Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
05-11-2019
#1
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2019
Age: 33
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 
Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
Hi, I am rather new to upgrading cars and I am looking into tuning my 04 Honda Civic LX daily driver. It is currently bone stock and it is an automatic. I do plan on installing a CAI and Cat-back in the future.
On my research I have seen that most ECU's are made for manual transmissions. From the tuners I have seen such as K-PRO they do not offer anything for automatics.
So I was wondering. Can a tune be done on an automatic? If so, what is the best way to do it? Flash, Chip replacement, etc? Should I do it as a first step on the upgrade path or last step?
On my research I have seen that most ECU's are made for manual transmissions. From the tuners I have seen such as K-PRO they do not offer anything for automatics.
So I was wondering. Can a tune be done on an automatic? If so, what is the best way to do it? Flash, Chip replacement, etc? Should I do it as a first step on the upgrade path or last step?
05-11-2019
#2
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Barrie, ON Canada
Posts: 9,002
Received 1,127 Likes
on
942 Posts
Rep Power: 191 
Re: Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
The cai and cat back won't do anything but be shiny and add more noise. You're probably sol for a tunable ecu for an automatic
05-12-2019
#3
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2019
Age: 33
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
I have been looking at some universal standalone options like AEM EMS 4 and Haltech. Has that been done before?
05-12-2019
#4
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Barrie, ON Canada
Posts: 9,002
Received 1,127 Likes
on
942 Posts
Rep Power: 191 Re: Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
SOL = sh*t out of luck.
Automatics are not favoured by tuners. Because then you have to deal with shift points, lock up and a whole host of other nonsense.
Sell your car and buy a manual car, and get one with VTEC for a little more power
Automatics are not favoured by tuners. Because then you have to deal with shift points, lock up and a whole host of other nonsense.
Sell your car and buy a manual car, and get one with VTEC for a little more power
05-12-2019
#5
Registered!!
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2019
Age: 33
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Re: Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
Wow, that was very helpful. I thought this forum was an open space for people who had questions. Guess I was wrong.
05-12-2019
#6
"Marge, anyone could miss Canada! All tucked away down there."
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Barrie, ON Canada
Posts: 9,002
Received 1,127 Likes
on
942 Posts
Rep Power: 191 Re: Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
You are totally allowed to ask questions.
I'm telling you what I know based on my limited experience.
You can manual swap your car if you want to but for the time and effort and cost, you'd be better off buying a manual car. Especially since this is your daily.
I'm telling you what I know based on my limited experience.
You can manual swap your car if you want to but for the time and effort and cost, you'd be better off buying a manual car. Especially since this is your daily.
05-14-2019
#7
Prelude Owner
iTrader: (7)
Re: Can my automatic Civic be tuned?
Also a “flash” for a D17 does not do much with bolt on’s. Swap in a camshaft for the best power bump without doing a motor swap or forced induction. You don’t really “tune” a stock D17 or one with intake and headers.
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
civic_prime
General Honda Civic Forum Archive.
10
09-25-2007 09:42 PM
