Smarty, the new CaTCHER tool.

[Murle]

Tried my VA Plug and play with the Smarty on #9... . It felt SOP that it hurt performance.

 

[SSabick]

Any new owners have a HRVP with the Smarty. I am considering a HRVP soon, and I also like the idea of a Smarty. Don't the HRVP's add a bit of timing? I guess that one could still use the no timing SW numbers. If you do buy a HRVP, and a Smarty, and you restore the stock SW back, will it wipe out the timing that was added on the HRVP? I am still wondering if the increase is as good for the HO truck as it is for the SO powered trucks as well? Don't the timing units give better response to the SO's than the HO's?

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

Hey TMTTT,



You crazy? :-laf :-laf

Within the mechanical limits of the VP, yes you will stack the CaTCHER timing + VA timing. I would dare to say, not a good thing.

Marco

AHA Marco that makes alot of sense. I had used a CaTcHeR setup just prior to my smarty move and I left the VA on the pump. ALL of my throttle movement was moved from an entire pedal range to the first 1/4 of pedal movement. Anything after that first 1/4 the truck would flatline and feel allmost like the box was off



Now that particular Catcher was setup for aggressive twins ... did that matter?

 

[Boondocker]

HO vs. SO for timing

I am still wondering if the increase is as good for the HO truck as it is for the SO powered trucks as well? Don't the timing units give better response to the SO's than the HO's?

I don't have a good understanding of how timing affects our motors and want to learn more about it, especially since I have an HO motor.

What I have heard and experienced is that (some) timing advance can lower EGT, improve MPG, and improve throttle response. This has been my experience with Edge EZ & Comp, too early to tell about EGT and MPG from Smarty. (No matter what, Smarty's responsiveness makes up for the other two categories )



1. For the HO motors, is timing advance handled in both the ECM and VP44?



2. Does the Smarty override any timing advance in the ECM of an HO motor, thus equalizing the HO and SO ECM-wise?



3. Finally, there is a warning against "towing heavy" when using the Fuel Saver program "because of more aggressive timing".

Is this to say that Program #1 has more timing advance than program #9?

What is the danger of this "aggressive timing" as it relates to towing?

Is there a recommended program for towing?



Thank you,

Neil

Empty minds want to be filled up

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

No expert by any means but I want to take a stab at it so don't laugh.

No expert by any means but I want to take a stab at it so don't laugh.​

Neil I think the difference between HO and SO (2001+02) is Delivery valves within the VP (Which are all the same scince the . 27 spec pumps?) and of course pistons and cooling jets and ecm calibration. Timing is programmed within the VP staticly and the ecm controls it dynamicly thruout the rpm range. Enhancements beyond that (Like the smarty) take it above that level in a more aggressive dynamic fashon and broaden the curve. Again this was only a guess.

 

[TORQUE THIS]

aggressive twins ...

Blonde????




Get rid of the VA, just use stick power with the BlueChip... and of course, download #9

 

[rweis]

The comments about the timing add from various boxes makes me think that I for one don't know EXACTELY what the xxxx (Comp in my case) does for or with the Smarty.



Somehow we need to develop a list of this xxx box adds timing (and I am not even sure what "timing" means EXACTELY) and this xxx does not add timing. So we can sort out which add on boxes work better with the Smarty.



I think I know what "adds fueling" means. I think it means HOLDS the VP solenoid CLOSED longer so more of the high pressure pump pressure will hold the injector pop off valve open longer dispensing more fuel to the cylinder until the VP solenoid opens and collapses the high fuel pressures and vents some of the excess out the Bypass valve back to the tank.



I do not know EXACTELY what "timing" means. Advance? (of TDC?) and how much is it "normally"? and how much can you advance, should you advance, and how do you know when it is too much? and towing heavy and advance?



Bob Weis

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I use my truck primarily as a tow vehicle, and up to now with the Comp and bigger injectors, have been using the EGT as my primary indicator of allowable engine stress - along with SOP "feel" as to engine load.



I have to wonder if my past guidelines will still be accurate enough to keep operating parameters in control as they apply to the engine and VP-44 in towing situations - after all, what's the value of power, if it can't be used safely?



Based upon past statements related to the CaTCHER, it hasn't seemed to be an issue, and I guess I can assume the same for the Smarty, until informed otherwise...

 

[DarrellB]

Anyone else get a "Software Unknown" command from their Smarty? I just got a chance to download mine today and that's all I got once I tried to download the new programing.



Thanks

DB

 

[Bob Wagner]

Darrell, I shot marco an email with the error code. There must need a update for the 99 5speed. you are the 2nd 99 5speed to get the error message.



Marco will report when he wakes up, sorry for the inconvenience.

 

[JamesConway]

Darrell, I shot marco an email with the error code. There must need a update for the 99 5speed. you are the 2nd 99 5speed to get the error message.



Marco will report when he wakes up, sorry for the inconvenience.

Wondering if that 1st email was mine. As I had just fired off an email about the same UNKOWN SOFTWARE problem.



Eagerly awaiting an answer.

 

[DarrellB]

Thanks Bob!



I was just heading back here to type that same thing.



The code reader worked just fine on mine. It just wouldn't let me upload any of the Catcher info. Kept giving me that "Unkown Software" message. I looked in the instructions and it said to contact Mads or you so that's what I did.



Thanks again

DB

 

[DThelen]

This smarty really has me interested like most people i'm sure. I would like to try it and probably will. I would like to know more.



Does it have a boost fooler or programming that won't defuel and throw a code when more than 20 psi is produced for a time period?



How about the Idle? how low is the fuel saver mode idle work. When does the warm up high Idle work?



I guess that's enough for now.



thanks



dan

 

[Mtngold]

Got mine today and I got the unknown software also. I have a 99 5 speed 3500

Bob I talked to you about this ealirer today.

Thanks for the fast call back.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Thank you too. as we can see it's all 99 5sp trucks. that must be the missing link here.

 

[turbo torque]

Sooo, I guess when mine gets here tomorrow or monday for my 98. 5 5 speed I should antisipate problems? Oh Well. I bet Marco can fix it.

 

[DarrellB]

Nice to know you're not alone though hu! :-laf :-laf



DB

 

[Marco]

Darrell,

You still there? I've send you a PM...



Marco

 

[DarrellB]

Got it Marco!



I'll be in touch tomorrow around this same time with that info you asked for.



DB

 

[BradPatterson]

I received my Smarty in the mail on Wednesday. Swapped the catcher ecm I already had on my truck back to the original ecm, then decided to drive it for a day just to remember what it acted like stock. I drove it from my shop one block and had to come back and download Smarty. (I guess I've been spoiled for the last 8 months) I read the instructions ,hooked up Smarty, followed the "on screen" commands and bingo!!! DONE! no problems, piece of cake! I loaded #9 to see how it compared to my catcher ecm and I think the power down low is a little smoother,no less power, just smoother(not that I mined the original catcher). I'm leaving first of the week on a Trip to southeastern Ohio and back to Florida (app. 2k miles round trip) so I'll check out the fuel saving program and report back. Thanks Marco,Bob, and everyone involved with Smarty, this thing is sweet!!!!!!!!... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... bp