Is this Predator nothing more than a paperweight now?

[BoostedGTA]

I have a 99 T/A that I bought a Predator U7198 (1.03) for a while back--I bought the Predator because I believed it to be a much better product than a Hypertech etc.

I have no use for the Predator anymore since I use programming software on my GM vehicles. So I returned the T/A to stock thinking I could sell it. Apparently it is locked now and costs $50 to unlock it? And even then it would be an "old revision" which no one probably wants. So I read here that I can upgrade it to the latest and greatest revision for $100. So... for $150 I can upgrade it just to be able to sell it for maybe $150-175?? Do used ones even bring any more money than that? Basically that would be a bunch of work to net me $0? So I may as well throw it away??

This is ashame because I was thinking of getting a Predator for my Charger R/T...

[06MonteSS]

yeah, you're on an OLD revision on that beeotch... you have to send it in to diablosport to get it updated AND unlocked...

with the new ones, like for your Charger, those are up to date already, and they do unlock when you restore the original backup to the car, so you wouldn't be in the same situation...

you're in the situation that you are now because that predator is on an old old old revision... if it was on a 2.XX revision, it would be unlocked when you restored the original backup... but it's not, so you're stuck...

[BoostedGTA]

So throwing this away is the only thing I can do?

[mikel]

You have misread.

If you are the original owner of this tool, and can provide proof of purchase, it can be updated to 2.13 and unlocked for FREE.

If there is no proof of purchase, you would have to pay $99, but for the same price we do offer the hardware upgrade which is a heck of a deal considering all if adds to your older Predator.

Also, if you are serious about performance for your Charger, we are the only game in town!!

[rpman]

Hey mikel, can't you give the guy a break? I mean after all he has one of the original Predators and nobody keeps receipts that long. How about a buy-back discount if he purchases a new Predator for his Charger. No sense in killing your customer base I mean you are already doing that with the TM (that was for you 06MonteSS)

[BoostedGTA]

You have misread.

If you are the original owner of this tool, and can provide proof of purchase, it can be updated to 2.13 and unlocked for FREE.

If there is no proof of purchase, you would have to pay $99, but for the same price we do offer the hardware upgrade which is a heck of a deal considering all if adds to your older Predator.

Also, if you are serious about performance for your Charger, we are the only game in town!!

I am the original owner, but I paid with Paypal and I'm not sure if I even got anything other than what is attached below. It's the paypal printed shipping label that shows my name (blacked out here for security) and the letter stating updates would be offered free of charge. Will this suffice?

[mikel]

That should do the trick...

[rpman]

Does this apply to all new 2009 vettes, do they come from the factory locked now or is this just a reflash after you already have had the car?

[BoostedGTA]

If I opt for the free unlock and upgrade to v 2.13, does that give me the ability to turn off my rear O2's? Anyone know?

[mikel]

Free unlocks are pretty much done as all of those tools are well out of the 2 year warranty.

[BoostedGTA]

You said above it could be unlocked for free, and it was well past the 2 year warranty even on the original post date!? Can you honor that, and will it turn off rear O2's on rev 2.13?

[mikel]

Policies have changed quite a bit in the past 9 months man.....

Best bet would be to send it in for the $99 hardware upgrade and take advantage of all the new features.

If you need the rear O2s turned off, we'll help you out.

[06MonteSS]

and actually, it would be $149, not just $99... cuz your predator is still locked....

it's $99 for the hardware upgrade, and also $50 to unlock it...

so, you're lookin at $149 total, to get it unlocked and updated...


and it would be upgraded to the new version 7198, on a 9rXX revision... no more old 2.xx revision updates....

so on the 9rXX revision, mike or I can create you a custom tune that has the rear O2's disabled... cuz none of the new tools are able to disable them anymore... all that functionality was removed due to EPA emissions regulations...

[BoostedGTA]

I have no need for the device anymore, that's the problem. Got a guy wanting to buy it, why would I spend $99 to sell to him for not much more than that?

I supported you guys by buying a Predator for my Charger as mentioned above...

[06MonteSS]

then tell him it's being sold "as is"... and that he'll have to get it upgraded/unlocked...

he shouldn't really be using it with that very old revision still on it anyway...


or, you pay to have it upgraded/unlocked, and then sell it for 200-250... and you're still makin' money... and yes, used ones can sell for that much, I've seen 'em...

and after the upgrade, it's basically a totally brand new unit... so he's getting a brand new model predator for only 200-250... instead of buying it new from a dealer for $370+... so he's still getting a deal...