The responsibility of the owner is to ensure the vehicle is satisfactorily serviced prior to any tuning work.  If the vehicle needs to be driven, road worthiness is also required. Attention to detail not only saves time but can save lives. Ensure your vehicle is safe!

The following items must be checked by the owner and/or corrected before tuning service work can be commence.

If any items on this list are outside the scope of the owner to perform or arrange prior to a Dyno test, an hourly rate may be applied to attend to the items before ECU/PCM calibration work can commence.  We want the best outcome for you & your vehicle.

Bring Any specific tools, Fuel, Fuel transfer hoses, containers, fittings, or parts you may need for the session!! Best be over prepared than put the session on hold while you organise it.

1.   Install or bring recommended spark plugs. (Check with tuner for part number or temperature ranges etc).

 

2.   Clean, check or replace Intake Air Filter & Fuel Filters.

3.   Check all intake pipe fittings for clamp lip bead/swage, leakages. (prevent hoses popping off as alot of dyno time is consumed to fix them during an alotted session). Good quality narrow band of a hose clamp will clamp better than in most cases than the wider style band of truck clamps.

4.   Check, fix all oil leaks & degrease Engine Bay and under vehicle, clean around dyno strapping points (ask tuner if unsure). keeps grime out of the vehcile if checks and adjustments need to be made.

 

5.   Clamp all intake vacuum/boost reference  hoses (cable ties or hose clamps work well).  always use correct sized adapters and hoses.  Check for cracks and splits in new hoses.  On boosted engines, never t-piece off the fuel regulator hose, always give it a seperate port on the manifold.

6.   Have battery tested if over 1yr old or has ever been depleted below 12V at any time in its life.  Ensure battery terminal posts & connectors are corrosion free & tight.

 

8.   Ensure Full tank of chosen fuel is in the vehicle or means of pouring it in without spillage is available.

 

9.   Check tyre pressure is equal between loaded wheels and within 5psi of maximum rating on tyre. (saves time time checking before dyno sesson= more time for tuning).

 

10. Check Ground/Earth connections on engine & body work, remove and clean sand to shine or renew as necessary.

 

11. Check/Repair exhaust leaks.  We see alot of home built boosted engines often missing the Wastegate valve seat.  We can tune a car with leaks but it will run poorly once leaks get fixed.  Ensure Wastegate spring pressure is atleast 50% of the total boost you intend to use.

 

12. Replace or check engine oil / Transmission oil / Differential Oils condition and levels (check with engine builder or Original Equipment Manufacturer if unsure).  DO NOT OVERFILL!!!   Clean ups cost dyno time.

13. We require a (19mm) wideband oxygen sensor bung installed for tuning where possible. If a car already has an oxygen sensor bung in its exhaust, it may be able to be used, it’s best to ask your tuner. Sometimes we can use a tailpipe sniffer probe or weld in a second bung beforehand but it needs to be discussed prior to tuning.

14. ECU/PCM password, make sure you have it or it’s not locked.

15. Keep in mind that dyno time is not very affordable diagnostic time, you don’t want to be figuring out problems on the dyno that could have been done prior. If the Dyno isn’t operating & your vehicle is essentially using the dyno space, no other cars can go on it so expect dyno tuning rates rather than normal workshop rates if there are problems. your tuner is not your local service mechanic, ensure the vehicle is serviced and in good condition.

 

16. Your engine cooling system should be adequate – most of the time spent on the dyno is spent waiting for the engine to cool down after a run, the better your engine manages heat, the faster the tuning session can go.  If your cooling system isn’t adequate you’d be better off spending a bit of money on improving it, the dyno session won’t take as long and you’ll save money there.  You are best putting the cash into cooling upgrades instead of dyno time waiting for the car to cool off!!  Ensure to install a Coolant over flow bottle!  Draining overfloww on road might work for you but not motorcycles or dyno workshops!

 

 17. Ensure you know how to adjust your boost controller or let us know if you need one fitted.

 18. Interior, ensure there is somewhere safe for a tuner to sit and control the vehicle, no milkcrates!!  the tuner is in the vehicle for several hours in most cases and will probably take twice as long if he has to get the feeling back in his legs every 10mins.

19. Brakes, Ensure they all work and bled correctly, if the car is unroadworthy don't bring it.  its the last safety feature we have left when things don't go to plan!!

20. Finally, Make a list of expectations you have for the tune up. For example; flat spots during acceleration, more power in specific rev range, idle roughness, cold start etc. The more detail we have,  the quicker we can prioritise the work needing to be done to diagnose and correct the conditions.

 

If you have any questions, please ask.  If we can’t help, we probably know someone who can.

We hope you get the most out of your DYNO session.

Thank you.