Well, bought the Predator from Sal.. When it arrived I hooked it up to my '03 L and it failed big time.. The Predator will communicate with the L but cannot not / will not pull the stock tune off the L so the Predator will not function with my L. I spoke with Diablo Sport and Sal and because the Predator for our truck is so new no one has answers as to whath the problem is. The only thing unusual with my L is that I have a Remote Starter. Apparently, the Remote start involvement is what may be the problem. Only other possibly is that I may possibly have
a Predator with problems. The Predator is going to Diablo Sport for eval.. ANYWAY, anyone else having a similar problem? What I am seeing is Predator trys to get my factory tune off the L and it tells me to cycle key on and off. Then I get a message saying cannot get tune because it cannot see the ignition being turned back on. I disableb the Remote Start by removing its fuses but still the Predator is not able to do what it needs to do?? Any ideas or others with similar problems. Complaint I have at this point is that I have to pay the shipping of the Predator to Florida for it to be evaluated and undoubtedly have to pay return shipping to Sal so I can get my $ back on the Predator. My feeling is Diablo Sport should foot the bill in regard to shipping period. 8-) I'm sure in time Diablo Sport will be hearing from many others with similar problems as I as I am not the only one with an Automate Remote Starter by DEI. Diablo Sport eventually will have to get the Predator to be able to do its thing with vehicles with Remote Starters such as mine.... I tried to speak with Nick at Diablo Sport but he was"not available"

 

Sounds to me like the remote start is the issue.

If Diablo sport tests the unit and its fine then who's issue is it ?

Most remote starts have a pats unit permanently mounted in column to fake the system into thinking the key is there... I bet your issue is related to that some how... Especially if the predator uses the pats signature to lock the unit to one truck...

Just a guess

Doug

 

I think doug is right i bet it think the key is still in the IGN.

 

Well, Doug, If Diablo Sport tests the unit and its fine then it's lets say an issue! 8-) There are alot of guys running remote starters and over the long haul we will hear of others like me with this problem. Perhaps Diablo Sport will come up with a fix in the predator's operating system that wil take into account the auto start. YES, our L's have that PATS thing.. like mine has a pats key type thing locked in a box under the dash. Diablo Sport actually thinks it is an issue that the Predator is not seeing the ignition on because of some type of delay caused by the remote starter.. they also said possibly a bad Predator but I doubt that. My Predator is going back tomorrow for testing. SO my issue now but an issue that will affect others and that Diablo Sport / Predator needs to addess or lose lots of sales $.

 

Well, you never take the key out of the ignition.. you just cycle key off to on. I tried different combos.. key out, remote disabled to no avail.. My guess is the Predator's operating system may be changed hopefully to let it do it's job without seeing that key on.... Time will tell what Diablo Sport can do. Others like myself will have similar issues.. you know I will not be the only one but just the first as I have one of the first Ford.. Lightning Predators with this issue.

 

I have a Hornet remote start in mine and have had no problems. Mine has a box under the dash also. Hope you get it fixed.

 

i too also have a remote start and i have had no problems.

 

same here mine is made by compustar

 

I would be shocked and amazed if Diablo changed thier software to get around the issues with all the possible aftermarket alarms, remote starts, etc etc ...

What is the potential loss ?
How many cars of ANY type have remote start ?

3% - Maybe ?-

Of those how many remote starts are of a type that has a problem with the Predator ? 1/10th of that???

And of that 3/10th of 1 % how many are candidates to buy a predator ... the numbers are almost too small to count.

Having said all that I hope its something quick and easy so you can get the thing to work....

 

A friend of mine has remote start on his lightning and he said they had to do something with the PATS to get it to work.
Dale

 

Dale, Any chance you could ask your friend what needed tp be done?

 

Doug, The Predator has an operating system on it.. Whomever authored the operating system could probably, without to much hassle, tweak the operating system so it could be "forced" to do something like ignore the problem of Predator not seeing my key turning on for example. By the way, there is a slight chance I may just have a problematic Predator. Odds are slim on that though...

 

Well, I went to two different remote starter install shops today and had them look over my DEI Remote Starter.
Both of the techs have been doing remote starter installs for a few years and are known to be very good at what they do. After looking over my DEI Remote Starter BOTH techs at the two different shops both said the same thing..... They said I had a remote starter and that is it ...... this Remote Starter was a decent one as it was made by DEI and that it was installed correctly and in a top notch manner by the original installer. Both said it was a remote starter and it does NOT have a starter kill feature or anything else that would effect the starter in any way shape or form. They said the remote starter was merely spliced into the ignition wires and that it could not / would not interfer with the start of the truck or the ignition procedure when you turn the key. After looking over my L they said that my aftermarket stereo amp may just be the culprit that was affecting the Predator when I tried to use the Predator. They said the amp went on with the key and quite possibly the amp was drawing enough power so the Predator was seeing a less then normal amt of power and thus not seeing the ignition being turned on as it needed to see.. Hmmmm, I do not know how to explain this any better. Anyway, both techs recommended pulling the large master fuse on the amp prior to trying to use the Predator. With the fuse out the stereo amp it would not draw power.. Hopefully the Predator will do it's job then where it failed before on me. The only items electrically that have been added to my stock L are the remote starter and the stereo amp.. I should get a replacement Predator in a few days and will try it again then. Oh, I talked to Diablo Sport and they didn't even test out the Predator I sent back 8-( as they were "too busy". They just sent me a new unit.. hmmm, I would have liked to know if that unit had tested aok.. Well will let you know what happens in a few days when I get the replacment Predator and try it again.

 

I agree - Its not that it couldnt be done but this it likely WONT be...
A good example is your Expereince with them saying they would test it - then deciding to send another one ( great customer service ) and test it later when they had time.

The time to test a product you make would be tiny compared to the time to
get an aftermarket product,
install it on a sample truck, ( or find one installed ) then troubleshooot the issue and
rewrite the code and
then retest then if it works
then re QA the software to be sure you didnt break anything else.....

 

Bill, Does the Diagnostic part of the Predator work ? If the Diagnostic part doesnt work, maybe you could test the Predator on another vehicle to totally eliminate your truck out of the equation ?

Good Luck