Is a programmer worth the money?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 20,474
Likes: 2
From: Detroit
Re: Is a programmer worth the money? (add)
The performance benefit of a programmer varies on whether or not your car has an automatic transmission. If your car is an automatic (A4) you can benefit by increasing the shift points, etc. Instead of purchasing a Hypertech / Predator I would recommend finding a local shop that can adjust whatever settings you want using LS1-Edit. What generally makes the LS1-Edit so expensive ($400-500) is the dyno time and time involved in tweaking various settings and then retesting the car on the dyno. For under a $100.00 I was able to get a local shop to do a mini LS1-Edit on my car. The mini edit removed CAGS, changed the temperature that the fans turn on, etc. I’m sure changing shift points would have been no problem. If you can find a good local shop that can do a mini edit you will save a fortune considering the Hypertech and Predator programmers are both north of $300.00.
Mark
Mark
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: The Woodlands Texas
Re: Is a programmer worth the money? (add)
Get with a good tuner and pay the $400-$500 for a full LS1 Edit after you have added headers, cat-back exhaust, intake, that sort of thing. The tuner will provide you with a floppy file of your edit and keep the original at his shop. Most subsequent adjustments are aonly around $150 after that.
Programmers are costly and can only do a fraction of what a good tuner with LS1 Edit can do.
Just my opinion.
Programmers are costly and can only do a fraction of what a good tuner with LS1 Edit can do.
Just my opinion.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,942
Likes: 7
From: Gaffney, S.C.
Re: Is a programmer worth the money? (Jochen)
Just as a casual observer and one that believes the factory programming gives more than adequate all around driveability and performance, It seems that most everyone that posts here with some wierd computer codes and driveability problems have had some type of computer tweeking. People that leave their cars alone have the least problems. It is your car and of course anyone can do whatever they want with it, but as a Professional Technician that gets paid to keep um running smooth and trouble free, I wouldn't change a thing about my computer as the future trade off is not worth the hassle, expense, and potential future problems for a few questional HP. :rant:
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,763
Likes: 24
From: Austin TX
Re: Is a programmer worth the money? (irfgt)
It seems that most everyone that posts here with some wierd computer codes and driveability problems have had some type of computer tweeking.
Eric
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Maysville Kentucky
Re: Is a programmer worth the money? (add)
If your car is a 1999 model I have a hypertech somewhere in my garage. I got it to adjust the 3.42 gear and 2900 stall swap about 4 years ago. The hypertech didn't recognize the stall so I had to buy a TTS Power loader. If you are interested I'll sell it to ya if I can find it.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,683
Likes: 0
Re: Is a programmer worth the money? (add)
I have the Predator from RWTD. My Vette's an '01 w/A4 and not too much else. Noticed a HUGE improvement with the tranny, SOTP *feels* stronger too - But I don't have any hard numbers to prove it, YET!!! ;)
