Convince me on getting a tuner

[TonyMM]

Hi Hemi450hp,

I have read the 16 pages and thanks for all infos!

I am now convinced to get the combo for my 2016 RAM 1500 Hemi (DS Trinity and modified PCM) but I still have a few questions:

1/ What if the DS modified PCM is flashed from the dealer (for example, if I forget to replace it with the stock PCM and drive to the dealer for something or if my wife just drive the truck there etc...)?
a/ Will the dealer notice that my PCM is a modified PCM ?
and
b/ Do I have after the dealer flashed the modified PCM to send it back to you or DS to replace it or to reset it etc... ? Or can I still tune it again with the Trinity and load the Hemifever tune again on it?

3/ Can I turn manually (via Trinity) the MDS on/off after I loaded the Hemifever tune in my modified PCM ? or do I need a different Hemifever tune ?

4/ Can I get several Hemifever tune depending on the Octane I want to use in the $125 package ? (how many Hemifever tunes are included in the $125 package: 1 ?)

5/ If Dodge has some important recall/ updates, how will they be incorporated in my modified PCM (which will not be flashed from the dealer) and its Hemifever tune ?

 

[Hemi450hp]

Hi Hemi450hp,

I have read the 16 pages and thanks for all infos!

I am now convinced to get the combo for my 2016 RAM 1500 Hemi (DS Trinity and modified PCM) but I still have a few questions:

1/ What if the DS modified PCM is flashed from the dealer (for example, if I forget to replace it with the stock PCM and drive to the dealer for something or if my wife just drive the truck there etc...)?
a/ Will the dealer notice that my PCM is a modified PCM ?
and
b/ Do I have after the dealer flashed the modified PCM to send it back to you or DS to replace it or to reset it etc... ? Or can I still tune it again with the Trinity and load the Hemifever tune again on it?

3/ Can I turn manually (via Trinity) the MDS on/off after I loaded the Hemifever tune in my modified PCM ? or do I need a different Hemifever tune ?

4/ Can I get several Hemifever tune depending on the Octane I want to use in the $125 package ? (how many Hemifever tunes are included in the $125 package: 1 ?)

5/ If Dodge has some important recall/ updates, how will they be incorporated in my modified PCM (which will not be flashed from the dealer) and its Hemifever tune ?

1. If the dealership flashes over your tune, it will lick out the tuner. Diablo can fix this for you, but they charge about $150 to do so.

2. Yes, you can turn MDS on or off yourself anytime you want using the Trinity.

3. Hemifever is going to send you 2 tunes to start with (usually an 89 and 93 depending on what fuel you have available). They will modify those tunes for free as you continue to modify your truck.

4. If there is ever a recall that requires the PCM to be flashed, then simply reload the stock tune, and let the dealership flash the unlocked PCM. Then reload your custom tuning when they are done.

 

[Northshoremb]

You have done nothing but cry about tuners since the day you joined this site. In your expert opinion, please let us know what other performance mods you can put on a 2015-16 that will get you 30hp/tq to the wheels, much better throttle response/drivability, and better gas mileage?

I see you spent about $1500 for a leveling kit and 34" toyos which not only made your truck slower, but also caused you to lose some mileage as well. Funny how you can justify that, yet complain about tuning every time you get on the forum.

You make me laugh when a Company makes comments like that. You may get better gas mileage 1-3mpg but then it cost you a lot more at the pump so in reality your not getting better mileage then running 87 octane. Also that's with 93 which not every place has like others have stated so then that knocks the HP down so quit saying 33hp when normal people don't run 93 octane. Secondly just because I put Bilson shock and 34" Toyos on doesn't mean the hem doesn't have power. I find this truck has 2 times the seat of my pants feel then my previous Chevy so don't need to spend $1500 CAN for 20 HP and more money at the pump. If the tuner was programmable on the fly like a Diesel and programmable to the point I could choose best fuel economy while on the highway like 5mpg or better and then next day choose more horsepower and torque for towing without having to by an additional PCM then I would say HELL YA. Don't tell me or others what's best for us when your a business looking to make money.
When the programmer can make 30 HP at 87 octane and be switched on the fly then you can have my money

Also on a side note I may have spend $1500 Canadian on new tires/rim and shock but sold stock rims and tires for $1400 so that's only $100 investment not $1500
Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

 

[AustinB]

IMO

 

[Hemi450hp]

You make me laugh when a Company makes comments like that. You may get better gas mileage 1-3mpg but then it cost you a lot more at the pump so in reality your not getting better mileage then running 87 octane. Also that's with 93 which not every place has like others have stated so then that knocks the HP down so quit saying 33hp when normal people don't run 93 octane. Secondly just because I put Bilson shock and 34" Toyos on doesn't mean the hem doesn't have power. I find this truck has 2 times the seat of my pants feel then my previous Chevy so don't need to spend $1500 CAN for 20 HP and more money at the pump. If the tuner was programmable on the fly like a Diesel and programmable to the point I could choose best fuel economy while on the highway like 5mpg or better and then next day choose more horsepower and torque for towing without having to by an additional PCM then I would say HELL YA. Don't tell me or others what's best for us when your a business looking to make money.
When the programmer can make 30 HP at 87 octane and be switched on the fly then you can have my money

Nobody said you NEED a tuner. This thread is titled "convince me on getting a tuner". I have outlined exactly what to expect from tuning. You can get those same mileage and driveability gains from 87 or 89 octane tuning as well as about 25hp/tq to the wheels.

As for it being the best bang for buck, please prove me wrong on that. As I asked you in my last reply, what other mods can you buy for a 2015-16 truck that are going to get you better performance, mileage, and drivability than a custom tune?

Its OK if you dont want or need those extra benefits. Nobody is forcing you to purchase anything for your truck. This thread was posted by someone who simply wanted to know why a tuner would be beneficial. Nothing more.

 

[TonyMM]

1. If the dealership flashes over your tune, it will lick out the tuner. Diablo can fix this for you, but they charge about $150 to do so.

2. Yes, you can turn MDS on or off yourself anytime you want using the Trinity.

3. Hemifever is going to send you 2 tunes to start with (usually an 89 and 93 depending on what fuel you have available). They will modify those tunes for free as you continue to modify your truck.

4. If there is ever a recall that requires the PCM to be flashed, then simply reload the stock tune, and let the dealership flash the unlocked PCM. Then reload your custom tuning when they are done.

Hi Hemi450hp,

Thanks for the fast reply!

1.
a/ I suppose the dodge dealer would notice that it is a modified PCM, right?
b/ It means that in this case I will just have to send the DS modified PCM, which was flashed from the dealer, back to DS (and in the meantime I can use the factory PCM) until I get it back, right?

2. Good!
Can I also change with the trinity the throttle, etc...?

3. Good!

4. Now I am confused...
If the dealer flashes the unlocked PCM (in which I loaded the stock tune), then I cannot reload the custom tuning after (point #1) ???

 

[Hemi450hp]

Hi Hemi450hp,

Thanks for the fast reply!

1.
a/ I suppose the dodge dealer would notice that it is a modified PCM, right?
b/ It means that in this case I will just have to send the DS modified PCM, which was flashed from the dealer, back to DS (and in the meantime I can use the factory PCM) until I get it back, right?

2. Good!
Can I also change with the trinity the throttle, etc...?

3. Good!

4. Now I am confused...
If the dealer flashes the unlocked PCM (in which I loaded the stock tune), then I cannot reload the custom tuning after (point #1) ???

Diablo puts a small sticker on the back of the PCM, so the dealership would have to physically remove the PCM to see that it had been modified. When they flash the PCM, they do so by simply plugging into the OBDII port under the steering wheels, so they shouldnt have any reason to remove the PCM itself.

Yes, you can change throttle boost, tire size, speed limiter, MDS, and many other parameters as well.

When you install a tune in the truck, your performance tune gets loaded into the PCM and the stock tune file gets saved onto the tuner. If the dealership then flashes a stock file into the PCM, you now have stock files on both the PCM and tuner, and your performance tuning is gone. This is what locks up the tuner.

If you return to stock before taking it in for service, your PCM will have your original stock file loaded into it, and the performance tuning will be back on the tuner again. This means you simply reload your performance tuning right back to the PCM after the dealership has flashed it.

 

[TonyMM]

Diablo puts a small sticker on the back of the PCM, so the dealership would have to physically remove the PCM to see that it had been modified. When they flash the PCM, they do so by simply plugging into the OBDII port under the steering wheels, so they shouldnt have any reason to remove the PCM itself.

Yes, you can change throttle boost, tire size, speed limiter, MDS, and many other parameters as well.

When you install a tune in the truck, your performance tune gets loaded into the PCM and the stock tune file gets saved onto the tuner. If the dealership then flashes a stock file into the PCM, you now have stock files on both the PCM and tuner, and your performance tuning is gone. This is what locks up the tuner.

If you return to stock before taking it in for service, your PCM will have your original stock file loaded into it, and the performance tuning will be back on the tuner again. This means you simply reload your performance tuning right back to the PCM after the dealership has flashed it.

Hi Hemi450hp,

It becomes clearer to me, thanks.

...However how do I get the Hemifever performance tune ? per Email? if yes, then I could save this performance tune from Hemifever on my pc for example and then reload it to the tuner/ trinity (instead of the stock tune) and then apply it to the modified PCM which had been flashed from the dealer, right? Or where is my mistake ?

 

[Hemi450hp]

Hi Hemi450hp,

It becomes clearer to me, thanks.

...However how do I get the Hemifever performance tune ? per Email? if yes, then I could save this performance tune from Hemifever on my pc for example and then reload it to the tuner/ trinity (instead of the stock tune) and then apply it to the modified PCM which had been flashed from the dealer, right? Or where is my mistake ?

Hemifever will email loading instructions to you once you place your order, but here is the run down...

When you get the tuner and PCM, you will install the unlocked PCM onto the truck first. Then update your tuner on your home computer and load 1 of the preloaded Diablo tunes onto the truck. When you do this, it is going to save your stock backup file onto the tuner. You then reply to Hemifever's instruction email by sending him your truck info and your stock backup file, and the last tune written. Both of those files will be saved on the tuner.

Once they receive this, they will then email 2 custom tunes to you. You then save those tunes from your email to the tuner, and then plug it back into your truck. Once you go to load the custom tunes into the truck, you will now see a custom tune folder where you can select the custom tuning.

 

[TonyMM]

Hemifever will email loading instructions to you once you place your order, but here is the run down...

When you get the tuner and PCM, you will install the unlocked PCM onto the truck first. Then update your tuner on your home computer and load 1 of the preloaded Diablo tunes onto the truck. When you do this, it is going to save your stock backup file onto the tuner. You then reply to Hemifever's instruction email by sending him your truck info and your stock backup file, and the last tune written. Both of those files will be saved on the tuner.

Once they receive this, they will then email 2 custom tunes to you. You then save those tunes from your email to the tuner, and then plug it back into your truck. Once you go to load the custom tunes into the truck, you will now see a custom tune folder where you can select the custom tuning.

Sorry still not sure where I make a mistake....

Here the steps I understood. Correct me where I make a mistake.
1/ Installing the modified PCM in the truck
2/ Update of the tuner with a DS tune (download from DS into the tuner)
(not sure if the DS tune is now also on my pc but not important here)
3/ Installing a DS tune into the DS modified PCM
(the stock tune of the modified PCM will now be sent to the tuner)
4/ Sending Hemifever this stock tune together with all mods of the truck (and the last tune written. Do you mean the DS tune? here I am not sure to understand why he needs this DS tune. And why these two tunes will be stored in my tuner as you wrote. I thought the tuner store one tune only and swap the downloaded tune with the tune of the PCM each time.
5/ Receiving from Hemifever 2 personalized tunes for my truck via Email
(not sure if these 2 tunes from Hemifever will be stored on my pc)
6/ Upload these 2 tunes from hemifever into the tuner
7/ Select one of these tunes from Hemifever and transfer it to the modified PCM.
(the tuner will now receive the previous tune of the modified PCM, it means the first tune of DS/ Step #3)

so my questions:

- if the above is correct, then if the dealer flashes the modified PCM (which has the hemifever tune on it), I still can upload the Hemifever tune that I have received per Email again into the tuner and then transfer if to the modified PCM which has been flashed from the dealer, right ?
- How many tunes can I store in the tuner? only one of several?

(I must make a mistake somewhere.....)

 

[RLJ10X]

North, I run nothing but 93 in the Mustang. I guess I'm not normal. I run nothing but 91 in the truck.

This site isn't about saving money. It pretty much the opposite. Matt has never steered me wrong.

All this Tuner Talk has prompted me to get mine out. I haven't touched it in a long time. My truck has always ran great, and shifted great as well. But I did adjust my WOT shift in second and third up to 6100 just for fun.

 

[Hemi450hp]

Sorry still not sure where I make a mistake....

Here the steps I understood. Correct me where I make a mistake.
1/ Installing the modified PCM in the truck
2/ Update of the tuner with a DS tune (download from DS into the tuner)
(not sure if the DS tune is now also on my pc but not important here)
3/ Installing a DS tune into the DS modified PCM
(the stock tune of the modified PCM will now be sent to the tuner)
4/ Sending Hemifever this stock tune together with all mods of the truck (and the last tune written. Do you mean the DS tune? here I am not sure to understand why he needs this DS tune. And why these two tunes will be stored in my tuner as you wrote. I thought the tuner store one tune only and swap the downloaded tune with the tune of the PCM each time.
5/ Receiving from Hemifever 2 personalized tunes for my truck via Email
(not sure if these 2 tunes from Hemifever will be stored on my pc)
6/ Upload these 2 tunes from hemifever into the tuner
7/ Select one of these tunes from Hemifever and transfer it to the modified PCM.
(the tuner will now receive the previous tune of the modified PCM, it means the first tune of DS/ Step #3)

so my questions:

- if the above is correct, then if the dealer flashes the modified PCM (which has the hemifever tune on it), I still can upload the Hemifever tune that I have received per Email again into the tuner and then transfer if to the modified PCM which has been flashed from the dealer, right ?
- How many tunes can I store in the tuner? only one of several?

(I must make a mistake somewhere.....)

Tony, I think you may be trying to overthink the process. Its tougher to explain in text like this, so give us a shout tomorrow when you have time, and I will walk you through it. It will be very easy to understand once we go over this by phone. You can reach me direct at 214-789-1110.

Matt

 

[TonyMM]

Tony, I think you may be trying to overthink the process. Its tougher to explain in text like this, so give us a shout tomorrow when you have time, and I will walk you through it. It will be very easy to understand once we go over this by phone. You can reach me direct at 214-789-1110.

Matt

Hi Matt,

I am currently in Europe so not that easy but even if I must make a mistake in my thinking here, I understand that once the dealer flashed the DS modified PCM I have to send it to DS ($150). So I have to inform my wife accordingly if she drives the truck and make a stop at the dealer

Anyway I am convinced to get this DS tuner (together with the obligatory modified PCM for the 15+ RAM) together with a Hemifever tune. My factory ordered truck should arrive end of next month I hope.

The time waiting for my truck is making it everyday more expensive as I find many mods to do

 

[Hemi450hp]

Gotcha. To keep it simple, as long as she returns the tuning back to stock first, then it doesnt matter if the dealership flashes the PCM or not. If the dealership does flash over your performance tuning, then Diablo will have to unlock the tuner for you...the PCM itself will be fine.

 

[TonyMM]

Gotcha. To keep it simple, as long as she returns the tuning back to stock first, then it doesnt matter if the dealership flashes the PCM or not. If the dealership does flash over your performance tuning, then Diablo will have to unlock the tuner for you...the PCM itself will be fine.

That was my mistake! I understood the PCM will have to be sent to DS...sorry read too fast :-( OK, the tuner has to be fixed, ok. Do I have to send it to DS or do they fix it "online" ?

 

[Hemi450hp]

That was my mistake! I understood the PCM will have to be sent to DS...sorry read too fast :-( OK, the tuner has to be fixed, ok. Do I have to send it to DS or do they fix it "online" ?

They can usually fix it by emailing you a new file to reset the tuner. Worst case scenario, it only takes them 1 day to fix and ship back if the tuner itself is damaged.

 

[TonyMM]

They can usually fix it by emailing you a new file to reset the tuner. Worst case scenario, it only takes them 1 day to fix and ship back if the tuner itself is damaged.

Great! all my questions answered !......THANKS AGAIN !!!!

 

[TonyMM]

....the only trade off is that my truck is going to cost me $1000 more now (I should never look back at this forum )

 

[Hemi450hp]

The tuner is just the start. I always tell myself I'm going to keep it simple, and then a few years later, I'm looking at $5000+ in upgrades...haha. Its an addiction that's tough to break.

 

[TonyMM]

The tuner is just the start. I always tell myself I'm going to keep it simple, and then a few years later, I'm looking at $5000+ in upgrades...haha. Its an addiction that's tough to break.

I swear I will not make any mods