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PS High Idler: Smoother Operator

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Vaughn MacKenzie

TDR MEMBER
Recently I installed Practical Solution's High Idler and I really like it. It’s so wonderful, I find myself using it all the time! So much in fact, I discovered a couple other cool but illegal ways to use it: ;)



· Smooth Operator How many of you BOMBed owners have driven over rough roads and found it hard to keep the throttle steady? For me it’s herky jerky time. Well, switch on the High Idler and set it at the lowest position and Walllah! it reduces throttle reaction significantly. No more hairtrigger throttle response or jumpy jerky Cummins TD.



· Inclement Weather Operator Once again, with diminished throttle reaction you can have much better control over snowy or icy roads. You can roll into the power in a linear fashion to reduce the risk of breaking traction.



· The Economizer. Well if you are one of those BOMBed guys who can’t keep your foot out of the throttle and never get good fuel economy no matter how hard you try, then this is your ticket to better mileage!



· The Cruise Control Fixer! Best of all, the cruise control works waaayy better! Just click on the HI, set it about 25-30% above the lowest setting, and engage your cruise control. The overreacting and erratic speed problems of those running big injectors & boxes is a thing of the past :cool:



Yesterday I took a trip into the mountains to spec out the snow and try out the new BFGs. The HI worked great when it came to taking off and accelerating on very slick roads, and I could precisely control the throttle on hills and corners without having to concentrate on it. Very important when it comes to keeping the back end in line. It was seriously slick up there! There was compact snow at about 35F with no sand on the road, not fun.



With the cruise control, I quit using it long ago until recently since it was so erratic. It totally drove me nuts! The less of a load on the engine, the worse it was (ie, going under 75mph, tail wind, totally useless in 5th gear). Well now it is smoother than I can do it with my foot, even in 5th gear at 50mph. It’s a night and day difference. It rolls into the power just right, nice and smooth and gradual, and drops out of it the same way. No more overshoot!



I am assuming the resistance on the APPS decreases as you increase throttle, and when the HI is clicked on it adds resistance in series, therefore diminishing the effect of the throttle position. I can’t see that it would do any harm to the ECM/APPS or the HI. The only thing is, I’m not heeding the stern warning written in the installation instructions. . . Don’t activate Hi Idler unless vehicle is in Park/Neutral and the parking brake is set! (paraphrased). Well, Gordon does have to cover his hiney.



Vaughn
 
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I discovered it by accident!

One day it got switched on before startup somehow-on the drive to town the poor old truck acted like it had been castrated :eek: . I couldn't figure out what had gone wrong-until I saw it had been clicked on. Turned it off and restarted the truck-everything was great! So I promptly filed that away for future use-and forgot about it until Vaughn jarred it loose... . I may have to try it when I'm on the one 1/2 of my run-we've got a couple leases back in the hills that are pretty rough-I can't keep my foot steady enough with my heavy boots on. So I'll try clicking the idler on next time I'm up there to see if it helps.



I did try to use it one day as a steady-state low-speed cruise control-maybe it was just because I had it cranked right up but as soon as the engine had to pull a load (up a small hill) on came the check engine light and back to idle we went. I suspect it set the dreaded Idle Validation code. I haven't tried again at lower settings-just took it as a reminder not to try to over-extend the product! But I'm gonna try it for the throttle dampening trick...



Thanks for the info Vaughn



Jason
 
This thread convinced me, except being new at these add ons, does the High Idler conflict or use the same connections as the Turbo Diesel Turbo Life Saver?



Thanks
 
PS High Idler is a good product, that works as advertised, and besides that I don't have to go to the Stealer and get a reflash for the Cold High Idle that everyone is having trouble getting to work.
 
Where are you guys mounting the control box? I don't want to put it on the steering column as per the instructions. I'm thinking about the left side of the knee bolster/panel.



Dave.
 
i put mine on the center little plastic thingy in front of the 4x4 shifter. its down low out of the way but within reach.

it's a great product and i highly reccomend
 
I put mine in the ask tray. Had to drill a hole in the back of the tray to make it work. Now when I pull the tray open there is a nice little green light that lights up the box... .
 
Left side of the steering column cover, just under the turn signal. It is high enough to not hit my knee, very easy to reach, and does not block the view of any gauges or indicator lights.
 
It is a great product and easy to install. I mounted my controller on the knee bolster on the left side.

JR2 bought it for me for fathers day. What a son.

I also discovered the reduced performance of the engine by accidentally having it on. I thought my engine was in serious trouble. Turned it off and all was well again. This all happened at the same time I installed my 275 injectors. Do one thing at a time is my motto now. Eliminates alot of frustration and worry.
 
Thanks for all the location ideas. One more question, do you really have to take the TPS off its' mounting or can you switch the connection with it still mounted?



Thanks again,



Dave.
 
If you can reach the connection without unbolting the TPS, you're a better man than me! The connection is on the bottom side, where you can't see it. Even if it is possible, I'm sure unbolting would be faster because of the much improved access. Don't worry; the TPS came off and went back on VERY easily. The only thing I would question in the instructions is that they also tell you to disconnect the dipstick tube hold-down bolt; I found that was unnecessary because mine wasn't in the way at all.
 
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