Hi, i recently bought a 2005 ram 1500 5.7L from a close family friend. It only has 30k miles on it, Airaid cold air intake, magnaflow exhaust and 22" SRT 10 rims with low profile tires.

Now, supposedly this truck has a tune on it, unfortunately if it does, i have no idea what it is and neither does the previous owner. It does feel kinda peppy but stepping on it....when it switches to 2nd...feels like it dogs a little and then picks up after a few seconds. Im guessing that the tune, if there is one, is as old as the truck.

Ive been looking into Diablosport predator and the Superchips Cortex and cant seem to make up my mind on which one to get. The cortex has the 2yr powertrain warranty on it which is nice, but ive been reading alot of good reviews on the predator saying that its way better than the Cortex, but like i said, im a noob to this whole thing as this is the first "new" and nice thing ive owned.

I guess the questions im getting at is...

1. Since there isnt a "stock" tune on the truck to begin with...would using one of the programmers be a problem..since you have to load the stock tune into your programmer and also if you want to get custom tune?

2. Which programmer would be the best. Ive been reading about the predator...having to log stuff after tuning and making sure there is no knocks or anything and thats kinda freaking me out a little since i dont really know how to adjust things like that.

I will be changing spark plugs to Denso ITL16's and the oil to Amsoil 0w20 and switching out airaid filter for an Amsoil Injection filter just so i have a starting point on when everything was done last. I will be tuning after all that is done.

Any help would be appreciated...and i apologize in head of time for this post because im sure these subjects have been beaten to death over and over again on the forums...thanks again

 

If the truck has an aftermarket tune on it and you do not have the tuner that was used to return the PCM back to stock, there is no tuner that will install on your truck. Your only recourse would be to take the truck to a dealer and pay to have the PCM re-flashed to factory spec...

 

hehe...i had a feeling that thats what was gonna have to happen...just couldnt really find anything about that on google...so thank you for verifying my fears...lol i appreciate it

 

My question is how do you KNOW it doesnt have a stock tune if the previous owner who had it doesnt know? Has the truck been passed around a lot or the previous seller just saying it was tuned to use it as a selling point?

Either way, if you are serious about getting a tuner (and I agree with what Hammer said) but you can go ahead and get a tuner and try to set it up. Either it will work and the previous owner(s) were mis-telling the truth or you will have to go get the PCM reflashed by the dealer anyway. At least doing it that way could POSSIBLY save you from the money from going to the dealer, maybe.

 

Well, like i said...he was a friend of the family and im pretty sure he wouldnt lie to me. And i think it has a tune because my friend had bought almost the same truck....same year...same engine...dual exhaust and CAI but he truck didnt feel as peppy as this one...plus my truck when it shifts has alot ....harder shift....not as "smooth" and un-noticeable like his did....when you step on it....its goes quick and then really slams into the gears and jerks your head back.....so...thats why i think it has a tune on it, but there is no real way to tell unless i goto someone who has a computer to check or try and tune it like you said.

I appreciate the feedback...it is being really helpful

 

ive also been reading that independent repair shops may have flash programs now, since there was a law or something passed letting repair shops be able to purchase the flash codes and such for each Make.

 

What what I am reading and understanding, you likely do not have a after market canned tune on the truck. it just feeling more peppy than a truck just like it doesnt mean it was a tune on it.

Go buy a tuner and get to having some more fun. Butch1581 has a brand new in box Diablosports U7137 for sale right now in the classifieds. You might get a good deal on it

Diablosport Predator U7137 Brand New!

 

Your truck have drop shackles on it too? It doesn't look like the stock rake of the dodge trucks. But maybe the picture is just misleading idk.

 

your right, its lower than normal. Im guessing the guy was trying to give it more of an SRT-10 look.

 

OK, i talked to the original owner who i bought the truck from...and he said it does have an aftermarket tune....his son was the one who built it for him since he owns a performance truck shop here in town. He said it was either from a superchips microtuner or flashpaq...but the tune was done right after the truck was bought and he no longer has the tuner....he also said that 2nd gear was a pig for him too for the first few secs after shifting into it...and said it was probably due to the tune and the shift point and rpms..or something of that sort and his son never got around to trying to custom tune it so it would respond better.

That being said....i called the jeep dealership that is down the road and they said they will be able to reflash the computer with the newest version of factory specs for 90+tax....and that seems to be the same everyone is charging.

thanks again for your help guys...i really appreciate it....look foward to posting back here with some good news