[Brian]

If I have a CS/CTS how long does it take to switch from say 80 daily driver to 40 tow? Or if I am towing and the EGT’s want to creep up a little too much and I want to switch to a lower tow setting, what would be the procedure and how long would it take? Do I have to pull over and stop to make the switch? Does the truck have to be turned off? This would be on a ’00 7.3L PSD. Thanks!

[Longshot270]

Yes I think you will have to pull over and reprogram to the tow tune. It shouldn't take too long to reprogram between tunes though. Just make sure your not out in the middle of a desert or something when you reprogram. That way if something doesn't go right your not completely stranded.

[JackandJanet]

Neither Longshot or I are diesel guys. Cody (cleatus12r) is and he may have a different take than I do.

The CS/CTS tune switch on a gasser is VERY quick, but the engine has to be off. The programming seems to complete in less than a minute, even if I've changed some "optional" parameters.

I suspect the engine has to be off on a diesel if you are using a CS/CTS too.

BUT - I DO NOT change tunes out in the boonies! You're doing "brain surgery" on your PCM (or the diesel equivalent) when you do this and if anything goes wrong, you might be stuck miles away from any help.

As an example, Janet and I just completed a 2100 mile trip to Yosemite. 1800 miles of that was towing, to and from the park. Once there, I just left the truck in the tow tune when we were driving around. There's no way I would have set it back to the non-towing tune for that 300 mile "break". Once home, I reprogrammed it for non-towing, since that's what I expect to be doing next.

- Jack

[Brian]

Thanks for the replies guys. I suspect having a diesel will be the same. Many of the diesel guys seem to go with the Phoenix but I liked the idea of being able to read codes with the CS/CTS. Thanks again!

[AussieOiler]

G'day,

In my quest to identify the best Chip to go with for my 7.3l I have asked similar questions on the Gryphon Programmer post.
This was Lonshot270 reply:
Quote: I'm not a diesel guy but I would go with the phoenix chip because with a switch on the fly option you dont have to worry about a reprogram going wrong and leaving you stranded (and I see the current gryphon as an invested tool that probably works well enought for checking codes and such).

I now see on this post that Longshot270 along with Jack&Janet have the same opinion that there is too much of a risk in re-programming a CS/CTS when in isolated locations.

I've had an Evo2 in my truck for some time and through experiencing many a failure with computer controlled equipment onboard ships, I've never been tempted to change tunes away from my driveway.
So when isolated out in the bush and at times I would have liked to change settings/tunes, some little voice always told me "don't change settings/tunes out here in the bush mate".

It would appear those instincts may well be warranted

So, in light of what's been said, it would be prudent for me to go down the path of getting a Phoenix or FU2 (I have a JWVB in tranny) and use the Evo to monitor PIDs and retrieve/clear DTCs

Cheers,
Reg.

[JackandJanet]

I think your "little voice not to change tunes in the bush" is SPOT ON, my friend! And, having spent one delightful week in your part of the world, you've got some "serious outback"! I would not muck with success in the bush! "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"!

My "mantra" is: If I'm going to tow while away from home, I set it up for towing and then don't change till I get home. If I'm not going to tow, I set it up for that situation at home and then don't change until I get back home and my needs change!

Good on ya, mate!

- Jack

[Longshot270]

I've only heard of a few people who had trouble reprogramming but I also dont want to read threads about camping trips that end with a tow truck and a dealership.

I can also say the ability to read and clear codes can also keep you from getting stranded. I was having trouble with my remote start system and it actually set off the pats and wouldn't let me crank my truck. If I didn't have the programmer I couldn't have cleared the codes and gotten home.

[AussieOiler]

G'day Longshot,
You say that there have been minimal problems encountered with the reprogramming of Programmers. With that in mind, it is still something to worry about when waaaaayy out 'back of beyond'.
I'm with Jack&Janet on this (Leave it alone). I've had an Evo2 for some time and I follow the same line of thinking as Jack&Janet. That is; know what you are about to use the truck for that day, what you are doing for the whole of your vacation or the trip ahead and programe the truck in your driveway and don't touch it until you get back in your driveway.
There are obvious drawbacks with this strategy, but if you can avoid a WTF did I do that for situation, then I'm happy to absorb the drawback.
So if there is less a chance of a failure with a dedicated 'Chip', even with switching between chips, then that would be the safest way to go. Don't you think?
I'm certianly not under the illusion that a 'Chip' is a fail safe way to go, nothing is 'fail safe'.
Another thing I have to consider out here is the total lack of experience available to draw on. That is there are still very few of these trucks out here and I do not know another soul who owns a SD. So everything I've learn't is from the forums. I done a 7,500km trip last Christmas period and met only one other SD Ftruck owner and I also done another 5,700km trip in June this year and I never saw, let alone met or spoke to another person with a SD Ftruck. So you can be very much on your own when it come to defect rectification out here.
So with this in mind you may understand why I'm doing the research to ensure that what I finally go with is the best and safest way to go.

And that first step has been identifying the best tuner. All my research points to only one in my opinion, and that is PHP and Bill's experience and knowledge backed up by the likes of Cody and fellas like you. I'm in no way bagging TW, DP and the likes as they also have excellent tunes, it's just that I like the long term experience that PHP can draw on and I like pioneers
So it's PHP for me ... now which product. I'm leaning away from CS/CTS Gryphons. I was then looking at the Phoenix, but if (r) if I found some things that weren't quite right, I'd have to send the whole kit back for Bill to tweek and that would be freight cost prohibitive.
Although I do not feel confident receiving tunes to download it appears the only real way to go. So I'm very much leaning toward an FU2 6 Pos Chip.
The truck is not really a DD and it is more of a rough road tourer towing a 3.5 Ton Rough Road caravan. So with my mods (see sig) and having a JWVB what do you think of an FU2 with the following tunes:
1. Stock?? 2. 25hp Tow 3. 40hp Tow 4. 65hp Tow 5. 80DD 6. 100 Perf.

I question 'Stock' because I've noted that Bill's 'Stock' tune is a base tune he uses to formulate the other tailor made tunes to suit an individual truck and that it is not the OEM Stock tune.
So if it is as simple as removing the chip to return the PCM to proper stock (or is it) then this Chip Position could be used for something more useful

Returning the EVO2 to stock. I can still monitor PID vitals (EOT,TFT,EGT,Boost) and lift DTCs and clear them.

Please let me know if I'm on the right track here.

Cheers,
Reg.

[Longshot270]

No, AussieOiler, you are right on. In your case where you might need to change tunes to better suit the physical conditions the chip is the safer option. I dont take chances in any off road situation because things can get bad quick if your not paying attention. I just wanted to make it clear that both have drawbacks and both have benefits. It is very easy to compare the worst case scenario in an uneven light. In a diesel case I would go with the switch chip for the variety and convenience but for my DD truck I still would have gone with my programmer instead of a chip (if there were an option) because of the large variety of abilities.

[cleatus12r]

I think these guys already have you covered with an answer.