Part of the task was to develop new tools to monitor the health status of the vehicle for different states of tune. GIAC engineers studied the DMEs with GIAC's real time monitoring software (drivers that run in the RAM on the DME) to completely map out the program flow from inside the SGS-Thompson micro controller to SRAM to external AMD flash memory. With complete mastery of the ME7.8 program code, GIAC authored a very high-speed GIAC 997TT scan tool with data logging capability that operates with GIAC flashing hardware. With this tool one can monitor a host of vital parameters: factory DTCs [fault codes], engine detonation, injection on time, mass air flow, timing, boost actuator %, boost pressure levels, lamba fueling, as well as EGT (exhaust gas temperature) data, critical in preventing premature turbo failure. Although the programming for this tool was initially created to aid in the development of early GIAC programs for 997TT, it has been refined to be used exclusively by GIAC install centers to make tuning adjustments for custom hardware on 997TTs as well as to diagnose a vehicle’s health status.

The initial performance software development was completed with our inhouse 4WD Mustang dyno and a test car provided by The-Speed-Gallery that required 93 octane minimum as rated by the factory. Making power reliably on 91 octane was quite a task. After countless revisions, the GIAC 91 octane flash boasts a healthy power gain with lower than stock knock activity.

The latter phase of software development incorporated the testing of an aftermarket performance exhaust provided by AWE ( www.AWE-Tuning.com ). Fine tuning with this product produced significant improvements in EGTs. The lower EGTs are important in maximizing the serviceable life of the turbos. Backpressure also dropped from approximately 8 psi down to a low 3.5 psi.