Injection Connection

JET Performance’s Dynamic Spectrum Tuner Software

Words And Photos: Jeff Smith

It’s an electronically brave new world out there. There hasn’t been a carburetor used on a domestic production car since the mid 1980s, so EFI is not only prevalent, but downright essential. For car guys, electronics also means learning a new skill by using computers to tune cars. The LS engine family has already established itself as a force in late model performance, so learning how to tune these electronically fuel injected engines is a new learning curve for a new generation of hot rodders.

If you like the idea of learning something new and doing things yourself, instead of paying somebody else to do the fun stuff, this is where JET’s new Dynamic Spectrum Tuner (DST) software comes into play. Often, the first thing a car guy wants to do is add a camshaft, or perhaps an intake manifold and a set of headers, to an LS engine to make more power. The issue is often these changes will require some tuning to the engine’s EFI.

JET offers the DST software as your ticket into the world of electronic tuning. This software allows your laptop to access the GM computer, which unlocks a giant tuner’s toolbox for modifying the stock GM programming. It is well beyond this introduction to list more than just a few of the areas the DST can tune, but let’s take a look at a couple of the more important areas.

Let’s say, for example, you have a stock 6.0L truck engine swapped into your street-driven ’69 Chevy pickup using the factory GM computer and wiring harness. The stock LS power was great for a time, but now you’re ready for upgrades like a performance in-take, headers, and a camshaft. This means it will be necessary to make some relatively simple changes to the software so the ECU can properly control the fuel and spark. There may be some changes required in order to improve the idle quality, for example.

After loading the software into your laptop and copying the ECU’s original software, so you always have a base to come back to should you need it, the DST allows instant access to the LS engine’s entire spectrum of tuning. The system separates the software into seven main tuning areas: spark, fuel, idle control, emissions, transmission control, systems tables, and diagnostics. Of these, you will probably spend most of your time with the fuel, spark, and idle tables once the major parameters are set. For example, you may want to disable the vehicle anti-theft system (VATS) so the engine will start. Then, you might want to add a couple of degrees of ignition timing at idle and part throttle to match the airflow changes you’ve made.

The most challenging part for us with this system was learning how to navigate around the different categories. That just involves figuring out where all the tables are located and then accessing each one to make the changes. The other big hurdle for any new tuner will be learning the GM-speak. We thought we knew quite a bit about EFI but still ran into new acronyms, like DFCO, which stands for deceleration fuel cut-off, and ETC , or electronic throttle control.

Perhaps the most important thing to remember when tuning is to make only one change at a time and then evaluate that change for more than 30 seconds before you move on to the next one. The bad thing about doing EFI tuning is keystrokes are very easy and quick to perform. It’s so easy, the software almost begs you to make multiple changes at a time. But at least until you are more proficient, it’s best to work slowly and deliberately to prevent problems. This comes from the voice of experience; I’ve buried myself so deeply that a full move back to stock was required to dig myself out of the tuning hole that I had created.

Another crucial point is that no amount of tuning will cover up a mechanical issue. As an example of this, it’s impossible to cure an erratic idle speed with a keystroke when you discover the throttle plates are actually physically sticking.

This just barely scratches the surface of what you can accomplish with the JET DST software system. But considering its affordable price at only $399.99 from either Summit Racing or JEGS, its’ an easy way to learn how to tune. In our particular case, we used PN 14005 that covers most of the 1999 through 2006 GM LS engine applications. There are other part numbers that cover diesel applications, as well as the 58x version 2006-2014 GM cars and trucks. This baseline software will allow you to tune up to four different cars. Beyond that, you can contact JET for additional licenses to tune more vehicles. Check it out.

Source

JET Performance
jetchip.com

 

About the author

Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith, a 35-year veteran of automotive journalism, comes to Power Automedia after serving as the senior technical editor at Car Craft magazine. An Iowa native, Smith served a variety of roles at Car Craft before moving to the senior editor role at Hot Rod and Chevy High Performance, and ultimately returning to Car Craft. An accomplished engine builder and technical expert, he will focus on the tech-heavy content that is the foundation of EngineLabs.
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