laptop.

My laptop doesn't scratch seats.

I have a good enough battery to last about 4 hours. I have 2 backup batteries that I cn plug in to my laptop without having to shut it down.

There are other features of the Pro cable that justify the cost. The EIO inputs alone, to me, are worth the cost.

That being said, it would be nice if your standalone logging worked, and hopefully they can get it working for you. But to use the list of excuses above for why you need it is, well, lame.

[DSteck]

I tune cars everyday. Every, single, day. It's all I do. I NEVER use the standalone feature. Actually, I do every once in a while. When? When I'm at the track, tuning cars, and the track officials get pissy about having a laptop in the car. Then, and only then, do I use the standalone data logging.

I don't sling my laptop around inside cars. I don't drive like a maniac. I don't want to beat up the interior, or my laptop.

My laptop doesn't scratch seats.

I have a good enough battery to last about 4 hours. I have 2 backup batteries that I cn plug in to my laptop without having to shut it down.

There are other features of the Pro cable that justify the cost. The EIO inputs alone, to me, are worth the cost.

That being said, it would be nice if your standalone logging worked, and hopefully they can get it working for you. But to use the list of excuses above for why you need it is, well, lame.

Where is the like button?

I use a 9 cell extended life battery in my laptop, and from the time I flip open the lid to the time I can start logging is all of five seconds because I leave it turned on, on a charger, with HPT already open. The only extra connection in the scenario you posted is plugging a USB cable into a laptop. If you struggle with that, then God help you.

[Casey]

Relax 10_SS. Stand alone datalogging has always worked. The manufacturer of the memory chip changed the ID and the firmware does not recognize it and failed it. Firmware updates are taken very seriously as they have to be fully tested to make sure we didnt break something else with our fix. Nor are they done on the fly. This is the second time this has happened to us, so I am investigating a different method of checking the chip so we don't have to do this again in the future. Bill will let you know when the update is ready, and thanks for your patience.

Ken

[10_SS]

Well I'm sorry if my reasons I want use stand alone logging offends everyone. Those are the reasons I hate laptops in cars and why I want stand alone. Not a big deal I didn't think. I do beat on my car pretty bad. I do road coarse, I even do doughnuts! Its 430hp rwd with a manual trans. Lots of fun. Plus if you get in an accident with a laptop on your seat it could hit you can kill you. In my 700+hp 96 TA, things were very unstable inside that car. But this is not the point.

Also seems like on this site that people do not like when flaws are mentioned, or even talked about. This is not done to offend anyone, but is directly related to the OP's topic. Not weird in any way. All of the other sites I'm on, it's preferred to post flaws so people are aware of them and things get fixed.

I know support is working on it and they take it seriously, if somewhere in this thread I said they weren't, then that came out wrong but I don't think I said that. Did they say 1 month, then in 1 month say another month? Yes.
Now, have I read about many people with stand alone working having problems logging the wideband channel? Yes, and I was told by support, this has been disabled for a long time but may be re-enabled in a soon to be released software update? Maybe this is why people have gotten used to the laptop data logging setup since you can log wideband that way. I'm not sure but still goes right along with my concerns about the updating working, since if I do get stand alone working, sounds like it still could be partially broken (no stand alone wideband logging).

Also, people keep posting about why stand alone is not even needed. That's fine for you, however not related to this post in any way. How about saying, "wow, I didn't know the latest interfaces didn't work with stand alone, thanks 10_SS". I will literally use it every single day if that matters to you.

So back to my situation. If someone asks about a situation exactly like mine, then I will speak up. Looks like a new problem and no-one is aware of it, so now they are.

Also seems like everyone speaking up on this topic doesn't have any of the issues since they don't have the setup or interface revision I have, so..? I already mentioned the older units work and it's the current units that don't.

Seems like alot of people are upset with my story, but it's all true and it shouldn't offend anyone. Just explaining where the 2010 Camaro, the current software, and the current interfaces are at, at least if the OP buys a setup and ends up just like me, he wont waste hours and hours trying to figure out what he's doing wrong.

Also since I cannot find my problems anywhere on this site about this situation I post it here, directly related to a new person buying a current interface, on a 2010 Camaro.

[Nextphase2000]

Ok, all said and done I received my tuner and am working on setting it up.

[Bill@HPTuners]

Sounds good have fun tuning