So I'm considering get a power programmer for my 2003 f150 5.4 and I'm looking at the edge evolution cts "gryphon" from power hungry performance. I have zero experience with programmers or chips or tuners or anything like that I just want something to give my truck just a little more get up and go but I do not in any way wanna sacrifice my trucks reliability. I want something easy to use and of good quality. Are there any negatives to the cts and will I be sacrificing any reliability in my truck? Motor transmission rear end or anything? Also I have my rear two cat converters cut off will this programmer allow me to keep my "ses" light off?

 

With custom tunes from PHP you should be both "safe" and Bill should be able to compensate for the lack of cat converters. I have a CTS and have had zero issues with it.

- Jack

 

Did you have a hard time dealing with them? I've heard from quite a few others that he is very slow and that you can never get a hold of him.

 

I've had my CTS, (and an earlier monochrome Gryphon) from PHP for some time now. So when I got mine, they weren't so busy. But yes, you could easily become frustrated trying to reach them. Their "phone hours" are on their webpage: http://phptune.com/ and that's the time to call. They don't employ an answering machine, so if they can't answer, the phone just seems to ring.

However, if you are patient, you can and will get through. If you're lucky and manage to reach Bill Cohron, he will spend as much time with you as you'd like explaining things and he will NOT try to sell you anything you don't need.

Once you place your order, the CTS will be drop-shipped by UPS from the Edge company in Utah. It can be installed and used immediately with its canned tunes. Custom tunes are usually ready anywhere from two weeks to one month later, depending on Bill's workload. (They have over 5000 customers now, and some of those customers need periodic help on things.)

They also have a forum, and you can find a lot of answers to questions there.

Disclaimer: I'm the head moderator of the PHP forum, and, although I try to be unbiased, I won't hide the fact that I think a lot of PHP and their service. That said, I think you would also be happy with programming and programmers from either of our other sponsors here (Troyer and Diablo).

- Jack

 

I have never ever used a programmer before in my life. I have zero experience with one I mean I've never even looked at one in person before so I would need alot of help. I know for sure I want a dash mounted one which is one reason why I picked the cts. My main concerns are with my zero experience I'm gonna mess the programmer up or I'm gonna set something and unknowingly hurt my motor or transmission or rear end or something. I don't know anything about shift points or how hard it should shift or what programmers to ask for or anything like that. Idk if a programmer is even a good idea for me since I have such limited experience with programmers and motor vehicles.

 

The canned Edge tunes are safe to use till you get your custom tunes. You don't have to mess with any settings unless you need to correct your speedometer/odometer for oversize tires or different gear ratios.

Now - you need to ask yourself - *WHY* do you want a programmer and tunes?

I would advise you to replace those cats. You can get aftermarket high flows fairly cheap. What other modifications do you have?

 

Nicely put, glc! (All of it.)

And to the OP, installing and using the CTS is dead simple - really! I think, with the caution you are expressing, you don't have anything to worry about.

- Jack

 

Only mods I have are the rear cats removed and true dual straight pipes. I want a programmer to get a little more get up and go outta the truck and I live and work on a farm so just a little bit more power and torque would be nice at times.

 

Andy, since you have a stock truck the canned tunes that come on the Edge will probably serve you fine. Most whom have PHP's custom tunes have several mods done to the truck such as intake, gears, headers, etc. that also increase HP. I had the older model Edge Evo on my 07 F-150 with the canned tunes. It satisified my needs. All I wanted was a little extra power and better fuel millege.