Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) caTCHER ecm (Marco's aka MAD)

[Marco]

I hope nobody else does what MCummings did!



Normally the Superchips toy would OVERWRITE everything that's inside the ECM with it's own software. That means bye bye CaTCHER and welcome Superchips software.



How come MCummings did raise the Hp? I really don't have an answer for this one... .



Marco

 

[MCummings]

hehe... I'm not recomending it.



I have run the SuperChips programmer on the exact setup, but with a OE ECM, and couldn't really tell a difference besides alot of timing rattle, and extremely high EGT's.



When I ran the SuperChips tuner with the Mad ECM, the throttle response seemed to double, only have occasional timing rattle, and EGTs' weren't insane.



What I do know is, it does not feel like a OE ECM with a SuperChips tuner.

It feels like a pumped up caTCHER.



BUT, just like some of Marco's ECM's don't like the COMP's, your results might be very different than mine.



Merrick

 

[24V-DSL]

Comp and Drag comp compatibility.....

You who are questioning comp and drag comp compatibility, would you please specifically say what you are basing this on?? What driveability symptoms have you experienced... stumbling, dead throttle, codes, what??



I have over 5K on my CaTCHER and have a comp (not drag version), and I have not experienced any problems. However, three weeks ago I lost my Wait to Start light (grid heater works) and have 1693, 0501, and 0602 codes. Marco is aware of this. No driveability issues, but since the Wait to Start light is supposed to be critical at the first start after CaTCHER install, I'm concerned.

 

[Todd T]

Merrick, running in the Superchips program on the Catcher takes out the Catcher program and installs the superchips program? you cant stack the ECM programing like you think you have done. its one or the other. you better get your S. O. P. meter recalibrated. Try some good & spicy Texas chili LOL



Marco, something to be careful of is if someone with a dealer version of a Superchips/Hypertech/Diablo etc. type device could essentially use that device to install the catcher software on as many ECM's as they wanted. I hope you have safeguarded against that? My Hypertech and Diablo accounts (gaser stuff) and handhelds will allow me to swipe the vin out of the programer and reload another program (file) just as fast as you can type a few strokes on the PC.

 

[BigDan]

MCummins your PM box is Full !!!



Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.

 

[Marco]

Marco, something to be careful of is if someone with a dealer version of a Superchips/Hypertech/Diablo etc. type device could essentially use that device to install the catcher software on as many ECM's as they wanted. I hope you have safeguarded against that? My Hypertech and Diablo accounts (gaser stuff) and handhelds will allow me to swipe the vin out of the programer and reload another program (file) just as fast as you can type a few strokes on the PC.

Todd,

First of, welcome back home!



Could you please elaborate further? How / what can you do with a dealer version downloader toy?

 

[MCummings]

But why then, is the truck even more responsive with the superchip tuned mad ecm, compared to a stock ecm with the tuner?



Guess I need to get on the dyno to get some more numbers.



Merrick

 

[RCone]

It's my understanding that by loading the superchips program into a CaTCHER ECM it would not erase the Mad program until you took the superchips program back out, such as to change power levels etc, at which time then it WOULD wipe out the Mad program. If you just left it alone, no harm, no foul.

 

[MCummings]

It seems that the SuperChip downloads the stock programming?



**Saving Stock**



Does it save the "stock settings, or whatever settings are in the ECM?



Does that mean my SuperChip has the Mad ECM inside it, and when I "return to stock" I will return what the SuperChip tuner has stored inside of it (aka mad ecm) ?





Marco,,, Want to do some test-n-tune with what a SuperChips does to your ECM's ? I'll let you use my tuner for awhile if you wish.



Merrick

 

[Bob Wagner]

I know of one catcher flash that was erased when the superchips program was removed :{



no not mine



costly mistake to make

 

[RCone]

Merrick, it won't restore the Mad program. It will revert back to the latest verson of whatever the stock program was in it originally and any DC only updates, such as high idle etc.

 

[Marco]

Download

How does a downloader do it's thing?



It reads the software version number in the ECM. Based upon that # it knows what truck it has to deal with and what new software to download.

It has to EREASE the ECM. Then it can program the new SW into it.



When these companies tell you that your original software can be restored.

Well that's half true. What they do is to download an orginal SW into the ECM. Keyword here is original! Original software the downloader already had stored into it form the MFR.



For example. The original ECM has SW# 4 in it. When the downloader returns to "stock", you'll find SW#6 in it. The latest SW availabel form DC...

Would it do the ECM read thing, it would return to SW#4.



Fact is the downloaders don't read the SW from the ECM and store it.



Clear as mud?



What happend with MCummings ECM?

I don't know...



Ciao,



Marco



Marco

 

[MCummings]

hmmm. Live 'n Learn



Merrick

 

[Marco]

hmmm. Live 'n Learn

Sorry to say yes that's it.

Downloading a different tune to a CaTCHERized ECM means good bye CaTCHER! A downloader whipes it out.



You said in an earlier MSG:

"After a couple errors, and having to reset the ECM, it downloaded succesfully"



Probably something didn't work as it's supposed to. The downloader has written some BS into the ECM. Maybe half CaTCHER and half Superchips file?

Who knows... .



Marco

 

[RCone]

A different viewpoint

Hey, how about this. Different parameters for different trucks. I would be willing to bet that Marco finds nothing wrong with Opies ECM. I believe that Opies truck doesn't like the CaTCHER because Opie is running twins and with Opies fueling and air supply it causes additional timing advance.



Roger

 

[Marco]

Roger,

take it for granted, there's nothing wrong with Opie's ECM!



I will do him a CaTCHER with a different timing. Then we'll see.



Marco

 

[Bob Wagner]

Marco, thank you for going the extra mile

 

[Marco]

I've done so many miles, one more... :-laf :-laf



Marco

 

[MCummings]

You said in an earlier MSG:

"After a couple errors, and having to reset the ECM, it downloaded succesfully"



Probably something didn't work as it's supposed to. The downloader has written some BS into the ECM. Maybe half CaTCHER and half Superchips file?

Who knows... .



Marco

Marco,,, I'm very happy with the way it works now.



I know yall think I'm crazy, but it honestly feels like a half CaTCHER, Half SuperChips program.



I'm not removing it because...

Throttle response is more than with just the catcher,

timing is more (I like timing)

It added 40RWHP

It might wipe out the CaTCHER when I remove it

It is working great, a little funky on the bottom end, but I am learning how to drive it, and it feels great!



Why should I remove it?

I paid for a CaTCHER, and it seems the SuperChips may have removed it.

Excessive timing (not bad in my book, for my truck)

Touchy throttle

Governer doesn't respond quick enough when releasing clutch

Funky "Double rev" if you step on the throttle when starting (goes WOT for . 25 sec by itself)

Wait to start doesn't work? I'm not sure, I have no grid heaters

and,

Yall think I'm crazy,,,,,, but,, maybe you are right, and I don't mind :-laf





Merrick



P. S. I'm scared it will truly return to stock, when I choose to do so with the SuperChips (Did I say that allready? )

 

[silverram323]

Marco, I lost my wait to start light again. Grid heater are working though. I was wondering your ecm can make the torque converter lock and unlock, lock unlock and so on. It's doing it from 35 mph to 60 mph. Did you recieve my stock ECM from doug yet? Is there anything you are doing special for the guys running the edge comp? When i plug my comp in, it go's into limp mode and i get codes- 237, 501, 602. Do i have the wrong file? I have the 2001 truck that i have heard is a problem for you. Do you have a E. T. A. on the stock ecm that you are reprogramming for me???

Thanks

Kevin McGuire