Newbie on Mild Box/Programer etc. knows bugger all...

[LRDG]

I've had my 04. 5 600 for @ 9 months now but with new country, new job, and building up my off-roader, I have done nothing and know little about my Ram - other than that I love it and am a diesel convert.



I have done a number of searches and product reviews but my diesel and modern electronics knowledge is so poor that a lot of it is over my head. I am looking for a relatively mild/entry level power increase (largely tow related) that experience has shown is more likely than not to maintain waranty validity with the dealer - if such an animal exists.



I was taken in by marketing on a programmer called the Ram Xcelerator that allegedly allowed maintainence of stock programming in the belief that I could return to stock, take it to dealer and get by. It seemed too good to be true and luckily after reading up on here got views that it is indeed. Can't recall who, but the best summary was "I call it 'go til you blow'. It'll give you performance boosts in line with their marketing, right up until the stock set up blows up". Having started looking at other views, an AFE and an Edge Juice/Attitude seems to get high marks from many and little criticism, but I take it there's no "fooling" the dealer with this...



Please excuse my ignorance but unlike some other fora, you all seem prepared to teach the uninformed and I would appreciate your indulgence and advice on the best compromise for a mild hp/torque boost 60/150??? and the possibility of not invalidating waranty.



Cheers,



Richard

 

[BRayls]

you will get many differant answers on that. my suggestion to you would be get the last 2 issues of the TDR out and read the D. Leno article on the enhancements. the latest has the tst in it as well. as far as warrantee, if you do the deed, be prepared to " be your own warrantee station". any enhancements should void the warrantee of some components as you are taking out of its designed perimeters. some will cover you many will not.

 

[DLeno]

Your alternatives include:



1. Van Aaken C3. 1 pressure box. excellent for towing. produces most of its gains in the 2400 RPM region. WOT gain is about 40 HP



2. Edge EZ. about 65-80 HP gain. a little touchy on the throttle (my opinion) but a very capable little pressure box.



3. Quadzilla 65HP Xzillerator, non-adjustable. an excellent choice for fuel economy and mild power increase, due to its timing advance that the EZ does not have. the price is an eye-opener too.



4. Any of the bigger boxes on lower settings.



5. there are some downloader options as well (no physical box. updates ECM code) and these work well. ask around to find out if they still set SKIM codes. last I knew, any re-flash from a downloader sets a security-system (grey key) code that only the dealer can reset.

 

[LRDG]

Thanks very much - especially for the detailed suggestions. That was very helpful and I now at least understand the difference between chip reprogrammes and "pressure boxes". The Quadzilla 65hp certainly looks the most cost effective and a good entry level mod.



Cheers

 

[Donn]

I have the Bully Dog Power Pup downloader. It has been on my truck for about 12k miles on the 90 hp setting all works well. I would suggest the Outlook Monitor to keep a eye on the egt. It also defuels the truck (to help keep the egt down) at a set temperature that you set. Great performance about 1. 5-2 mpg increase if you drive it reasonabley, great customer support. I have had my truck back for some warranty work, I programed it back to stock, and didn't have any questions adked even with the outlook monitor still installed in the truck.