For the most part, I agree that if you are going to spend the extra money on a programmable controller, you should have a pretty good idea what you are controlling and how it works, etc. I think if you understand that, this is a very intuitive system that 98% of the parameters can be easily tuned once the user understands what they are tuning.
Having said that, there are some things I'd like to see. Let me say in advance, however, that all I've used is the "old" reference-guide style book, and the help files at the F.A.S.T. website. There may be additional content that I've never seen in the few times I've played with the Windows version. Disclaimer done.
The manuals have kinda been set up like a dictionary, with some basic explanations of how stuff works. What I would like to see in addition are things like
a) What you'll see if that parameter is mis-tuned (i.e. if you have an idle surge, it could be due to timing or lean mixture)
b) A suggested start-up and tuning procedure for a new system (first check the injector size, MAP sensor, RPM range, engine size, firing order etc., then start the car and drive it to tune VE tables, timing, whatever)
c) better information on how to adjust certain parameters (two that stick out are the IAC P & D terms, I have an Engineering degree and work for a company that makes it's own several-hundred-thousand-dollar microprocessor control systems, but if you walked up to me and said that you had an oscillating idle speed because of your P & D terms, all I would do is goof around with both numbers until it seemed to go away, never really knowing what happened). Also, something like a formula on how much injector PW to add for a dry nitrous shot would be nice, even if only used as a guide (being concious of liability issues here).
d) More information on how the system functions (for example how the computer goes from crank mode to after-start and where warmup enrichment fits in to a cold startup)
I assume others will contribute other positive comments as well.
-Bob Cunningham
Having said that, there are some things I'd like to see. Let me say in advance, however, that all I've used is the "old" reference-guide style book, and the help files at the F.A.S.T. website. There may be additional content that I've never seen in the few times I've played with the Windows version. Disclaimer done.
The manuals have kinda been set up like a dictionary, with some basic explanations of how stuff works. What I would like to see in addition are things like
a) What you'll see if that parameter is mis-tuned (i.e. if you have an idle surge, it could be due to timing or lean mixture)
b) A suggested start-up and tuning procedure for a new system (first check the injector size, MAP sensor, RPM range, engine size, firing order etc., then start the car and drive it to tune VE tables, timing, whatever)
c) better information on how to adjust certain parameters (two that stick out are the IAC P & D terms, I have an Engineering degree and work for a company that makes it's own several-hundred-thousand-dollar microprocessor control systems, but if you walked up to me and said that you had an oscillating idle speed because of your P & D terms, all I would do is goof around with both numbers until it seemed to go away, never really knowing what happened). Also, something like a formula on how much injector PW to add for a dry nitrous shot would be nice, even if only used as a guide (being concious of liability issues here).
d) More information on how the system functions (for example how the computer goes from crank mode to after-start and where warmup enrichment fits in to a cold startup)
I assume others will contribute other positive comments as well.
-Bob Cunningham
