Hi,

I am looking to buy a performance programmer for my 2001 AT4 Coupe and cant make up mind so i would appreciate any recommendation from members who owns any of the following

1. Predator Performance Programmer
2. POWER PROGRAMMER - HYPERTECH MAX ENERGY
3. Jet Performance Programmer
4. Fast-Flash Power Programmer

Thanks

RB

 

Basically all those listed are crap. Out of the crap, I'd say the Predator is the better. If interested in the Predator, keep in mind there is a separate model for 2003-2004 models. And be careful buying one used, as many are locked. Once you load a tune onto your car it's locked and can't be used for tuning until you reflash to stock. Some bay scammers like to load tunes and then flip the now worthless unit.

Why do I say that? Because they don't let you do much, have canned tunes, and don't let you really get into editing parameters. Yes, there are tuning houses that can do a full tune and then put a file onto your Predator. But if you're doing that, then what's the point of using the Predator as a middleman.

You can do some very rudimentary tuning, but it's only a few parameters, and that's after you've invested a LOT of time trying to massage sketchy data into results. But in the end, playing with fuel trims is NOT tuning.

I got bored with the Predator very quickly. Way too limiting. So if you're like me and want to tweak everything and do mods often, then step up to one of the full tuning packages.

HP tuners standard is a great start. For $499 it lets you tune 4 VINs. Stepping up to the Pro model at $650 is recommended as it lets you accept wideband signals directly. This is the route I went and I've been very happy with it.

EFI Live is a bit more money but it does have a few more pro features, like the ability to use a Roadrunner PCM down the line. Awesome, yes....but more than the home mechanic needs, IMHO.

The downside to both HPTuners and EFI Live is now you have control over everything, and need to take time and learn, as you can **** things up. The Predator/Hypertech style handhelds you only need to push a few buttons. But you don't know what's being done, and certainly the canned tunes aren't optimized for your setup.

Say you want to add headers later, there's almost nothing you can do with a Predator to tune that properly. HP Tuners will be with you for the life of your car mods, along with 3 other cars.

And of course the best option is take it to a professional tuner. As good as I've become, I can't compare to guys who do this on a daily basis with much more experience. Yet that gets expensive if you like to do a lot of incremental mods and then try to get the most out of each of them.

 

Thank you NJ02vette for the info.....Definitely I am buying new one and its not going to be from ebay......

I installed a Vararam and will be upgrading next year to longtube headers, x-pipe and new cats and want to also install the 160deg themostat which I believe require to reprogram the cooling fan on/off. So I thought the performance programmer will allow me to optimize my vette based on the addons/mods I did and going to do. It seems like the performance programmer I mentioned in Post#1 will only allow me to program the to modify/remove stock speed limiter setting, change engine idle speed and cooling fan activation temperate simple stuff. So I guess I will still have to take it to a shop for tunning because I installed the Vararam and eventually the exhaust system

 

The predator is a handy tool. I'm not ready to get a tune so the predator has done what I needed it to. I have an older one that still allows me to mess with emissions items. I tuned out my rear o2 sensors. Removed the air system. Fine tuned my fuel trims. Adjusted my fan settings. All in all I've gotten my money's worth and still can sell it when I'm done building my car and get a professional tune. In my case I don't want to learn how to use efi live or hp tuners for one car that once it's finished I won't be messing with again. That's a job for Chuck Cow.

Btw you don't need to tune to swap intakes. The car will relearn minor changes. Headers will need professional tuning to maximize power though.

 

The predator is an older one. I would step up to the new Intune. Those are actually on sale until the beginning of 2013.

Check them out here

http://www.shop.jwmotoring.com/produ...categoryId=288

 

Thanks I didnt know that swapping to a Vararam intak doesnt need tuning...........I will do the professional tuning once I am done with all the major mods but for the time being I want to have something I can use for fine tuning