Tuner options

[bassheadhemi]

Ok so my Diablo i2 took a dump and will need to be replaced. The cheaper option is to replace it with the Diablo i3 as they will offer me a discount since the device is broken, but out of warranty. The other option is the HP Tuner, but it's much more expensive (more than double than the i3).

From what I understand the HP Tuner is more flexible, but for a guy like me that set a tune once every month will I benefit from that tuner considering the price difference?

 

[Wild one]

Hp won't set a tune per say.Hp is a tuning platform that you or your tuner use to write a tune,same as Diablo's CMR platform,that a tuner uses to write a custom tune to your Diablo. If you're looking for just a canned tune,then Diablo is your better option,if you want to do a custom tune,then generally Hp is considered the better option as you can access a few more tuning platforms.

 

[bassheadhemi]

Hp won't set a tune per say.Hp is a tuning platform that you or your tuner use to write a tune,same as Diablo's CMR platform,that a tuner uses to write a custom tune to your Diablo. If you're looking for just a canned tune,then Diablo is your better option,if you want to do a custom tune,then generally Hp is considered the better option as you can access a few more tuning platforms.

Yeah sorry I knew about that, I'm already running custom tuning (PCM & TCM), just wondering if there's more features available with the HP Tuner like being able to lock the transmission in a specific gear or other useful stuff that average Joe can use. If i decide to have the truck tuned on a Dyno is it easier with the HP for the tuner?

I'm trying to put money aside for a cam, so if there's not much to gain with HP I'll simply get a replacement Diablo i3.

 

[joshuaeb09]

Yeah sorry I knew about that, I'm already running custom tuning (PCM & TCM), just wondering if there's more features available with the HP Tuner like being able to lock the transmission in a specific gear or other useful stuff that average Joe can use. If i decide to have the truck tuned on a Dyno is it easier with the HP for the tuner?

I'm trying to put money aside for a cam, so if there's not much to gain with HP I'll simply get a replacement Diablo i3.

That's going to depend a lot on your tuner. Some Dyno tuners will tune with CMR, some with HP, some can do either. HP does have more some more flexibility, but for the majority of cases there won't be that much difference. I would've rather gone HP for the flexibility, but every time I needed a tune Diablo seemed to have a fire sale on i3's with the PCM swap for cheap. Since Greene can tune on either that wasn't too hard a decision to make.

 

[crackerjack1957]

I have a Diablosport i2 & HPtuner MPVI2, just recently got the MPVI2 because I did not trust local tech that supposedly flashed BCM to 4.56.
Sure enough it was still at 3.55
HP definitely more flexible but unless you are experienced in tuning you could do some damage.
On the plus side you can change wheel diameter & gear ratio on any Ford or Mopar without paying for license (not married to vehicle)

 

[bassheadhemi]

Maybe I can post an ad locally and offer the wheel and gear adjustment service to fund my cam lol

I've been reading a little and yeah the i3 is probably my best bet since both my tuner are using CMR and will not need to pay for new tunes until I swap the cam.

 

[crackerjack1957]

Yeah HP definitely not the cheaper route.........need a laptop also to install VCM Editor & VCM Scanner.......MPVI2 works with bluetooth or wired to laptop.

 

[clint440]

I really wanted to go with HP as I felt you could do more in the long run but it was such a hassle to ship off the PCM to be unlocked. Downtime and you pay the shipping both ways. Plus you need a laptop

Diablo has the PCM exchange program which includes shipping, decent sales, and various discounts (military). Plus you get canned tunes which are definitely better than stock and you can adjust fan settings, MDS, and tire size. You get more for your money and it's pretty convenient to have a little handheld that also use to scan and clear codes.

Only reason , I really wanted HP was to see if I could get the pentastar PWM fan to work on the Hemi but in the end it was too much of a pain.

So far diablo has been fine and a custom tune kicks ass.

 

[16RamHemi]

from what i have read, and it could be incorrect, HP is the only way to tune the 8 speed transmission correct?

 

[bassheadhemi]

from what i have read, and it could be incorrect, HP is the only way to tune the 8 speed transmission correct?

No, the Diablo only have issue with some 2014, 2015+ are good.

 

[joshuaeb09]

No, the Diablo only have issue with some 2014, 2015+ are good.

This is correct. I've tuned my '16 and my '17 8 speed with Diablo. That being said their trans tune is utter garbage and I would only run a custom tune or leave it stock.

 

[16RamHemi]

No, the Diablo only have issue with some 2014, 2015+ are good.

Curious what the difference is. I have a 2014. From what i was reading, the difference with these years is that with a 2014 i do not need another PCM / swap where 2015+ do. Must be something though as the pulsar product is available for 2015 up

 

[16RamHemi]

This is correct. I've tuned my '16 and my '17 8 speed with Diablo. That being said their trans tune is utter garbage and I would only run a custom tune or leave it stock.

Im only interested in custom tunes. No interest in using canned tunes.

 

[MarshRam]

What discount was Diablo offering? My I2 is acting funny upon initial hookup sometimes, I can't get past the acknowledgement no matter how many times I press it. Have sat there for 20 minutes or so a few times, plugging and unplugging until it finally works. Getting worried it is going to crap out on me completely.

 

[Wild one]

If you guys decide to go with HP and a custom tune,if you buy a cheap tablet,you can load multiple tunes on it,and use it kinda like Diablo's handheld. I bought a cheap used laptop and it's dedicated to my HP tunes,and rides under the pass seat in my regular cab ,but a tablet is a little more convient and does take up less space.

 

[16RamHemi]

hopefully im not derailing OP thread (i do feel that these questions are informative to the subject), but curious how hard it is to do the tuning. Im not green when it comes to vehicles, as i understand everything pretty good, but i have very little experience in actually wrenching on vehicles. Im in Maine and do not know of any instate tuner that i would trust doing what i need. You always hear Hemifever and Jay Greene (North Carolina and Texas). I feel comfortable in both of these guys touching my truck. But from comments on here, i would need to be doing most of the loading.

 

[bassheadhemi]

What discount was Diablo offering? My I2 is acting funny upon initial hookup sometimes, I can't get past the acknowledgement no matter how many times I press it. Have sat there for 20 minutes or so a few times, plugging and unplugging until it finally works. Getting worried it is going to crap out on me completely.

Well that's pretty much the issue I have with mine, it would freeze and unplug/plugging it a few times would work. Now yesterday, the unit rebooted itself while flashing, luckily the restore process worked and was able to load my tune after, but that took an hour of my day. For the discount call them as the guy told me it depends on a few factors. Now, I just noticed in the Ignition software that they propose an extended warranty for 25.95$, bought it and will see if I can get them to replace the unit.

 

[bassheadhemi]

hopefully im not derailing OP thread (i do feel that these questions are informative to the subject), but curious how hard it is to do the tuning. Im not green when it comes to vehicles, as i understand everything pretty good, but i have very little experience in actually wrenching on vehicles. Im in Maine and do not know of any instate tuner that i would trust doing what i need. You always hear Hemifever and Jay Greene (North Carolina and Texas). I feel comfortable in both of these guys touching my truck. But from comments on here, i would need to be doing most of the loading.

I'm also curious to know how it work with HP, if you have a custom tune made for the HP, can you customized it yourself after or it's locked?

Diablo is very simple, here's a video of one of the member here did

 

[MarshRam]

Well that's pretty much the issue I have with mine, it would freeze and unplug/plugging it a few times would work. Now yesterday, the unit rebooted itself while flashing, luckily the restore process worked and was able to load my tune after, but that took an hour of my day. For the discount call them as the guy told me it depends on a few factors. Now, I just noticed in the Ignition software that they propose an extended warranty for 25.95$, bought it and will see if I can get them to replace the unit.

Thanks. I might be SOL anyway since I am not the original purchaser of the unit. Was going to get a new one anyway, so worth a shot to give them a call.

 

[joshuaeb09]

Well that's pretty much the issue I have with mine, it would freeze and unplug/plugging it a few times would work. Now yesterday, the unit rebooted itself while flashing, luckily the restore process worked and was able to load my tune after, but that took an hour of my day. For the discount call them as the guy told me it depends on a few factors. Now, I just noticed in the Ignition software that they propose an extended warranty for 25.95$, bought it and will see if I can get them to replace the unit.

I found the best policy is to completely ignore the timers for key on/key off otherwise I would get a lot of issues with mine. When it says key on I wait 30 seconds, key on, wait 30 seconds, then proceed. Same with key off after the flashing is "completed". Doing that it's worked 100% of the time rather than 30% of the time. Luckily all my revisions are done and I don't swap tunes around so I won't have to deal with it again unless I do a cam swap or install some headers.