Pcm / Tcm Flash

[hm3tocapt]

I had a 15000 mile service for my truck today. I'm getting ready to move my family from Virgina Beach to Colorado Springs in a little less than two weeks. I ask for an oil change and a full safety inspection. I tell them I will be towing about 5000lbs worth of trailer over 1800 miles and I just want to know things are good to go. The service writer asks how I like my truck so far (had it for just about one year now) and I tell them I love it but my one main complaint was that the transmission seemed to "hang" when ever I was trying to pass or down shift. It still shifts fine but just take its own time.

 

Well, my dealer impressed me. I got my oil change, safety inspection and as a result of a TSB (Dec 07) got my PCM and TCM re-flashed all in about an hour and ten min. WOW, the mechanic came to seem me in the waiting room telling me he was sorry that it took so long! I wanted to give him a high five right there on the spot.

 

The PCM / TCM made the truck feel and dive different. It is amazing how dependent these new cars and trucks are on computers. The entire flavor of driving changed. It down shifts quicker and smoother and the engine just "feels" different. I guess the days of back yard mechanics are over!

 

As a side note I bought a DiabloSport programmer today on ebay. Brand new in the box for $305 that included shipping. The seller had over 200 feedbacks with only a few neutral and NO negative. I bought it for better mpg. I'll let you all know what I learn.

[fbachman]

As a side note I bought a DiabloSport programmer today on ebay. Brand new in the box for $305 that included shipping. The seller had over 200 feedbacks with only a few neutral and NO negative. I bought it for better mpg. I'll let you all know what I learn.

 

I assume you bought the U7194. If it arrives with the 8r10 CROM, DO NOT UPDATE IT to 9r03.... LEAVE IT AS IS (for now). They are having "issues" with the 9r03 update.

 

If it comes with the 9r03, you should still be OK... but you may run into a problem --- better than 80% chance you'll be ok with 9r03.

 

If you would rather have the 8r10 update, ping me here, and I'll e-mail it to ya.... I still have the 8r10 in mine... had trouble pushing a custom tune with 9r03, but NOT with 8r10.

 

It will have two tunes, an 87 tune and a "diablo" tune.

 

The diablo tune is an "at the limit" 91 octane tune. If you are going to tow, I would put the 87 tune in.

 

All things being equal, I think you'll see 1.5-2mpg improvement with the 87 tune.

 

I am afraid that if you tow with the diablo tune using 91, you'll have too much knock retard --- although you could run 93 safely. Also don't know if you would consistently find 93 "across the tundra" to Colo...

 

Thus, my recommendation: 87 tune with 87 OR Diablo tune with 93.

 

Stay away from Chevron and Shell if at all possible. Mobil and Texaco are your best bet.

 

Any questions after getting it, feel free to ping me and I'll try to help as bst I can.

 

Sounds like you have a good dealer there.....

[LewiSILVERADO]

Also don't know if you would consistently find 93 "across the tundra" to Colo...

 

At this altitude (Denver) it's sometimes difficult to find 93. 91 is common. They can get away with lower octane fuel because the effective compression ratio is lower due to the altitude (remember, you lose 3 percent per thousand ft of altitude, so here in Denver you will automatically have 15 percent less HP).

 

I'm not sure who the good dealers are in the Springs. There are a couple here in the Metro that aren't bad. One has a parts department that's in tight with Chevy racing and sells a lot of (and knows a lot about) the high-performance side of things.

 

Hope your trip goes well, and you like it in the Springs. I'm a displaced Okie due to following jobs, and while I don't hate the area I'm one of the few I've ever seen who would just as soon be someplace else. But if you love snow, skiing, moutain biking and the mountains there are few better places. I like low altitude (MORE HP!!), cable TV rather than hiking and lakes to sail on - but to each their own!

[2007silveradonbs]

Which dealer did you go to? Also, you may want to take your tuner to Dynotuned Performance in Chesapeake. They can do a specific tune for you and you Diablo unit.

[fbachman]

Which dealer did you go to? Also, you may want to take your tuner to Dynotuned Performance in Chesapeake. They can do a specific tune for you and you Diablo unit.

 

 

That, of course, is the best solution.....

[hm3tocapt]

I assume you bought the U7194. If it arrives with the 8r10 CROM, DO NOT UPDATE IT to 9r03.... LEAVE IT AS IS (for now). They are having "issues" with the 9r03 update.

 

If it comes with the 9r03, you should still be OK... but you may run into a problem --- better than 80% chance you'll be ok with 9r03.

 

 

 

Ok, now you went and done it!

 

What is wrong with the latest update??? How will I know if I am having a problem? What are the signs? The ebay seller said he would ensure my programmer has the latest and greatest before shipping so I guess that I will have the 9r03 if I want it or not.

 

 

To answer the other question:

my dealer is Greenbrier GMC. If you are anywhere near Tidewater, go to those guys. They stress over their reputation which means good service.

[fbachman]

I assume you bought the U7194. If it arrives with the 8r10 CROM, DO NOT UPDATE IT to 9r03.... LEAVE IT AS IS (for now). They are having "issues" with the 9r03 update.

 

If it comes with the 9r03, you should still be OK... but you may run into a problem --- better than 80% chance you'll be ok with 9r03.

 

 

 

Ok, now you went and done it!

 

What is wrong with the latest update??? How will I know if I am having a problem? What are the signs? The ebay seller said he would ensure my programmer has the latest and greatest before shipping so I guess that I will have the 9r03 if I want it or not.

 

 

To answer the other question:

my dealer is Greenbrier GMC. If you are anywhere near Tidewater, go to those guys. They stress over their reputation which means good service.

 

Sorry dude... didn't mean to rattle ya.... .. just trying to help and be available for questions when you get it.

 

Once you have the predator, you'll be doing this monthly, maybe more. All of the updates are available on-line from their web site, you DL them and keep your programmer up to date.

 

What is wrong with the latest update???

 

The reports are sporadic, thus far, but are, indeed ocurring. Apparently the 9r03 does not allow for parameter adjustments, or pushing a CUSTOM tune at the moment, unless you back up to a previous crom update. These are posts on their forum. I recommend kinda browsing there. Lots of helpful info, mostly from users, and DS personnel who DO watch the forum religiously and consistently.

 

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php?name=...opic&t=6850

 

http://www.diablosport.com/index.php?name=...opic&t=7389

 

Like I said, there are plenty of folks that can help you, and that I can call on IF there's a problem.

DS tech support is good as well.

 

The tunes that ship with the predator are fine and seem to work. Remember, this thing works for a whole range of GM Gas trucks and SUVs, not just ours.

 

How will I know if I am having a problem?

 

you push a custom, 3rd party, tune and the truck won't start. Yep, happened to me.

Mind you, in my case it was the custom tune that failed, and what flagged Diablosport that there were additional problems with this update. This WAS NOT THE TUNE THAT SHIPPED WITH THE UNIT --- IT WAS A 3rd party CUSTOM TUNE.

 

The tunes that shipped with the unit were all fine. I tinker with this thing A LOT, so it's not surprising that I hit a problem. If this SHOULD happen, and it's a BIG IF, one call to diablosport, and a tech will talk you thru forcing the original backup to the vehicle, and get you tuned, and you will be good to go in about 5-10 minutes. I WOULD recommend that you push your first tune during their tech support hours if you have 9r03. If you end up with 8r10... TUNE AWAY.

 

What are the signs?

 

If you power up (boot up) the predator, after the flash screen appears, the update version appears accros the top of the display. If it's 9r03, like i said, 80% chance you're OK. If it's 8r10, your 100% ok. This is a case where you kinda hope the re-seller has stock that's been around a LITTLE while. If the version is anything other than the two above, I recommend letting me know, and I can e-mail you 8r10.... it's no longer out on DSs web site.

 

The ebay seller said he would ensure my programmer has the latest and greatest before shipping so I guess that I will have the 9r03 if I want it or not.

 

Certainly possible. Let's be clear, the update thing is NOT a reflection of the re-seller AND all of this is EASILY dealt with.

Did the re-seller say he'd include the PC connection kit? Some do, some don't. Mine did. If not, I recommend getting it. YOu can DL stuff to your computer and push it to the predator with this kit.

 

http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_numb...17.0.56.0.0.0.0

 

BTW, this is DS's shopping site.

 

This allows you to connect the pred to your computer. Changing CROM updates is a two minute exercise at most. Do it all the time....

 

Like I said, there's a better than 80% chance you'll be fine with the latest update. And, if not, I have people that we can call to help.

 

This has NOTHING to do with the re-seller, BTW. He doesn't control what's on the unit when it gets sent to you. IT's a function of what the factory did to this particular unit, and what manfacturing lot it's from.

 

I bought mine from a great re-seller and it showed up two updates "in the rear".....LOL

 

Again, my apologies...... didn't mean to pull the fire alarm on ya.... . The final message: I am here to help, if needed. I have others that can help as well. Pity me, I just love this stuff and was trying to help.

[pchrist]

what is the tsb flash from december at the tuner?? Would that do that if it was in for service?? what was all entailed with it?