New Predator on the way for my 2007 300C 5.7 - NERVOUS

[metalmancpa]

I find it funny that I'm real nervous about the Predator. I have never had a problem fixing computers/electronics and although with more complex issues time becomes a problem, I have fun with computers & electronics.

Of course there are problems with anything, and generally when you come to a forum such as this it's answers to problems people are seeking, thus most of the posts are about problems (so it appears the item has issues).

I think my biggest fear with the Predator is that I'm going to be messing with a $40,000 car, not a $2,000 computer. It doesn't appear there have been unfixable problems with the Predator, but I have this fear that I could do irrepairable damage to my car if something goes wrong. I have nightmares that I brick my ride.

So I'm really nervous about plugging it in for the first time and uploading the 93 octane CAI tune.

By the way, once I get my CAI installed, how many tanks of 93 octane should I run through the car before I plug in the Predator and upload the 93 octane CAI tune (I've been running 89 octane ever since I've owned the car (19 months).

Thanks from a nervous newbie to this performance tuning arena.

[rfoker]

The only damage that you could do is install the 93octane tune and run 89 or 91oct gas. More so w/ the 87/89 octanes. The 91 may create minor timing retard.
OR, if you start to touch the timing and fuel trim curves. DO NOT TOUCH timing or fuel trim curves unless you know what you are doing. Stick to tranny functions and that's it.

My suggestion is to install the 91oct tune and use 93oct gas. This way you have a safe cushion. I do this for my '08 Ram. Not much more to be had with the 93 tune that I noticed and the 93 tune gets terrible mileage. I get best perf/mileage with 91 tune.

I would start with you very next fueling and pour in 93oct. If you run the tank down under 1/4 then you will be fine with downloading the tune right away. Again, I reccomend 91 tune and running 93octane especially if you get 10% Ethanol blend in your gas.

[airportdave]

Don't stress or be nervous! I would guess that for all the folks that have had difficulties, there are plenty more like me for which the Predator has performed flawlessly. I'm running the unmodified 91 octane CAI tune on my 2008 300C AWD (5.7L). I had zero issues updating my Predator online before installing the tune, and had zero issues putting the tune in the car. The Predator made a very noticeable improvement in the performance and mileage of my 300, and was well worth the money.

Just be sure to follow the update and installation instructions to the letter and you'll be fine!

[metalmancpa]

Don't stress or be nervous! I would guess that for all the folks that have had difficulties, there are plenty more like me for which the Predator has performed flawlessly. I'm running the unmodified 91 octane CAI tune on my 2008 300C AWD (5.7L). I had zero issues updating my Predator online before installing the tune, and had zero issues putting the tune in the car. The Predator made a very noticeable improvement in the performance and mileage of my 300, and was well worth the money.

Just be sure to follow the update and installation instructions to the letter and you'll be fine!

Are you using 93 octane? (my only choice other than 89 around here)

[cleary524]

Welll there's alot to be worried about. I had that same "sick in the stomach" feeling when I used my Predator for the first time, hoping I wasn't gonna screw up my car and how pissed the wife will be if it does mess it up. Well, I'm kinda one of those stories of bad luck.

My predator came, uploaded the latest firmware (CROM) and plugged it in the car. The screen said the vehicle needed the DCX update, go back to the computer, follow the instructions for the latest DCX...no problems up to that point.

Go back to the car, load in a tune...no problem so far. Start the car...runs like absolute dog piss!!! I pull the battery. Restart...car runs fine. Use the predator some more, will not install tunes. OMG...WTF just happened. All the quick adjusts would work, but no tunes would load. Send the Predator back to the people I bought it from. They send me out another one.

I plug it in...the thing lets out smoke out the back, but loaded the tunes???? I've been using it for about 5 months now with no issues since. So, even if the little glitches that scare the crap out of you that may come up, don't be too worried. In the end DS will stand by thier product and make you happy. It is a great little tool and for more advanced applications of tuning...priceless.

As for which tune to use, try 'em all out. I use the 93 CAI. I have no problems with it.

Good luck, don't worry and try not to be scared. Once you do it, you won't look back.

[concoursd]

the smokin predator is rare...anytime new electronics smoke cannot be normal. especially low voltage ones

[Quick]

It is possible to brick your ride if the Predator is working properly and you're clueless and you venture out to make large tuning adjustments yourself.

If the tool itself malfunctions the worst case (haven't heard of one yet) might be to brick your car's control module. That's a $200 item at the dealer (plus maybe $50 or so for them to program your VIN in the new one).

So, bricking your ride requires operator fail.
Worst case tool fail might be 2 or 3 hundred and some inconvenience.

[airportdave]

Are you using 93 octane? (my only choice other than 89 around here

I use 91, which is typically the highest you can get above about 5,000' elevation. (I live at 7,000'). Since higher altitude=thinner air=lower enginer compression and less possibility for knock, the need for higher octane decreases as altitude increases.

To be safe, I do use the highest octane I can find at lower elevations.

[mikel]

It is possible to brick your ride if the Predator is working properly and you're clueless and you venture out to make large tuning adjustments yourself.

If the tool itself malfunctions the worst case (haven't heard of one yet) might be to brick your car's control module. That's a $200 item at the dealer (plus maybe $50 or so for them to program your VIN in the new one).

So, bricking your ride requires operator fail.
Worst case tool fail might be 2 or 3 hundred and some inconvenience.

Even in the worst failure possible, we can recover the PCM,,,have not seen one we could not fix yet...

[Quick]

Even in the worst failure possible, we can recover the PCM,,,have not seen one we could not fix yet...

On the car? or would one have to get it to you? Then the $200 would probably be the best option.

I was thinking that you might not be able to brick it at all since you're accessing it through the bus interface/api. May not be able to access the bootloader/image loader. But then I figured if you really really tried hard enough AND maybe you'd need a broken/buggy tool also that just maybe you could manage to do it... it would be like hitting the lotto.

[06MonteSS]

you would have to send them your pcm...

[Lymzilla]

You can use the Downloader software to save backups of your tunes to your PC. It's good practice to send your 'original' tune to your pc. That way if your hardware fails (or Predator is lost or stolen) you have something to use when restoring your car to original tune (with a little help from tech support).

Yeah - stay away from adjusting gas or spark unless properly advised (from forum or DS). After your first tank of 91 (or 93) you should be 'just fine' with your second tank.