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Smarty, the new CaTCHER tool.

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Bob

Could you take your Smarty and install it on several different trucks ONE-AT-A-TIME, say at a bombers party to let drivers try it out on their trucks? Or do I have to provide my VIN so that the Smarty is locked to my truck and only that one?



Dave
 
I have a similiar question to dhill. I understand that you can change the Smarty from truck to truck, but does the Smarty have all the information for all the years and all the different configurations? I ask this because I currently have a 2000 manual but, I am looking to buy new for a 2006 or 2007 megacab. Would I have to pay for an updated Smarty download, or will the Smarty already have the files I need. If I understand the web site, you are selling two versions, one for the VP trucks and one for the common rail. So... . are there two different Smarties that have all the information on them for that style of truck?



Next question... in your website (in may have been in the download), it states to remove any after market fueling devices or pragrams before installing the Smarty. The Smarty is made to work with Boxes, right? Then why are you saying you need to remove them?



As far as leaving the Smarty in the vehicle incase you break down and need a tow, the website recomends not leaving the Smarty in the vehicle if it get too cold. How about too hot. I live in Las Vegas, and the summer time heat inside the vehicles will go in excess of 150 degrees F.



I don't care about the warranty issues. I have over 125,000 miles on the truck now. I am more concered about a flash that will not let me use the smarty anymore.
 
I think the reason to remove the aftermarket boxes before down load is to avoid a conflict. The boxes have foolers in them which would I believe fool the download from the Smarty and this would not be a good thing. Once the down was completed then you could reinstall the box.



That is my humble guess :)
 
settings profiles

This inaugural thread certainly is an auspicious start to this new forum :)



It's probably too early to tell, but - attention beta testers! It would seem that with at least 10 program settings that some ideal combinations would be discovered. For example, using my type of truck (for no particular reason ;))

('02, HO, 6spd), what would be good settings to match certain upgrades?



Performance categories:

- Not really interested in dyno numbers, the good old subjective SOP meter is just as interesting.

- EGT management: how long can you pull hard before having to back off?

- Smoke control: I'd rather scoot than pollute. <-- possible tag line ;)



Legend: "EZ" = non wire-tap timing/fueling box

"Comp" = wire-tap timing/fueling box

... just because they're a fairly well known commodity.



For grins, throw towing (say 80% GCWR) vs. empty into the mix as well.



60-HP injectors, no "box", stock turbo

90-HP injectors, no "box", stock turbo

150-HP injectors, no "box", HX35 Hybrid type turbo



60-HP injectors, "EZ", stock turbo

90-HP injectors, "EZ", stock turbo

150-HP injectors, "EZ", HX35 Hybrid type turbo



60-HP injectors, "Comp", stock turbo

90-HP injectors, "Comp", HX35 Hybrid type turbo

150-HP injectors, "Comp", HX35 Hybrid type turbo



60-HP injectors, "Comp", HX35 Hybrid type turbo

90-HP injectors, "Comp", HX40 type turbo

150-HP injectors, "Comp", HX40 type turbo



I know this probably rules out the fuel saver program, there really aren't any right answers, and this is just a scratch in the surface of possibilities. But for people contemplating upgrades, such information may provide a thoughtful path.



In the end, I look forward to figuring out as much of this as possible on my own, though I can't achieve such a variety of combinations. I encourage the beta testers to be as forthcoming as possible.



Thanks,

(Glad I signed up early ;) ;) )



Neil

[FONT=Arial Narrow SIZE=1 COLOR=SlateGray]If you can read this, I can activate your airbags![/FONT]
 
DieselMinded -

There is only so much any programer can do for adding fuel to the engine as the VP44 will only allow so much. That is why all the boxes that do not tap the pump wire and all the programers (super chips, etc) add about the same HP/TQ. They are doing all they can within the limits of the VP44. The boxes that tap the wire are way worse for your VP than the Superchips or EZ or catcher for that mater. I suspect that if Marco had a 11 he would give it to you or I. I would bet that the reason the other downloaders do not do the same thing as the Catcher is that they have not taken the time to consider what they could do for our small market. Superchips and the others are big corportations with R&D budgets and they look at their return on investment. I doubt that they could have an engineer spend three years working on a program for the Dodge Diesel and justify it to share holders.



I belive the greatest thing about the Smarty will be access to the developer and the ability to actually have a somewhat "custom" tune in your ECM. Bombing our trucks has always ment working around the ECM trying to get it to do things it does not want to and making sure it did not hear about these things from the senors. Now we have Marco on our side and he can change the rules and make or lives easier.
 
Im not going to Battle here ...



Thanks for the reply's



One more thing



HOW is the external Smart box ALONE, able to duplicate what FORMERLY also required internal ECM mods... What had to be sacrificed in the Smarty to make it 100% external?



DM
 
DieselMinded said:
Im not going to Battle here ...



Thanks for the reply's



One more thing



HOW is the external Smart box ALONE, able to duplicate what FORMERLY also required internal ECM mods... What had to be sacrificed in the Smarty to make it 100% external?



DM





There were never any internal mods "required" for the MAD ECM. It was essentially a flash then and is again now.



I am not sure about comps being harder on a pump than the ECM. I had a conversation with a reputable guy that gave me some new insight to that issue.



Dave
 
Good Morning Gentleman,



WOW, many questions to answer here. I'll do my best...

I'll pick out the questions that don't have been answered in some way on our web site. If you don't see an answer to your question please check out the FAQ page or download Smarty's manual from our downloads page.



Dieselminded sez :

"Super Chips Default Performance Program = Level 9 on Smartys ????"



NO! IF brand "S" would come only close to what the full blown CaTCHER does, I think there would be many more "S" tuners around. Software # 2 on Smarty is about what brand "S" calls "HiPerf". With only one lil difference, "S" does no boost tables.



Dieselminded sez :

"Ok lets say its 100 more HP than the Super Chips ,,,,there goes everyones VP44 ??? Right ???"



No, in the mean time there are several hundred CaTCHERized ECM customers out there. NOT ONE has had VP problems that could be related to the CaTCHER. Sure VP's do fail but not due to the CaTCHER.

On the other side, we all know that VP's can fail within minutes with a fuel wire tapping box, yet there are tons of those boxes out there. . see what I mean?



Dieselminded sez:

My point is there has to be a limit of HP/TQ gains Via Programming the stock ECM before things break ,,,



Yes things break when you up HP. That is true for the CaTCHER / Smarty like it is with other ( any ) power adders. What's the point?



Rather this smarty is a HP/TQ gainer or it does what the Catcher Did and didnt add much if any HP/TQ ?



Yes the CaTCHER does not add power. Most times the truck looses power.

BUT the truck moves faster... :-laf C'mon, we've been through that too many times in the past.



Snoking sez:

"Well maybe you should have a stock program with boost fooling for those who drive on icey roads. "



SW's #1, #2, #3 would be just fine for that.



AKAMAC sez:

"Marco, is the smarty ECM or VIN sensitive?"



YES! Smarty only works with one truck AND one ECM at one time.

Please! Notice!!! 1 Smarty = One truck AND one ECM!



That means that if you update the ECM in your truck and then swap in another ECM, Smarty will know it and say " ECM changed".

Before you swap an ECM, go back to stock, unlock Smarty, swap ECM, update the new ECM.



So in your case, swap in your stocker before you update with Smarty.



dhill sez:

"Could you take your Smarty and install it on several different trucks ONE-AT-A-TIME"



Absolutely Yes! No problem, when you go back to stock Smarty unlocks from the VIN# and ECM, you're ready to go into another truck. As many times as you want.



Oh, I don't know if that has been ever mentioned.

The DTC reader works always in any truck. Even when Smarty is VIN# locked to your truck, you can still diagnose your buddy's truck. I did not want you to have the hassle to go back to stock only because you need to help someone. Better I add that to the FAQ's...



FF1607 sez:

"I have a similiar question to dhill. I understand that you can change the Smarty from truck to truck, but does the Smarty have all the information for all the years and all the different configurations?"



There will be two different Smarty's. One for 98. 5 - 02. One for 03 and up.

Each one has all the softwares for it's range ( second / third gen ) on board.

Like I've said earlyer here, for example the 98. 5-02 trucks came in 30 different truck configurations. Smarty has for EACH of those 10 modified softwares + one stock software on board. In all 330 different softwares.



To tell you the truth, I have not yet thought about the case where an Smarty owner goes from second to third gen. Smarty's hardware has been designed to work on both with minimal hardware changes for both the second and third gen's from the beginning. Sure the complete software needs to be changed but that's not a problem. Hmmm, that customer could send his Smarty in... . Let me look into it, it could be done at a minimal fee if any.

Good point!



FF1607 sez:

"it states to remove any after market fueling devices or programs before installing the Smarty. "



Yes I know, I've HATED ( still do ) the instructions...

But... I had to take one simple thing into consideration. One thing is to chat with you, my TDR buddies, the general public is a somewhat different animal.



Just as an example, one guy has brand "S" tuner installed and VIN locked. Now he get's Smarty and whipes out the brand "S" tuning with it. Then at some point he want's to take his brand "S" toy back to stock and sell it. He get's back to his truck plugs brand "S" box in... HEY "S" tuner sez now Vin# locked... he no longer can do anything with his toy.

I can already hear him calling me... YOU DID NOT TELL ME..... :-{}

See... ? We all know that it would be his fault but at the very end of the story if I had not told him. .



To my best knowledge it is not needed to remove other boxes in order to do an update with Smarty. Other brand tuners need to ba taken back to stock before you use Smarty. Granted I don't know ALL the add on boxes out there. I've done almost all the alfa testing with one brand box or another in my truck, never removed any of them during the updates, never a problem

PLEASE KEEP IN MIND, I DIDN'T SAY THAT! :D

Repeat after me, I have to remove my box, I have...



There are several other things among that line in the instructions and Smarty's on screen display for the very same reason. Just use a grain of salt...

I DIDN'T SAY THAT! :-laf :-laf :-laf



FF1607 sez:

"the website recomends not leaving the Smarty in the vehicle if it get too cold. How about too hot?"



See my previous answer... . Hey did I say that? Wasn't me... . ;)

We've chosen to use ONLY first class electronics components, no cheapo stuff for Smarty...

Operation temp range for them is from -40°F to 176°F ( -40°C to 80°C ) a few even more. Storage range is much wider. So I would say just don't leave Smarty under direct sunlight on the dash in the desert...

Repeat after me, Marco didn't say that, Marco...



Boondocker sez:

"With the Smarty, can you go from one program to another, or do you have to go back to stock, then to a program?"



Great question that one goes directly into my FAQ page. Thanks!

You can go from any software# to any SW#. No need to go back to stock!



In general. Should we ever find level 11 or 12, they WILL be shortly after be available in our download page. There's NO DOUBT about that.



IF!



See, for obvious reasons, just to mention one, shipping, with the ECM's it was very difficult to test new/different softwares and or different combinations of softwares. With Smarty that's no longer! A simple update over the web, voilà.



Furthermore, Smarty's firmware can already accept two different ways to download new SW revisions.



1) The full deal meal with all the different truck versions. That's the one average Joe will need. It has a little problem though, zipped it's still close to 4 meg and it takes about 15 minutes for Smarty to load it all.



2) Only ONE truck. I can't remember right now how much that is zipped, I think around 200K. Smarty loads that one in a couple minutes.

The truck is on the dyno, dyno time is expensive, everything has to go as fast as possible... ... ...

Level 11? Here we COME!

'Nough said?



Don't make me burn all the wood at once, the stove is full, the winter is loong... :D



Thanks for your great help guys!



Marco
 
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I understand this unit has some of the capabilities of a OBD-II scan tool. I've never been around such a tool and I'm wondering what advantages it has over the Smarty. Could I purchase a Smarty and use it for 20% of that the scan tool did? 40%, 70%?



Also, I understand the need for diffrent software between VP and common rail trucks but how difficult would it be to allow it be used as a scan tool (code reader) on both models?



-Scott
 
Murle's?

That was a mouthful Marco... LMAO.



Dear buddy Murle,

By now, you've teached me that in Texas you BBQ Mules. And I believe you.

Please be patient with me, having never been to Texas I don't know your behaviour over there. You know country you visit, people you find...



One dumb question I really have to ask...



Do you Texas guys BBQ also Mu(R)les? :-laf :-laf :-laf

If you never did, here in Italy we do ! :D :D :D

Now it's my turn to LOL!



Best Regards,



Marco
 
Marco or Bob, whoever is in charge of the 3rd gen list, put me on it. Oo. Oo.



Ya know this dang TDR costs me a lot more than the 35 bucks a year !!! :-laf :-laf



Oh well, ya can't take it with you, ya just gotta have enough to get there!! :-laf
 
Marco;

This sounds like a great product and can't wait to get a chance to try one in my truck but I have one question. What if a new TSB comes out from dodge and the truck gets that reflash, are you also going to incorporate that flash(via a download) into the Smarty's stock program and the catcher programs? the dealer can also tell if there has been a programmer on the truck by missing flashes.
 
Good question Scrappy and it brought one to my mind.



Which version of "stock" will the Smarty come with. There are some reflashes I don't want, like the oil pressure gauge reflash.

My truck hasn't been flashed since I bought it new, there's somethings I just don't want others messing with.

By "others" I mean the dealers.
 
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Marco said:
That was a mouthful Marco... LMAO.



Dear buddy Murle,

By now, you've teached me that in Texas you BBQ Mules. And I believe you.

Please be patient with me, having never been to Texas I don't know your behaviour over there. You know country you visit, people you find...



One dumb question I really have to ask...



Do you Texas guys BBQ also Mu(R)les? :-laf :-laf :-laf

If you never did, here in Italy we do ! :D :D :D

Now it's my turn to LOL!



Best Regards,



Marco



Well to tell the truth never BBQ a Mule. Have Rattlesnake, Possum, Goat,and a few other things that I better not say here. . LOL Also have you gotten my last email to you asking you a question about the Smarty's ?
 
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GWoody said:
Ya know this dang TDR costs me a lot more than the 35 bucks a year !!! :-laf :-laf



You are not kidding. Everything in my sig is due to the knowledge gained on this site.



Every time I think I'm done, something else cool (in this case, the Smarty) comes out and makes me pull out the Visa. I gotta get some self control...









riiiiiiiiight :-laf
 
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