Blackbear tune... I'd like to hear from personal experience to set up

[mountie]

Blackbear has options...

Scan cable.. how does it work? What are the connections?
I have a Windows 10 laptop. ( any issues ? )

Crank relearn. Is it as easy as they say? ( I can't afford a delay, since my '05 Yukon is my daily driver.
I don't care if I do their deposits...... I plan to have them send me a ECU then replace.

I will be calling Blackbear for advice, but a personal experience would be helpful.

 

[drdave81]

I've used them 3 times now. Since I knew I'd be tuning a couple vehicles, I bought the equipment from them to save a bit in the long run. You download a couple apps to your laptop. They send you the Autocal V3 which connects to the laptop via supplied USB. A separate supplied cable connects the autocal to the vehicle. I never had to run a crank relearn after any tunes. The only time I did it, I used a Tech2. But running the routine in general is as simple as following the on screen prompts about when to start and "flooring" it (the PCM will only allow RPMS to go up to about 4000 and hold there).

You will not actually have the laptop connected to the vehicle. The autocal will connect to the vehicle via one cable. Then you disconnect and reconnect with a separate cable to the laptop. So its a couple different steps. Files get loaded onto the autocal from the laptop, and from the laptop (email) to the autocal. Then a separate cable with OBD port is used to flash the PCM. It's also used to data log. No laptop in the vehicle is required.

 

[mountie]

Thanks..... All sounds perfect as long as the downloading the apps, and data download has no glitches. I am not sending them my PCM. I will have them send me the Blackbear PCM. I can't park my truck and wait for the mail.
If I read correctly, from them, I can use their 'tool' to load my Yukon date and e-mail the data, so then they setup my new PCM?
Sorry for all the questions..... Just trying to get the whole picture....

 

[Doubeleive]

download efi
connect the autocal and update firmware
download the blackbear tune file from email to a file on pc
open the file and double click it
this will automatically open efi and bring up a menu box
click on the tab to instal tune file
when done, disconnect autocal from pc
go to vehicle, turn key to run, be sure there are no cel if so then clear them first.
unplug any other usb or 3rd party devices that could interupt the file transfer
plug the autocal in, tab thru the menu until you reach install ECM, press continue
when done it will tell you to turn off key for 15 seconds
turn key back on, tab thru autocal to install TCM, press continue
when done it will tell you to turn of key for 15 seconds
when finished unplug autocal.
enjoy tune......
no crank relearn needed, but it couldn't hurt either. the autocal does not have the capability to do crank relearn

if you are doing the ecm option instead (sending it in) , then that may be different and perhaps may need a cranklearn (not sure)

 

[mountie]

download efi
connect the autocal and update firmware
download the blackbear tune file from email to a file on pc
open the file and double click it
this will automatically open efi and bring up a menu box
click on the tab to instal tune file
when done, disconnect autocal from pc
go to vehicle, turn key to run, be sure there are no cel if so then clear them first.
unplug any other usb or 3rd party devices that could interupt the file transfer
plug the autocal in, tab thru the menu until you reach install ECM, press continue
when done it will tell you to turn off key for 15 seconds
turn key back on, tab thru autocal to install TCM, press continue
when done it will tell you to turn of key for 15 seconds
when finished unplug autocal.
enjoy tune......
no crank relearn needed, but it couldn't hurt either. the autocal does not have the capability to do crank relearn

if you are doing the ecm option instead (sending it in) , then that may be different and perhaps may need a cranklearn (not sure)

Wow... thanks......
When it comes to my ride, I get very CAREFUL..... since there is nothing wrong with my ride, as it is.
I am used to have another tech mechanic to do this stuff for me....

 

[drdave81]

Thanks..... All sounds perfect as long as the downloading the apps, and data download has no glitches. I am not sending them my PCM. I will have them send me the Blackbear PCM. I can't park my truck and wait for the mail.
If I read correctly, from them, I can use their 'tool' to load my Yukon date and e-mail the data, so then they setup my new PCM?
Sorry for all the questions..... Just trying to get the whole picture....

Yes, you use their tool to download the stock tune files from your PCM and email that file to them. Once you get your new PCM, you'll install it and it will have an initial modded tune file installed. After that, they'll have you run a data log and send them the data log to make any further "tweaks" to the tune. They will send you back a final tune file which you will download to the autocal tool and use it to flash to your new PCM. Done and good to go. You can still drive while you have that initial modded tune, they just make minor adjustments based on what they see and (if any) your feedback from your driving. "shift is a bit too firm/soft" etc.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I did the fully remote tune with BlackBear. They sent me everything that I needed, which are primarily the AutoCal device and the instructions. The folks above have given you great summaries of the steps required, but the bottom line is that if you are reasonably computer savvy (downloading and uploading files through email and transferring them from your Windows 10 computer to the AutoCal and vice versa, you are good to go.

 

[mountie]

I did the fully remote tune with BlackBear. They sent me everything that I needed, which are primarily the AutoCal device and the instructions. The folks above that given you great summaries of the steps required, but the bottom line is that if you are reasonably computer savvy (downloading and uploading files through email and transferring them from your Windows 10 computer to the AutoCal and vice versa, you are good to go.

Thanks,.... And, yea...... I'm pretty good with the computer stuff......

So, now,.... To pull the trigger......

 

[swathdiver]

I saved the original tunes to my computer and then saved the updated one from BlackBear to my computer. This way everything is backed up.

 

[mountie]

I saved the original tunes to my computer and then saved the updated one from BlackBear to my computer. This way everything is backed up.

Good idea..... I have a nice- refurbished DEL Windows 10 laptop, that I don't use for anything. it is clear of extra stuff. I also have a second DEL laptop.... ( Charging them now)