From XE Ryder @ LXForums.com – Used with his permission
1) INTRODUCTION
With so many of us using this great tool, and many making discoveries on its use, the information had become scattered out among many articles and topics. About a year ago this article was generated to pool our information into one resource that has the summary of our experience and knowledge with this powerful tool.
Please help us keep this article up to date and accurate with your factual replies to this thread. If you find something outdated, incorrect or otherwise cryptic, speak up and it will be corrected. Edits will be made to this article as often as deemed necessary to keep it a truly helpful resource for those of us using this tool. This knowledgebase is endorsed by Diablosport and was generated by working closely with them, so you can be sure the information you find here is accurate.
This article is intended to assist owners at all levels of comfort with tweaking the 5.7/6.1 Hemi PCM (Powertrain Control Module). Some information may seem quite simple to the more advanced. Let’s keep this discussion on subject and with the mind to offer the community a helpful resource! Thanks to all who contribute!
NOTES: * 3.5 V6 & 6.1L Hemi: Most of this info also applies directly to the 6.1L Hemi, but clearly such features as MDS (Multiple Displacement System) Disable will be absent from your menus. * Thank You to: Christy, John, Mike, Johan, of DS & Bob of SVS Motorsport. * Last revision date 6-1-08
2) PREREQUISITES
You should have your LX vehicle fueled with a minimum of 91 Octane fuel before installing any tune, unless following an advanced feature discussed later on running 89 Octane. Failure to run 91 Octane and installing a tune anyway can cause a lot of Knock/Pinging, which is rough on the motor, and it will result in reduced power.
The Predator #7135 and your 5.7 Hemi vehicle will become “Married” together, preventing the tool from being used on another applicable vehicle. During this process your Original Backup File will be created on the tool. Also, using the tool the first time to install a tune, you may be prompted to perform a DCX Calibration Update to your PCM.
You will need an interface cable that can be obtained from your DS Dealer OR Radio Shack. You will need a Serial or USB port available on your PC/Laptop. Check this before you buy! The Radio shack part number for the Serial Cable is 26-117 and the USB to Serial cable is 26-183. If your Predator cannot reach your PC while plugged into your vehicle’s OBD II port, you will also need a power supply from your DS Dealer OR Radio Shack part number 273-1776 for the adaptor and 273-1717 for the correct tip (make sure you plug the tip on so the center pin is Positive +).
Don’t forget to stop by the Diablosport website to register your Predator. Doing so will insure you are notified by e-mail of important product related updates. Look on the back of your Predator for a small sticker with your serial number, and go to this page to register:
DiabloSport :: Gas and Diesel Tuning Systems
3) PREDATOR CONTROLS
The Predator is quite intuitive to use once you get past the “I hope I don’t hurt my car” fears. It features the standard OBDII plug to connect to your car, a large easy to read screen, and several buttons. There are Arrow buttons for each direction to help select and adjust items, the center Enter button for choosing items, and the upper left Escape button for backing up one menu level in case you find yourself in the wrong area or not wanting to change a selection.
When examining menu items, if a menu item appears to be cut off at the right side of the screen, select the item and press the Right Arrow button; the title will begin to scroll back and forth so you can read it. Items in the tool appear Selected or Modified by highlighting or having an Asterisk “*” mark in front of them, so you can always tell where your changes are and which selections you have made.
Note the small round DC power supply input near the top of the unit, and the standard Serial port on the bottom, a RS-232 DB9 connector. Both are required for interfacing the unit to a PC, and this will be required to use some of the more powerful features the unit offers, as well as updating the tool.
The tool will often prompt you to do specific actions, so pay attention and do not let anyone interrupt you or open doors/use accessories during the process. If the tool asks you to Cycle Key or Turn Key Off/On, turn the key to Off, after 1 second turn it to On, but never engage the starter (unless data logging – more on this later).
4) GETTING STARTED
Before reading on, you should have already examined your Predator, read the short printed manual, obtained a Power adaptor and Serial cable, or USB to Serial cable for PC interface. The Predator is like an infinitely adjustable “chip” that is also reversible to stock at any time, all with only one tool required.
You should also download and read the Complete Owner’s Manual, which has quite a bit more information in it, than the leaflet shipped with the tool. Other useful resources and utilities you should download and read or setup, are the DS Downloader Instructions, the DS Downloader Installer program for interfacing with the tool, the Revision Update Instructions and Predator Tool Updates or “crom” firmware files.
If you plan to use the powerful Data Logging functions of the Predator, you will want the Data Viewer program as well. These can all be obtained from:
DiabloSport :: Gas and Diesel Tuning Systems
When you first connect your tool to your vehicle, it may tell you that your vehicle requires a DCX Calibration Update before you can install a tune. This is fairly common and the step-by-step directions for performing this process can be found here:
DiabloSport :: Gas and Diesel Tuning Systems
Performing this DCX Calibration Update will give you updated base calibrations for your PCM, which would normally require a trip to the dealer and use of the StarScan tool. Don’t confuse this with Predator “Crom” updates, in which it is the tool, not your car which is updated.
When you have your tool powered up, look at the top line of the display, note the current firmware version shown, such as “v.8T16a” or “v.6R17”. Thus far, the “T” is for Test or Beta versions of firmware and “R” has been for the Release or final approved versions of firmware. Bear in mind that running Test versions may unlock new features sooner, but you may uncover a bug in the process of running these newer test versions. If you do find an anomaly, especially if it is Repeatable, drop Diablosport a line with as much info as possible on the occurrence.
If you have found there is newer “Crom” firmware available for the tool, and you wish to update, you can perform this process with the DS Downloader software previously mentioned, following the update instructions on the page linked above. Another helpful resource which summarizes many functions discussed here can be found here:
DiabloSport :: Gas and Diesel Tuning Systems
If you need some help or a specific question answered don’t hesitate to ask the people at Diablosport directly. You can do so on their Forum:
View Forum - Predator Dodge Gas :: DiabloSport :: Gas and Diesel Tuning Systems
Or you can call them from 9-5 Eastern Mon-Fri at 561-908-0400. In my experience they are very helpful and any hold time has been very reasonable. Now you are ready to Install a Tune.