FINZ

I got my tune back from Softronic (981CS) and instructions say I need to have my battery attached to a charger during the install. I would appreciate input from those who have done this - is the charger really necessary? I don’t have one.

LiveWire1968

Ive been reading on them alot, everything ive read its needed.. And just a fyi, ive been on the fence about ordering one, saw your post. Then said screw it and ordered one, So if my wife finds out im gonna say "blame FINZ"

Abt12

If your battery gets too low during the process, you can brick your ECU. That wouldn't be much fun. Get a cheap battery tender!

edmaverik

Absolutely a must. I will never ever chance it.

DrewM

A battery tender probably isn't enough, most of them are in the 1-4amp range, they are meant for slow charging and then maintenance charge cycles.

For coding the ECU you'll want something in the 20+ amp range, for instance I believe PIWIS wants 40-50amp. On the plus side, you can buy a big 'dumb' charger for less than most battery tenders, Harbor Freight has a 2/10/50 amp charger for under $60, and it's not a bad tool to have, most are quite simple and will last for years.

IndigoInkTaco

I emailed softronic about this back in the spring. Scott said a 15-20amp charger. But I also wonder how close is good enough. I already have a 2/12/75 amp charger that does type 1; low maintenance/AGM and Gel. Or type two that does deep cycle and maintenance free. I really don't want to get another battery charger just for this. So that's one of two things that have been keeping me from getting the tune.

FINZ

Thanks to all for the input. Looks like a battery charger is in my future. The one at Harbor Freight looks adequate.

This is what I received from Softronic. I was hoping it was overkill, but apparently not.
“The flashing can take 10-45 minutes and make sure the battery is fully charged and on a charger of 20 amps if possible a 10 amp or so would work with a good or basically new battery. A battery maintainer is not a charger and the battery should be 12.3V or higher.”

Chrismalberts

When I did my Softronic tune, I had a battery tender but went ahead and bought a real charger because a) I didn't have one, b) Scott strongly recommended it and c) I knew my battery was a bit marginal.

I might have been braver/stupider if I'd had a brand new battery, but the voltage does drop a fair amount during the tune process.

P.

Pantera1683

I installed the Softronic Tune last month and bought a battery charger from Harbor Freight for the install. I bought the 15 amp charger, which is a small charger but worked perfectly.

hawgman

Risk/reward ratio is way too high. Buy a charger

suzuka_joe

im sure if you ask around you can find a buddy with a proper battery charger or jump box

storii

If you lived in New Jersey, I would have let you use mine. I bought it when I did the FVA tune 2 years ago.

LiveWire1968

I received my softronic mygenius today, updating is a bit tedious. They say do it 3 times then it "should" say your up to date. I must have done it 15 times and never did say that, just kept repeating the process.. I sent them my file, hopefully it get it back next week early.

Softronic

Hello,
Actually they say in the email READ FIRST!!!
" You only need to update the MYGenius unit once when connected as it will otherwise just continue to update with the same version every time you try more than once."

Now as far as the battery charger you should always use one and in fact the factory PIWIS tester will not work for programming unless the car is on one.

Have a great Holiday weekend!!!
Best,
Scott

LiveWire1968

After looking you are correct, I just printed off the pdf softronic sent me and went by it word by word . You have the file regardless