Predator with a 2003, anyone had good luck??

rico750sxi · September 8, 2003

Seems like the Diablo Predator is giving people with 2003's the most problems. Seems more common with people with custom tunes no matter what the year as well. I welcome people's experiences so I can help decide between Westers(what about the crankshaft position relearn?), Predator, or SPE Proflash. Thanks

ridnlow · September 8, 2003

There is a huge topic on www.fullsizechevy.com about which one is better. The owner of predator and Wester's actually go back and forth about the crankshaft relearn procedure and i think everyone over there agrees that you do not have to get it done as long as your SES light doesnt come on.

http://www.fullsizechevy.com/forum/showthr...&threadid=73367

I have read of 2 or 3 people here letely who have converted from Diablo to Wester's and they are extremely impressed.

MountaineerTom · September 8, 2003

If your service engine light comes on, who does the crankshaft re-learn? Do you have to take it to the dealer, or does Wester's take care of that?

rico750sxi · September 8, 2003

I've been following the argument over at FSC.com. I figured I'd just ask if anyone with 2003's have been happy with the Predator. Seems like everyone with pre-03 trucks are happy. Everytime I find someone with an 03 that has good things to say about the predator I PM them. Three times now the people have messaged me back saying:"well since my post my PCM got fried" or "since my post I loaded a custom tune and everything got messed up". I am looking for a satisfied 2003 Predator user. Westers is looking very promising but $595 is making me cringe. If it's as good as everyone says then it's worth it.

And if you go to a dealer for a crankshaft position relearn won't they start trying to void parts of your warranty??

Tungsten · September 8, 2003

I think the predator is a POS. I can not tell when its installed! So I never have it installed, I also can't be filling my gas tank up with the high grade gas for $2.00 a gallon!

rico750sxi · September 8, 2003

Tungsten, you had it installed on your 2003 I take it then. Did you play around with the shifts at all or anything like that? Nice truck btw. What part of NY are you from?

stlmaj · September 8, 2003

I have a 03' 1500hd crewcab w/6.0L. I think the Diablo sport rocks!!! I did allot of research on the westers and predator prior to my decision to purchase the predator. I went with the predator because the westers cost more and left me with less function. I.E. scan tool and ability to adjust settings myself!! I have not found anyone that was not happy with the predator. Except for the one guy in this post which from the way it sounded it's possible he did even get it loaded? I have been running the predator since early Aug this year, I put on 2500 miles and I think it's awesome. I even went with a custom tune done for me by Diablo sport and it rocks.

Good luck with what you decide, maybe there’s a difference in the 6.0's as opposed to the 5.3's??

Matt

ridnlow · September 8, 2003

Rico, there are a lot of people that are very happy with the Wester's over at SilveradoSS.com. As far as the crankshaft relearn the dealer will do it.

rico750sxi · September 8, 2003

Yes I know of all the happy customers over at ss.com. I am on that board a lot. That is one of the big reasons why I'm considering Westers. If I had heard of one person with an SS having good luck with a Predator then I would try it. I'd rather spend $420 instead of $595.

And as far as a crankshaft position relearn, won't the dealer ask questions and void your warranty?

hcvone · September 8, 2003

The Preditor made a huge difference on my Escalade, it is a night and day difference with the Preditor loaded compared to the stock tune. I have Corsa exhaust and Volent air box as well. The control of the shifts pressures makes the truck shift like it should. I would buy another Preditor for sure.

ridnlow · September 8, 2003

The Dealer cannot tell if your PCM has been modified or not.. i think i read about someone getting the procedure down after getting the Wester's PCM and not having any trouble with the dealer...

Butch 02 Denali · September 8, 2003

ridnlow is correct.

The dealer cannot tell the PCM has been modified. As far they can tell, it's the one that came with the truck. The procedure is 100% covered by the emissions warranty, which is 100k miles or 5 years (i think). When they do the crank learn, it will have no affect on the Wester's programming. Many things could set off the SES light for crank learn, including dirty spark plugs. It is a normal, but not common procedure for the dealer to do, with or without a wester's PCM change. If you were one of the 2.3% of the Wester's or any other PCM change, that got the SES light for crank learn, be assured that it won't affect your warranty, and the dealer will do it for you no questions asked.

BTW that was me over at Fullsize on the Wester's side of that discussion! Boy that was a big thread! I did finally get my point across though!

Butch 02 Sierra Denali

magragc5 · September 9, 2003

I added the predator to my '03 Avalanche. My truck was built in 6/03 and I tried to install it 7/03- apparently GM changed the software around that time and the predator fried my pcm. after getting the pcm fixed, Johan at Diable set up a custom tune for me after downloading my trucks pcm programming.

All I can say is the truck ROCKS now. I can spin 'em off the line without powerbraking, torque management is seemingly gone and the shifting is amazing!

I would buy it again even after my trouble.

I also have to mention that Johan was great to deal with as well as James at RWTD. I don't know of many companies where you can get someone who actually does the programming to help on the phone at 9 pm.

I would ask them to download your file from GM before you buy to make sure everything is compatable. Like I said- I would highly recommend getting it!

Ed

rico750sxi · September 12, 2003

magragc5

I did not know about the change by GM. My truck was made in May but I do want to find out more.

What type of things did they do with your custom tune?

Tungsten · September 13, 2003

Tungsten, you had it installed on your 2003 I take it then. Did you play around with the shifts at all or anything like that? Nice truck btw. What part of NY are you from?

Sorry for not getting back to you quick. It seems as though I live at work.

Anyways... I really can not tell that I even have it installed, And I don't wish top pay $2.00 a gallon for 93 octane. I guess the diablo guy is working on a tune for me. I asked him to make it so I could use 87 octane. I'll let you know how that works out when it happens. I live in Rochester NY.

-Jeff