Handheld Turner, Reprogramed Ecm, Or Turner Program

Reeper27 · July 29, 2007

So the Question is Hand Held Turner, Having you ECM Reprogrammed by someone, or a Turner Program Each have some benefits that the other one don't, or do they. Lets start with the handheld, IE Hypertech Power Programmer III, SuperChips, Predator,

The Handhelds all have questions that you answer about your truck, or car if that’s your ride of choice, but I am a Truck Guy so I am Basically talking about truck turners, anyway, Handhelds also have different tunes stored in them to help tailor them to your likings, but you really can never get that perfect tune that your looking for cause your limited to what's preprogrammed. Plus as you get more money and start buying more go fast parts, IE new Valve train, Intake, Throttle Bodies, Injectors, Headers, Stroker kit, they don't have the tunes in their to wake them up.

So the next step is to go to a reprogrammed ECM from one of the tune companies out their. IE Wait4Me, Nelson Racing, or a local shop that does it, now that’s better, but now your limited to only one tune, but you can keep going back as you build your truck and get it retuned, but it will cost more money every time, unless you work out a deal with that shop. Now Wait4Me now has the Xcalbiator that can store three different tunes, so you could work with them if you plan on building your motor bigger.

Both these options are a great for the do it yourselfer that don't know much about engine tuning and don't wanna mess with the ECM their self. But if You really want to unleash the true potential of your engine and tranny you can go with a Turner Program, IE Jets Dynamic Spectrum Turner, EFI Live, or HP Turners, but they are about twice as much. Some of the nice things about these are that you have nearly unlimited options to your tune, and you can keep retuning your ECM over and over again until you have it just right for your driving. You also can save every tune file that you make so if you mess up along the way of getting that perfect tune you can go back and see where you went wrong. Also you can program mutipal trucks, so if your buddy wants a tune but don't have the money you can work out a deal. And after you get a few tune files made, you can start doing your own tuning yourself for everyone else.

All These options are great it is all your own personal preference and knowledge of the stuff. They all do all the same functions, the turner programs are just more owner involved than the rest. This is very basic and I hope it helps some of you out in your decision making when it comes time to tune your truck.

dualscoopinchevy · July 31, 2007

I'm not trying to be rude, honestly, but I cant help but mention it.....it's "tuner" not "turner". It was cracking me up. Every time you spelled "tune" it was good, any time there was an attempted "tuner", ended up "turner". Again, not trying to be a jerk, sorry

MikeRS1981 · August 6, 2007

Im just curious like, if I purchased the Diablosport, and get a tune off of that programmer, I can tune different things myself. Is this 'less' of a tune, than what wait4me can do ? Or is wait4me more of an in depth tuning, where he did more things than what the handheld can do. The xcalibrator is like high $300's, and I can get the diablosport for just under $300. Where is the better tune at, is it the same thing ?

omegafiler · August 7, 2007

Im just curious like, if I purchased the Diablosport, and get a tune off of that programmer, I can tune different things myself. Is this 'less' of a tune, than what wait4me can do ? Or is wait4me more of an in depth tuning, where he did more things than what the handheld can do. The xcalibrator is like high $300's, and I can get the diablosport for just under $300. Where is the better tune at, is it the same thing ?

The Diablo does give you some added control if you're comfortable making those changes... such as adjusting timing, fuel, etc... which the other handhelds (Hypertech, Flashpaq, Jet, etc) do not. Also keep in mind that all of these handheld units are meant for stock to near-stock applications.

However, when done correctly a custom tune, such as Wait4Me, will give you more performance and the most use of that power than any off-the-shelf handheld (including Diablo). Not that there is anything wrong with the handhelds. The custom tunes just make far more changes and improvements than a generic handheld unit - especially once you start doing some serious modding.

But apparently the Diablo can be taken to a Diablo dealer and they can put a custom tune on the handheld if you decided to go that route - I don't know much about it though, just from what I've seen on their site. But then I imagine that would technically be considered a "custom tune" as well.

MikeRS1981 · August 7, 2007

Ok, I was just under the impression that these companies used something like a handheld, tuned your car, and saved the tune, thus eliminating the need for you to do it yourself with a diablo, hypertech. Now that I know its a more in-depth tune, I might go that route

Paul58 · August 7, 2007

The off the shelf hand held tuners will have a very generic tune than will work with a broad range of applications, a custom tune will be made specifically for your truck, thus the added performance. The plus side of the hand held is the ability to easily return the truck to stock prior to taking it to the dealer for service. If you get a custom tune be sure to purchase a new core and save your original so you can install it prior to any service work. If the ECM is reflashed for any reason, the custom tune will be replaced and you'll be sending it back to the tuner for another custom tune!

omegafiler · August 7, 2007

Yeah, that's exactly why I went with the Wait4Me/SCT handheld combo. All the benefits of a custom tune, without having to swap out the PCM. Makes it very easy to put back to stock when it has to go to the dealer for service/repair. And you get 3 separate tunes.

icecoldtexan · August 7, 2007

So the Question is Hand Held Turner, Having you ECM Reprogrammed by someone, or a Turner Program Each have some benefits that the other one don't, or do they. Lets start with the handheld, IE Hypertech Power Programmer III, SuperChips, Predator,

The Handhelds all have questions that you answer about your truck, or car if that’s your ride of choice, but I am a Truck Guy so I am Basically talking about truck turners, anyway, Handhelds also have different tunes stored in them to help tailor them to your likings, but you really can never get that perfect tune that your looking for cause your limited to what's preprogrammed. Plus as you get more money and start buying more go fast parts, IE new Valve train, Intake, Throttle Bodies, Injectors, Headers, Stroker kit, they don't have the tunes in their to wake them up.

I have the Diablo Predator handheld, it comes with two preprogrammed tunes you can install. Each of those tunes you can tweak with the handheld unit. It also allows you to tweak the transmission s**t points, etc....You also can read and clear trouble codes as well as see real time data while you drive.......try to do that with the wait-4-me tune.

Don't wait-4-anyone....get the Diablo handheld programmer, you won't be dissapointed.

MikeRS1981 · August 7, 2007

well as of right now, the diablo doesn't do anything for torque management, and I believe the wait4me does shift points as well

Paul58 · August 7, 2007

Yeah, that's exactly why I went with the Wait4Me/SCT handheld combo. All the benefits of a custom tune, without having to swap out the PCM. Makes it very easy to put back to stock when it has to go to the dealer for service/repair. And you get 3 separate tunes.

I was all set to purchase the SCT Tuner from Wait4Me but he didn't have the hand held for the NBS Trucks, and the SCT doesn't have the capability to adjust for tire/gear changes. I have non-stock tires, that capability was a must, and I didn't want to shell out more money for another tool just to adjust for that change. Plus, I wasn't sure it would have been compatible with the SCT Tuner. Had SCT offered that capability I'd have one too...

Paul58 · August 7, 2007

well as of right now, the diablo doesn't do anything for torque management, and I believe the wait4me does shift points as well

I LIKE TM! Saves me money on tires...

omegafiler · August 7, 2007

Yeah, that's exactly why I went with the Wait4Me/SCT handheld combo. All the benefits of a custom tune, without having to swap out the PCM. Makes it very easy to put back to stock when it has to go to the dealer for service/repair. And you get 3 separate tunes.

I was all set to purchase the SCT Tuner from Wait4Me but he didn't have the hand held for the NBS Trucks, and the SCT doesn't have the capability to adjust for tire/gear changes. I have non-stock tires, that capability was a must, and I didn't want to shell out more money for another tool just to adjust for that change. Plus, I wasn't sure it would have been compatible with the SCT Tuner. Had SCT offered that capability I'd have one too...

Yeah, there are no options at all on the SCT except to pick 1 of your 3 custom tunes. But Jesse would be able to program your custom tune(s) for any modifications to your vehicle, including tires & gears. And were the SCT available, he would have required you to send him a list of all that stuff. But until then, it looks like your options are somewhat limited.

icecoldtexan · August 7, 2007

well as of right now, the diablo doesn't do anything for torque management, and I believe the wait4me does shift points as well

I don't know where you got that information from, but the Diablo Preadator handheld I have will remove torque management as well as turn off the Torque Management abuse mode time limit.

This from Diablo's web page :

Torque Management

PLEASE NOTE: Disabling torque management will put greater stress on your drive line.

TM Abuse Mode time limit:

This is the time in abuse mode as a function of temperature. Turning it off in conjunction with Upshift Torque reduction and %Torque Reduction vs RPM will eliminate torque management.

%Torque Reduction vs RPM:

Torque reduction as a function of RPM, turning it off in conjunction with TM abuse mode time limit and upshift torque reduction will eliminate torque management.

Upshift Torque reduction:

Torque reduction control for each individual gear, turning it off in conjunction with TM abuse mode time limit and %Torque Reduction vs RPM will eliminate torque management.

VMax2007 · August 7, 2007

well as of right now, the diablo doesn't do anything for torque management, and I believe the wait4me does shift points as well

I don't know where you got that information from, but the Diablo Preadator handheld I have will remove torque management as well as turn off the Torque Management abuse mode time limit.

This from Diablo's web page :

Torque Management

PLEASE NOTE: Disabling torque management will put greater stress on your drive line.

TM Abuse Mode time limit:

This is the time in abuse mode as a function of temperature. Turning it off in conjunction with Upshift Torque reduction and %Torque Reduction vs RPM will eliminate torque management.

%Torque Reduction vs RPM:

Torque reduction as a function of RPM, turning it off in conjunction with TM abuse mode time limit and upshift torque reduction will eliminate torque management.

Upshift Torque reduction:

Torque reduction control for each individual gear, turning it off in conjunction with TM abuse mode time limit and %Torque Reduction vs RPM will eliminate torque management.

Is yours for the NBS trucks? I didn't think so.