cleatus12r, thank you for answering those questions i dont see why anyone would flame you about your answers they are valid and you backed them up, to me that is what i am asking others to, simply explain to the world why it takes 50 dollars worth of a tune? especially a high idle tune that is litterally one field.

 

I don't see it violating any rules but I do agree with Jim on this point:

In that case, there's nothing else to learn here.

 

Not sure that was a good thing to say in a post. We will be happy to try and answer anything you ask about a problem with your truck, but I don't see why you insist on a company justifying their price for a product. What is it you want out of this kind of thread?

 

Yes, it is one function and easy to change.
I think that the price structure is based on ease of calculation.

 

answers of which i have only recieved one from a person who tunes his own vehicles and that was cletus, all the other post so far have not been answers to anything but defensive remarks because of someones purchase.

and why wasnt it a good thing to post? because i believe that arbitrarily shutting a thread down because a certain person doesnt like where its going without a justified reason is a bad thing is all.

 

see thats an answer

if the price structure is based on ease of calculation then does a one function change justify said price?

 

and since cletus seems to be the only one with custom tuning experience willing to answer my questions decently and respectfully i will take this off board and pm cletus directly and all the other newbs like me that want to know why a tuner is so expensive will have to just suck it up and do it and not learn from this thread

 

I did not subscribe to the thread at all. I saw a thread that by past practices can turn very badly very quickly and simply made a statement in hopes that it would not go that route.

 

my appologies i miss read your first post about watching this post closely.

please explain to me though where it is crossing the line?

 

Bingo! As stated in a previous post... if you don't think that $50 a tune is worth it buy something else. Or keep your truck stock. It's all about preference. I work in an industry where I'm licensed to do a certain kind of work. If someone without that license performs the same work (which they may be technically able to do) they will get fined. I have the ability to charge a fair market price for my time because of my experience. If someone doesn't want to pay what I am asking then they need to hire someone else to work for them. I don't have to explain why my price is xxx dollars more than theirs. And I surely don't have to lower my standards to compete with a low baller either.

 

Actually the way I do it is a bit more complicated.....but that's neither here nor there.

 

I absolutely think they were worth their price.
The tunes I have is 1 - OEM, (Free), 2 - 80 Tow $45. and 3 - 80 Econo $45

Now for me, that is all I really needed. I do intend to eventually get gauges, better intake and exhaust so I can get a play tune like the 120 or 140 performance. But I won't get those without the additional supporting mods to make sure I don't hurt something else, (Gauges to watch tranny temp, boost pressure and exhaust temps).

I use my truck as a daily driver and hauling duties. For just driving, I use the 80 econo. When I behave, I can get better mileage, my fuel goes further and saves me $$. Over the long run, eventually the savings out weigh the cost of the tune.

When towing, it is usually my horses. In OEM mode, or before the chip, the shifts were not where I would of liked them to keep the shifts smooth, power when needed and this can and does cause the truck to sometimes lurch when having to downshift for a grade etc. This also caused my horses to have to stumble to catch their balance. I have had horses cut themselves doing this in a trailer when one hoof hits another leg. With the chip, the shifts are smoother, more power for the grades and less shifting on grades. Smoother ride not only for me but for my horses and less vet bills. When hauling hay, I have the additional power for merging with traffic since I usually have to go through town to get to my home. And it also changes the downshift points to where I don't have to use my brakes as much.
Win - win for me.

Any others for me is basically just for play. Now granted my fuel savings go down the tubes when I play, but hey... still worth it.

Something else to consider, is that the "tuners" don't usually make the physical chips. That is usually produced and cut elsewhere with a blank chip. That needs to be covered. Then the software...whether they create it or buy it, to program the chips...that needs to be covered. Time as well. I don't know about anyone else, but I am going to charge for my time when working. I don't give it out free unless for a friend. Heating, cooling, materials, food, and just basic cost of living has to be covered. You can't own and run a business if it doesn't make you money to live on and to "maintain" a business.

I paid a total of $325 for mine as I took advantage of a sale and got a shipping discount. Well worth it.

So now you have to consider your time. Is it worth it to you to spend say....100 hrs, fiddling with a program until you can get what you want or just pay someone else $300 to have them do it and ship it to you? No muss, no fuss.
Sure as time goes on you can get proficient with the programming and who knows, maybe even go into business for yourself. But once again...is it worth the effort?

As for the custom... OK Edge is not custom. And yes alot of these chips are "generic to a point. Edge doesn't care what build date you have...just basically the year. With the custom tunes, they need your VIN number, build date, and PCM code, (At least I sent all that to make it easier). There is a difference in PCM's and some engine components from the early, mid and late 99's. To me that is "custom" enough. BUT...that being said, some have taken their vehicles to the tuner where the tuner sat in the passenger seat with a computer and literally, custom tuned a truck to the drivers specs while going down the road. Now you will pay more, but that is for their time and expertise.

So passing the question back to you.... What is worth more to you... Your time while you learn or their expertise for something they have done hundreds of times.

 

I agree with this. What is it you're looking for? If you want info about tuning your own stuff, then ask for that information. A custom tuner will charge what they charge because that's what people pay while they can still make money. Not everyone wants to tune their own stuff, don't have time, and aren't willing to make a mistake and window a block during the learning curve.
I think it's great you want to do your own tunes, but why does it seem like you are poo-pooing on people that don't want to and companies that make money supplying a demand? I seriously don't mean to offend, but to some of us it sounds like you kind of want tunes from a custom tuner but are complaining about the pricing. If that's not the case then may I suggest you be a little clearer in what your point is.
I'm assuming you've been on Corral.net and other sites and there are huge support sections with file sharing and all out tunes for tuning your own gasser. There just doesn't seem to be that kind of culture for these trucks, but there is some support for it I've seen on other sites. Then again those fuelie 5.0's have been around since 1986 so there's been a lot of time, these trucks only since 1999. They've got 13 years on us.

 

Malodin,

First of all thank you for asking questions. Without questions asked no one will learn anything.

I can only speak on behalf of what I know my husband does and continues to learn. As for picing that had been asked before here and without getting into a pissing match between sponsors and non sponsors I will simply say this; The industry is vastly knowledgeable yes, but there are only a few who actually do this for a living. We would love nothing more then do what we do for free, but it doesn't pay the bills. We have a first time purchase price and after that if you need tweaks it is done case by case. In some cases, yes it is done for free. Pricing is relatively close between everyone in the diesel industry.

I know the market time frame in which you speak of and yes at that time it was the bomb. With all that we have had developed in the last few years there really is nothing on the market like it. It's close, but not the same. From a technological elctronical stand point our products are 15 years ahead of the rest. The computer software Jody uses is continuely changed to allow for more to be learned. With over 3600 parameters in the PCM to change, Jody is constantly finding new things out. The best thing for you to do is latch on to a live tuning event when Jody is in your area again and pick his brain. We was just in WA/OR area in May and June. This way you will be able to see how Engine and Transmission tuning is done live.

Jody can answer more of your questions, but due to our schedule he is best reached by email or phone.

jody@dp-tuner.com
822-221-0076

Thanks.

Diane

 

Can't get any better than that. Straight from the horses mouth.