Smarty POD control with Quadzilla Scout II

[everittak]

I've been fighting this issue for over a year and after finding it I HAD to share it with the community. If you use a Scout II you really need to pay attention to this:

The Scout II does 3 things: 1) Digital gauge pack 2) Smarty POD control 3) Warm-up protection using POD control

First, using the Scout II for a cheaper gauge alternative to the Juice setup is a great choice - it works very well (granted they are now defunct). However, using it's extra feature for POD control specifically for 04.5-7.5 trucks is flawed. Since these trucks auto poll the TPS for calibration, both the 'warm up mode' and/or starting the truck in any other power level than 99 messes with the throttle control for the remainder of the key on operation. Tracking this evil combination has been a nightmare. I would HIGHLY suggest for anyone with this combination to disable the warm-up feature along with setting POD control to NO.

Now I'm not a mechanic, and I'm not going to speak like I know the differences between the 03 - 04 TPS and the 04.5 - 07.5 models, but I've proven this bug multiple times now and I'm certain it has to do with initial key-on TPS/APPS calibration.

Symptoms are: random or low power from engine, random or low throttle response, and/or random transmission behavior. This randomness is due to a combination of the POD setting and IF the warm-up is engaged due to coolant temperature when the truck is keyed ON. If the truck does not qualify for 'warm-up' during key on, it will seem better during the second drive (like driving back from the store) due to warm up not interfering with calibration. Combine this with a POD setting of 49 or anything other than max (99), and you end up with a strangely castrated fuel map.

What I have not determined yet is if the POD feature directly controlled from the Smarty has the same affect or not. I'll try and test that next week and post further findings.

I hope this either makes someone's day, or saves them from the engine and transmission shop visits I've racked up over the past year.

 

[JJPage]

The POD on Smarty definitely interferes with APPS sensitivity, and shift points with an auto trans. Some folks do not utilize the POD below 85%, because of the issues you are referring to become even more pronounced. I have the POD feature, but have elected not to use it at all, drivability suffers, if I had a standard trans I would test it out and maybe reconsider.

Thank you for the input on the Scout II, my guess is the Smarty is as/more responsible for the behavior you are describing than the Scout II... Jess

 

[everittak]

While I agree with you about the POD creating the root of the problem, but the Scout's warm-up feature doubles the complexity since it wants to start the truck at level 49.

 

[JJPage]

Ok, gotcha! Now what to do? ....

 

[AH64ID]

The PoD can be changed on the fly, with the engine running and I have verified this is my truck. Your description makes me wonder if your TPS doesn't fully go to 0 and this won't allow a PoD change?

I have been using PoD since I started beta testing it for MADS before it was released, and it has always changed levels when asked to, engine or or off.

Can you set the warm and warm-up PoD levels? Have you reproduced this error on other trucks?

PoD 85 is about as low as you can go and not effect power output, PoD 90 is about as low as most can go on an auto and not have delayed shifting.

 

[everittak]

I've now tested the POD and it works fine; unless your on glare ice or something else specialized I too wouldn't run below 85. This issue seems to be only related to the Scout's POD feature set.