Change in TRIFECTA tuning style?

[94383Z71]

Hey guys, it's been awhile since I've been active here but I have a question for anyone who has had their Trifecta tune for awhile.

I had a run of the mill 1.4T tune back in 2013, tuned to a stock car. I've since added an intake, intercooler, catless downpipe etc, so I wanted to get it updated (which I took wayyyy too long to do). Mind you, I was very happy with how she drove, and with over 30k miles on that configuration I knew it pretty well.

Flash forward to this weekend after I program the car to a newly updated tune from Trifecta. Now the car is a dog, I can't even make the same pass on the hwy while downshifting a gear lower than I would have last week. After raising these thoughts with them, my reply was basically as follows:

The calibration is making the vehicle behave as expected. There is nothing wrong here. There is nothing to 'dial in' as all of that has already been done. The throttle mapping and other parameters were changed to be more in line with what customers had been asking for: mainly, a less 'touchy' pedal. They wanted more control in the lower RPM range and a more linear feel. For customers coming off the old legacy programming, it can be a bit of a change, but this is what 99% of customers wanted. However, the power goals are exactly the same and the vehicle will put down the same amount of power to the wheels as before. It's just that the tuning strategy and power delivery were updated to provide a better experience.

I'm 99% sure it's NOT making the same power, but I don't have my old calibration to double check against. I was wondering if anyone who has been more active may have some input about changes in their cars behavior or more input on the subject.

Thanks guys

Edit: after repeated back and forth discussion with Trifecta (who were VERY rude IMO, condescending and acting like they're the only people who can understand engine calibration) I'm EXTREMELY grateful I found out about their change in style and customer service when I did. I'll be exploring better options for my CTS-V and encouraging the next owner of my sonic, when the time comes, to do the same.

 

[zippypcs]

I too had the good tune from 2013. I recently upgraded to the new tune. Tried it out for a couple of days.
I went back to the previous tune. I had all of my files saved on the old laptop I was using back then. Had several correspondents with the folks at Trifecta about the new tune. They told me it had the same power just the delivery was more linear.
I felt like the new tune was weaker. They told me that people didn't like the jerkiness of the old tune. I think that is what made it fun.
So ya, tried the new but quickly reverted to my original tune.
If you have the original .TRX files you can go back to the 1st tune. If not I am not sure just what you need to do.

 

[94383Z71]

Had several correspondents with the folks at Trifecta about the new tune. They told me it had the same power just the delivery was more linear.
I felt like the new tune was weaker. They told me that people didn't like the jerkiness of the old tune. I think that is what made it fun.
So ya, tried the new but quickly reverted to my original tune.

Zippy, as a fellow Michigander, you and I are on exactly the same page. I understand what they are saying and I can see why other drivers may have wanted the change in tuning style, but in my humble opinion it's what made this little go-kart so great :banana:

TRIFECTA was accommodating enough to provide me my old tune file, and I can certainly feel the change back; especially with toe-in throttle. Much more fun again, although the car still sounds different and drives slightly slower still.

I believe I'm having some PCV failure, based on excess oil in the turbo inlet and excess oil consumption, as well as sightings of blue smoke from my tailpipe. Considering this is the only change to the car now that I'm back on 'legacy' programming, I'm going to troubleshoot that problem before I continue with any tune changes.

All of that said, I hope they are amenable to continuing to tune with in their 'legacy' tuning style. I am looking to buy calibrations for my wife's Sonic as well as the next car I buy, but not if all new tunes are so 'linear' with such 'control in the lower RPM range'.

Thanks for the reply, I felt like I was taking crazy pills!

 

[Dubbs_RS]

You're not wrong at all. I honestly never even loaded the new tune. At the time I had it, my computer was down and then I heard a bunch of negative feedback. Decided that I didn't want the type of feel that people were describing.

I would like to say, I have been running my Trifecta tune for over 2 years now and have been VERY happy with my original Trifecta tune.

That being said, I am switching to a BNR tune because I picked up their GTX14 kit. If you are looking to buy a tune for a new car (or replace your existing tune), go through BNR is my suggestion. I have heard nothing but good things about their tuning and Jerry does great things with these cars.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

You're not wrong at all. I honestly never even loaded the new tune. At the time I had it, my computer was down and then I heard a bunch of negative feedback. Decided that I didn't want the type of feel that people were describing.

I would like to say, I have been running my Trifecta tune for over 2 years now and have been VERY happy with my original Trifecta tune.

That being said, I am switching to a BNR tune because I picked up their GTX14 kit. If you are looking to buy a tune for a new car (or replace your existing tune), go through BNR is my suggestion. I have heard nothing but good things about their tuning and Jerry does great things with these cars.

Very interested in your feedback with the GTX14 kit and what mods you have. You are a 6MT I assume. I'm automatic with all the most common mods. DP, SRI and IC from MPFab plus the bigger injectors and ported intake.

It sounded like this bumps our stock turbo into the 200HP "range"? Interest in how any mods affect or improve those numbers or if 200 is real. Understand butt dyno may be all you have. It's all I have . .

 

[nickalltogether]

I've never driven a Trifecta-equipped car, but the way the ECU in these car works it is quite possible their old tune was just designed to give more at lower throttle.

For example, you give 30% throttle input, but the car behaves as if you gave 50%. It would do this by opening the throttle blade more (if possible, the throttle blade is 100% open pretty frequently at part throttle) and giving more boost. My tune, for example, is all stock until 80% pedal input or greater, so a person who hopped in my car after driving a stock one probably wouldn't notice much difference until they matted it.

TL;DR- The more "responsive" tune is just the same as pressing the pedal down further on the new tune.

This is of course my estimation, but I don't see how else one tune could feel noticeably punchier than another.

 

[Dubbs_RS]

Very interested in your feedback with the GTX14 kit and what mods you have. You are a 6MT I assume. I'm automatic with all the most common mods. DP, SRI and IC from MPFab plus the bigger injectors and ported intake.

It sounded like this bumps our stock turbo into the 200HP "range"? Interest in how any mods affect or improve those numbers or if 200 is real. Understand butt dyno may be all you have. It's all I have . .

You would be wrong about the 6MT. I actually have the auto. I plan to install within the next couple of weeks (hopefully) and I can give feedback after that. BNR says that they hit 200 whp and 250 wtq, so those are the numbers that I am looking for.

After I install, go through the break in period and dial in the tune I will try to get to a dyno and get some actual numbers.

 

[2014 Blue RS]

Awesome! Glad to hear your an auto.