Hypertech III ...worth getting?
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Hypertech III ...worth getting?
I'm thinking about getting one of these. I don't race, but I wonder if there could be some gains. Once you set it do you often go back in and reprogram? Are they worth it?
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,712
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From: Seekonk MA / RI border
Well...I've got one...but I'm weird. 
I put the tune on, lowered the fans setting a little (I also changed my thermostat to a 178)...stiffened up the shifting...can't even remember if I did anything else. I didn't have the tune on long before I realized that I LIKED the car shifting like a Cadillac (smoothely and quietly). I'm a 'elbow on the console, chin in my hand' kind of cruiser.
I had to bring the car to the dealer
for something so I took the tune off and had them reflash the car with the latest and greatest while it was there.
I've heard horror stories of people putting the tune on and it screwing up on them. I had no problems...but I've heard that your battery has to be 100%. Some have hooked up 2 batteries while tuning.
The majority on this forum would suggest a different tuner than the hypertech. Perhaps those in the know of them will chime in.
I put the tune on, lowered the fans setting a little (I also changed my thermostat to a 178)...stiffened up the shifting...can't even remember if I did anything else. I didn't have the tune on long before I realized that I LIKED the car shifting like a Cadillac (smoothely and quietly). I'm a 'elbow on the console, chin in my hand' kind of cruiser.
I had to bring the car to the dealer
for something so I took the tune off and had them reflash the car with the latest and greatest while it was there.I've heard horror stories of people putting the tune on and it screwing up on them. I had no problems...but I've heard that your battery has to be 100%. Some have hooked up 2 batteries while tuning.
The majority on this forum would suggest a different tuner than the hypertech. Perhaps those in the know of them will chime in.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
thanks, I was afraid of that..the horror stories. With my luck I would join that crowd!
I depend on my C5 as a daily driver so taking a chance on screwing it up is out of the question.
I depend on my C5 as a daily driver so taking a chance on screwing it up is out of the question.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
I didn't have any reliability issues...but they aren't really worth the money. If you can get one used for around 100 they mignt be worth a shot for fans and such. But other wise, find a good tuner, and have them make the changes you want, or better yet, purchase efi-live or hp-tuners.
Race Director
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St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Originally Posted by Stangkiller
I didn't have any reliability issues...but they aren't really worth the money. If you can get one used for around 100 they mignt be worth a shot for fans and such. But other wise, find a good tuner, and have them make the changes you want, or better yet, purchase efi-live or hp-tuners.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Don't bother. Difference in Dyno test before and after was 2 HP. Might have gotten the same difference with no changes at all since Dyno accuracy is only +/-1% which means at 300 HP the reading can vary by 6 HP from one run to the next.
Bill
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
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From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
The fact, that as your profile says you have a '97 Coupe, is we only have the Hypertech to work with unless we dial up a custom tune!
I installed mine and made a few tweaks and changes and it absoloutly complemented the other bolt ons I did! I like it! and I felt the difference immediately!
Thanks,Matt
I installed mine and made a few tweaks and changes and it absoloutly complemented the other bolt ons I did! I like it! and I felt the difference immediately!
Thanks,Matt
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Port Arthur, Texas 77642
Originally Posted by Stangkiller
I didn't have any reliability issues...but they aren't really worth the money. If you can get one used for around 100 they mignt be worth a shot for fans and such. But other wise, find a good tuner, and have them make the changes you want, or better yet, purchase efi-live or hp-tuners.
In my 99 M6, CAI, catback, off road X-pipe, 178* therrmostat I found it good for adjusting two parameters. Lower fan turn-on temps & raise rev limiter to 6600 rpm. The 6600 rpm allowed me to hold 3rd gear through the 1/4 mile lowering my ET by slightly less than a tenth & increase mph by almost 2. With the combo I dynoed 337rwhp & 335rwtq. With headers & wideband custom tune I only gained 7rwhp. I realize other cars have gained much more but this combo was pretty much optimized. My point is a "custom" tune might not give you big gains in all cases & a used Hypertech might be a bargain at $100.
Scott
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Refineryville Texas
Originally Posted by vettes4fun
Nope, don't waste your money 
get a real tune
get a real tuneYou will WASTE your money and perhaps damage your Vette!
DO NOT buy a used ONE!
PM me regarding the purchase of a used one off the forum...
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Originally Posted by vettes4fun
Nope, don't waste your money get a real tune
get a real tune
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Perry Hall MD
Originally Posted by vettes4fun
Nope, don't waste your money get a real tune
get a real tuneMy local Nationally known tuner told me not to bother with a tune until your do internal engine work or long tube headers.
Mine has shorty headers and Cat-back Corsa Indys and he recommended not wasting the money on a tune.
I bought a Hypertech for $150.00 on the forum and use it to tighten the shifts on my A4 and that worked very well.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
As usual, many different opinions.
Keep 'em coming!!
Yes, I have a 97 A4 coupe with a blackwing and B&B exhaust....looking to add a new air bridge and coupler, but the 97 year is tough to work with.
Keep 'em coming!! Yes, I have a 97 A4 coupe with a blackwing and B&B exhaust....looking to add a new air bridge and coupler, but the 97 year is tough to work with.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,960
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From: Issaquah Wa.
Originally Posted by NemesisC5
In my 99 M6, CAI, catback, off road X-pipe, 178* therrmostat I found it good for adjusting two parameters. Lower fan turn-on temps & raise rev limiter to 6600 rpm. The 6600 rpm allowed me to hold 3rd gear through the 1/4 mile lowering my ET by slightly less than a tenth & increase mph by almost 2. With the combo I dynoed 337rwhp & 335rwtq. With headers & wideband custom tune I only gained 7rwhp. I realize other cars have gained much more but this combo was pretty much optimized. My point is a "custom" tune might not give you big gains in all cases & a used Hypertech might be a bargain at $100.
Scott
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Zephyrhills, Florida
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Hypertech is great for A4 cars primarily to tweak the shift firmness and lower the fans....after I did that, Off to the Vette Drs for longtubes etc. you'll get hooked on the tweaks. Worth it imo for the A4 particularly
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
I have had the HYPERTECH III, the PREDATOR and now a tune and depending on what you plan on for your car, I am going to agree with Chris (STANGKILLER) on this too. Spending a few extra hundred and getting a decent tune or a program for you to tune with is much better. If you are like the first reply to your post, I recommend a PREDATOR, you can do more, have a handheld that shows codes and real-time data and it is relatively the same price.
You are going to get many opnions, it really comes down to what you plan on doing with your car in the long run. Also, you can have tunes written for your PREDATOR tuner and you can flash it to your PCM. It isn't as good as a actual dyno type tune, but it does work.
Micah
You are going to get many opnions, it really comes down to what you plan on doing with your car in the long run. Also, you can have tunes written for your PREDATOR tuner and you can flash it to your PCM. It isn't as good as a actual dyno type tune, but it does work.
Micah
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Tech Contributor
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From: Should this thoughtful, valuable contribution meet with no acknowledgement or 'thanks' this post----
Originally Posted by mph1972
I have had the HYPERTECH III, the PREDATOR and now a tune and depending on what you plan on for your car, I am going to agree with Chris (STANGKILLER) on this too. Spending a few extra hundred and getting a decent tune or a program for you to tune with is much better. If you are like the first reply to your post, I recommend a PREDATOR, you can do more, have a handheld that shows codes and real-time data and it is relatively the same price.
You are going to get many opnions, it really comes down to what you plan on doing with your car in the long run. Also, you can have tunes written for your PREDATOR tuner and you can flash it to your PCM. It isn't as good as a actual dyno type tune, but it does work.
Micah
You are going to get many opnions, it really comes down to what you plan on doing with your car in the long run. Also, you can have tunes written for your PREDATOR tuner and you can flash it to your PCM. It isn't as good as a actual dyno type tune, but it does work.
Micah
Yes, all I am looking for is more hp and seat of the pants go power. My car runs extremely smooth and I can hear the air rushing through, but I want to get all I can before going inside the engine. LT headers and a new intake would be in the picture too, but those would be last. Yea, right!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Dardenne Prairie Mo.
I have a predator tuner model number U7198 which is for 99-02 ls1 cars I used it on my 02 and could feel the difference in the set of the pants for sure but i ended up haveing a dyno tune done.
the predator when used becomes vin locked to the car it was used on which i didn't know. I was told after i reinstalled the stock tune it could be used on other cars which is not the case. I dont need the predator anymore so if you are interested in one sent me a pm.
the predator when used becomes vin locked to the car it was used on which i didn't know. I was told after i reinstalled the stock tune it could be used on other cars which is not the case. I dont need the predator anymore so if you are interested in one sent me a pm.