Hey all.

I just posted in the chips/tuners forum SEE HERE and I'd like to hear some input from you experienced predator/7.3 owners about what it's diagnostic capabilities really are.

Thx.

 

So far I have not been able to pull any codes from my truck, even when the SES light was on. I believe it was overboost, but was not able to pull it. SES light went off in a minute so. Maybe I have to pull when it gets above 24 Lbs, but it only stays there only for a few seconds or so and was too busy at the time to pull the data.

I have hooked up the Predator diagnostic port and hooked it up to my laptop via a serial port for real time output just once. Wanted to make sure it could be done. You have to select what you want to monitor. I was able to save about 45 minuted before I turned it off. It also can store about 30 minutes worth of data on the Predator for later viewing.

Now that my SES light stays off (pop-off valve for overboost) I do not get a chance to try to pull any codes.

Also the Predator manual does not go into detail about setting up the real time access to the data, just that your able to do it. It suggest some books for reading to help. I find that you are only allowed to have a limited number of scan points displayed in the graph. I have not been able to figure it out yet, need to play with it more. I was more interested in the tuner aspect of the Predator.

 

Not exactly the glowing review I was hoping for, but helpful none the less.

The overboost code will reset itself on every drive cycle, so you pretty much have to capture it as it happens, or at least before you crank the truck again, so that may not be a fair representation of what it will do.

Vauge instructions, references to other data and having to learn the system on the fly isn't exactly what I was expecting either....but I may be willing to overlook the operational learning curve if the power really kicks tail.

I read a comparison test the other day between the Predator, SCMT, and Evoloution and the predator did more than hold it's own.....seems like the 100HP tune actually made something like 124HP over stock. The power output is what got me thinking about gettng the tuner instead of the other types of scantools.

I appreciate your input.

Anybody have better luck with it's "other" functions?

 

Ive got the diablo sport on my truck and i mostly run the tow mode because i dont want to take the time to reprogram if/when i hook up to a trailer that is a little heavy (early 99, 6 spd). As far as i can tell the code reading capability of it is good (its not a snap-on scanner though as we all know). Itll read some basic codes for the powertrain, but probably wont read body control or other codes i dont think.
I think i have the older version of the programer with only 4 settings (including stock) and ive found that the 60 hp is a great all around program, itll move enough for me.
The only thing i dont like about the programer is the down time when i reprogram, even though its less then 5 mins.

 

I'm more familiar with the Gasser Predator for 5.4L trucks, and I absolutely loved it in my F-150 in my sig. The ability to adjust for tires and gear, spark advance, shift points, and diagnostics, made it a really cool tool to have!

Now that I've got a '00 SD 7.3L in my driveway, and the F-150 on the auction block, I'm prolly going to sell the gasser predator, and buy a 7.3L tuner.

The problem I have with most of the tuners is not being able to adjust for gears or tires. I am not sure on how hot of a tune you can run before you need to upgrade the exhaust and add gauges.

If I need to add gauges to run a tuner, I will prolly look towards the Edge Evo, as it is all in one deal (if I understand correctly..)

 

I've been digging in the archived threads on another diesel board and found an answer to basically the same question I posed. In reference to the Predator:

"I has about 6 different readers, an example would be the tranny one that I have been using recently. You can choose a select few or all in the list of sensors. I used the TCC on\off, TC soleniod duty cycle, selected gear applied, and vehicle speed sensor. I was able to determine at what speed it would shift into the next gear both up and down, when the TCC locked, and at what percentage the lockup was at which is where I was able to determine what my trans problem was. It will log everything you select as well and you can run it back in real time or fast forward or slow motion through it. If you plan to log a lot you can hook up a laptop to it via a serial cable and stream everything to the laptop to read through later. It reads all the sensors in the engine and transmission. The only thing it cant do in real time, (I Havent hooked it to a laptop yet) is read and log everything at one time, like engine sensors and transmission sensors in one log, you would have to do one and rerun doing the other. Right now I am running the 60HP setting and love it, plenty of power and my MPG has gone up about 2 MPG as long as I keep my right foot out of it. Now that the tranny is shifting OK, I plan to go to the next setting and see how it runs. The EGT's do go through the roof if you have your foot in it for any length of time, but I think the Edge will too. I dont see smoke being an issue that others have claimed, I see a little when its cold, but looks like it always did once warmed up, which is next to nothing. The readouts of the sensors are for the most part in the voltages being read, so if you dont know what they are supposed to be, then it wont help much, but if you do, it is really helpful. I liked being able to see the RPM's of the TC, input shaft, and output shaft. The TC is engine RPM's the input shaft the rpms of the impeller until lockup then you get a 1:1 match to the TC, and the output shaft shows what speed your driveshaft is turning in relation to the engine speed. I haven tplayed much with the other readouts, there is one for the fuel, but havent spent the time to analyze what it all represents. I like that I can use one hand on it to set it up while driving so I can scroll through things when I need to. I found my speedometer is off by as much a 4MPH at times, other times dead on. I know it is the speedo and not the sensors due to the fact that I matched my speed to one of those police optical speed signs they set up at times. Doing 25MPH my speedo read 28. Main reason I went Diablo was due to a lot of people on this board reporting little issues with the Edge, like tranny slipping, or not being able to start, or not being able to restore the stock program, etc. I didnt see anybody complaining about diablo, and I was able to get one for a bit less than the Edge. The SCMT I decided just didnt cut it for me, not enough features and not enough power for the same or higher price."

Evidently this person had tranny problems and figured out how to use it from neccessity, which is good news for all of us.

 

Actually its the Edge Juice w/Attitude. But at the price of it (around $700) you could go with a different tuner and get a set of good gauges. One of the other problems with the attitude monitor is that it doesn't monitor tranny temp. Which is only a problem if you have an auto, obviously.
Mike

 

Oh yeah, I also found the tuner comparison I was talking about.

If you skip the editorials and look at the raw numbers it's a pretty informative article.

http://www.allturbopower.com/newslet...er_review.html

 

Why hasn't anyone written a computer application for these rigs? You can easily convert a laptop to a full-on programmer. http://www.vag-com.com/eng/index.html
Unfortunatly for Ford owners this is only for VW and Audi. But I cannot understand why someone hasn't done this yet for all the big three domestics.

 

MJ, thanks for the for the clarification.


Cookie... That quote about the user and the predator, is true about the tuner, as far as tranny functions. On my gasser predator, you can watch a whole host of tranny functions, % lockup, gear top, TFT,....just about any thing you can dream up. You can also adjust the firmness of the shifts. I never fiddled with mine past adjusting the gears and tires, tranny firm, and spark advance.

Kwik, From what I've read on the net, and have heard from Ken, Ford uses a whole host of different computer logic, that varies from vehicle to vehicle. This would be my guess as to why you haven't seen a labtop tuner program yet.

 

Anyone has.

http://www.autoenginuity.com/products.html

 

That's a scanner and doesn't have programmer capabilities.

There are several systems for Fords that can be used from a laptop:

SCT has an end user package (Motorhaven.com carries it).
Sniper will be coming out with something in a few weeks (MotorHaven.com will carry it).
Tweecer has been out for a while but has limited applications.
Diablo Sport has the Revolution package but its very expensive (geared towards dealers).

 

Kwik

In addition to what superrangerman2002 said, Ford uses security practices that tend to lock the code. Ford has also been known to put code into the program that absolutely has nothing to down with operation of the vehicle. This practice requires manual inspection and eliminates the use of automated code readers. I have had a fair amount of exposure to automotive programming and right now GM seems to be the easiest followed by Ford and then Dodge. I wish it was as easy as firing up a Visual Basic .NET program...hell I would have over 1000 HP by now if that were the case.

cookie,

The numbers in my sig are actual rear wheel horsepower numbers at the 100 HP setting. This was on a stock truck with only an open element filter. Since then I have added the ABPRV, 5" exhaust, HX mod and Edge stuff. Not sure what it would turn now with the 5" exhaust. I suspect I could see an additional 20-30 hp but since the move I don't have access to a dyno anymore so I don't know what the new numbers would be. All I know is that the truck flat hauls A$$ right now. I still get the pesky codes (cause I need to adjust my ABPRV) and yes I can clear them with the programmer but I just ignore them. Wife refuses to ride with me when I get a little heavy on the go pedal.

 

Thank you Mike. Your numbers look about right for a "stock" truck. I also agree with your estimates for the current mods...I'd put your torque pretty close to 700 at this point.

Have you played with it's data logging features any? That's what I'm really after..a good handheld scan tool that also contains a back up power program in the event that my chip goes down. If it makes better power than my chip, which I think is unlikely, then it's sauce for the goose.

 

Haven't had the chance to play with this feature yet and now the Father-in-law has borrowed it for the upcoming tow season so I probably won't see it again until next winter.