Predator Newbie... 2010 Camaro SS/RS Owner...

[Number_9]

Hello All -

Thought I'd take a second to say hello, this is my first post on this forum. So, hello all.

With that out of the way and with the understanding that I am sitting here with a Predator U7194 that I have never used....

...what should I do first? I have the Predator and the cable it came with - no PC cable yet, although I plan to order one.
...after I have done that, then what?
...is fuse removal required on the 2010 Camaro?
...should I wait until I have the necessary cable and the I've figured out how to install the latest .CROM (see, I have searched and read some...) before doing anything, or am I safe to at least run diagnostics?
...I'm on a Mac. Any reason this bad boy won't connect to a virtual Windows session, assuming access to the USB Port is good to go?

I'll add that I have now read the User Manual the box came with, as well as downloaded/printed the PDF version (reading it now.)

Apologies for the "newbie" questions, but I thought it might be worthwhile to ask, so as to reduce my time coming up to speed. Thanks for any constructive assistance provided.

[06MonteSS]

welcome!!

yeah, you'll need to get the power adapter and serial/usb cable for it, so you can hook it up to your pc so you can download data logs, import/export tune files, update the predator to new revisions, etc etc.

if you have onstar, just remove the fuse for onstar, and that's the only one you have to worry about - unless you added any aftermarket (non-factory) items, like an alarm system, stereo system, remote start, etc etc... you will need to pull fuses for anything aftermarket as well.

I would make sure the predator is updated to the latest revision before you do anything with it...

once you get it updated, then you can install the diablo performance tune to your car, put on about 75-100 miles, and then start doing some data logs to get your fueling adjusted correctly so that your average ltft's are in the 0 to -2 range... here's info on how to do all that:

http://diablosport.com/index.php?name=P ... opic&t=917



D'OH!! a MAC... yeah, you'll need to run all the software in Windows, and it should work for ya...

[JohnForeman]

Welcome Number_9. I have a 2010 SS/RS with the automatic. I'm a newbie too but with the help of Lew and others, I got mine installed and have slowly started to learn some things. The only fuse I pull is the ONstar fuse which is located in the fuse block on the drivers side of the dash. Just open the door, pop the side panel and pull the fuse. I think it's the only 7.5 amo fuse in the block. I put in the 93 performance tune, turned off the DOD (AFM) and removed the speed limiter. I ran it like that for a month or so then did some logging for my LTFT's. Just read everything on here that you can find and post any questions and someone will answer. I find it's really cheap easy horsepower. When it's all said and done, load your tune to your mac so you can move it in and out of the car for dealer service calls.
Good Luck
-John

[JohnForeman]

one other thing, there's a handy dandy fuse puller located in the fuse block under the hood.

[Number_9]

Thank you both for the replies! I'll be ordering the adapter tonight, so I can hook it up to my PC and update the unit.... and move forward from there. I have a highpperformance dyno tune installed on the car, via my auto engineer and HP tuners, so I am really wanting this to (a) download the current tune as the "original tune" and (b) use the Predatort to modify settings based on what I am doing at the track.... like wheel size when I put on the 18" Mickey's vs the every day 20" rims.

...I should be able to do this with the Predator, even though i am not using the Diablo Tunes themselves, right?
...When adjusting parameters on the "factory" tune, is the Diablo manipulating the currently installed tune (what was downloaded as the Original Backup)?
...Does installing a Diablo tune "replace" or "append" settings to the currently installed tune?? I assume it's an append thing, so no desire on my part to jack with my HP Tune... that said, if its a "replace" situation, it might be cool to download my current tune as the "original tune" and then replace it with the Diablo tune to see what proves better on the track.

Thoughts??

UPDATE: So I verified that my version is v9r08, so not the newest but only one back. I went ahead and poked around, married the Predator to my car via have it back up the original tune, but that's it... otherwise, I just used the ESC button and applied nothing. Is much gained in the 9r10 release?

UPDATE 2: Hooked it up and drove around doing some real time logging of my IAT and Ambient among other data points. Very cool! I wish it would log longer, but it'll log long enough for a run at the track. Very, very cool. Still haven't written a tune yet, and I may not depending on the answer I get to the questions above.

[concoursd]

If you use a laptop connected to the predator on the passenger side it can log at higher speeds, with readouts, and for as long as you want. The U7194 has limited space in it for recording by itself.

[Number_9]

If you use a laptop connected to the predator on the passenger side it can log at higher speeds, with readouts, and for as long as you want. The U7194 has limited space in it for recording by itself.

Thanks for the reply... I sent a good part of the night last night reading the forums, and noticed that nugget of information along the way.

Given some answers to the other questions above I should be in pretty good shape, hopefully 06MonteSS will be online today. Thanks again.

[Number_9]

Bump. Monte, sir?

[06MonteSS]

yo...

got any IM screennames??

[06MonteSS]

well, ok... let's see here....

Thank you both for the replies! I'll be ordering the adapter tonight, so I can hook it up to my PC and update the unit.... and move forward from there. I have a highpperformance dyno tune installed on the car, via my auto engineer and HP tuners, so I am really wanting this to (a) download the current tune as the "original tune" and (b) use the Predatort to modify settings based on what I am doing at the track.... like wheel size when I put on the 18" Mickey's vs the every day 20" rims.

...I should be able to do this with the Predator, even though i am not using the Diablo Tunes themselves, right?
...When adjusting parameters on the "factory" tune, is the Diablo manipulating the currently installed tune (what was downloaded as the Original Backup)?
...Does installing a Diablo tune "replace" or "append" settings to the currently installed tune?? I assume it's an append thing, so no desire on my part to jack with my HP Tune... that said, if its a "replace" situation, it might be cool to download my current tune as the "original tune" and then replace it with the Diablo tune to see what proves better on the track.

Thoughts??

UPDATE: So I verified that my version is v9r08, so not the newest but only one back. I went ahead and poked around, married the Predator to my car via have it back up the original tune, but that's it... otherwise, I just used the ESC button and applied nothing. Is much gained in the 9r10 release?

UPDATE 2: Hooked it up and drove around doing some real time logging of my IAT and Ambient among other data points. Very cool! I wish it would log longer, but it'll log long enough for a run at the track. Very, very cool. Still haven't written a tune yet, and I may not depending on the answer I get to the questions above.

yes, the predator will save that hp tune as the "original backup" tune file...

the "factory hp tune" is a copy of the "original backup" - which in your case would be the hp tune... so when you modify the tune for something like your tire sizes, you could select the factory hp tune > modify tune then make your change/adjustment, and install that tune, and it will install the copy of the "original backup" (your hp tune) with the tire size adjustment in it...

yes, you can still modify parameters, such as tire sizes...

the values in the diablo tune files will "replace" the values in the current original tune, which in your case is the hp tune...

[Number_9]

Thanks for the replies, Monte! I have been offline for a few days and am just now getting back to the forum - awesome to find your replies waiting for me!

Based on your answers, thanks again btw, it looks like the Predator is going to do everything I need/want..... am I also correct that I can go ahead and use the Diablo tunes and switch back to my HP Tune (via the original backup) without issue? If so, I think it's going to be cool to see how they compare against each other. I am "b257177" on AIM/iChat.

[06MonteSS]

correct... the hp tune will be saved as your "original backup"... so when you go to and select "restore original backup" in the predator, it will be restoring the hp tune back to your vehicle.