Scanning thru some ads at the back of a car magazine I saw an ad for a hand held device,,called a "Predator",,I was wondering if this is the same Predator that I've seen in alot of posts on the forum. I'm only asking as I didn't know what the Predator was.

BTW I did a search on the subject but coldn't find the answer to my question.

 

If this is the device you saw advertised, then it's the same one that is frequently discussed here on the forum:

http://diablosport.com/index.php?mod...=display&pid=3

Bob

 

Yes Bob thats it,,,,do you know if its an easy item to use,,and does it really give you the results it claims,,thanks.


Bill

 

Yes, it's very easy to use.

I think it comes pretty close to all the claims they make.

I had one for my '05, and I've had some PM discussions with some other members that have had one for their '05 C6. If you have the original PCM flash from GM, you can't use all the latest tunes that are available for the Predator.

I have an early '05 and I've never had any DBS problems or anything else that required the newer PCM flash (I think it was primarily to help solve DBS). So...I can't use the newer .crom files with all the nice new tunes in the newer Predator .crom files.

I know of absolutely no way to find out what PCM flash is in your car other than: 1. trying to put a newer Predator tune in your car and it telling you it doesn't recognize your PCM; or 2. taking it to your dealer and I guess they can hook up a Tech 2 and tell.

If you do have the older PCM flash it would be worthwhile to take it to the dealer and complain about DBS or some other problem and get them to flash your PCM with the latest version so you can take advantage of the nice Predator tunes in their latest files.

Bob

 

I have a 2005 C6 (Jan 2005 build IIRC) - recently bought a U7191 Predator (the 2005 C6 model) from a forum member here for $160 w/USB cable/wall wart for PC connections/updates. 2006-2007 C6's require a different Predator model no (U7194 I think...)

My 2005 C6 had never had any ECM updates as far as I know and didn't show any in a check of service history. (I use a battery tender usually but not sure if even the previous/original owner had any DBS issues - the guy I got the predator from said he hadn't on his 05 either and he never had the ECM update for DBS either - his VIN was a few thousand later than mine though.)
The last ECM update was the DBS fix - per Mike L of Diablosport that's:
(ECM) 12613186 0000CF0F New software to address potential battery run-down situation.

Per the GM tech (David) here, the latest ECM update also includes the latest FuelSysCal, Diagnostics, etc.

The "Diagnostics" menu of the Predator also has an option to show the software versions in your C6. For my 2005 it reported these versions:

ECM: 12598983
VehSysCal: 12599005
FuelSysCal: 12595754
VehSpdSensCal: 12595751
EngDiagCal: 12599003

I sent the above to David (GM Tech here) to ask about my software revs and if the latest DBS rev also included any updates to the other calibrations - he replied:
(regarding my #s above)
-----------------------------------------------------------
The vehicle system cal is the latest and greatest.

Your fuel system cal is one behind. The current is 12605744 (New
calibration with diagnostic enhancements for DTC P0463 and P2068)

Speed cal is current.

Engine diagnostic is 3 behind. The current is 12618497 (New calibration with diagnostic enhancements for DTC P0463 and P2068. DTC P0833. DTC P0449.)

I can't find your ECM number anywhere. (I double checked the number above - it is the # reported by the Predator-Mike)

And the newest calibrations do contain all the older fixes too.

I do believe the (ECM) 12613186 is the latest calibration. And one
programming of the ECM takes care of all the calibrations we talked
about.
--------------------------------------------

The predator I have (U7191 - rev 8R07 - 2 later updates for it but they do not have any changes for the C6 I was told, so no reason to update) showed 3 tune options (with my ECM rev above at least)

Diablo Tune (93 octane tune)
91 Octane Tune (per Mike L. above tune w/timing mods for 91 oct.)
Factory HP Tune

I used the 91 octane tune for now (although we have 93 octane here and it's all I use. Although Shell's the only name brand station nearby... but other than additives it seems all stations here get gas from unlabeled tanker trucks - a friend that drove TT said they all filled up from the same source, although station additives vary)

After seeing the comment from BEZ06 above I wrote Mike L (Diablosport tech) to ask if there would be more tune options shown if I had the dealer flash it with the latest ECM update. I thought the 2006 and up Predators had more tune options vs the U7191 for 05's. (The U7194 for 06/07 C6's has a header tune in one of the later updates - not an option for the U7191's as far as I know)

I should get an answer from Mike L. (Diablosport) if having the latest ECM rev in my 05 would have shown any additional tunes with the U7191 but I don't think so. (My 2005's warranty expired Feb 08 - dealer wanted $88.50 to update the ECM... for now I decided to wait, but may do that later...)
EDIT - Mike L. said (as I suspected) - for 05's the above tunes are all you get...

BTW - I had seen 2 previous posts (one here, one in the Diablosport site forum) from Predator/2005 C6 owners that had other ECM revisions (not the latest either - one noted ECM rev 12596660) that were "unsupported" by the U7191 (error message seen when going to the Performance Tune - # not found error IIRC) - suggestion was to update to latest ECM rev by dealer and then try again. (One SLP/Predator owner (w/SLP tunes) had a thread here he still got the unsupported error even after the update - the thread was never updated if that was resolved or not. (I sent him a PM a few days ago - never got a reply)

 

I have had to send old Predator .crom files via email to several forum members whose Predator was unrecognized by their car (or vice-versa). They had old PCM flashes and couldn't get their dealer to do the most recent update - one member was in Turkey and another in UAE, I believe, and a couple others in the States.

I have old Predator files available to email to anybody that has a problem trying to use the Predator when it is loaded with the newer files.

Bob