Westers

Polak · August 5, 2005

Installed my Westers this past Monday evening. I have to say that the truck has been a new vehicle to me each morning so far.

Honestly I thought you guys were, maybe, drinkin', the way you all pumped up the changes your trucks went through after the PCM swap. I apologize!!

My only regret was that the PCM swap didn't solve the prol'em it was supposed to. My Cam Sensor has been giving me trouble codes. After following the trouble shooting flowchart in the Helm's, all indicators pointed to a failure in the PCM. Since the Westers was only $100 more than the stock replacement (w/ the Tbyrne online discount), that made the decision a no-brainer.

Oh well, I'm still happy with my new PCM.

AJ

snyps · August 5, 2005

Question for you Westers users.

One of the things I didn't like about getting a PCM from Westers would be that you cannot return to stock at a moments notice or make changes at a moments notice. There are several reasons why this would be useful to me.

1. Having problems, and want to rule out the PCM upgrade as the problem.

2. Having to bring the truck in for warentee work (the dealer will always blame that chip instead of troubleshooting around it).

3. Got new tires, and wanted to change the speedo settings.

I know everyone says it is great, but do you think it is a smarter choice to go with a tuner that you can plug in and make changes anytime you wanted? I am looking at both options for my new 2002 8.1L 2500HD with the allison. Any input you have would be helpfull.

BlueTahoe · August 5, 2005

Question for you Westers users.

One of the things I didn't like about getting a PCM from Westers would be that you cannot return to stock at a moments notice or make changes at a moments notice. There are several reasons why this would be useful to me.

1. Having problems, and want to rule out the PCM upgrade as the problem.

2. Having to bring the truck in for warentee work (the dealer will always blame that chip instead of troubleshooting around it).

3. Got new tires, and wanted to change the speedo settings.

I know everyone says it is great, but do you think it is a smarter choice to go with a tuner that you can plug in and make changes anytime you wanted? I am looking at both options for my new 2002 8.1L 2500HD with the allison. Any input you have would be helpfull.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Remeber Westers is a lifetime tune. If you have problems or need changes you can retune for $40-45 dollars. This is forever. I have already had mine upgraded once. As far as the dealer goes. Everyone claims the dealer can't see the tune and if they reflash your tune you can get a new one from westers. Yes it is not as easy as plugging in a programmer but I believe it is worth this extra effort.

Also if you sell your truck you can call and have them send you back a stock tune. Then in your new truck you get a credit on that tune for the cost of the original tune. So you trade in '08 and paid $500 for this tune and the '08 tune is $600. You only pay $100 and you get a tune.

There are pros and cons but the handheld's are not even close to the PCM swaps.

PewterC3 · August 5, 2005

I just kept my stock PCM and sent back a core I bought from a salvage yard to Westers. So I have 2 PCM's...one tuned... one stock. Cost me an extra $55.

Polak · August 5, 2005

Remeber Westers is a lifetime tune.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ditto, this was what made my mind up. After doing the math, the cost of a plug in vs. the total potential times I'd need a tune change + core fee + shipping it was worth it. If I have to go to the stealer for service, I'll swap back to my stocker.

curly · August 6, 2005

I purchased another PCM when I got my tune just in case I had to return to the dealer for warranty work. I went with a tune since most of these tuners work on dynos and form their mail order tunes from these dyno results. Yes, a custom dyno tune will gain you a few HP but we are driving HD's so they will never be fast (without mods that require a dyno-tune)... IMO. Handhelds and programs (such as HPTuners) are nice but I did not feel secure doing my own tuning. The tune I have also has lifetime updates which I get for the shipping cost (around $20 round-trip).

Get the tune... you won't regret it!