7401 Predator 2

Arrived damaged. All packaging was fine, but the tuner case was popped open with the screen and PCB hanging halfway out of the case. Lined it all back up and snapped it back together. Update software DOES NOT WORK. Followed the directions included with the tuner and downloaded the update software. Installed on my Win7 box without issue. But it will not allow me to register my product or receive any updates there may be. The software relies on you to plug the tuner into a USB port before opening the registration process or checking for updates. It just sits there saying "CONNECT DEVICE. Please plug your device into your PC to check for Updates. (Software will locate device once connected.)" But it never detects the device. Tuner powers up, confirming a good USB connection and its display says "USB Mode". Windows Device Manager shows that it is connected, as the software installed drivers. But the software never detects it.Already at a 2 stars loss before programming. Snapped open case without damage to the packaging is a clear case of POOR QUALITY CONTROL. Someone one packaged this with the case already popped open. I am even more irritated with the update software and will likely reach out to them for a solution. While an update (if there even is one) is not necessary, if there is one I would sure like it. I would also like to register it for warranty.The car: 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ with the non-HO 4.7 (Engine code "N"). 545RFE, NV247, Dana 35, Dana 44, 3.73. Stock ride height and tires, 245-70/16 Firestone Winterforce 2UV. Not much in the way of mods. Custom 3in “sewer pipe” intake, with a Spectre cone filter(SPE-HPR9885). TB was very recently cleaned, new IAC valve, IAT relocated to filter end of intake (this is highly debated/contested on whether it even does anything or not, but it also causes no harm so why not?), fresh plugs (OEM NGK V-Power nickel-plater copper; ZFR6F-11G), AMSOIL 5w-20 XL, and an oversized Purolator oil filter PL30001 (increased oil capacity by 1 full quart), Dynomax 19374 Exhaust System. It should also be noted I have a nuisance P0302 that continually returns (Cylinder 2 misfire). Concluded a bum injector as moving the coil gave the same result as did new plugs. That injector does not seem to like being cold, as that is only time I feel the misfire. As long as she is warmed up it does not appear, as proven on several 600mi road trips with no CEL. None the less, a full new injector set sits on the shelf in wait (Siemens 4 port; 53032704AB).Set Up: Following the prompts was easy. Stock tune was backed up, and I installed the "87 Performance" tune. Engine immediately sounding different with a new deeper tone coming from under the hood at idle which had me shutting down and checking for vacuum or a leak in the TB and/or CAI. Couldn't find anything, and am not sure where the source of the sound is, as I can only hear it from the cab but it is definitely from the engine bay. I dismissed it as perhaps tune adjustment to the IAC or maybe even TB position. Idle is noticeably smoother.Warm Up Laps: I drove normally to bring the engine up to temp. I already thought the 4.7 was underrated and was exceptionally smooth, but it is actually even smoother. Shifts are faster, I also notice the annoying an unnecessary downshift when climbing a hill unloaded are gone. It remains in the last gear, and chugged up the hill without sounding loaded down like it needed to shift (as I always suspected).Hot Laps: To the boards the engine sounds completely different - I cannot explain but it had me once again hunting for a vacuum leak to no avail. Ignoring and stomping the loud pedal again, from a dead stop it had a brief but glorious squeal from the rear and even a slight slide right as the tires looked for traction (Note: transfer case has a blown georotor pump and the front axle has a bad input bearing, resulting in the removal of the front driveshaft and RWD only). While the launch sounded impressive, I would say it didn’t pull much harder until about 4000 RPM where I could feel it, albeit subtle. Shift was firm to 2nd gear, and has a slight but satisfying chirp from the rear tires (Note: Torque management has been disabled). 0-60 dropped a hair more than a tenth from 6.10 to 5.96. Throttle response near instant. I also noticed at 70, a stab to the floor no longer has the irritatingly slow 5th to 4th to 3rd shift, and instead drops direct to 3rd RIGHT NOW.Conclusion (for now): Would have gotten 5 stars if it wasn’t for the weak quality control and currently worthless software on my PC. There is virtually no excuse for it to be packaged half assembled. I think the 87 Performance tune I have in there now was stated to be good for 11HP, and it is likely pretty close to that – at least according to my “butt dyno”. Not only noticeable power gains, and measurable 0-60 time, shift quality cruising, climbing, and hammer down throttle to trans response is greatly improved. As far as how smooth it is, it is quite possible that is a placebo effect – I am really not sure how that could measured. The new sounds from under the hood are yet to be sourced, not to mention even determined if they are related to the tune (good or bad). I cannot comment accurately on MPG, as I also just installed a roof rack and a large gear basket. I have gone from 17MPG combined to 14MPG combined. My commute is about 25mi on 35-55mph roads. Hard to say if the tune ate all that MPG or the basket did, I am guessing both....Updates to come: 91 Diablo tune. 87 Economy. 2 of the 3 tow tunes, medium and heavy load. I also have not tried the options, like raising the rev limiter either 250 or 500 RPM. With the mill approaching 170k, I doubt I will go 500, but may raise 250 (Factory is about 5200 RPM, but the engine specs say it’s good for 5700). There is also the option to lose the top speed governor, but come on – it’s a Jeep - I will not likely ever see the speedo past 85. I also will report back on the data logging, gauges, and source of the new engine notes, if a conclusion is ever drawn. Stay tuned - unlike LOTS of reviews, I actually really DO circle back and update!!!***UPDATE 1.25.2021*** I ran a full tank on the 87 Performance tune, and it did change a bit from the notes above. I am thinking the with the ECU being reset, it once again needs to learn your driving habits so it continued to change as I put some miles on. Originally I noticed a brief increase in performance at launch, then it felt pretty much the same until about 4000RPM. I now feel increase in pull throughout the powerband, and 0-60 has improved another .06 to a 5.90. I also raised the rev limited by 250RPM (Note: this was NOT noticeable on the 1st to 2nd shift – she shifted at 5200 as per normal. She DID shift at 5450 from 2nd to 3rd. She also will wind the 5450 in 1st if you shift manually). The extra 250 revs was nice – even though the dyno show power dropping before the top end, it sure feel like she wants to continue to pull. 1st to 2nd shifted so hard in manual, that I may re-enable Torque Management. Side note – the “new deeper tone” I noted has turned out to be the tail pipe separating due to a rotten muffler flange. A Dynomax system (p/n 19374) that includes an intermediate pipe, a tail pipe, and a muffler is on order. The other increase in under hood noise that had me hunting for a vacuum leak, I have concluded is part of the tune as no leaks can be found, and it does indeed go away if I return to the stock tune.Diablo 91 tune: Once the 87 tank ran dry I filled it with 93 (91 was not at the pump I happened to stop at, and the directions say “91 or better”) and loaded the 91 Diablo tune. I immediately felt another increase in power, and was scared straight when 2nd gear hit and she actually broke loose and started to slide on damp pavement. Again keep in mind that my WJ no longer has functional 4wd, and I run my tires HARD at 38psi (unless there is snow), and the pavement was damp – this is still a Jeep after all, not a 500+HP muscle car. I will add more notes as I learn more – stay tuned!***UPDATE*** 2.1.2021 The DTC clear feature does not work. As noted earlier, I have a recurring P0302 due to a leaky fuel injector at idle. The CEL will come back every few hundred miles, and the Diablo tuner would not clear the code. The code always clears without issue with the key trick and my scanner. Not a huge deal, but yet another feature/quality issue I am not happy with. If it wasn’t for the performance improvements, I would be returning this.Diablo 91 tune: The Diablo 91 tune was a LOT of fun. 0-60 is down to 5.82 – pretty impressive for a mostly stock mill that made 235hp from the factory. But I will rarely use it. Mileage was about 12mpg. Again, keep in mind I installed a roof rack and basket at the same time I first used the tuner, but there is a definite substantial loss on this tune. I am not surprised, after all not many folks add HP and expect better MPG…. None the less, with premium being a full $1 more than 87, and 12mpg, I will probably stick with the 87 Performance tune.Economy 87 tune: Worthless. Mileage made no movement from the 87 Performance tune, and not far from stock. All it did was make sloppy early shifts under light throttle. I’ll be going back to the 87 Performance tune full time, until I have a chance to try a tow tune.Conclusion up to this point. The 87 Performance and 91 Diablo tune are a lot of fun and the only reason I al holding at 3 stars. I am still pissed at the half assembled condition I received this in, and that not all features seem to work. DTC clear not functional. Gauges does work beyond selecting what gauges you want to monitor – I have yet to see any monitoring that works. Firmware update software DOES NOT WORK. I cannot register as a result, as that is part of the software. Economy tune makes no noticeable improvements. Again if it wasn’t for 2 really fun performance tunes, I would be sending this back. Happy with the tunes, NOT happy with the tuner.