I have a 2001 F-250 7.3 113k Miles, it has gauges, and exhaust on it. I want to put a programmer on it and i have been looking at the SCT-livewire TS PN: 5015. But I honestly have no idea what I'm doing. It looks like a great programmer with ten pre-set tunes. Mainly my question is how does it work? Do i just get it installed and it's good to go? Is this what most people call a chip? Or do i have to buy a chip as well? I am sorry for sounding so stupid, this is what i have always wanted to do to my truck once I got it. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

Power Hungry Performance - Feed your hunger for POWER!

Get a Hydra.

 

A programmer and a chip are a little different. I am not familiar with the SCT product you are speaking of, but I am assuming it loads programs through the OBD port like most programmers. You shouldn't need a chip with it. A chip is different. It has programs built into it and is piggy backed onto the PCM. The advantage of a chip over a programmer is usually you can change between programs almost instantaneously, where as it is my understanding that a programmer, in order to change programs, you have to stop the truck and load a program which takes a few minutes. I am a big fan of the DP tuner in particular. I have had great results with their products and their customer service is great.

 

DP is fine if you are ok with being locked into 1 tuner for your programming needs.
If you decide you want to try matt or cody's tunes....and have an f5 or f6... your sol.
Then there is the money...

Spend 400$ on a chip with DP... then you get to turn around and pay for tunes too...

If you get a Hydra... from my understanding... you have access to the entire php tune database(of tunes you can safely run on your truck with its configuration) and can change and tweak how your chip is setup on a whim.

Custom tunes are going to cost extra with everybody i think...

Cost vs. Features vs. Hassle is kinda how i weigh it. For me... that equation yields a mean Hydra... riiight after fresh injectors lol.

 

Yep, what he said.

A chip is connected to the PCM via the J3 port. A programmer(such as the SCT device you are referring to) plugs into the OBDII port and flashes the PCM. With a chip, you are able to change tunes on the fly. Whereas with a programmer, the engine must be off to change tunes.

Both devices tune, but in two different ways.

 

I hear what you are saying, and I don't disagree. I have a DP F5 with 9 tunes, with a mostly stock (HPOP, sticks, turbo, etc.)truck, and there is very little need for even that many. I don't want to reignite the tuner wars around here, and I started typing that earlier reply before you had posted, so it wasn't a response to your initial post.

 

i put a chip on my 2000 f250, do i need gauges as one post said? I pull a 9000 lb camper 2times a year?

 

most will tell you yes.theres a lot greater risk your tranny or egt could get out of hand with a chip pulling that weight,a mountain pass could compound the risk as well.

 

I guess i should remove chip then before i pull camper and boat!
thanks for response

 

That's really not the recommend thing to do. No matter if you are stock or modified gauges will give you peace of mind that everything is okay. Most will add gauges before any other modifications are done to their truck. Not having them it is unknown to what the EGT temps and towing temps are. If something happens to go awry you will not know when to stop until it's too late. You will not get a SES light for excessive EGT's or trans temps.


Diane

 

Thanks so much for the responses guys, does anyone have the link to the hydra chips?

 

Http://www.gopowerhungry.com

Just scroll down its on the main page.

 

I just went through the same thing you are(2 ish moths ago) after hours of self research It was clear you first needed to decide on whether you wanted:

WARNING, This is SLIGHTLY Bias,lol, but i will do my best to inform you.

A- a programmer, flash ecu with your desired program and go on about your way with that one tune. If you want to change it, like discussed earlier, you have to pull over, and reload or flash you ecu with a different program. If the cable or loading process is disturbed in anyway when loading a new tune you may be sol! This process takes minutes to put a tune in your vehicle but you have to take the time to load new tunes into your programmer off of the internet depending on which company you go with.

or

B- Chip(This is the road i decided) A chip is on the fly, from mild to wild as fast as you can spin or switch your dial. I REALLY enjoy having the capabilities of changing instintaneously. Freeway driving i turn my chip down to an economic setting or if im city driving and some punk import with their windows open thinks he can cut off a big truck cause they think its slow is mistaken. Installing mine TS, which installation i believe is identical to the installation process DP-Tuner is an hour long process, then your loaded goodies are at your fingertips. Major downfall is you do have to send it in to get altered for new tunes, which will cost more money.

Something i considered is yes, you can download things off the internet for programs BUT...are you %100 sure some fool didn't write them? OR would you rather pay the money to know whatever is going on inside that rumbly 7.3L engine compartment is proven and correct?

Just something i'd like to throw out there, IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH YOUR VEHICLE, regardless of company, you will most likely be liable to fix your own vehicle. They do not know how well it was maintained or how hard you were pushing,exc. This is not meant to scare you but make you more aware research and feedback should help you decide, not what 1 or 2 of your buddies say.

I went with TS 6 position because it was reasonable pricewise and programs can be burned over others if I ever step up. Which also goes for DP, their stuff is proven! And can also be modified if the time comes. Companies like these SPECIALIZE so they are well educated on what they are sending you because their reputation is on the line.

HAVE FUN IN YOUR VENTURE!

 

I am happy with my DP Tuner. I think if you give your tune choice some thought when you order, there will be no need to send it back in for additional tunes. If your into towing you will go with one or more of the 20/40/60/80 HP tow tune and Decel (if you have a automatic trans) a 60Economy would be good.

Changing tunes on the fly is the way to go. Just install the DP and the EX switcher and your good to go.

You have gauges, EGT and Trans temp is a must have. if your are towing, I would also add a bigger trans cooler like a 6.0.

 

Not really, if you change a few things Tunes will need to be re-burned. I had to send my DP F5 back to have adjustments made for shifting, a BTS transmission, etc.... All at a cost with shipping, down time, and re-burn fees

I have since made major upgrades to the engine and went with a hydra. I paid a flat fee for tuning. I've had additional tunes installed, changed/modified all with out shipping and reburning charges and most importantly no down time.

Now I'm not saying the shipping and down time are not avoidable depending on the type of chip you buy but it all needs to be taken into consideration.

Myself personally, I am thrilled with the ability to want a tune tweaked or a new one and send an email and get a new by email in about a day without having to break out the credit card.