Programmer ?'s

[tbird610]

So nobody has done a before or after 0-60 time? Just wondering thats all. I mean how else could you tell if a programmer actually hepled?
TIA

 

[tallsville]

i have done them but cant find them. posted them here before but cant find where. posts only go back 500 in personal stats. i'll keep looking.

 

[Dib52]

So nobody has done a before or after 0-60 time? Just wondering thats all. I mean how else could you tell if a programmer actually hepled?
TIA

Mileage, throttle response, smoother shifting, higher rev limit, combine them all together, and I'm fairly confident the 0-60 times bettered themselves. I've just never did a definitive test to see it in black and white. My brain and butt are my only guides. I will say that recently I had to return to stock settings to have some service done and while the programmer was out, she felt like a slow pig. Slow off the line, lower red line, shifts weren't as smooth, couldn't wait to get home and throw the programmer back in. That's my only answer to that it actually helped the drive ability.

 

[bo rougeou]

programmers

Is ther one available for the 2012?

 

[b514]

Hey guys. Reviving this thread instead of starting a new one.

So I've got about $350-$400 to spend on a programmer for my 2004 5.4L Expy, and I'm not sure which to choose.

What I'm most interested in is getting a few extra MPGs. Don't really care about increasing torque and horsepower or about big screens to view real-time data. Just want something that comes with a preloaded MPG tune and that also allows me to add a couple custom tunes if I ever need to.

I've done some online research and narrowed it down to these devices:

- Hypertech Max Energy E-CON 43500 = $330 + free shipping
- Edge Evo HT = $350 + free shipping
- Superchips Cortex = $380 + free shipping
- SCT SF3 3015 = $380 + $40 shipping + $?? import duties (US to Canada) = ~ $450 total.

The SCT goes a bit over my budget, but I'd be willing to pony up the extra cash if the device is better than the rest.

Now I know that none of you had all these devices to compare, but maybe each of you can post their list of pros and cons on the device you do own and I'll draw my conclusion from that data.

thanks!

PS: one last question: do these devices *need* to stay plugged into your OBD port all the time? Or do you just plug it in, reprogram your Ford's CPU and then plug it out?

 

[BakerEdition]

Go with a Edge CT or CTS....call Mark Haywood @ Edge Performance Products..888-360-3343 and tell him you are a member of this forum and mention my name....they have special pricing set up for us...I have a EDGE CS and I love it....I just checked my average MPH through my programmer yesterday and I am averaging 21.2 mpg on level 3 which is the custom tune and I use only premium fuel with no ethanol....my programmer has paid for itself long ago in fuel savings.

 

[b514]

Thanks for the tip chappy. I'm afraid the CS goes way out of my price range, when I factor in US -> Canada shipping and duties. How much did you pay for yours?

 

[BakerEdition]

No Problem...thats what we are all here for...well US funds it would fall right into your price range...I paid $400.00 for mine...you should call Edge and get a price...have someone here buy it and than send it you...I played that Canadian game before...

 

[b514]

Wow. that's a great price!! ($1 Canadian is 99 cents US today)
What I found online hovered around $450 not including shipping + duties.
You know what, I'll contact them to see what they can do for a poor canadian fellow

 

[ZombieSoldier]

Wow that's a cool setup Baker!

 

[GAINMOB]

i have the superchips cortex...i really dont care about 0-60 times...as long as it gets on it when i need to...im not robbing a bank in MY expedition...lol...i get up to 60 pretty quick if i put it on performance settings...can beat a lot of cars without trying from the line...

 

[gator]

Has anyone tried the Superchips VIVID Performance Tuner? I like the idea of not having any wires running from the port as well as the option to use my phone but haven't seen a lot of feedback...

 

[b514]

i have the superchips cortex...i really dont care about 0-60 times...as long as it gets on it when i need to...im not robbing a bank in MY expedition...lol...i get up to 60 pretty quick if i put it on performance settings...can beat a lot of cars without trying from the line...

Based on the opinions you posted on this forum and based on other feedback I found online, I ended up ordering the Superchips Flashpaq. It's the exact same thing as the Cortex, just cheaper because it doesn't include the 2yr powertrain warranty and multiple vehicle support. Got it from a Canadian vendor for $330 w/ Free shipping. Can't wait to receive it and give it a try.

The Edge CS that chappy Baker recommended is unfortunately not available for my Expy (2004 5.4L).

BTW: Freeway, you don't need to keep the Cortex plugged in while driving to run the tune, right? Just plug it in once, flash and then you can remove it if you don' need monitoring / logging? Is that true?

Has anyone tried the Superchips VIVID Performance Tuner? I like the idea of not having any wires running from the port as well as the option to use my phone but haven't seen a lot of feedback...

The Superchips site has a pretty good user forum. I've seen a few discussions about the VIVID there. The OBD dongle has the same "brains" and tunes as the Flashpaq and Cortex, but the Android app has some extra diagnostic and logging features, such as a "mileage coach" or something like that.
From what I've read on their forum, not all Android versions and devices are supported (prolly due to screen size), so you might want to ask if they've tested the app on your phone model. There's a SC employee Ron that seems to be very active on the forum and answers all user questions / comments.
If they had made the app available for iOS too, I probably would have bought the VIVID dongle too.

 

[rayt]

i have a sct x3 and a superchips cortex 1950 for my 2011 expedition, used the sct x3 for a while, but i might go back to the superchips superchips seemed to give the expedition a bit more pep.

 

[tallsville]

betro yes. plug it in flash and unplug. plug back in to retune or set back to factory

 

[MassDuster]

bertro - let me know how that Superchips Flashpaq works out for you - I also have an 04 5.4 and am trying to get my mpg up...

I installed an airaid throttle body spacer and saw a 1.2 mpg increase consistently... put in a volant CAI and it made no difference as of yet (have put 2 tanks of gas through since the install).

 

[GAINMOB]

the cortex has gas saver setting so im guessing the flashpaq does as well...im loving mine...im going on 2 wks solid on one tank of gas in the city and this is with 2-3 days for baseball and going out for lunch daily

 

[tallsville]

flashpaq does have gas xsaver. thats what im running on mine. but since i put 33's on and changed the tire size with the tuner i can run at 80mph and be at 1900 rpm. not sure on gas haven't run a full tank in awhile.

 

[GAINMOB]

i started to get that one when i bought the cortex...went with the latest/greatest

 

[tallsville]

couldn't beat the price