98vtec: So we all pretty much started with Crome. What made you
switch to more supported EMS systems? What was the breaking point?

Turbogixxer: I started with uderdata, but same thing :p When I started
tuning more and more cars, I realized that features did not work how I
wanted. With help and search of PGMFI.org, I was not the only one.
This made me look else were. I guess my "straw that broke the camels
back" was I had a d16z6 civic on crome. It was my daily driver. I am
VERY **** about my idle, and it would surge just a little. That was
it, I ordered Neptune. After playing with it, I knew I could not give
my customers the same thing that it got me. I am not saying crome is
bad, just not something for me. It really did open my eyes to new
systems and something I look into with new systems to this day.

98vtec: We all know this topic is moreso a dead end road but you dont
get to hear it from people who do it everyday.
What would be your advice to someone new to tuning (DIY) who was
trying to decide between a freeware software like crome and
paid software like Neptune and Hondata?

Turbogixxer: My advice is this. Use what your budget allows and/or
what your tuner likes. You can have the best EMS out there, if you cant use it.
It is junk. I always say to my customers that Hondata or NepTune is
great for most cars. You do have to look at it like this. Both
companies are paid to make sure the product not only works very
well, but to come out with new features and products. It does stop with
Hondata or NepTune. Companies like AEM, Haltech, MoTeC, etc.
They WANT you do buy it so they will make sure it works in a correct matter.
There is nothing wrong with free, I love free food :p It just matters
what you want from the product.

98vtec: I believe there has always been a stigma with customers who
believe a tune can fix anything and when something goes wrong, the
tuner is typically always at the end of the blame. Too many times have
I seen engines that are out of time, wastegate plumbing not properly ran
...and the customer think fixing all this is a part of the tune. Then they
tend to get a tad offended when the bill is a little more than they expected.
What are some steps you take before touching the car
, to make sure the car is really ready to be tuned?
What are some critical steps you would advise your customer to do before
considering calling and getting an appointment?

Turbogixxer: YES! I think every tuner can agree on that! Sh*t goes down
hill and hits the last person that touched it :p With anything cars, what will
go wrong WILL GO WRONG. It happens too often that the CEL (check
engine light) is just for "02 heater", but most of the time is not!
That is something that can stop you from tuning the car. Most of the
time, will waste money. A tuner is there to make the car run and drive
correctly via of the ECU (and other adjustments). If a problem stops
him/her from doing that, you will not get a correct tune even if you
had the best tuner!! The best advice I can give a customer that wants
their car tuned by any tuner is to use common sense. If you are
unsure of something may give you a problem PLEASE ASK YOUR TUNER.
No tuner likes to add bills on to something that can be fixed easily
before the tune. What I do is very simple before I tune the car. I
check for ANYTHING leaking. Simple leaks can tell you a lot about how
a car is built. Look how the fuel lines were ran, how they did the
turbo piping (f turbo). All this is clues in how the car is going to
perform. The goal is to make the customer happy. With a correctly
built car, it is always a sure thing!

98vtec: Id like to get into a little about choosing a tuner. Ive ran into
situations before where a customer has told me "well XXX will do it for
this much..." Our immediate thoughts are somewhere along the lines of
...OK and good luck.
If you were a customer looking for a tuner in an area with multiple tuners,
what would you look for in a tuner? is it the type of attitude? cleanliness
of a shop? kind of cars in the shop? We know there are various reasons
for people choosing tuners but being in this business as long as you have,
id imagine you could put yourself in a customers shoes pretty easily.

Turbogixxer: I get this alot. Why are you prices set at XXX? It is very simple.
I have been tuning for 10 years, so over the years, I have learned
how to get the most out of your car without having problems! With looking for a tuner,
the WORST thing you can do is shop solely on pricing!
Just because tuner charges XXX, does not mean he is the best fit! I
have always told people to look at the tuners work. You can talk to a
customer about his tuning. You do have to remember you are putting
your hard work on the line! It is easy to feel out a person and see
what they can do for you. Simply asking questions is the best thing to
do. Make sure the tuner understands what you want from that tune (not
talking about peak power!). The car should drive and run without a
problem.

 

Great job you two!

 

I really hope some of the statements hits home. I know it did for me.

 

Thanks once again blake!

 

good read. hope to get my car tuned by you sometime in the near future

 

Nice job guys.. Kenny, shooting you a text now.

 

Glad to see these subjective answers. Makes me more confident in my choice to make the Trip from Orlando to come and get my tune by you guys when my build is finished. I follow most of your project updates via facebook, keep up the great work!

 

can't wait to see you in person Kenny

 

Mr.Gixxer FTW

 

Turbogixxer Tunning FTW....

 

I chose Kenny to tune my car after much research. He has been doing it for a long time now and specializes in Honda's. So midway thru my build I started emailing him questions on my setup. He guided me thru the build process for 9 months! When I was ready for the tune unfortunately I ran into unforeseen issues with injectors. After having those issues corrected the car made more power then I expected at the boost levels it sits at now. Again running into issues with my wastegate, but Kenny made the best of the situation and with his SUPERB customer service left me with a great running car and continues to answer any questions I may have. Thanks again Kenny.
-Juan

 

I have had my car for 9 years and used every tuner and almost in every shop in south Florida. Thank god I met Kenny. He's the only one that guided me in the right direction. I'm selling the car now but I can vouch for Kenny's dyno tuning, street tuning (back in the day) and track tuning. It's hard to find good people you can trust in the honda community and I trust Kenny 100%. I recommend him to everyone that needs tuning, engine building, transmission building etc. you can't go wrong with kenny

 

Very well-informed interview. I vote "sticky" for this, as it is something that is a MUST READ on the Engine management forum. Very detailed job.

 

love it.

the last q/a i strongly agree with.
your not paying for the tuners time, your paying for their experiance.

 

Kenny is da man!!!!! Unless you don't show up tomorrow.... Then you suck!!!! Lol! Turbogixxer FTW!!!!! This guy can tune a dead horse back to life. Congrats on the your accomplishments, your great work ethic. I will recommend Kenny to anyone.

 

Great thread, very informative and should give people more insight on what to look for when their cars are ready to be tuned. The only people I would honestly tune my car with are Turbogixxer and JDogg up in NC; very smart individuals.

 

As a tuner and business owner, i can tell you, kenny and blake are both friends, and have probably said it nicer, then I would have lol..

 

I am very thankful for the mentors I had getting into tuning and still to this day take me to school!
If you are looking to learn, its all about your approach. With the help of these guys, and me helping myself by learning the basics, I've been able to help and tune countless cars.

Its unfortunate that the area I am in is simply dead.

 

Couldn't agree more with each statement

 

Remember that long talk we had a few months back..

 

refresh my memory

 

Ain't that the truth. I have to travel 500 miles away from Pensacola just to be able to work!!!

That last question is probably the best IMO. You get what you pay for and a tune is not where you want to pinch pennies.

Good job on the interview Blake and Kenny!!!

 

excellent write up/conversation. more people need to read this. especially the part about... THE TUNE FIXES EVERYTHING.

 

Thanks everyone. I am glad everyone liked it. It was a great idea from blake!

 

Nice info and interview.