Had trouble
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 326
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Had trouble
I discovered an oil leak and decided to return the truck back to the factory
tune before taking the truck to the dealer. I installed the Predator and went
thru the troubleshooting menu to reinstall the original tune. Everthing was going fine until near the end and it just quit. The next thing it said was "invalid license". I unplugged the tuner, and waited a few seconds.
I started the process over. It did the same thing. I again unplug the tuner and
wait alittle longer before starting over. I do have a battery charger plugged up. The third time is the charm. Has anyone else had this problem? This is the
first time I have had this to happen. I am alittle leary now using the Predator.
EJ
tune before taking the truck to the dealer. I installed the Predator and went
thru the troubleshooting menu to reinstall the original tune. Everthing was going fine until near the end and it just quit. The next thing it said was "invalid license". I unplugged the tuner, and waited a few seconds.
I started the process over. It did the same thing. I again unplug the tuner and
wait alittle longer before starting over. I do have a battery charger plugged up. The third time is the charm. Has anyone else had this problem? This is the
first time I have had this to happen. I am alittle leary now using the Predator.
EJ
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
Check the Predator manual. It says: Any change in voltage during Flash programming procedures WILL interrupt the writing process. It is on page vi.
All the turning on and off with the ignition will really drain the batteries, especially in cooler weather. Glow plugs really use the juice. Plus any accessories will add to the problem.
I always use the battery charger. The techs at the service department are supposed to use a battery charger when flashing the PCM.
All the turning on and off with the ignition will really drain the batteries, especially in cooler weather. Glow plugs really use the juice. Plus any accessories will add to the problem.
I always use the battery charger. The techs at the service department are supposed to use a battery charger when flashing the PCM.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 450
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From: TEXAS
Maybe not enough juice from the charger? How many amps was it set on? Low won't do it, most batt. chargers are putting out about 2 amps on low. Just an idea, something to check, give it 20 or 40 amps.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 450
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From: TEXAS
Just wondering if maybe eharman had his charger on low. That would not provide enough juice when glow plugs cycled. Also, some chargers are light duty like the ones for lawn mowers and motorcycles that just won't handle the power needed to maintain a steady voltage when the amps jump around. It is just an idea before he sends the programmer back or tries to upload again and fails.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 450
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From: TEXAS
At our shop we have a heavy duty charger and someone goofed and only got the charger with 2 power settings so it only goes to 40 not 60 amps, let me tell you that takes forever to charge 4 big truck batteries from stone cold dead to start the big rigs. Anyhow, if you put it on a fully charged battery on high it will only put out what the battery needs, so setting it too high will not hurt anything just don't put it on boost, not good for the charger.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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Originally Posted by me1mckee
Maybe not enough juice from the charger? How many amps was it set on? Low won't do it, most batt. chargers are putting out about 2 amps on low. Just an idea, something to check, give it 20 or 40 amps.
side instead of the full charge side. I will be sure to use the full charge setting
when I try to tune my truck again.
Thanks guys...........
EJ
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,483
Likes: 2
From: Central Texas
You only need enough amp to keep the voltage from dropping. Each time you go through the key cycling, you are turning on the glow plugs, vacuum pump, fuel pump, etc. You might be able to get through the cycle without much problem if the engine is warm, but if the engine is cold and the outside air temp is cold then the glow plugs and all go crazy. I would think 10 amps would be fine. I have not seen mine go over 8 amps and it is a 20 somehting year old charger.
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