There’s been a lot of confusion as which is actually better and what parameters does each set up support so here’s a basic comparison of a typical 1997 vehicle.  The newer vehicles will of course have more parameters available for adjustments.  This is not to be confused with the newer XCal 2, 9415 SF model, those devices cover only certain newer vehicles and have a larger selection for adjustable parameters. The XCal 2, 9415 SFs come pre-programmed and can not be changed by the dealer.

NOTE: If you purchased an XCal 2 with On Device Adjustable Parameters you will not receive special converter files to work with the Extreme Tuner software. Using the Extreme Tuner software with a device set up for On Device Adjustments will erase the special programming that supports the adjustments.

 
This is the main menu for the Extreme Tuner software.

This particular vehicle does not have axle ratio adjustability.  Most 99 and newer vehicles will have this parameter.  Crown Vics and other Panther platforms may have this parameter in the software but it wasn’t until 2003 that Ford actually enabled it.  So any changes to this will NOT affect the programming what so ever.

Engine Timing;
You can change your timing plus 2 degrees or pull out up to 5 degrees.  The 0 (zero) is relative to where the programmer/tuner person set your timing up in the initial program.  This is an across the board adjustment, meaning it will change every parameter in the timing table that the amount you select no matter what rpm or load you are at.

Engine Idle;

You can change your idle up or down by 300 rpms.
 
Special Value File;

This is used to add a particular change to your program that you have purchased from your dealer.  This can be anything from injector or MAF changes to transmission functions.  You must receive this file in a special format in order for it to work.

Speed Limiter;

 Just as it says.  Currently this parameter is not available.  If you click on any of the selections it will highlight but nothing will change in the programming.  Your default is what ever your programmer/tuner person set you up with and it will show as Stock.  

Rev Limiter;

Just as it says.  You can adjust your rev limiter to where ever you want it.

Help;

Currently the Help menu is not available.

This is the menu for Air/Fuel adjustment

Air/Fuel adjustments can be changed for idle by 15% leaner/15% richer, part throttle by 10% leaner/15% richer and WOT 5% leaner/15% richer.  The 0 (zero) is relative to where the programmer/tuner person has your initial programs set as.  This is not a air/fuel ratio but a percentage of change to the existing programming.  The program remembers the initial program settings so you can not save your changes and then open the new file and make an additional change.  For instance; you set your change for 5% leaner at WOT then saved the changes, renaming the file.  Then opening this new file you can not change the WOT to go any leaner since you have already reached the limit of your adjustability.  Also the sliders are not representing where your vehicles initial programming is set.  They represent your adjustments.

This is the Transmission Shift Schedule

Each gear has it’s own up and down shift.  For example the red 12 is the 1 – 2 upshift where as the dark red 21 is the 2 – 1 downshift.  You can select just the shifts you want to change by putting a check mark in the box.  On one side you have the MPH that a shift will be commanded at.  The other table is TP for Throttle Position.  To change the shift points you place the pointer on the dots and move them to the point that you want to command that particular shift.  You can not cross the up and down shift of a related gear.  Such as the 1 - 2 upshift and 2 - 1 down shift.  The software will not allow you to do this in most cases.  Placing an up and down shift too close to one another will cause rapid up and down shifts that can be damaging.  TP is not in voltage but in relative to closed throttle.  0 – 80 is like very light throttle compared to the throttle opening.  You can also magnify the graph for better viewing by placing the pointer on the area you want to magnify and then dragging it building a perimeter around that particular area.

This is the Torque Converter Lock Up Schedule

This table works just the same as the Transmission Shift Schedule

This is the Transmission Shift Pressure

Each shift has it’s own table for adjustments.  The 0 (zero) is relative to where the programmer/tuner person has your initial program set up.  You can adjust each shift’s pressure for light throttle by 5% softer/10% firmer, medium throttle by 5% softer/10% firmer and WOT by 10% softer/25% firmer.

This is the End User Adjustable Parameters that can be programmed into the XCal 2 for On Device Adjustability

This is actually the menu that the programmer that builds your programs uses to set your access and limits for the On Device Adjustable Parameters.  This is for an older 1997 model vehicle so not all parameters are available.  Newer vehicles will have more to select from.  This is not the same as what you would get with an XCal 2, 9415 SF device.

It is up to the person that is programming your particular files to know the limits to your application.  This does not hold him in any way responsible for any damage that you may cause to your own vehicle by making your own changes to the program.  As a dealer and programmer we have the ability to limit your access or parameter limits to ensure you won’t damage your vehicle and then hold us responsible.  The software does have limits so that as a programmer they can not get carried away.  For instance timing and fuel are  just a couple of the limited parameters.  We don’t want someone going out there and adding 8 degrees of timing and then pulling out 10 % of fuel and blowing up their vehicle.  So the limits are set to protect the end user besides the dealers from people that don’t know what they are doing.