Programmer Or Not

xc80002 · October 20, 2009

08 1500 5.3 with mbrp catback Was thinking of getting a hyper programmer is it worth it or not Ive seen points made both ways. whats yours?

tobias · October 20, 2009

Get a custom tune form a reputable tuner. I'm waiting on my PCM to return from Black Bear Performance right now. You'll find literally hundreds of truck owners who will tell you that a hand-held programmer doesn't hold a candle to a real custom tune. Justin and Jenna at Black Bear have been a pleasure to work with.

I'll know the results myself by the end of the week!

Stevens03 · October 20, 2009

If you do any handheld, Diablo sport.. otherwise a custom tune

06MonteSS · October 20, 2009

yeah, what Stevens said....

Diablo Predator does MUCH more for ya than any of the others... better tunes, more adjustability, data logging, and custom tunes are only an email away...

REV353 · October 20, 2009

I did a hyper before, it was "only" OK. Yea I noticed a bit, waiting myself for the MN blackbear to happen. FYI, I just installed what I call a welfare chip off of Ebay on my 97' jeep wrangler with 4.0. I've got 35" tires and total of 6" lift. I barley could keep it in 5th and maintain any speed. My wife and I took it out for diner last night after I installed it, 5th is like 3rd and I gained 1.5-2.0 mpg, the best $20 I have spent in a long time. I had to cut 2 wires on the MAF and plug this in, about 15 Min's and I was done. Will it take my MAF out? I will see. I am running a Scangauge 2, this tells me me exact mpg,rpm's,mph,temps etc, and reads codes if they do come up, bought that off of Ebay $125, used it in my GMC with 8,1L, thats the one I am waiting for a blackbear tune on.

AK FiveO · October 21, 2009

Gotta reccommend the Diablo Sport for "versatility and flexability". I agree ...the BlackBear Tune seems to provide more performance (mostly due to "live tune" TCM support). The live tune is the way to go. No "down time" by removing the ecm and sending it in for programming, and the TCM support of course. But if your like me (in Alaska) ...those dudes don't come up here for live tune sessions. Sending in my ecm is not an option on my daily driver, and once the Black Bear tune is in ...its in. If I need updates or fixes, I have to remove the ecm and send it in. There is the option of buying the second ecm, which is cool. With the "handheld", you can switch between octane tunes, adjust tire size; adjust transmission shift firmness; and reset to a factory tune for service calls; among other things (flexability) ...all with just a minute or two of "plug-in" time. And with a Predator on my last three vehicles ...the dealership has never detected that the ecm has been tuned (and I promise ...they looked for it on one of my tricked-out trucks!) If you have a BlackBear tune, you have to "send-in" for changes or fixes (or buy that extra ecm to return to stock). Or maybe risk having the dealership "flash" over the performance tune during a service visit, in which case you'd have to send your ecm back to Black Bear for a re-tune.

Not saying Black Bear isn't good ...to the contrary. If I could get a "live" Black Bear Tune, I'd go that route (simply for the TCM support). But I can't get a "live" tune in Alaska. So the Predator is the best option for me. Besides, I'm certain in the near future Diablo Sport will have TCM support ...as well as Black Bear TCM support from "data logging". In the case of the Diablo Sport, a TCM support update can be downloaded to your programmer from your laptop (versatility!). The Black Bear ...would have to be send in the ecm for an update.

Lastly, the newer Predators can also hold up to 5 "custom tunes" ...which allows you (or someone more knowledgable around here) to design a "higher performance tune" for you than just the "caned tunes" built into the tuner ...which is essentially what a Black Bear tune is.

Nytemare · October 21, 2009

This is why you go pick up a second ECM and TCM at a scrapyard...there's enough 07+ nnbs trucks on the road now than there should be a lot of them in the scrapyards due to accidents.

VMax2007 · October 21, 2009

yeah, what Stevens said....

Diablo Predator does MUCH more for ya than any of the others... better tunes, more adjustability, data logging, and custom tunes are only an email away...

But still no TCM support on the GMT900's. Until then, it's only a half of a tune.

Stevens03 · October 21, 2009

yeah, what Stevens said....

Diablo Predator does MUCH more for ya than any of the others... better tunes, more adjustability, data logging, and custom tunes are only an email away...

But still no TCM support on the GMT900's. Until then, it's only a half of a tune.

I have to agree I do like the diablo, but TCM support would complete the "package".

66nova · October 21, 2009

Autocal is getting ready to be released. Then Black Bear can be just an email away.

I will put another vote in for a Custom tune (Black Bear is my personal choice), but I will also say IF, really big if, I was getting a hand held I would go Diablo.

AK FiveO · October 22, 2009

Nytmare,

I thought about the "salvage yard option" for an ecm/tcm, but they said you will rarely find one of those units seperate. The ecm stays "tied" to the motor for salvage, as well as the tcm to the trans. Beyond that, they have a list of body/repair shops that have priority on those items.

Nytemare · October 22, 2009

Shitty man.

You can get a custom mail order tune shipped to you on a hand held unit....there are a few guys out there that do it. That way it has the TCM covered and if you want something different from the tune you can ship it back to get it reprogrammed with no down time. I believe

it comes with a couple of tunes on it so you can load the one you like best.

I know wait4meperformance.com does it...not sure about the other guys though....drop JennaBear (blackbear tunes)a pm on here, she'll tell you what they can do for you.

AK FiveO · October 22, 2009

Nelson Performance has put a new twist on thier "custom tunes" by using the Diablo Sport Predator as the "vehicle" for delivering thier custom tunes. This is an awesome idea, and pretty much makes anything other than a "live tune" obsolete. It makes getting a custom tune much cheaper, with a much more efficient method of delivery. No "down time", no swapping ecm's, no crankshaft relearn proceedures; etc .... Makes the Diablo Sport a very versatile tool!

Here is an excrpt from Nelson Performance's web-page ...

Nelson Performance has chosen Diablosport to transport their Custom Calibrations:

A true custom tune is most likely needed if your vehicle has been modified.

The Predator can hold up to 5 custom tunes created by Nelson Performance; the upload process is less than 30sec. This makes the predator a valuable product to have.

Modifying your vehicle is addicting; after the first few modifications, the majority continue to modify their vehicle beyond the computer’s ability to adjust. That’s when your vehicle can take fully take advantage of a custom tune.

It’s easy with Nelson Performance and the Predator. Simple email updates is all it takes to get your vehicle custom tuned. Your car will run better and faster along with increased gas mileage. Your vehicle can now have the economy you demand with the performance you expect.

Nelson Performance takes the Predator to a new level. We offer customized tunes ranging from economy to all out performance for the street to the track. Each tune will extract even more power and more economy on top of what the pre-packaged Predator tunes can achieve. NP has spent 100’s of hours on the dyno and street perfecting the a/f ratio and timing tables, along with adjusting the transmission tables for precise shifting. Once the end user has purchased the Predator, all updates and custom tunes are sent via email!

Benefits of using the Diablosport over PCM swapping:

<LI class=White>No more crankshaft relearn procedures, which cost additional $$$ on top of the tune <LI class=White>No more performance VATS relearn <LI class=White>Shipping is a onetime deal <LI class=White>Immediate custom tunes sent via email, no more waiting on delivery <LI class=White>Send scan/logs via email for precise custom tuning <LI class=White>Return to stock anytime
Store up to 5 custom tunes at one time

VMax2007 · October 22, 2009

Nelson Performance has put a new twist on thier "custom tunes" by using the Diablo Sport Predator as the "vehicle" for delivering thier custom tunes. This is an awesome idea, and pretty much makes anything other than a "live tune" obsolete. It makes getting a custom tune much cheaper, with a much more efficient method of delivery. No "down time", no swapping ecm's, no crankshaft relearn proceedures; etc .... Makes the Diablo Sport a very versatile tool!

Here is an excrpt from Nelson Performance's web-page ...

Nelson Performance has chosen Diablosport to transport their Custom Calibrations:

A true custom tune is most likely needed if your vehicle has been modified.

The Predator can hold up to 5 custom tunes created by Nelson Performance; the upload process is less than 30sec. This makes the predator a valuable product to have.

Modifying your vehicle is addicting; after the first few modifications, the majority continue to modify their vehicle beyond the computer's ability to adjust. That's when your vehicle can take fully take advantage of a custom tune.

It's easy with Nelson Performance and the Predator. Simple email updates is all it takes to get your vehicle custom tuned. Your car will run better and faster along with increased gas mileage. Your vehicle can now have the economy you demand with the performance you expect.

Nelson Performance takes the Predator to a new level. We offer customized tunes ranging from economy to all out performance for the street to the track. Each tune will extract even more power and more economy on top of what the pre-packaged Predator tunes can achieve. NP has spent 100's of hours on the dyno and street perfecting the a/f ratio and timing tables, along with adjusting the transmission tables for precise shifting. Once the end user has purchased the Predator, all updates and custom tunes are sent via email!

Benefits of using the Diablosport over PCM swapping:

<LI class=White>No more crankshaft relearn procedures, which cost additional $$$ on top of the tune <LI class=White>No more performance VATS relearn <LI class=White>Shipping is a onetime deal <LI class=White>Immediate custom tunes sent via email, no more waiting on delivery <LI class=White>Send scan/logs via email for precise custom tuning <LI class=White>Return to stock anytime

Store up to 5 custom tunes at one time

Interesting! So, I assume Allan does not lock his tunes anymore then?

I have a Nelson Tune as well as a Black Bear tune, but the Nelson tuned modules are locked.

Nelson is an excellent tuner, I just didn't get very good customer service after the initial tune. I wonder if that has improved?

I still want to pit my Nelson tune up against my BB tune and see who wins.

tobias · October 22, 2009

Interesting! So, I assume Allan does not lock his tunes anymore then?

I have a Nelson Tune as well as a Black Bear tune, but the Nelson tuned modules are locked.

Nelson is an excellent tuner, I just didn't get very good customer service after the initial tune. I wonder if that has improved?

I still want to pit my Nelson tune up against my BB tune and see who wins.

You.