Smarty Catcher: Invisible to DC, or not??

[Mawgie]

Folks -



I have a new 2006 Quad Cab SLT, 4x4, 48RE, and am considering some mods. My primary objective is fuel economy, with occasional additional power. For now, my towing useage is miniscule, but we may add a 5th wheel TT. Not yet decided on that.



My rig only has 2500 miles on it, and I want to stay low profile at the dealer.



The Smarty Catcher is advertised to have a low power setting that significantly improves fuel economy. Assuming that's true, can a Smarty Catcher be used without its ECM reflash being detected at the dealer?



I tend to doubt it, but am no expert. From what I understand, if a Cummins engine, purportedly under warranty, truly goes bad, DC sends in a regional rep with a SuperFreak computer that can detect anything, from fuel inputs, to air, to throttle settings, to the color shirt worn by the driver, etc. , and can easily document any engine that has been hopped up, OR even detuned, in relationship to stock settings, and use this as the basis to deny warranty coverage.



I understand what many previuous posters advise: if you are at all queasy about a mod-related warranty denial, don't do any. My inquiry here is to try and find out whether this particular mod presents a lower "warranty denial risk profile" than other comparable units. In other words, I'll take a little risk, but would like to minimize the chance that I have to explain a $6,000 engine replacement to my wife when the truck is "under warranty. "



Any input regarding the "transparency" of the Smarty Catcher would be most appreciated.



Regards- Mawgie

 

[mattymac]

If any downloader cant be detected its going to be the smarty! to my understanding it doesnt reset the key cycles which is a dead giveaway to DC techs.

 

[Mawgie]

mattymac-



Thanks for the reply. As you may be aware, this is what Smarty Catcher has to say :



"Q. Can a dealer detect Smarty?

If you take your truck back to stock software then the answer is NO! Smarty updates are NOT detectable by the dealer! We've done our homework. "



http://www.madselectronics.com/faq.html



-Mawgie

 

[mattymac]

Marco can do some amazing stuff with electronics and I wouldnt hesitate a bit that when he says its undetectable, It is!

 

[BTighe]

i NEED one! paid to much for the satellite radio with a 100k warrenty. better fuel milage and a hair more HP in the low to mid range is all i ask.

 

[Bob Wagner]

i NEED one! paid to much for the satellite radio with a 100k warrenty. better fuel milage and a hair more HP in the low to mid range is all i ask.

The smarty shines in the rpm band you use the most. You will be pleased

 

[qzilla]

I do not want to rain on anyone parade, but I have a hard time believing that any downloader will be undetectable. Sure there are things that can be done to make it less obvious like not resetting the key starts or internal hour meter, but I still think they will be able to see it. Maybe Marco will be able to explain how he keeps this from happening.



I do know for a FACT, that DC can even tell if you cleared a code and how many keystarts you have had since that happened. Anytime a device goes online on the bus it is and can be recorded, this includes a scan tool.





Quad

 

[thejeepdude]

Sure there are things that can be done to make it less obvious like not resetting the key starts or internal hour meter, but I still think they will be able to see it. Maybe Marco will be able to explain how he keeps this from happening.

I think the key here is that Marco said it would be undetectible by the DEALER. He has already admitted that Cummins could detect it with some deeper level tools, but DC doesn't have access to these, or at least not normally. If your engine suffers a catastrophic failure and they really dug deeply enough, they'd find it. However, the chance of them finding it during any normal warranty event would be slim to none. At least that's the way I interpreted it.

 

[WoodT]

I do not want to rain on anyone parade, but I have a hard time believing that any downloader will be undetectable. Sure there are things that can be done to make it less obvious like not resetting the key starts or internal hour meter, but I still think they will be able to see it. Maybe Marco will be able to explain how he keeps this from happening.



I do know for a FACT, that DC can even tell if you cleared a code and how many keystarts you have had since that happened. Anytime a device goes online on the bus it is and can be recorded, this includes a scan tool.





Quad

I heard its illegal for people in the US to make a product like that intentionally undetectable. But hes in Italy

 

[jwilliams3]

So is the smarty out for the 3rd gens?

Whats the sales pitch?

 

[WoodT]

So is the smarty out for the 3rd gens?

Whats the sales pitch?

no, and you dont need a sales pitch... you just need one

 

[Tomeygun]

So is the smarty out for the 3rd gens?

Whats the sales pitch?

I asked about one month ago about more RPM from the smarty - Marco said to be careful what I wish for...



I have been wishing ever since Oo. :-laf

 

[Marco]

Hello fellow BOMBng freaks,

I would like to provide you some deep insight into the CR Smarty but...



See, if that information would be directed only to average Joe TDR member I would have no problem with it but my competitors are reading too.

What would you do in my shoes? Provide the competiton with informations about your new product?



Simply knowing that something can be done is already a a big help.

I will not provide Mr. Competitor any help at all. When the VP Smarty came out, it did not reset the key cycle count. Soon after Smarty's release, all of a sudden the competiton does no longer reset the key cycle too. Hmmm..... :-laf



Now, since I know that my lil toy will do things that others don't, I will NOT allow them any advantage over me. This time I'll make sure it'll be clear who was the first..... OK?



Let me tell you just this, we're in the final stages. It's matter of days before we'll start a rather tall beta test group. I guess you'll have to wait for that in order to KNOW what the CR Smarty does or does not? ...

Detectable? Who knows... . :-laf



Marco

 

[jwilliams3]

I dont care about detectable or not.

I just want to know if I can get some r's!!

 

[Tomeygun]

I dont care about detectable or not.

I just want to know if I can get some r's!!

copy that!



I bet a 3rd gen sounds KILLER at 4200 rpms!! Oo.



Not only do I not care if dodge detects it, But if it raises RPM limiter, I'll put a 5ft wide sticker on my windshield thats says "I LOVE MY SMARTY" !!! :-laf

 

[edgerat]

Bob I would be more than happy to assist in any local CR Smarty testin WHOOOOOO go cougs!

 

[Nyoest]

Folks -



My rig only has 2500 miles on it, and I want to stay low profile at the dealer.
- Mawgie

Then don't do any modifications. Marco had done an excellent job with his product but if there is any chance why risk it?

How can you expect DC to warranty your engine when you have wilfully modified it?

 

[Mark1si]

If you want a warranty DONT BOMB IT

 

[Marco]

If you want a warranty DONT BOMB IT

I'm with you on this one. My thought has always been, if you play you pay.

But let's consider also the other side of the coin. CR injectors do fail in perfectly stock trucks. If injectors fail in an BOMBed truck how is it possible to determine what caused the failure? The mod or did they fail because they wanted to?

Most of all, WHY void the entire warranty?



Thus I'd give the dealer as little chance as possible to void my warranty.

Just as a side note, I'm my own warranty station anyway, exported from the States the Ram get's NO warranty at all...



Marco

 

[SKneeland]

my next truck i buy, i would like them to knock $5k off the purchase price. they can then outright void my engine warranty off the start. this will leave no hard feelings as i will know exactly what im walking into... .



since there is zero continuity between dealers on what they will cover and what voids the engine warrany, i believe this is the fairest way to go