Stock 09 with ATX. Is a tune worth the money?

[Motor City Madman]

I have a 100% stock 09 coupe with the automatic trans. Not so much as a drop in filter. Will a tune do much for me or should I not bother?

[Sponsor]

[Outlaw5.0]

For trans shift firmness and full throttle shift points yes, which makes it worth it. I really can't say for power since all cars are different, some will gain 5-7hp, others 2-3hp. I noticed a small difference with the K&N drop in filter and FSWerks Stealth exhaust, but its still a pig. The biggest issue is the tight torque converter and gear spacing. It falls on its face on the shifts since it drops back to around 3700-4000 rpms, huge rpm drop to say the least. In my opinion nothing beside a turbo kit, supercharger, or nitrous kit will make a huge noticable difference on the automatic. Maybe if you add the tune, header, exhaust, and cold air kit all the same time it will be really noticeable.

[montum_81]

me too, i'd like to know this before placing my order at fswerks for the sct tuner. can this eliminate my governor @ 180kph?!?

[Outlaw5.0]

Get a Xcal3 from Tom and see how you like it, you wont' know unless you try it. I plan it on in the near future, but money is tight.

[BowerR64]

The SCT tuner is good to have for a few reasons. Not just for a tune but it can clear the check engine light and give you codes so its not just a performance tuner its a tool also.

It also can log data and show a display of things like RPM, The temp, the intake temp you can monitor a ton of things live while you drive and look over them later.

I went with Tom because he can look at the log data files and tell you if there is any problems.

I sent Tom a log file after i got my FSWerks intake and he told me i had a vac. leak or somthing. I didnt think i did but i looked anyway and my intake had slipped off right at the throttle body.

Can you send log files to FSWerks and get them looked over? Not sure but Tom doesnt charge anything extra and he has sent me 8 different files now.

Im glad i got mine.

[AllOutZX2]

As stated above the Automatic suffers in a couple areas, the most important issue is the torque converter, it's just too tight from the factory to properly launch the car anywhere near it's torque curve. Second would be the transmission does lose a good additional 8% of power through the driveterrain opposed to an MTX. Third and least important is the gear ratio. To be honest even in Mustangs Gear ratios only account for a few tenths unless you are going from something like a 2.73 to a 3.73/4.11 where they could account for over .5 of a second. Focus doesn't have a bad gear ratio, just not as good as the MTX. The transmission makes up for the gear ratio with its quick WOT shifts.

A chip has more value in an ATX then MTX because it can completely change how the car drives.

[Outlaw5.0]

The converter in my 2011 seems to stall in the 2700 rpm area if you just hold the brake and mash the gas. The meat of the powerband starts at 4000 rpms, but a real 3000-3500 rpm stall would make a huge difference for a daily driver. The real issue would be getting the tune correct to work with the looser converter.

[AllOutZX2]

Originally Posted by Outlaw5.0

The converter in my 2011 seems to stall in the 2700 rpm area if you just hold the brake and mash the gas. The meat of the powerband starts at 4000 rpms, but a real 3000-3500 rpm stall would make a huge difference for a daily driver. The real issue would be getting the tune correct to work with the looser converter.

What motor do you have in your focus? I am surprised the converter is stalling at 2700. I know my Zetec is rated at 2200rpm from the factory behinds the 2.0L Zetec but that is probably the flash stall. With modifications behind my Zetec the unit now brake stalls to 2200rpm and flashes just above that. THe TC is a 10" model in the ZX2.

I think the issue with the Focus is once you stall it above a certain rpm for any length of time the transmission goes into limp mode because of an abuse program built in. I think Tom can shed some light as I don't know a Focus well enough but I do know this is the issue.

I'm looking at 3500-4000. Somwhere 500-1000rpm below the peak torque numbers. I'm going to go with Andree @ Edgeracingconverters.com Although you Focus guys already have Lentech available for all your automatic needs.

[Outlaw5.0]

I was surprised it would stall that high, but it does. Its just a 2011 2.0L Duratec.

[AllOutZX2]

Originally Posted by Outlaw5.0

I was surprised it would stall that high, but it does. Its just a 2011 2.0L Duratec.

Nice, have you ever taken it to the track? I'd be interested in seeing your 60ft numbers. Best I can do is 2.54 on street radials.