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Best Tuner for 3500 with Aisin (tired of throttle lag)

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Bob.....were the head gasket issues you've encountered a result of pumped engines? On forum B, it seems that those who delete are pushing for higher HP/torque, so I could see where that will cause failures. However, if someone simply deleted emissions and kept it at stock or close to stock HP/torque levels, I can't see where it would put any more pressure on the OE equipment. But I'm not a mechanic, so I could be completely out of line.

When my son bought his '12 Mega Dually, he deleted it and added a tuner on day one. He drives fast and tows heavy with no issues at all, he did tow on the lower settings and was careful at all times. It had the 68 rfe. His '16 Mega Dually has the Aisin and only the BD throttle booster.

Nick
 
Bob.....were the head gasket issues you've encountered a result of pumped engines? On forum B, it seems that those who delete are pushing for higher HP/torque, so I could see where that will cause failures. However, if someone simply deleted emissions and kept it at stock or close to stock HP/torque levels, I can't see where it would put any more pressure on the OE equipment. But I'm not a mechanic, so I could be completely out of line.


About 80-90% claimed to be running on tow tunes,all started by expecting warranty,some actually getting beligerent.Without exception they all claimed their vendor never warned of increased risk of head gasket issues or recommended studs or external wastegates.One head was twisted so bad it could not be corrected with surfacing.
So many times forum opinions are based only on that persons personal vehicle experience.Here in So Cal there are thousands of deleted trucks and owners crying at the last minute trying to find someone to risk their job and or shop to phony a smog.
 
To answer your question JHawes, no........... you will have no issues with tuning if you use common sense not giving it hell all the time and run unsafe levels towing. It's not the tunes, it's the d*mba**es behind the tunes that screw there trucks up. IMO it is the only way to give your diesel engine a clean, healthy life UNLESS you tow all the time. If emissions stay in tact and you tow regularly and don't use it as a grocery-getter, you can expect an emissions truck to live a long, healthy life as well. Too many people buy diesels for the wrong reasons and don't use them at they were intended to be used. These are the people who have them in for warranty work on a regular basis. Myself.....it's the first thing I do. I don't like them to ingest exhaust back through, hate DEF and like them to go when I push the pedal.
 
People hear the word tuner and automatically assume hot rod and beat the crap out of your truck. So this stigma automatically diverts to the threads of torn up transmissions, bad headgaskets, bad mileage, etc. It's just not always the case. I'm a 50 year old man and have run tuners for years. Like anything mechanical, you have to be responsible with it and not abuse it. A good tuner will give your truck better fuel mapping, better timing, better shift points with more pressure (will actually help your transmission live longer), better throttle response, lower egt's, less torque management, ect. Nothing bad comes out of a good tune unless you choose to abuse your truck like so many do and then run to the forums and Facebook to complain about how the "tuning" tore up there truck. It's like saying it's the guns fault for killing someone. Ridiculous! A good tuner will give you different hp level options. I personally only run the 30hp tune. Anyways, I have also been a performance diesel tech for years so to ask me if I know who Bob 4x4 is is silly. He can be wrong just like anyone else....... It's his personal opinion just like everyone's on the internet

Just go with emissions compliant tuning. If all the OP is looking for is a mild increase in hp and better throttle response, there are emissions compliant tunes which can accomplish that. There is no need to mess with the emissions for that kind of tuning.

Also, if you really are a diesel technician, then you should know that it's foolish to advise people to delete their trucks and 'not worry about it.' Federal emissions regulations are federal in nature, meaning the apply to everyone. Cali, and a few other states, happen to actually enforce those regulations. It's only a matter of time before the EPA forces the other states to do the same thing. If people want to delete then have at it, but they should understand the repercussions (legal and financial) and have their stock parts on hand.
 
Say what you will,I have been fixing the aftermarket mishaps for years.I should thank the programmers for sending me so many head gasket jobs.
The smog test hassles are real even in the great state of Texas it is happening,I know the Dallas area requires it now as it is in many states in the high density areas.
The op must have his concerns since this is about his third time posting the same question.

Where's the "LIKE" button here?
 
I like the Smarty. I've run it on my 2002, my 2003, and on my 2009 C&C, fully deleted for 8 years, and now with all emissions back on. I've run the Smarty on level 5 the whole time, and tow my DVR Mobile Suites weighing 20.2K lbs. No problems in 70K miles. Smarty has lots of R&D and it shows. Happy Trails, Ron
 
I've owned 7 Cummins trucks over the years bought all of them new. Last one was a 2016 3500 crew cab Aisin suffered same problem unsafe throttle response. Ram refused to fix the problem after it was at the dealer for 2 months on and off for this problem. So I traded it in on 2 new 2017 powerstrokes best decision ever. I only come to this forum just to laugh at all you fools who complain about this problem and are so stupid die hard you refuse to try another brand. Even after you guys say it's not safe to drive you still want to keep you precious Rams. Is your life worth nothing to you? I was just as die hard as you guys once just saw the light if Ram won't fix the problem then they don't need my business. (Also the Ford dealer had my Ram for 7 months finally had to take it to auction after test drives they told me no one wanted it)
 
2013 3500 been deleted for 35000 miles

Never said it was Bob. Again, that is a ridiculous statement! You know as well as I do that the majority of issues come from the people that are running around on level 5 and not being responsible. Just like any FB group or forum, you usually only see the problems posted, not all the success stories of people that have had nothing good for years like me out of tuning. Say what you will, I have changed many head gaskets too, but 90% of them are from abuse or drive pressure from the VGT turbo. Do you have creditability on this forum? Apparently yes, but most of it is also your opinion. Everyone has one, so to tell the OP that all tuning is going to shorten the life of his HG's is silly. What about telling him that if he stays stock he is going to be in the shop every other week for emission related issues? Oh yea........... you Californians don't have any option with that. I forgot!

Ive been deleted over 35000 miles now and never had the problems that Bob is concerned with, maybe its an operator problem rather than an aftermarket problem. Everything Ive done to my truck has done nothing but help with the ability during daily driving and towing. Running lower EGTs, less noticeable turbo lag (boost pressures are running about the same as stock), and much better driveability during towing. I still think that maybe adding the BD module to help with throttle sensitivity would be an upgrade from present, that seems to be the only lag I have right now. Planning on getting rid of the intake heater grid and installing aftermarket intake horn, new throttle body heater grid, and heater grid delete from Glacier Diesel. Also had nothing but good luck with all the folks that I have dealt with on tuning, deleting, cold air, etc. Everyone has been extremely helpful.
To give Bob a little credit he is right about emissions testing in TX, but that is only in about 10 counties with very high population densities. The rest of TX is free of these restrictions for the time being.

Just wanted to post so that our fellow 4th gens know there is hope out there and not all gloom and doom as some would have us believe.
 
I've owned 7 Cummins trucks over the years bought all of them new. Last one was a 2016 3500 crew cab Aisin suffered same problem unsafe throttle response. Ram refused to fix the problem after it was at the dealer for 2 months on and off for this problem. So I traded it in on 2 new 2017 powerstrokes best decision ever. I only come to this forum just to laugh at all you fools who complain about this problem and are so stupid die hard you refuse to try another brand. Even after you guys say it's not safe to drive you still want to keep you precious Rams. Is your life worth nothing to you? I was just as die hard as you guys once just saw the light if Ram won't fix the problem then they don't need my business. (Also the Ford dealer had my Ram for 7 months finally had to take it to auction after test drives they told me no one wanted it)



17 posts??? Someone is trolling.
 
I don't have throttle lag on my 2009, is this a programming issue on the newer trucks? in fact this is the first I've heard of it. Ron
 
Chopsuey here. Diesel emissions testing. Coming to a state near you. Emissions creep is s;ow;y moving our way. Add the great state of Arizona to your list. Phoenix and Tucon with its county are emissions tesying friendly/
 
17 posts??? Someone is trolling.
Not trolling just saying like it is. I've put more than 1 million miles on Ram trucks and was VERY happy till Ram started making the new Rams unsafe to cross busy roads. I found out the hard way what they think of their customers.
 
Going back in to dealer in the am, not expecting anything other than documenting, documenting, documenting lemon programming. Reported to safe car not that I don't have better things to do like coach my kid in highschool baseball, go flyfishing to copper river this year with daughter before college, and date nights with wife but depending what they tell me tomorrow I'm getting a tuner....screw this lag and the lack of responsiveness from dodge....I'm not going to drive an unsafe 75K truck...some have left dodge to others...I would like to say with dodge but they need to fix this Shi......
 
So I have the BD and tried the settings but the throttle lag which I found out from the dealer who called an engineer is intentional programming to reduce torque as we all suspected does not improve that much. If I go tow mode then I run around with too aggressive shifts and higher rpms then I need when unloaded.
They did do a TCM update and my flair went away that had developed but the lag didn't change but that is no surprise. The manager recommended writing the CEO and perhaps something top down will be down to perhaps just revamp the programming a little so these trucks with the lag no longer lag and take off smoothly like my 2003 5.9 did. As far as tuning, I agree that a reasonable tune with reasonable driving results in better mpg, cooler EGT, etc as I did actually experience that with smarty jr on my 03. Service manager said he doesn't look to void warranties just because a tuner is there although technically they could try and your left battling in court to prove they are wrong. Who has the time to do that. So I might write the letter and wait vs add a smarty system and take my chances since the only way to change the torque management is through software reprogramming and the BD wont do that
 
I recently bought and installed the Pedal Commander for this situation. I didn't really feel that I had the dead pedal issue, however it wasn't as responsive as it could be. I'm impressed, and while it doesn't make the truck a hot rod, it certainly makes it a zippier. The mid-range settings are about all I need but it will go higher if desired. I got it at Moes and with a 10% coupon it was $270. There's a video that Pedal Commander did concerning the "accelerate by wire" programming which indicates that no matter how fast you push on the pedal, it will limit the rate of input to the engine. The BD and Pedal Commander (and others, I'm assuming) change the rate of input to get a better response. I don't customize the rig much, but I did think this was worthwhile. Haven't tried it towing yet, but around town it's pretty good.
 
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