Here's some feedback,

I tuned my 2003 Lightning yesterday. I am using the stock performance tune as I only have an airaid cold air kit and the boost bypass installed. I am pleased with the results. I noticed increased response, torque & power. The drivability is better as well. Even driving normal in traffic the power curve is smoother and shift pattern more even.

As far as the bottom line performance and without having the benefit of a dyno, I would agree with the advertised 15-30 HP increase, it definatley gave her noticable a shot in the arm. The only thing the stock performance tune didnt do much for is the shift pressure. It basically does not shift firmer at all other than maybe a wee bit firmer at full throttle.

What I need next is the parameters (fuel ignition etc.) in the stock performance tune as the way I read the manual is in the tweak mode you back up your pcm data and then start out with stock parameters and adjust fuel timing curves along with shifting adjustments. That way you can start out with safe numbers and kick up the shift pressure more.

I'm anxious to see some data from others on here so we can really take advantange of this tool. Also with the ability to download tunes into the tuner will be nice, but I dont know where that might be at this time. Diablo hasnt even aknowledged the existance of the predator for the cobra much less the Lightning on there website.

Everyone have a good Thanksgiving

Ron

 

You can adjust the shift pressure in the "performance tune". Hell you can adjust the shift pressure in all tunes on the preditor. You need to go through the steps to install the "performance tune" again. It will list the three tunes that you can choose from, select the "performance tune" then it will give you the option to instal the "performance tune" or "modify" the performance tune. Select modify and then select shift firmness and increase it. It goes by percentage (0% - 200%) above stock so you can play with it to get the desired change. You can change the 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4 shifts. It will then save the modifications and tell you that the next time you up load the "performance tune" to your truck the changes will be uploaded as well. You will then have to re-upload the "performance tune" to your truck. You can not modify your trucks stock tune but you can modify the preditors stock tune, they should be the same or close to the same. This is what I remember for helping my friend do his truck.

 

Your right 03,

I apologize since I was trying to offer quick feedback on this unit. I played with it some more tonight and saw that however, when I went into modify tune it was pretty straight forward and I adjusted shift firmness to mid-level and it prompted me for each gear that I would have to reload the tune to take effect when I was done making changes it prompted me if I wanted to install tune. I selected yes and it proceeded with the reflash. I noticed no difference in shift at all. Afterwards I went to max firmness and still saw no change. Would it be correct to assume that I need to completly remove the tune and then reflash from scratch after the adjustments? Maybe that is where I went wrong.

Thank you for the info.

Ron

 

We did not remove (re-install factory tune) the performance tune to get the changes to work. When it prompted us to re-install the performance tune after we made the changes we did. Took the truck out for a test drive and could feel the difference. You have to remember that the changes only effect WOT, not 1/4, 1/2/, or 3/4 throttle.

 

If you want my honest opinion, I would just go and get a FTVB and leave the stock shift pressure alone. Your tranny will like you for it. I am liking this predator for all the other things you can do but whne it comes to the tranny and shift points, I would not change them at all. Just my .02

Tom

 

Thanks again guys for the replies,

I will give her the whip on the way home and see how she shifts. I guess I was under the false presumption that it would be like my buddies powerstroke with a 4R100. He only has a delta chip no tranny mods and his tranny shifts nice at all speeds. I already have my connections at ford offering to hook me up.

Will post more findings as I play with this thing some more.

Thanks again guys.

 

Hey 03,

I just wanted to confirm that you were correct. On my way home I matted the throttle and at WOT it does shift harder. I'm sure a shift kit is in the works to get what I want but again thank you for your input.

I got a couple guys at work wanting to run me, one has a 2003 C-5 vette stock and the other a stock (as far as I know) 87' buick grand national. They keep talking trash but in good fun though.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and everyone else here, I'm having fun.

Ron

 

I just got my predator in. I, just like you, am just using the performance tune. I do have a FTVB, and now my truck will easily break loose on the 1-2 shift. I have the shift firmness set at stock for all gears.

I will give it a few weeks of testing, and I will give it the before and after on the dyno after the holidays.

I think I might have a deffective unit. Everytime I go into the Real Time Data section, I get an error stating vehicle not supported. Has anyone else seen this error, or are you able to use this feature.

Mike

 

Hey Mike,

I havent tried data logging yet but I will and will let you know. This is very important for tuning reasons.

Take care... Ron

 

Yep,

Just like they said, plugged it into my wifes expedition and it checked for codes, thankfully none there.

Ron

 

My friend used his preditor to datalog and had no problems. We did a few wot runs and saw exactly what the truck was doing. There are some functions on the priditor that will tell you that the vehicle is not supported. If you preditor says Lightning on the box then I would tend to think that you got the right preditor for a L. I would then read all of the instructions (not saying that you didnt the first time) and then re-try to datalog.

 

What are the function you got to work. I haven't had much time to play with it, but I did get the fuel and ignition functions to work. I couldn't get Acceleration WOT or Drivebility to work, but I will try again tommarow.

Has anyone found out if Power Reduction is turned off in the Performance tune? I know you can adjust shift firmness, but I don't see where "P.R." is an option. I think shif firmness only deals with line pressure, and not "P.R." I have a FTVB and really do not want "P.R." turned off, and if it is I think I will need a custom tune to fix it. Maybe one of the tuners can chime in on this.