Box Panther EFI Tune Ups?

[marquis_82_withneons]

ive heard the term "tune up" thrown around everywhere. when i hear tune up i think a screwdriver on a carb, new plugs and an oil change. theres obviously more to it than that but that comes to MY mind. but how does one go about getting a "tune up" on an EFI? what does it do? how does it happen? is it like.. plugged into a computer and change codes to make it run efficient again if you have mods on the car?

for example, if you put a cold air intake (DIY tubing to the front fender) and cat-less duals, obviously the engine is going to "breathe" much better, and no doubt throw out errors on the computer. will the "tune up" fix that or what?. like i dont even understand..

[porschpow]

this is a good point, times have changed (relatively speaking). I always thought it was changing fuel filter, oil, oil filter, spark plug/wires, dizzy cap/rotor, seafoam in the gas tank. Did I miss anything?

[fmansfield444]

That's what I do for my older EFI cars, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, etc. you can also take time to clean up sensors like clean out the IAC, replace vac lines and such.

On newer cars with OBDII you can connect the computer to a programming device, or connect it with your laptop and fine tune the computer to make it adjust air/fuel ratio and other things.

I'm sure you can tune an older computer as well but to be honest I really haven't ever looked into it.

I'm not nearly an expert on this but Im learning about it now since I just bought my first car made after 1990, so don't just take my word for it.

[85crownHPP]

'Tune-up' is the common phrasing for replacing all the serviceable ignition and fuel parts like mentioned.
A 'tune' is what you are thinking about after doing mods. I'm pretty sure you can only directly reprogram OBDII cars. The later OBDI HO ECMs have an interface 'J-port' that you can plug a programmer into, but I think that is just a piggyback where you have to leave the device plugged in to keep the new programming.

[marquis_82_withneons]

so im assuming thats a no to tuning an 88 townys computer?

[gadget73]

no need unless you have modified the engine.

[jaywish]

Do not forget the PCV and filter.

[marquis_82_withneons]

no need unless you have modified the engine.

3" cold air intake via DIY tubing to front grill, all emissions removed and 2.5" exhaust. not really 'mods' per-say but im SURE thats gonna affect the economy or efficiency or something right? considering the computer still thinks theres cats, a box air filter, and a Y pipe, the computers probably like "wtf do i do!?"

[pantera77]

The cold air intake does nothing as the factory air intake is in no way a restriction.
Removing the emissions BS really has no effect on performance in any way, other then saving weight and tidying up the engine bay.

You will reach the limit of lopo performance way before you'll need to start tuning anything.

[SVT98t]

Ya.
Pete, I'm pretty sure you can chip the PCMs from 1982 on.
I have EEC-IV and BOC can tune up to there(1982-present).
But I wouldn't bother, especially with the 255 in there.
-ryan s.

[marquis_82_withneons]

The cold air intake does nothing as the factory air intake is in no way a restriction.
Removing the emissions BS really has no effect on performance in any way, other then saving weight and tidying up the engine bay.

You will reach the limit of lopo performance way before you'll need to start tuning anything.

then why is the car running like shit compared to before we did all of this....

Ya.
Pete, I'm pretty sure you can chip the PCMs from 1982 on.
I have EEC-IV and BOC can tune up to there(1982-present).
But I wouldn't bother, especially with the 255 in there.
-ryan s.

im talking 88 Towncar right now. sorry i shouldve been a bit more clear.. its not my 4.2 Merc, its my buddys Lincoln with the 5.0

[fmansfield444]

Did you ever add the 2nd oxygen sensor into the down pipe for it? Without that it will run badly. Also could be a vacuum leak

[pantera77]

then why is the car running like shit compared to before we did all of this....

Well somethings obviously wrong. I can guarantee you the mods you just listed, if done right are not the cause.

If it ran fine beforehand, double check everything remotely related to what you've done.

[gadget73]

When you've changed the cam, heads, injectors, displacement in a significant way, thats when you need to consider engine tuning. Exhaust and a cold air intake (the stock is cold air actually, not a restriction but ugly as hell) doesn't require computer tinkering. You can definitely do more than just those things without the engine going stupid. If its not running correctly now, something is wrong. Broken vacuum lines and missing oxygen sensors could very well explain it. These things all need vacuum lines by this point.

[marquis_82_withneons]

ill will get pictures uploaded when i can to the Townys thread. ive disconnected several vacuum lines but were only ones related to the emissions on the pass. fender. and all the ones i disconnected i have plugged to avoid leaks obviously.

we have yet to put the 2nd O2 sensor back in from the new exhaust going in. and while that will help alot there was still a noticable miss AFTER the trans shop did their thing. so im thinking vacuum line there. so like i said ill get pics up of the lines i disconnected to help show what all has been done.