Yesterday I went to Vector Motorsports in Clinton Twp Michigan to get my HHR dyno tuned.The price was $500 and it was well worth the money.Their basic 'canned' performance tune is $400 and that's what you get when you mail your ECU into them to get reflashed.With the dyno tune the car is put on their Mustang dyno and they also set shift points in your auto tranny.I have to go back to get my tranny done next Friday.Kirk (the tuner tech)had to get some codes. Vector has a good relationship with GM -they do the engine tuning for the class winning Corvette Racing Team.The building where GM assembles the race cars is across the street!
Chris White, the manager,was very friendly and knowledgeable.I came early for my appointment (not sure of the location) but Chris had my car on the dyno right away.
I couldn't believe the cars they had in for tuning.On the dyno when I came in was a bright yellow corvette Z06-owned by the prince of Bahrain.It had $40,000 worth of engine mods and was rated at 650 hp(550 hp at the wheels).There was also a Buick Regal with a turbo'd LS1.(Vector tunes turbo and supercharged engines including the 2.4 Ecotec motors)
Kirk did a base run and showed me how the Air/Fuel (A/F) ratio was all over the place.There were two spots that were very lean and one that was overly rich.I should mention that my HHR has an AIrAid cold air intake(CAI) and a Magnaflow muffler.I had good initial results with the CAI but after a while the car didn't run so well.Kirk told me that my problem was a common one with the MAF sensor not able to deal with the increased air flow(running an oiled air filter also causes trouble with A/F readings).Kirk's goal was to give my ECU a flat A/F reading over the rev range.Vector concentrates on improved drivability for non-racing ECU flashes.
After several dyno runs that had the engine screaming to its limit Kirk had the A/F where he wanted it.I have the 1/4 mile dyno results and the hp increases -but not with me.I'm using Best Buy's wi-fi connection to send this info out.
The car runs Great No more hesitation or drops in power.Definite value for the money.I also picked up 3 more mpg according to my DIC and I'll verify that over time.
Chris didn't give me any price breaks or freebees to write this blurb I'm doing this on my own.I saw Vector's name in the Solstice and Cobalt forums and followed up on it.I can't say if Vector is better than Westers,I can only give my two cents about my experience.I may not be a prince- but I was treated like one.
Make your own decions about who tunes your ECU but remember:GM pays Vector Motorsports to tune their racing corvettes!
Bernie

 

I look forward to seeing some numbers-perhaps baseline hp/ 1/4 mile, and 0-60 and the new ones. Thanks for writingabout your experience.

 

still get smoked on by me =)

 

Yea 500 dollar's don't think so.

 

As I mentioned before in the beginning..
The stock vehicle couldn't and doesn't adjust the Air Fuel mixture once you start modding.... I've done many a motorcycle and a few cars... and learned to get the ECU reflashed to get the air fuel mixture right based on the modifications completed on the vehicle... To allow your vehicle to properly breathe and accclerate properly.. Thats why I imediately got my ECM reflashed as soon as the major mods were completed... thanks Bernie for driving that point also...

 

baseline 1/4 mile is 16.370 sec@ 84.136 mph
after tune 15.845 sec@ 86.019 mph
I just have the AirAid CAI and Magnaflow muffler as mods, so it's pretty much stock.I don't have the baseline for my car before the tune but I will have it on friday.The final numbers are 145.2 hp @5700 rpm and 155.0 ftlbs @4300 rpm at the wheels.
Obviously you're not going to get huge numbers with these mods but it runs very well now and I have better gas mileage.You want more - you'll have to spend more.
Put on a turbo and they'll tune it for you.Same for cams.
The price is $400.I paid extra and got the dyno time.Next friday they'll set up the tranny and it should run better.

 

why in the hell wold the prince of bahrain have a Vette... id figure he'd (they'd) go for some euro-car...and more of a luxury type car..oh well he knows whats good
and with $40,000 worth of mods, ud think he's have more than 600HP at the wheells...the Z06 has 500 at the wheels already doesnt it?

 

Horsepower costs.The more you want -the more it costs.I think the 'stock' Z06 has 505hp at the crank (engine dyno) the $40,000 got him 650hp at the crank.
kb hhr mentioned the cost of the tune - it's $400.Same price as their competition.I paid $100 extra to see my car on the dyno.You want proof of the tunes worth, you need the dyno numbers.
Most of us are on a budget for HHR upgrades.I got my muffler first, then a cold air intake.After these mods I saw that I wasn't going to benefit from them till my car was tuned.That's why I went to Vector.They have a good rep with the Solstice and Cobalt modders.Check their forums.
Bernie

 

Last friday I completed my HHR tuning by getting my auto tranny tuned as well.Kirk said it should be good for 2/10ths in the 1/4 mile - so that should drop it to around 15.6 secs.This process was done by laptop.
Shifting is a lot firmer and the car is much faster off the line.I was told that a header would be no problem, but that a freer flowing cat would throw codes - they would fix that for me.
I have no intention of putting in cams or a turbo, but since Vector tunes Hahns' turbo ECUs, I know my car would run well if I did those mods.
Don't know what the interest is in Tunetyme, except people may be bargain hunting.I got great value for my money with Vector.They treat all of their clients extremely well.
I not only have lots of power from the tune across the full rev range BUT I can also get great fuel economy on cruise.What's not to like about that? Bernie

 

Bargain hunting ? I would think you would see our tune is the same price as Vectors $399 . Question do they own an HHR ? I do ! We sell what we run and run what we sell .