[JackandJanet]

As far as I can tell, installing custom tunes on a CS/CTS will be something like my experience, which I'm relating here. I have a CTS - the CS will be similar, and if I think there's anything different, I'll say so. It's in two parts - installing the custom tunes on the CS/CTS and then loading a tune into the truck's PCM. There are confusing events in each section, so read through it all!

Installing Tunes On Your CS/CTS:

First, Bill notified me in an email that my custom tunes (87 economy and 87 tow) were ready to be reinstalled on my CTS. Given the way emails seem to get lost, I can't promise that you will always get your notification, but I'm not coming up with anything better. Possibly, you should insure your spam blocker KNOWS that PHP is never spam.

Make sure you've set your truck back to stock BEFORE removing the CS/CTS from the truck!

I started Fusion (you MUST have an active Fusion account for this to work) and it first checked for updates to itself, then told me to "Connect my Device". When I did, I was surprise to see my PC installing the device drivers for the CTS again! I'm guessing this MAY have been due to the fact that I'd updated the firmware before this and possibly, the PC "saw" the CTS as a "new" device because of this? Again, I had to get past the Microsoft warning that the drivers had not been validated and of course I gave the go-ahead. So, don't be surprised if you have to go through the "driver install dance" again - just do it if necessary.

Once the drivers were installed, Fusion "Validated" the device bootloader, and, I assume this is a standard activity.

Next, Fusion told me it was, "Performing Tasks Requested By Tech Support". This took quite a bit of time and consisted of a large transfer of files. When this finished, Fusion told me, "Please Follow the Instructions Provided By Technical Support", and there was a [Close] button below that.

I waited and waited and finally realized there was going to be no further "instructions" offered, so I pushed [Close], which made Fusion disappear and now the CTS screen told me, "You May Now Disconnect Your Device". Nothing had obviously happened to the CTS. I was still looking at the Edge splash screen, so I was unsure if the tunes had been uploaded. This appears to be normal behavior though.

Tuning the Truck:

Now, I took the CTS to the truck and connected it. Surprise! I now had a PHP splash screen! I went through the usual dance of turning the key ON and it booted normally and finally settled on my display screen.

I immediately went to [Help]->[Device Info] and this is what I saw:

MSP 430 Ver: 55301
Firmware Version: 2.0.3605
Calibration Version: 2.0000.0068
Serial Number: 200018278

So, there was NO change to the MSP 430 and Firmware versions, but there was a very new Calibration version! Not only are there 4 zeros in the middle, but now there were 4 digits at the end: "0068". This "form" of the calibration tells you you have custom tunes installed.

OK, I went ahead and selected "Programming" from the Main Menu. Next, I chose the 87 Tow tune and the CTS showed it was "Saving the Stock ECM" and there was a progress bar that moved rather quickly to 100%. But then, nothing else happened! I sat and looked at the screen saying it was saving the stock file and that it was 100% complete for about 3-5 minutes. When it was obvious nothing else was going to happen, I touched the screen - nothing happened. Next, I turned off the ignition key - the screen display did not change. I touched the screen again - nothing. I opened the truck door - nothing, the screen remained lit. I finally unplugged the CTS at the OBD port, which turned the device off. (Note: in the CTS, touching the screen is the same as pushing [Enter] on the CS).

I plugged the device back in. It went through the normal boot process and settled on the display screen again - still at Level 0. So, back to programming to 87 Tow. This time, after the stock file was "saved", the device asked me if I wanted to "customize", which I declined (ALWAYS bypass the "Custom Options" menu during the first programming session!) and then it went through a somewhat confusing sequence of turning the key ON (already on), OFF, back ON, OFF again and finally back ON to stay. At this point the device quickly programmed my PCM and now I was at Level 2 - Tow.

And, the truck started and ran, so everything was good.

Later, I went back and re-tuned the truck to Level 2 - Tow, but this time said "Yes" to "Create a Custom Program?" - I wanted to change my Tire Size and Speed Limiter. When you finish making changes, you select "Use Current Settings" to exit that menu and start the actual programming. This time, programming proceeded without incident.

- Jack

[88Racing]

Thank-you Jack for writing up and posting your experience on the proceedure.

Looks good!

[SportTractoF150]

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update:

I just got my Evolution CS for my 2009 F-150 and literally just finished updating it through Fusion 30 seconds ago (have not connected it to the truck yet).

It lists the Firmware Release as version "2.1.3875" released as of 8/12/2010.
It also says "Calibration Description: Manually Released - 09/13/2010"

I'm not sure if the Calibration update from 09/13/2010 is needed because it says the new stock files supported were a myriad of GM Gas CAN files, but if you have not updated your firmware since 2.1.3875 and DO NOT, NOT, have custom tunes yet, you should probably go ahead and update it.

BUT REMEMBER TO SET YOUR TRUCK BACK TO STOCK BEFORE DOING SO!!

[shotgun]

I asked Edge about needlessly updating my CTS via e-mail and they replied (after several e-mail exchanges explaining I am NOT using custom tunes yet):

Charlie,
Sorry, I misunderstood what you are asking. We rarely change tuning on these device. The main reason why we post updates is to support more trucks. The automobile manufactures are constantly making new files for these trucks. For this reason we do updates almost every day. When they make a new file we have to do an update to support that file.

If the Evolution programs your truck without any issues, updating the unit is a waist of time. If there is a large firmware or calibration change, we will contact you with an email to update your Evolution. If you never get one of these emails, then there is no update that will effect your truck.

Let us know if there are any additional questions.


Edge Products Technical Support
1080 S. Depot Drive
Ogden, UT 84404
Toll Free: 888-360-3343
Local: 801-476-3343
Tech Fax: 801-337-2198
Email: tech@edgeproducts.com
www.edgeproducts.com
GR

[SportTractoF150]

Okay everyone, another quick update on the situation.

So after installing everything in the truck last night, updating the device on Fusion and everything, I went to go set it up in the truck and load one of the canned tunes. This is where the problems began:

Every time it connected to the truck, it would say that the tuning is not recognized, please update it via the CD on your PC. Then it would save my stock ECM.

I would then connect to Fusion, it would send the files to Edge, and then it would say there are no updates, disconnect your device.

I did this about 4 or 5 times, and it never worked. I just got off the phone this morning and this is what the Edge Technician told me:

Unfortunately, when I took my 2009 F-150 in for it's 15,000 mile service this past Tuesday, the Ford tech's loaded a brand new ECM set up on my truck and did not bother to tell me. The tuner does not yet support this set of tunes, meaning there is no update and I can't use the tuner. He did say that they received the tunes and the engineers have been working on it all day in order to get it supported, and it will be done either today or on Monday and he will call me personally when they are done and I can update the device.


Basically, if you have a 2009+ F-150 and do not already have your tuner set up, AND took it in for service 9/28 or after, your truck may not be supported right now. But it will be supported by Monday.


On a side note, this was a birthday present to myself (turned 22 on Wednesday) and now it's not useable at the moment.....great.

[JackandJanet]

This is actually fairly common on new vehicles that are computer controlled. They discover "drivability" or "longevity" issues or whatever and they flash the PCM to correct those problems (before it costs Ford any real money). It's just the downside to this technology.

And, right after Edge released the CS/CTS, they issued a firmware update that would improve the lifespan of the LCD display. This was one that an email was sent out about that Shotgun references. If you didn't get that email, not to worry, because the firmware update was already applied at the factory.

Think of the number of "critical fixes" that Microsoft puts out for Windows every year and count yourself lucky! (However, I'm sorry you can't play with your toy - I'd hate that too!)

- Jack

[Dogman_528]

I do have a question about installing custom tunes? When you have them should you need to go into the customize screen and adjust shift points or shift firmness, ect or will Bill already have this stuff taken into account in the tunes ? I don't have my tunes yet and am new to this but was just curious before I did? Thanks Billy

[JackandJanet]

Originally Posted by Dogman_528

I do have a question about installing custom tunes? When you have them should you need to go into the customize screen and adjust shift points or shift firmness, ect or will Bill already have this stuff taken into account in the tunes ? I don't have my tunes yet and am new to this but was just curious before I did? Thanks Billy

You should not have to change anything, but that is not to say you won't. Bill HAS adjusted the shift characteristics and other things in your custom tunes already. But, you may discover that his idea of what you wanted and your idea are somewhat different - after all, he's setting things up the way he's found MOST people want them (while balancing the performance/longevity equation). So, I think you should drive your truck on the new tunes for quite a while (maybe a month) before you even think about making changes. Then, don't do it unless you KNOW what you're doing.

For instance, if Bill has set the truck up to favor "power", the shift points will probably be raised somewhat. That seems to make the majority of people happy. I felt though, that my truck was downshifting too soon when under a mild load (climbing a hill) and really wanted the engine to stay in gear and "lug" a little, the way it would if I were driving a manual shift and didn't downshift. So, I adjusted the upshift/downshift points DOWNWARDS, so the upshift would occur at a lower speed and the downshift would be delayed until the speed dropped lower (or the engine load increased more, which is what really happens). I moved the torque converter unlock/lock points in the same direction. Now, I'm happy with the result. I still have full power for passing, because these were part throttle adjustments.

I'm perfectly happy with the "firmness" and would be reluctant to change that much anyway without talking to Bill because this is something that can effect transmission longevity.

Hope these thoughts help.

- Jack

[Dogman_528]

Originally Posted by JackandJanet

You should not have to change anything, but that is not to say you won't. Bill HAS adjusted the shift characteristics and other things in your custom tunes already. But, you may discover that his idea of what you wanted and your idea are somewhat different - after all, he's setting things up the way he's found MOST people want them (while balancing the performance/longevity equation). So, I think you should drive your truck on the new tunes for quite a while (maybe a month) before you even think about making changes. Then, don't do it unless you KNOW what you're doing.

For instance, if Bill has set the truck up to favor "power", the shift points will probably be raised somewhat. That seems to make the majority of people happy. I felt though, that my truck was downshifting too soon when under a mild load (climbing a hill) and really wanted the engine to stay in gear and "lug" a little, the way it would if I were driving a manual shift and didn't downshift. So, I adjusted the upshift/downshift points DOWNWARDS, so the upshift would occur at a lower speed and the downshift would be delayed until the speed dropped lower (or the engine load increased more, which is what really happens). I moved the torque converter unlock/lock points in the same direction. Now, I'm happy with the result. I still have full power for passing, because these were part throttle adjustments.

I'm perfectly happy with the "firmness" and would be reluctant to change that much anyway without talking to Bill because this is something that can effect transmission longevity.

Hope these thoughts help.

- Jack

Sweet. Thanks for all the help. Billy