SuperChips Programer?

Mainiac · January 9, 2006

I've got an 03' Z-71 Avalanche with a 5.3 and 4.10 gears. Truck is great except when towing my snowmobile trailer with 2 sleds. Got plenty of engine, just doesn't feel like the transmission is shifting in the right areas. Looking at putting in a chip like (Westons) or buying a programer. I've seen some (limited) feedback on Hypertech programers, but haven't seen anything on Superchips? Anyone have any experience with them or any others I'm not familiar with?

billcar9999 · January 9, 2006

Don't waste your money. I had trouble making it work. In the end they stood by the tuner but it took three returns to get it right. When I did get it to load, the results weren't worth the effort. Spend the money and go for the Wester's Tune. It works. I think Tbyrnes has a group purchase going now.

Bill

ABQFirefighter · January 9, 2006

I second the above statement! Do the Wester's, more expensive than waitforme, but the customer service is second to none!

Mainiac · January 9, 2006

I second the above statement! Do the Wester's, more expensive than waitforme, but the customer service is second to none!

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Westers sounds nice from everything I've read. But correct me if I'm wrong. My understanding is the Westers is a chip. You have it programed for the way you drive and it's set up & they mail it to you to replace your OEM chip... problem is 90% of the time I want it programmed one way, but I tow a trailer the other 10% of the time. It seems like a programer like a Hyper Tech, or (super chips) etc. gives you allot more flexibility to makes changes whenever you like?

billcar9999 · January 9, 2006

There's a form you fill out to tell him what you want, how your truck is set up and how you drive/tow. It's a new ECM. You send the form, pay your money and they send you the ECM. You swap it out and send yours back.

Bill

facn8me · January 9, 2006

If you want a handheld I would recomend a predator. It offers the most adjustability. Never had a custom tune but hear they are good. The predator works for me.

Mainiac · January 9, 2006

There's a form you fill out to tell him what you want, how your truck is set up and how you drive/tow. It's a new ECM. You send the form, pay your money and they send you the ECM. You swap it out and send yours back.

Bill

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Problem with that is as you make changes down the road ie: new intake, exhaust etc. you have to mail the chip in for the changes each time. I'm not necessarily looking for more HP as much as being able to fine tune the shift points. I may end up doing the westers as from what I'm reading it is a good product... but I'm trying to find out as much about the pros & cons of getting a programer before making a decision. Thanks for your input.

ridnlow · January 10, 2006

If you plan on doing just simple mods then a programmer may work for you.. However if you want to really get into things a tune is the only way to go.. Also mail order tunes are good and I would recommend over any programmer but if you have someone local who can dyno tune your vehicle or do a live tune (tune while driving) then that is your best bet..

Butch 02 Denali · January 10, 2006

There's a form you fill out to tell him what you want, how your truck is set up and how you drive/tow. It's a new ECM. You send the form, pay your money and they send you the ECM. You swap it out and send yours back.

Bill

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Problem with that is as you make changes down the road ie: new intake, exhaust etc. you have to mail the chip in for the changes each time. I'm not necessarily looking for more HP as much as being able to fine tune the shift points. I may end up doing the westers as from what I'm reading it is a good product... but I'm trying to find out as much about the pros & cons of getting a programer before making a decision. Thanks for your input.

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Actually we send your updates for future mods in our core. You are never without your tune. We send the updated PCM, you swap it with the one in your truck and send the old one back. These tunes are custom written for your exact use. We will ask you all these questions when we're filling out the order form. 99% of the time, we hit the tune perfect for you. If not, we'll send a reburn at no cost!

BTW...the PCM is fully capable of retuning itself for intakes and cat back exhaust systems. A retune would be needed for full length hedders/cat removal, gear or tire diameter changes or serious engine additions like cams and Superchargers.

Don't forget too, a Wester's tune has a 100% trade in credit toward the tune for your next car or truck, and the next..............

Mainiac · January 11, 2006

There's a form you fill out to tell him what you want, how your truck is set up and how you drive/tow. It's a new ECM. You send the form, pay your money and they send you the ECM. You swap it out and send yours back.

Bill

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Problem with that is as you make changes down the road ie: new intake, exhaust etc. you have to mail the chip in for the changes each time. I'm not necessarily looking for more HP as much as being able to fine tune the shift points. I may end up doing the westers as from what I'm reading it is a good product... but I'm trying to find out as much about the pros & cons of getting a programer before making a decision. Thanks for your input.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually we send your updates for future mods in our core. You are never without your tune. We send the updated PCM, you swap it with the one in your truck and send the old one back. These tunes are custom written for your exact use. We will ask you all these questions when we're filling out the order form. 99% of the time, we hit the tune perfect for you. If not, we'll send a reburn at no cost!

BTW...the PCM is fully capable of retuning itself for intakes and cat back exhaust systems. A retune would be needed for full length hedders/cat removal, gear or tire diameter changes or serious engine additions like cams and Superchargers.

Don't forget too, a Wester's tune has a 100% trade in credit toward the tune for your next car or truck, and the next..............

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Butch, thank you for the reply. Most informative. My vehicle is going to be a daily driver for work. Not looking to race it, mod it with cams, headers etc. like some folks, Just want a little more "oomph" & for towing my snowmobile trailer, you know?

The only mods I'd even consider doing outside the "tune" is air intake, and exhaust but even then that isn't happening anytime soon. So I guess I'll leave you with this question... what can a "Westers Tune" do for me that would swing me to buy your product over getting a programmer like a Hyper Tech? *by the way, I've read nothing but good about the Westers Tune... I'm just new to the whole improved performance dept. and looking for solid advice. Thank You for your time.

Butch 02 Denali · January 12, 2006

"Butch, thank you for the reply. Most informative. My vehicle is going to be a daily driver for work. Not looking to race it, mod it with cams, headers etc. like some folks, Just want a little more "oomph" & for towing my snowmobile trailer, you know?

The only mods I'd even consider doing outside the "tune" is air intake, and exhaust but even then that isn't happening anytime soon. So I guess I'll leave you with this question... what can a "Westers Tune" do for me that would swing me to buy your product over getting a programmer like a Hyper Tech? *by the way, I've read nothing but good about the Westers Tune... I'm just new to the whole improved performance dept. and looking for solid advice. Thank You for your time. "

As I mentioned, we tailor the tune for your truck for exactly how you want it to perform. Well over half our customers are looking for exactly what you are, not a race tune but a daily driver. We give you the level of tune you want, from race to daily driver. The tunes make the truck run like it should have from the factory, smooth and powerfull. We tune the whole power band from very light throttle to on the floor top end and everything in between. Shifts are "crisp" without banging and with no delays. We leave enough torque management in to be safe, but remove all "abuse" management and electronic throttle delays so the throttle response is there when you want it, not when the GM tuning thinks you want it!

liketohunt · January 18, 2006

"Butch, thank you for the reply. Most informative. My vehicle is going to be a daily driver for work. Not looking to race it, mod it with cams, headers etc. like some folks, Just want a little more "oomph" & for towing my snowmobile trailer, you know?

The only mods I'd even consider doing outside the "tune" is air intake, and exhaust but even then that isn't happening anytime soon. So I guess I'll leave you with this question... what can a "Westers Tune" do for me that would swing me to buy your product over getting a programmer like a Hyper Tech? *by the way, I've read nothing but good about the Westers Tune... I'm just new to the whole improved performance dept. and looking for solid advice. Thank You for your time. "

As I mentioned, we tailor the tune for your truck for exactly how you want it to perform. Well over half our customers are looking for exactly what you are, not a race tune but a daily driver. We give you the level of tune you want, from race to daily driver. The tunes make the truck run like it should have from the factory, smooth and powerfull. We tune the whole power band from very light throttle to on the floor top end and everything in between. Shifts are "crisp" without banging and with no delays. We leave enough torque management in to be safe, but remove all "abuse" management and electronic throttle delays so the throttle response is there when you want it, not when the GM tuning thinks you want it!

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Butch - I am new to the forum but have found it to be very helpful already. The Westers tune sounds very interseting and would like to learn more about it. Do they have a website? Who do you contact to order? THX KES

cpformula · February 18, 2006

"Butch, thank you for the reply. Most informative. My vehicle is going to be a daily driver for work. Not looking to race it, mod it with cams, headers etc. like some folks, Just want a little more "oomph" & for towing my snowmobile trailer, you know?

The only mods I'd even consider doing outside the "tune" is air intake, and exhaust but even then that isn't happening anytime soon. So I guess I'll leave you with this question... what can a "Westers Tune" do for me that would swing me to buy your product over getting a programmer like a Hyper Tech? *by the way, I've read nothing but good about the Westers Tune... I'm just new to the whole improved performance dept. and looking for solid advice. Thank You for your time. "

As I mentioned, we tailor the tune for your truck for exactly how you want it to perform. Well over half our customers are looking for exactly what you are, not a race tune but a daily driver. We give you the level of tune you want, from race to daily driver. The tunes make the truck run like it should have from the factory, smooth and powerfull. We tune the whole power band from very light throttle to on the floor top end and everything in between. Shifts are "crisp" without banging and with no delays. We leave enough torque management in to be safe, but remove all "abuse" management and electronic throttle delays so the throttle response is there when you want it, not when the GM tuning thinks you want it!

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Just curious here... what if your truck breaks down and you have to have it serviced? Doesn't the custom tune void the warranty? Would you have to wait for a stock pcm to be mailed to you to swap out before having the truck worked on?

ezstriper · March 17, 2006

well I don't know what some of the others had issues with, but I have used several superchips programers and feel they work great, makes a great improvement. I used one on our shop 04 avalanche, did the initial tune drove it, re-did the 1-2 shift point and pressure, and makes a differnce of night and day with trans operation, I've used them on fords as well with the same inprovements, my 02 worth, Rob...

VortecMax · March 20, 2006

Hey there, I just wanted to help you out a bit here. I have a Hypertech programer, it works great, I pull a horse trailer with a camper on the truck too, all I had to do is adjust my shift points, shift firmness with my programer and voila! Instant torque. I know its alot of money about $450 cdn, but I also did an intake system and throttle body spacer( exhaust is next). Told my wife it will help pull the horse trailer to pass it by her! anyways, I would give you the full recomendation on the Hypertech programer. Also you can set it to run on high octane fuel as well, gives you even more power for haulin.

Good luck.