Thinking of purchasing a tune....

turnerms98 · December 17, 2011

So, I have an 09 Ext. Cab 5.3L 3:73 gears 4spd tranny. The main thing that I want fixed are shift points and throttle response. I also use my truck to tow my boat and 5,000lb camper. I guess the main thing I'm worried about is voiding the warranty as I'm gonna have my truck for many more years and have a lot of warranty left. I have done a lot of research and I guess I'm looking for someone to talk me out of it or to show me the negatives before I drop $570ish...

jdubub · December 17, 2011

Go with the Autocal. Only way to go. No drawbacks or issues with warranty. You can put it back to stock in about 3 minutes with it and it's def the best bang for your buck on these trucks

Stevens03 · December 17, 2011

No draw backs at all really unless your worried about your power train warranty

BlackZ71Silverado · December 17, 2011

No draw backs at all really unless your worried about your power train warranty

And why would the powertrain be an issue???

Stevens03 · December 17, 2011

Because your modifying factory engine control management, and transmission programming which GM doesn't really like you to do. When you modify the stock programming with a custom tune, you essentially loose your power train warranty.

BlackZ71Silverado · December 19, 2011

Because your modifying factory engine control management, and transmission programming which GM doesn't really like you to do. When you modify the stock programming with a custom tune, you essentially loose your power train warranty.

Not saying it's the most honest or right thing to do BUT that's why you remove the tune and restore the factory settings when you go in for service. GM will never know it was tuned (unless you forget to restore your factory settings). No loss of warranty, no dealer hassle, restore factory tune and you'll be fine.

turnerms98 · December 21, 2011

So can those of you with the 4sp give me your opinions?

jdubub · December 21, 2011

It did wonders in my 08 with the 4-speed. He can work all of the tranny to your specs you're wanting to see.

txab · December 21, 2011

So can those of you with the 4sp give me your opinions?

Do it!

8.1HD/ALLISON · December 22, 2011

Well worth the money.

Stevens03 · December 22, 2011

Well worth the money.

Def. x2

I did my 03 and my 07 4-speed trucks and it was worth EVERY penny

Forge · December 22, 2011

Because your modifying factory engine control management, and transmission programming which GM doesn't really like you to do. When you modify the stock programming with a custom tune, you essentially loose your power train warranty.

Not saying it's the most honest or right thing to do BUT that's why you remove the tune and restore the factory settings when you go in for service. GM will never know it was tuned (unless you forget to restore your factory settings). No loss of warranty, no dealer hassle, restore factory tune and you'll be fine.

If only the dealership is looking at the computer it would be fine, but i have heard of GM requesting the computer and they can go back and look to see what data was logged at an earlier time and can tell changes have been made even after you reset back to factory defaults. This would obviously be for a major powertrain issue, but i have heard it happening from GM tech...

If it wasn't for this i would be tuning my truck, but haven't convinced myself that it is worth it yet (with the powertrain warranty)... and i already have an HP Tuner that we use for other vehicles, i just need to buy some more credits for my truck which would only be about $100

Jennabear · December 22, 2011

The ONLY method that GM instructs technicians to follow in identifying any tuning is outlined in the TSB that has been posted 1,001 times now. Flash history is tracked and used on 2007.5+ diesel and Global A vehicles, none others.

Whether or not there is mileage logged, runtime, "key counts", mileage since code last cleared, etc etc that can be used to determine a tune is not at issue. NONE of those factors can be conclusively used to identify whether a vehicle presently is or was tuned at some time. Show me someone that has had a warranty denied by some method other than the official process by GM and I will retract my statement. We have dozens of GM Technician customers (many of whom have had to ask US how to identify a tune) and we own a Tech 2 and identifying a tune is not a trivial matter.

To go one step further, the magnusson moss act will absolutely protect you, provided the warranty denial claim is unjustified. GM encourages the use of the better business bureau to ensure that and while lengthy, the process will work as it did for a customer who recently had a faulty cam phaser cause engine damage.

demech23 · December 23, 2011

turnerms98, Do it...I had mine tuned by Justin from Blackbear with the Auto Cal and I haven't had any issues, and the difference from tune to stock is night and day (and I bet everyone that has had theirs tuned by justin can agree). Most of my group of friends all drive trucks, mostly Silverado's, and they claim I gave my 5.3 a shot of steroids, especially my buddy who has your trucks twin. The only thing non-stock on the truck is the tune.

bmp5484 · December 23, 2011

Had my 2006 5.3 silvy and my dads 2006 1500hd sierra done in person by Justin one after the other and as with everyone elses responses, was simply night and day for both trucks. You'll wonder why you didn't get it done sooner. Out of all the things that I've put on my truck (intake, exhaust, vette servo) none of them even hold a candle to the performance per $ you get from Blackbear. Thanks again Justin