MrHer0

Hey Guys,

I am just trying to get a ball park idea of how much a tune cost you...

I have a Turbonetics Stage 1 kit with the pre-tuned unichip, I wanted to get it re-tuned specific to my vehicle, maybe try to pump out a few extra horses.

Thanks.

draxcaliber

p-tuning in virigina said they charge 250 for the first hour and 150 for every hour after and that they are usually finished in two hours, but they do alot of tc's, but not unichips have more limited tuner networks.

you could have it tuned with an emanage since they are more commonly used by dyno tuenrs.

MrHer0

so you suggest dropping the unichip and go for an emanage or emange ultimate?

draxcaliber

well, the problem is that not every dyno tuner can program a unichip, you have to lookup the closest unichip installer/tuner to tune it.

if you can find a good unichip tuner near you with reasonable rates, then by all means take it to him, but if you can't, look into using something else.

but near as i can tell, there are way more dyno tuners that are familiar and able to tune emanage piggy back ecu. i reccommend emanage with a dezod plug and play harness and pressure sensor, and maybe a black box depending how far you are willing to spend.

318_tc has a used emanage ultimate with pressure sensor for sale for like $700 shipped, which includes the PNP harness, and pressure sensor. it has the tune maps for his tc, so you'll have to have it completel reprogrammed because his tune will probably blow your tc's engine, but that will save you alot of money.

MrHer0

Yea, I am probably not all that willing to go all out. I mean I already dropped a load in my car as it is

I do have a unichip tuner down here in san diego, however when I talked to them on the phone they quoted me some strikingly different numbers for different things.

They were saying that a complete re-tune for power/performance would run me approx $1200. They said that a re-tune for better fuel mileage and a few other things would run me about $400. So, The reason for my post was to try and get an idea if these were reasonable prices.

-drew

ucyib2papi

i found 4 places that were charging 225 an hr or 500 total, and it will take about 2 hrs.
then i found where im goin, that does 125/hr and im gettin a better price as well.

seems like 250 is the going rate though

draxcaliber

well, you don't need a complete retune, your unit has a basemap on it that your tc will run on just fine. it is a conservative tune. you would just want it to be custom tuned for your parts and climate. it shouldn't take them that long and that much to tune it from a base map. that first quote sounds like the price of a new unichip unit was included in it LOL.

i'd say call around, find someone else.

MrHer0

sounds like a plan

Can I hook up the Black Box from dezod with my unichip?

What steps does this invole?

Thanks again

draxcaliber

well, it says it is designed to

"This unit is supplimental to your existing engine management piggyback ECU. Works awesome!! "

so i suppose it will work with unichip. don't know if anybody has done it. pm paul and ask to make sure.

rhythmnsmoke

Damn....I'm glad I don't live where you guys do. Here it's like $75-$100 bucks an Hr on someones dyno.

MrHer0

haha, i wish that was the case... Even when i was looking for an installer it seemed outrageous, i got quotes anywhere from $2600-$3200.

I took the job upon myself and hey whadda ya know, I was able to do it and it worked without a hitch!

CA is crazy expensive for everything i think

rhythmnsmoke

^^That is just ridiculous....

VitViper

Too bad I'm not in your area. I do all my own tuning for my ZX2. All I need is some time to learn the EManage and I'd tune the tC for you for free, just pay the $115/hr that the dyno place here charges for the time on the dyno.

Dyltone

$15,181.00 and counting... give or take a few bucks.

Basically, what I'm trying to tell you... Get it tuned right and don't skimp. A few bucks more now will definitely not cost you later.

malibuboy54

here's church's in long beach.....very renowned tuner, just ask any so cal car enthusiast....hard to get an appointment if they're busy, but here's the link to general price page.....

http://home.earthlink.net/~spchurch/...sting/id1.html

yamaha16bw

I'm using the Unichip from Turbonetics along with the Dezod black box. Works just fine.

RSracer

My guy, who is very well recognized tuned my blank emange for $150/hr. and had it done in a hour. He is also AEM certified so once I get the stand alone he will be tuning that as well.

Simplyscion

lemme ask you a real question...what would you rather do?
Take your car to a CERTIFIED Unichip dealer to get a tune based on the tuner going to class and learning the necessary steps on how to properly tune the Unichip, or would you rather just scrap it all together and bring it to anyone that has an emanage cable and software that says they can tune it for you?
I know which one I would pick...I hope you all do as well
IF you were to do an emanage, theres plenty of Certified Emanage tuners as well, bring it to one of them, not your local speedshop that thinks they can do it.

FireStorm

Doesn't ZPI give you a free custom tune if you drive up there and get a stage 1?

MrHer0

Dude I'm not trying to skimp man, $1200 just seemed unreasonable for a tune. I needed input from other members to determine if I need to continue shopping around for a reasonable tuner.

I'm not going to pay $1200 when some very qualified tuner will do it for $500, ya know what i mean?