Superchips tuner?

[skeptic]

I'm thinking about getting a tuner for my H2 (finally). I'm looking for something simple and comparatively inexpensive, no interest in monitoring, gauges, data logging or any of that stuff. Just plug in, upload tune, then remove it and toss it in a drawer until I want to change something. Right now I'm completely stock, but I wouldn't rule out future upgrades such as 37" tires, exhaust or possibly even intake mods.

I figure the basic performance models from Superchips, Hypertech and DiabloSport are all essentially the same but I've never used one and I might be missing something. To put it another way, is there any reason I should buy something other than the Superchips flashpaq?

 

[twinmill28]

I guess the question is what do you want the tuner for?
I bought a Diablo Sport for my deuce for towing but didn't like the undesirable traits it brought on while towing to Moab.
Tim G swears by the Superchips for better overall performance, simplicity and price. I never tried it but would like to know if it helps you.

 

[skeptic]

Just overall improvements really. Who doesn't want more power and an extra mpg or two? Now that I'm not in UT I'm not dealing with hills and mountains regularly, but better shifting and gear holding up grades will be nice on occasion.

A friend is coming into town week after next and he's going to let me use his superchips tuner for a few days while he is here. He has a Tahoe which apparently uses the same model.

 

[twinmill28]

Sounds like the Superchips should work well for your needs. I like the idea of compensating for 37's and like you said, holding the gears better.

 

[Big2dabank]

I had a superchips tuner, and it worked very well, they are located about an hour northeast of me in Sanford Florida, and their customer support is top notch. I have a custom tune now, and sold the superchips to zach a few years ago. I suspect he is still using it.


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[skeptic]

Thanks guys. I don't know what I don't know when it comes to tuners, sounds like the Superchips will do what I want and not missing anything a different tuner would provide.

 

[glpd74]

Hey twin, if you don't mind me askin what did you not like about Diablo. I was thinking of getting the Intune 2 since later down the road I could get also get a custom tune for it.


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[Big2dabank]

Thats the only benefit i see of the Diablo is that you can upload a moderately custom tune, still nothing like you can get out of an hp tuner. I have a friend who runs and LS performance shop in town and he tunes vettes, cameros, etc.., so we dialed in a custom tune on my truck and I was much happier with the results.

 

[skeptic]

Definitely, if I were doing a lot of mods I'd go with a Diablo or some other custom tune. I'll let you know what I think in a few weeks after I try one out.

 

[twinmill28]

Hey twin, if you don't mind me askin what did you not like about Diablo. I was thinking of getting the Intune 2 since later down the road I could get also get a custom tune for it.
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I used it to help add towing power but it came at the expense of hotter engine and trans temps. The Diablo also required that you leave it plugged in to your deuces computer plug under the dash, a bad location that I kept kicking the Diablo plug and disconnecting it from the computer plug. I could have relocated my computer plug to a better location but I wasn't happy with undesirable shifting characteristics (the truck already comes with a tow program that works well) and hotter temps.
Most H2 owners don't tow as regularly as I do (almost every road trip with a 6K plus travel trailer) and want the tuner for better power, adjust for bigger tires and maybe better fuel economy so I'm definitely outside the norm for what you'd want it for.

 

[Scarsman]

That must have been an older model of Diablo. Mine and the current models do not stay plugged in. Load the tune and put it away.

I tow a lot with mine and have never noticed any difference at all in temps. Last summer I towed a 20' RV 2700 miles round trip to Moab and back in 100+ degree weather with no problems at all.

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[skeptic]

Needing to keep a tuner plugged in would be a deal killer for me. I already keep something plugged in, a bluetooth ODBII scanner.

 

[glpd74]

Thanks for the insight. Thinks I'm still leaning scarsman route but look forward to skeptics try with the superchips


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[twinmill28]

The Diablo I had had the on dash screen with all the cool widgets, that's why it needed to stay plugged in.

Hey Scars, I'd kill to tow a 20 footer even around the block; ours is 30 foot and when loaded close to or at the max rated towing capacity for the truck. I usually have a priest do an exorcism on the truck before each trip with the trailer.

 

[skeptic]

The Diablo I had had the on dash screen with all the cool widgets, that's why it needed to stay plugged in.

That's why I keep a bluetooth ODBII scanner hooked up. That plus android phone plus AppRadio 3 plus DashCommand app. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.palmerperformance.DashCommand

No tuning of course, but all the other stuff is cool.

 

[Zach]

I had a superchips tuner, and it worked very well, they are located about an hour northeast of me in Sanford Florida, and their customer support is top notch. I have a custom tune now, and sold the superchips to zach a few years ago. I suspect he is still using it.


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Still have it and the tune. The 91 octane. Took it out once but put it right back in. Works excellent to adjust the speedo for 37's and my gear change. Plus can read and clear certain codes.

 

[4Lo-Tank]

I run a superchips on my alpha. Makes a noticable difference in the different tunes. Also dont need to leave it plugged in


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[skeptic]

Fail. My buddy brought his Superchips tuner, but it failed when trying to save the stock settings (required step before installing a new tune). Diags worked, it identified the engine and listed some maps it could use, even cleared a code apparently caused by trying to install the new tune. We tried several times, but every time it failed saving the stock settings somewhere between 4% and 60%, a different place each time. His is an older model, but the H2 is a supported model.

Now I'm torn, not sure if I should take a chance and buy one anyway, if I should buy a different brand, or just not bother at all.

 

[twinmill28]

Go with the Superchips--it will work for your deuce and you'll be glad you did it....

Not sure why your buddies wouldn't work but new out of the box should give you what you want

 

[Big2dabank]

Typically, the tuner will marry to the vehicle and will only work if the factory tune is download back to the first vehicle and if I remember correctly, it should marry to the new vehicle to let your tune it. Your problem could have been the way the unit is designed to work, to prevent someone from using one tuner to make multiple tunes on multiple vehicles.

 

[skeptic]

Typically, the tuner will marry to the vehicle and will only work if the factory tune is download back to the first vehicle and if I remember correctly, it should marry to the new vehicle to let your tune it. Your problem could have been the way the unit is designed to work, to prevent someone from using one tuner to make multiple tunes on multiple vehicles.

He reset his back to factory tune to free it up before bringing it. Not sure what the problem was, the failure was some kind of lost connection message when trying to save my stock config.

I was just now reading reviews on Amazon, here is an excerpt from one from 4 days ago that matches what I was seeing, except that instead of 30% it was apparently random:

... it refused to read out my stock settings. It would get to 30% and then the dashboard would go nuts, and it would say it failed to communicate with the vehicle, yet the Suburban then through an engine light and reported in the info screen "Reduced Engine Power". ... Fortunately the F5 would read and clear the code and put me back to stock settings...

 

[Big2dabank]

He reset his back to factory tune to free it up before bringing it. Not sure what the problem was, the failure was some kind of lost connection message when trying to save my stock config.

I was just now reading reviews on Amazon, here is an excerpt from one from 4 days ago that matches what I was seeing, except that instead of 30% it was apparently random:

My tunner would act up like that when my battery was slowly dying. Hook up your battery to a charger or jump it to another vehicle while you are trying to tune it and see if that helps.

 

[Babyjohn460]

Just picked up the Superchips F5 4845 tuner for the Alpha. Will let you know how it works in a couple days..


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[skeptic]

My tunner would act up like that when my battery was slowly dying. Hook up your battery to a charger or jump it to another vehicle while you are trying to tune it and see if that helps.

Hmm... No issues with starting, but I'm guessing it's getting pretty old. I'll remember that if I have issues when I buy one. Probably not for a month or two though, I've been blowing through my disposable income like it's going out of style the last couple months and need to slow down a bit. Of course Amazon Prime day yesterday didn't help a bit. Shoot, I didn't even think to check if tuners were on sale.

 

[twinmill28]

Hmm... No issues with starting, but I'm guessing it's getting pretty old. I'll remember that if I have issues when I buy one. Probably not for a month or two though, I've been blowing through my disposable income like it's going out of style the last couple months and need to slow down a bit. Of course Amazon Prime day yesterday didn't help a bit. Shoot, I didn't even think to check if tuners were on sale.

Hookers and blow will always wipe out your disposable income buddy........:wink: