How to Tune Holley Terminator X for Beginners - IDLE CONTROL TARGETS // Holley EFI Idle Tuning

[@1off1935]

I love how you explain how each parameter works. No one else does that. Hands down the best way to learn this crap, especially for us noobs. Thanks again!

[@gixxer750axld]

keep on making these , from idle tuning to WOT tuning . especially N/A stuff! thanks

[@mrturbo6264]

I would like to personally thank you for really explaining how the holley efi system work your videos help me out alot wish I lived in the maryland area would definitely bring my car to you.

[@kyleapril32]

No downvotes. Really shows how much everyone appreciates this, including me. Thanks for all the info and explination!

[@randallslocum5252]

This is the only video that I found that I’ve been looking for, that explains these settings so please go more in depth with every thing! more videos like this please!

[@NoyesLawGarage]

I just want to say thanks SO much for this video. My IAC hold position was set at 60% making the car hang at 2000rpm, with my target idle at 750rpm and the start ramp at 1000rpm. So, it was creating an endless loop never dropping below the 2000rpm unless I lugged the engine in gear because at 60% IAC it was always idling above where the ramp settings allow it to come back down to idle, having a 1750rpm target. Now that I understand how this works, I caught that and fixed it! Instead of just changing numbers blindly not knowing what they'll do. Maybe this will also help someone else here, but it fixed my issue! Thanks again!! Your videos are great!!

[@edwinrosadojr4592]

Wrapping up my car soon looking to make that 6hr drive to your shop. Like what your doing joe your a humble and funny ass dude

[@RobSmith-lv6jb]

I'm sure I speak for many others out there and certainly myself but your video's are the best resource for guys starting to setup their Holley terminator efi's. I've done other brands but not the Holley and your video's are a great help. You should be getting something from Holley for what you do for their products. Cheers from Australia .

[@knighthwk]

Thanks for this video! I feel I could learn alot from you just from the way you actually took the time to explain what everything does. You've got a new subscriber from me.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Awesome glad to have you. Trying to explain it where it makes sense to everybody. Kinda figuring it out as i go haha

[@knighthwk]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest Well you're doing a great job in my opinion! You've described this software better than anyone else I've seen so I really appreciate it! Alot of people just say to adjust this, this and this but don't say why to do that. That way leaves alot of people like myself confused.

[@brianmiller4466]

Hands DOWN the best voice out there helping to explain the nuances of the Holley ecu. I would like to take this opportunity to say MAD props for not being a g(Garbage)eneral motor lackey, and focusing on the logic of it

[@sanger440]

That is the best explanation I have seen on this stuff. Thank you. I would be interested in seeing a video on setting up initial startup up fueling, timing, etc. and adjusting and smoothing the idle areas of the fuel table. I struggle with this on some of the big cam drag cars I fiddle with.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

When i started making this video i figured it would be 8-10 min long but then i just couldn’t shut my stupid mouth haha

[@liammcinerney5565]

Thanks for the explanation and entertainment! Really appreciate you showing the before and after on the logs and how each shows the changes. I finally understand why my car does the "cruise control" when I let off the throttle. Would love to see the process with a fresh car.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Thanks for watching. Let me know how it works out for you once you make some adjustments

[@Mild2WildGarage]

You sir are a life saver! I could really use your help right now, and this vid literally got me idling, but can't seem to get my afr below 20 at idle!

[@30alcala]

Thanks for taking time to make these videos, much appreciated!

[@nickcowood1356]

My whole issue was the crank to run 400 rpm was alittle to high. . I never knew that adjustment till your video. Thanks!

[@heytonyman]

Thanks for taking the time to do these videos. I know enough about tuning to be dangerous but getting some in-depth on the Holley systems really helps. I’m about to pick up a Terminator X and throw this stock ECU / SCT bullshit in the trash ✌️

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Oh yea the Holley stuff is way more enjoyable than the factor ecu stuff!

[@fildavis2024]

Your videos are Great!! Really appreciate the information and also the small outtakes are hilarious!! 👍

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Gotta try to keep it entertaining haha

[@MrDbaggins]

Very informative with some funny shit thrown in. I’m planning to run this on a 2003 cobra engine.

[@zx6rkawi09]

Damn good at showing and explaining how it works! Really enjoyed the video!

[@jasonbrinegar6759]

Tune that RZR!! lol. Just here for a refresher as i have one that don't want to come back down without stalling. Looking like I may need to put a little more crack in it and reset tps. May even do the drill hole!! Don't know that it hurts anything, just don't like seeing 80% to catch it. Anyways, awesome videos, and thanks for doing them!!

[@sgray45439]

GOOD STUFF MAN!

[@MH-rb7lp]

Awesome video, one of if not the best explanation I've seen online. I've been tuning an HP system and had to muddle through much of what you describe. I am getting ready to put a terminator system into a 71 Charger and this is very helpful. Don't let the dickhead neighbors wear you down, the videos don't have to be perfect so long as you are getting the information out there. Looking forward to more videos.

[@joemahadeo7317]

Great video informative with simple explanations and examples been using Holley 950 which is not that eazy to get a perfect idle it’s plague with problems form early thanks joe you educated some of my doubts but was on the right tracks all these years with my truck unfortunately can’t solve a major problem so indeed of a turners like you 👍

[@BEANS-O-MATICtransmissions]

Thanks for taking the time to do these videos, you explain things very well ! Subscribed ! Garage question, is that a closed off bay that you built in a larger garage?

[@Sleeperdude]

Very helpful thanks

[@pete540Z]

You're a great teacher, Joe. Not sure why you don't have even more Subscribers, but I think that will change soon.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

I like teaching it’s fun. Yea apparently getting subscribers takes a long time. Would be cool to see it grow a little quicker 🤣

[@Mr39036ce]

Word of mouth Joe. I found the vids by doing a little research for a bud that put a Holley sniper on his 71 small block Camaro. Naturally nothing goes smooth like they say. Not anything at your level,so far alot of RF from plugs near power lead causing real erratic idle and linkage B S adding to that. As guys get more into boosting the stocker you should get a boost in subscribers.

[@Bobby4v]

Thanks for these videos.. ive had terminator x installed for almost a year and my car does run good but theres always room for improvments and im far from a professional tuner. i will watch any videos you make with a pen and note pad. Damn if i only paid this much attention in high school!! 😄

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

I said the same thing like a week ago. I wish i had the desire to learn back then like i do now! Glad the videos are helping!

[@Bobby4v]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest I believe if it doesnt interest or intrigue me i cant focus on it or absorb the information. When i bought a tweecer r/t for my fox 10 years ago i read and read and read tuning forums and any other information to teach myself how to tune. The technical support videos for tuning the a9l with a tweecer are slim to none. But in the long run it helped me alot. But i still continue the same trend with the terminator x. Lol

[@simpleman2004]

New Subscriber here, I like your Video, no BS, no hoot and hollering, just to the Point. I hope you have Vids. for the completely new, I haven't even hooked my laptop up yet, so don't even know what to expect.

[@jamesmartin2339]

you want to get your fuel table as close as possible to your desired AFR at a given RPM/KPA. Then later you come back and enable close loop operation which allows your computer to add/remove a certain amount of fuel for variations in things like elevation, air temp, etc.

[@MRE_Motorsports]

Crushing the terminator x videos for us dummies!! Thanks Joe

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Glad you like them. Your welcome!

[@MRE_Motorsports]

Keep them coming!

[@Flitzer514]

Can you do a video on target A/F ratios?

[@turbotysen]

great video. seems like everyone likes to whip it right in front of your shop😂

[@NoFox_Given]

Great video, I always recommend your videos to people getting started

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

That’s the best thing you could do. Thank you!

[@OBSBryce]

So much information. 10/10

[@bruce21]

Always love the videos. Thank you for doing them all.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Thanks your welcome!

[@utlaw-bk3wz]

@21:31 lmfao, "i don't do drugs but im about to start just so i don't have to deal with that shit anymore" im fucking dying bro

[@72grabbermav]

Great videos. Thank you for taking the time to make them! I have the fox Terminator X system. The IAC control on it is tempermental. A friend also has this system and has the same issue. Specifically, when idling around a parking lot, it will have surge forward. I have not caught it in a data log. I have tried Holleys 1D table idle control, and it still will do it. Its not every time and cant make it happen. I did see a post about AC kick, that was not hooked up or being used, seen in a log on another car causing a similar problem. I would like to see a tuning video on Fords IAC and hopefully some possible problems and solutions. Or should I just swap to a GM IAC? Thanks again.

[@brandonpylant9349]

So lowering cranking rpm will help on the engine starting faster. This I gotta work out. My 5.3 cranks forever

[@brianmiller4466]

Not quite what i got out of it. But yeah, sure. 😶

[@anthonycortinas30]

Good shit bro I like this content it makes it stupid easy thank you so much.

[@markregner7478]

Good stuff. These videos are great.

[@DK-performance]

Hi Joe I know this is an old video but could you explain in a video how to correct a surging idle and surging when coming off throttle

[@tylertincher]

8:38 I'm waiting for this video, just in case you were wondering. :)

[@novaduskpaw1995]

Awesome video. Helped a lot!

[@stanley514]

Great info Joe thank you.

[@FTGMotorsports]

Excellent Video!

[@TechMarcB]

Did you ever do the video with the advance idle controls? I’d like to see that. Your videos are quite explanatory and I do enjoy the in depth views on the terminator system.

[@joecameron3406]

Putting my lq4 in my 94 s10 ss in about 2 weeks terminator x max have motor running already on base setup so this helps me quite a bit

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

awesome, glad it helped!

[@GarageBuiltCoupe]

​ @Joe Simpson Awesome video and great explanations. I bought a Terminator X Stealth system with the throttle body injection. Is there anything to watch out for on that system from an initial start up stand point other than the points you make in this video for multi port injection?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Not really. That’s what’s nice about the Holley stuff is all 3 platforms are very similar so almost all of it is interchangeable between the 3.

[@timweb1510]

Can you show us how to do traction control with a rear driveshaft speed sensor compared to front? And what threshold on spin? Thanks

[@stlchevy95]

im having issues with initial startup. using decapped truck injectors and im not sure which option to choose to calibrate. as far as i can tell, everything else looks in order

[@donaldcoulter6017]

This helped a lot in trying to understand idle control. If you could slow down a bit in explaining things it would help this OG. Am I correct that above idle, air is still always moving through the Idle air valve? And with the IAC hold, it holds the valve open to the %. When the butterfly closes, deceleration control is handled by the IAC?

[@paulmazzara5030]

Keep up the good work.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

I’ll try. Thanks!

[@TheMikel302]

I've got the terminator TBI with the stepper IAC and it can't get that oscillation out on the ramp down. Always overshoots up and down close to target idle speed

[@mikeconey85]

Massive time saver TY

[@68chevelleconcours]

This definitely helps! Thanks

[@laned8418]

So what would cause a lean 18:1 when off the accelerator while driving? Decel fuel cutoff is disabled.

[@jerrodmcnary]

Thanks for another great video!

[@tigiteasygarage9052]

Hi Joe, Excellent video as always. wondering if you can give a little bit of advice trying to help a friend and his engine will not start without you being on the throttle or idle properly it surges from 1000 to 2000. Afrs are good driving it around the block. After a couple minutes we can get it to idle and it'll hold its idle but if you touch the throttle it will die. We tried everything that you described in this video. But unfortunately no difference. He has a very large cam 454lx, 65lb fast injectors, MT. Any help would be appreciated.

[@saab9251]

Thank you, I always forget that my laptop doesn’t have a PDF reader so the help tab doesn’t launch anything on my laptop. I wish Holley had a text box at the bottom like HP tuners as a reminder of what the functions are.

[@brianmiller4466]

Dude! Im pretty sure that Adobe offers a “read only” app er extension (you know what I mean lol) free to download. Least those phukkers could do since EVERYBODY uses pdf’s. Like charging someone extra to use cash. 🤨🤨

[@saab9251]

@@brianmiller4466 You're right. I apparently deal with so few PDF's on my laptop that I never checked default settings. Some windows update changed my default app for PDF's to Edge and when away from internet connection they were just failing to open. All fixed up now.

[@paulmazzara5030]

Can you dive into start up fueling a little

[@luistrejo4323]

How do I disable the idle control? When I go to IAC setting and undo the check mark it looks like it’s still working according to the feed back

[@TwinTurbo65nova]

Dude awesome video, I’m new to Holley terminator x with my LS 5.3 drive by cable, and still trying to get my iac numbers to stay at or between 6-12 but I have a question is, does my learn need to be off in order to set the iac? Because with it on I get it close and it hangs around 10-12 then eventually drops to 0 every time whether I raise the screw or lower the screw. If you have a video I would love to watch that! Keep up the great work!!🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

The learn has nothing to do with the idle control however it may be impacting how the engine is running which will change how it idles. Need to have the fueling dialed in at idle in order to set the idle up

[@TwinTurbo65nova]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest thank you Joe, trying to figure out the fuel at idle it is a twin 66/67 turbo set up and my VE table is really weird it starts off higher than any other table I’ve seen so I’m wondering if in the set up I’ve missed something there. I am running E85 and have increase the fuel 30% across the board but not sure if that’s right either. Thinking about starting over I am new to tuning and the computer work and have some friends that are helping along the way. But need to start from square one

[@aaronmcdonald8423]

Your videos are very important to using the Holley Terminator x management system. I just got my 5.3 started and it idles really well but i want to really go over it with a fine tooth comb by watching & understanding these videos. I've been pulling the SD card out, uploading to ecu....etc,etc.... But I want to use my laptop to make changes on the fly. Do I order the USB to CAN BUS cable from Holley in order to do this? In other words eliminate the handheld and replace it with my laptop.

[@ikecostner1]

I’m having major problems with it running when warm do you do remote tuning

[@tangerine5781]

5.3 + TH400. If you take your foot off the gas and the motor does not return to idle what setting needs to be changed?

[@joshhowdeshell7789]

Do you have a video that talks about how the connection to the ECM is established? And how does changes made in the settings, ie idle control. When does that change get to the ECM. Do you make changes in the fly and the ecm now knows or do you have to reflash it with each change?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

You just plug it in and you can see all of the life data once connected. You can adjust most parameters real time. Some are “greyed out” when the engine is running and you must shut the car off to make changes to those settings. Then you need to upload those changes to the ecu before you start it again

[@joshhowdeshell7789]

Thank you so much for the response. I have been on your channel and watching your content. And I really like all the info, I’m just more of a learn by hands on. So I’m struggling a bit, I believe I have a base tune to start with but still learning, I guess it will make more sense once I fire it up for the first time. Thank you again for the info.

[@sean6049]

Hey any help would be appreciated. I have the terminator x kit in my foxboy, heads cam intake, mild mods. was tuned from the hand held in winter, ran great. didnt drive the car for a month and a half. Now it runs like shit, wont idle when warm, when at normal temp it stalls if under 2500rpms. I need to try doing some of this work myself, but dont know where to start.

[@Josue-yy6qb]

Hi, im about to do a terminator x max on my 5.3 4l60e 4x4 combo. My concern is the vss being on the output of the transfer case. Current set up with stock PCM ask me for a ground whenever the transfer case is in low range; otherwise shifts funny. Do you know any solutions for this with the terminator x max.. thanks in advance...

[@DTFTUNED69]

Appreciate the video! I’m having a issue where I am commanding 24 degrees at idle but it’s only showing me 11-13 degrees and my idle won’t go down to what I’m calling for. No vacuum leaks and sensors are good. Where should I start? Could a faulty knock sensor cause this?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

It’s because your idle timing is enabled it’s trying to reduce timing to bring down the idle

[@DTFTUNED69]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest where can I find the idle timing ? Is it under the idle tab or the ign tab?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

@@DTFTUNED69 idle

[@DTFTUNED69]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest I just turned off idle spark. Is that what you meant?? Thanks for advice!

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

@@DTFTUNED69 yup that’s it

[@Underrated_civic]

I don’t do drugs but I’m about to start just so I don’t have to deal with this shit anymore 😂😂😂

[@199rocks94]

Would you be willing to give away your secrets on how to get that choppy idle with Holley?

[@adamrushka8096]

Do you do remote tuning for the Terminator X ?

[@m.pietro9087]

Thank you for the video. A quick question, my car is running good, however on the freeway 3200rpm to 3500rpm the temperature comes up. Can my timing advance be too little for it? It’s around 42 degrees.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

I doubt it.

[@m.pietro9087]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest thank you.

[@mugendrewable]

Thank you Joe!

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Your welcome!

[@clementb12]

I’m having an issue where my iac values won’t hold, I’ll have it idling at 1000 and slowly turn it down till it’s close to target idle. I see it flicker to 1% iac and I’ll stop moving it and still creeps up to over 50%, turn it down slowly and falls to zero. What gives?

[@spazda_mx5]

Great video, thank you!

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

your welcome!

[@fernandoortega9327]

Could you help me square a dual tbi terminator with blower 6-71. I am in Mexico, it could be by team viewer.

[@kevinwest3689]

New subscriber" I can tell I'm going to spend a lot of time watching your videos & learning, I'm brand new at this (yikes! I know right) but I promised search the videos before I ask. I would like to spend time learning... after I've got it setup/ turned, how do I know I'm going to find someone that really knows what they're doing as you clearly do? Where are you at, what would it cost, Terminator X Max DBW running right out of the box.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

I am in Maryland how about you?

[@kevinwest3689]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempestin the middle of no where Arkansas, it's a 45 mile round trip just to get to a parts store. Guess I'll just watching videos, seems to be running okay would just like to optimize, hell" I don't even have a laptop yet and luckily my phone can spell, thanks for responding and sharing your knowledge, for free! WHAT! Right On!

[@ronron6977]

approx pulse width on injestors col and hot please chev 283 w 6-71 blower thks

[@trlprk]

I need to get rid of the dip

[@BEYTEK]

Great advice buddy.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Thanks!

[@Flitzer514]

Is your shop next to a motocross track? Anyway, the videos are great.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Some dirt bike/ 4 wheeler shop just moved in. They use the parking lot as a race track and all joking aside they are going to kill somebody. Trying to move as soon as i can.

[@Flitzer514]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest Move near Columbia!

[@erick1076]

Got a video on cold start? Just got mine fired up today and at first it was running okish but now it stalls after a few seconds of running on its own, afr around 20 or so, idle all over the place

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Havnt yet. If it’s actually 20 something afr it needs a lot more fuel. Either that or it’s not actually 20afr so the closed loop is throwing a ton of fuel at it. Has the main fuel table been tuned yet with the engine warmed up? That is step 1

[@erick1076]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest havent gotten a chance to let it warm up as im still working on the radiator setup. I wonder if i need to choose the second cam profile setting as i have a btr stage 3 cam thats 229/244 duration but i chose the below 235 duration setting may need to change it to 235-260 profile on the wizard stsrtup. Watching other peoples first start videos mine starts terribly compared to theirs. Sputters and sometimes back fires when i raise the rpm to 2500 to enable closed loop but its wont fully idle on its own

[@martinknudsen1293]

hi. can juo plase help us. we have a 8,1 wortec with a holley terminator x max. in a chevrolet c30 doolley. engine will not start, maby firing order. we have holley doongle and program. sorry my writing, we are from Denmark. please help.

[@RecycledRacing]

I got a wierd question for you about idle. I have my IAC adjusted to 5% at engine warm (160) on a cold start with my IAC parked table at 100 I still need to add throttle to get it it fire. I would think I need to adjust the tb to get more air but its acting like it doesn't want more when warm due to the IAC being at 5%. Thoughts?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

That’s actually pretty common and super annoying. Easiest, but usually not best thing to do is raise the throttle body and just command a higher idle. Past that it starts getting a little more complex. The actual throttle body and idle control valves them selves seem to play a pretty big role in that issue too

[@RecycledRacing]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest I wouldn't mind getting further into this if your willing to discuss. There are a few guys I wrench with that are learning as we go getting cammed cars to start and run better.

[@rickyj2013]

That starter sound is straight outta looney toons

[@2brothersracingllc756]

The issue I'm having is on decel, the rpms drop all the way down to 2-300 and wants to die. I think I need to richen up the fuel enrichment on decel.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Turn decel fuel cut off until you get the idle to do what you want

[@2brothersracingllc756]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest idle when started or deceleration?

[@2brothersracingllc756]

It idles decently.

[@2brothersracingllc756]

You started describing what I need to tune at 12:10.

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

@@2brothersracingllc756 the ramp down, return to idle stuff sounds like what you need to adjust

[@BmoreFox]

Can you go over timing tables next please?

[@hackjobgarage9289]

He has several videos on timing man

[@sergebasque8460]

Great tips.👍👌😀

[@DropTopPerformance]

What is there is a stock TB without a idle screw?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

I’ve never come across a throttle body with out an adjustable throttle stop.

[@young11984]

All that just for idle, yea im fkd from the start trying to tune my car lol. Im plum dumb when it comes to computers but im going to learn it as i go though.

[@paulsteklenski4127]

Thank you for doing these videos - if you have a Patreon account I'd be happy to donate.

[@jamiebush1829]

Thanks Joe...

[@esrestorations]

How do you fix a hanging idle after acceleration?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Lower the iac hold position and/or the decay time

[@paulmazzara5030]

I watched the timing video, do you let it go with the same timing at all rpms?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

No not at all. I stated somewhere in there that that “tune” was just for demonstration purposes. However i see a lot of big name tuners that do that, or some that just highlight the entire ignition table and make the whole thing 1 number. Blows my mind

[@paulmazzara5030]

How do you set up the spark table for n/a sbf with h.c.i., trying to tune it myself

[@randallslocum5252]

How much idle air control percentage is OK?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

As much as it takes. If you can get it idling with the duty real low it will give you a much larger range to be able to correct the return to idle drips. If it had to idle at 80% now you only have 20% available left to do all the dirty work

[@hackjobgarage9289]

Like this video!

[@Ribbityibzki]

But how do you make the idle go chop chop?

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Custom tables 🤣

[@Ribbityibzki]

@@JoeSimpsonAtTempest "cover that in another video" got it lol

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Exactly haha

[@JoeSimpsonAtTempest]

Have to quit making videos so damn long

[@Ribbityibzki]

If the people want the info, they'll watch. It's not like your videos are 25 minutes of filler and 1 of info. There's something to be learned throughout.

[@TurboRanger351]

I've watched this @ least 6 times and still can't figure it out

[@TheProchargedmopar]

👍💪