My SSR: 2005 Ricochet #14248 " Lean into the turns if that don't work pray"
Custom Tune Installed
This may be of interest to the Ontario Members, I brought my automatic in to Martin near Bowmanville so he could custom tune it. The cost was $400 Canadian. Here are my thoughts on the process. First off let me tell everyone I think in my opinion it is worth the money, for another $400 may as well let all the ponies out right. But to say it is a big difference I would be over stating the facts.
When i first got my SSR it was a pleasure to drive what I did notice was it seemed boggy when i hit the gas also the Tranny would hold the shift too long, you know it would almost over rev before shifting to the next gear. It would not spin the tires at all with or without the traction control, as it is an 2005 with the LS2 I assumed it should at least be able to spin the tires. I was Advised by POPPA to pull fuse # 27 so the computor could reset itself, i also installed an amsoil air filter and removed the MAF screen. Well this made a big difference the SSR no longer seemed boggy and it would spin the tires in first gear. So if i had not first done this I may have noticed a bigger difference after the custom tune.
What I noticed immediately after the custom tune was that the gas pedal is now very responsive, more than before, touch it and the SSR immediately responds there is no lag at all, also the tranny shifts quicker, not harsh at all just quicker. Martin Explained to me that I need to drive it for a few days until the program gets fully installed in the memmory, I do not really understand this but I believe the way he programs it the change or reprograming is a gradual process taking approx. 200 miles of driving to fully install, this being said I have not yet seen the final difference. Yesterday I took it for a rip Martin told me I will notice it getting stronger everytime I take it out until I get approx 200 miles on it, he also told me the harder i drive it the quicker it will learn the program. So I drove it like i stole it, for about 1/2 hour was suprised no sign of it overheating this is also a benifit but did manage to burn 1/4 tank of gas in 30 minutes me bad LOL. Anyway My SSR did seem stronger, it managed to get a squak out of the tires when it hit second gear that never happened before also it seemed stronger right up to 120MPH when I backed off, he removed the speed limiter but I was only on a narrow road and it got to 120 real quick, so i did not want to push my luck. My foot tells me the is quicker, more responsive, shifts better all in all I like it. I'm glad i did it but just want to let anyone else that may get this done that it likely is not going to make a huge difference, put this way I'm sure you the driver will notice but doubt your passenger would. I feel it on the gas pedal more than anything.
Martin is in the process of getting a DYNO, he claims that this program, I had the "hot 93 - 94 octane " installed should add 52 horses at the flywheel I have my doubts so far that it increased by this much, but it did increase some, enough that I would not want to detune it. Martin also advised me that he does not eliminate the traction controll all his settings are within manufacturer specs so you don't have to worry about warrenty issue's also the motor & transmission will run cooler and should last longer driving under whatever conditions I would normally drive. I believe this as i stated I pounded it hard yesterday and no heat issues it never even got to 210 which before it ran at all the time.
Also Martin is very pleasant, and will retune it again and again if your are not satisfied, this is all he does and word of mouth is his advertising so he aims to make all his clients happy. So I would recommend Martins tune for overall driving preasure but if you think it is going to make a huge difference you might be disappointed, my SSR right now would blow the doors off of itself from 4 weeks ago so that makes me happy but its not going to knock off the vettes or vipers out there, I also think it may have some benifits not related to speed such as tranny shifts being quick thus reducing heat and the engine running cooler all in all I recommend it . If I notice any further improvements, in the next 50 miles until the tune is fully installed i will keep you posted. When he gets his Dyno I will bring my SSR in and see what the actual numbers are.
Martins phone # is 1-877-838-1717 or 1-905-438-1717 or www.mgscustomtune.com he is a gentleman. Also while I was at his shop he told me about a place nearby that repairs bent rims, wish I knew this 2 months ago www.rapidwheel.com
My SSR: "Slingshot Yellow" 05 auto License plate "BIG V8"
Very nice review Larry I totally agree I had the diablo tune in my SSR before Martin tuned it I was pretty happy but always looking for more. I feel confident that Martin found all there is to find without changing parts. I am as pleased with his work as you seem to be and he is a pleasure to deal with.
Never heard of the new computers having to learn the tune, My 87 Grand National you burn a chip and let the car idle to learn that chip, When I put a tune in my SSR or someone Else's it is there, Not going to run any better if you drive it 100 miles, But then again what do I know, Can't even get my SSR to run 11's ''YET''
Martin Explained to me that I need to drive it for a few days until the program gets fully installed in the memmory, I do not really understand this but I believe the way he programs it the change or reprograming is a gradual process taking approx. 200 miles of driving to fully install, this being said I have not yet seen the final difference.
That's just the long version of what pulling fuse 27 does.
The tune in the computer was changed. It will not change on it's own after that. The SSR also had an adaptive memory that can make adjustments to what the tune says to do.
Pulling fuse 27, erases the adaptive memory that was based on the old tune and lets you start fresh. Just driving it will also get you to the same place as it will slowly overwrite the adaptations to the previous tune (stock or otherwise).
LOL then my ssr don't know if it coming or going, I change tunes in it all the time, I have a street tune and 3 strip tunes or I have a very smart ssr that learns the tune in the staging lanes
I had a custom tune done on the 03 yesterday and what a difference! I was having a problem with the engine stumbling at the 1-2 shift. But no more. I didn't have to drive anywhere. She came to my job and did the tune in less than an hour. Everything works better now than when I got it 3 years ago. Well worth the money. Wayne
__________________
03 Redline SSR 1SA #469
Born on 10-13-03
Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.
My SSR: 2005 Ricochet #14248 " Lean into the turns if that don't work pray"
I am real happy with the tune
Well it has been a few weeks now and I just want to tell everyone, that the SSR is still running good, tires now squack way to easy, maybe I should get it de-tuned, as if Anyway No problems no sensors going off, gas pedal is so touchy now, that I need to be cautious pushing on it or the wants to go make noise. Seat of my pants it is way faster and more responsive.
Hi Fellows, We Just Got Our Super Chip Performance 4 Power Yesterday . We Read The Instructions Several Times . The Programerer's L.e.d. Gave Us All The Instructions Anyway . We Could Not Get It To Completly Install With Out An Error Failure. We Called Super Chip An They Said It Was A Bad Programer To Send It Back For Repairs. We Tried Five Times To Install It An Every Time It Ended With The Engine Wouldn't Start Or Wouldn't Run Above A Idle. The Instructions Said To Remove The Neg. Cable To Clear It Up Which Worked Every Time . But After Five Times Of Crawling Under The Truck At 60 Years Old I Needed A Hand Full Of Advil An A Good Nite Of Sleep To Get Relief. I'm Glad Most People Had Good Luck With Thier Programmers. 5/8/07
My superchips went in ok and woke up the SSR but, my speed o meter was off about 10-15 MPH, thats makes the mileage clock more than it should. Also after the tranny hit second gear T/C activated and motor would not rev, you could floor the gas pedal and nothing, push the T/C button and the tires would lite up. They told me same thing but I undid it under the hood. Where's there's a little red box and its on the passengers side. And also thortle body still had that lag in it also. I know my typing isn't that good so I hope you can understand what I am saying. I have a 06 and it seems that some of these are having trouble with some of the adjustments being made. This is why Iam going to HP now and if superchips doesn't give back my money hell that makes about a grand I would have spent. But everyone that Joe has tuned says its awsome so thats good for me, and is why Iam going to HP. And when man like Joe is willing to take time out of his day to help from calf, well that proves HP is the right choice for me...Wish you luck with your tuning hope this helps God Bless............Pasta Mike
When I said get a HPTuner that is what the best use I had to leave the computer and never said anymore and really had a lot on my mind and never thought about it till I read this, I don't want anyone to think that the HPTuner is anything like the super chip So before you say Double-L I am going to kill you, If you don't have anyone to help you or have the time to really learn this tuner you could be in trouble, If you have someone that uses one there is not much you can't do with it, Just wish I could use it on my old Buick, Now I feel better
Take care all
My SSR: 2005 Ricochet #14248 " Lean into the turns if that don't work pray"
Custom Tune
I don't want to knock any of these hand held tuners, from what i understand they do a good job of tuning and improving preformance if you know what you are doing. But a real custom tune involves taking it to a pro who tunes your car while you wait. I don't want anyone to take my word for it but If you call Martin Smith or Westerners, they will inform you that the hand held tuners are only about 50% as effective with overall preformance as having a "real" custom tuning done. I have posted Martins Phone # on the First post of this thread for a $5.00 long distance call you might save yourself a ton of Grief. I did as much researching as I could and most of the information I needed was on this site, I was going to also buy a Diablo, or other such devise but read so many posts about problems after installing the tunes that I decided to see if anyone nearby did a Custom tune and was lucky enough to find someone within 100 miles of my place. My advise is unless you are really adept with electronics, is to get a custom tune instead of trying to do it yourself. Martin told me as he also sells the hand held devices but he is really limited in what he can change when using that method. He told me that he can get twice the performace doing the custom tune. Again I am just reapeating what he told me but, based on what I have witnessed since he tuned my . I have not had any problems at all and everything seems to run better,trany shifts nicer and quicker, gas pedal now is so responsive I really have to be careful taking off. There is absolutely no lag and none of the problems I have read after some of our members tried doing the tune themselves.
I am not trying to offend anyone but I did not feel comfortable playing with the electronics on my SSR especially after reading that other members had problems after the installs.
The Saint
Last edited by The Saint : 05-08-2007 at 08:57 PM.
I don't want to knock any of these hand held tuners, from what i understand they do a good job of tuning and improving preformance if you know what you are doing. But a real custom tune involves taking it to a pro who tunes your car while you wait. I don't want anyone to take my word for it but If you call Martin Smith or Westerners, they will inform you that the hand held tuners are only about 50% as effective with overall preformance as having a "real" custom tuning done. I have posted Martins Phone # on the First post of this thread for a $5.00 long distance call you might save yourself a ton of Grief. I did as much researching as I could and most of the information I needed was on this site, I was going to also buy a Diablo, or other such devise but read so many posts about problems after installing the tunes that I decided to see if anyone nearby did a Custom tune and was lucky enough to find someone within 100 miles of my place. My advise is unless you are really adept with electronics, is to get a custom tune instead of trying to do it yourself. Martin told me as he also sells the hand held devices but he is really limited in what he can change when using that method. He told me that he can get twice the performace doing the custom tune. Again I am just reapeating what he told me but, based on what I have witnessed since he tuned my . I have not had any problems at all and everything seems to run better,trany shifts nicer and quicker, gas pedal now is so responsive I really have to be careful taking off. There is absolutely no lag and none of the problems I have read after some of our members tried doing the tune themselves.
I am not trying to offend anyone but I did not feel comfortable playing with the electronics on my SSR especially after reading that other members had problems after the installs.
The Saint
I don't think you did offend anyone but there are some that need to tune their own, I did the same thing you did I took my SSR that had a tune from a hand held tuner to a good tuner and he put a good tune in it but I wanted some things changed, If I did anything I had to take it back to him and that made us both feel bad, So I started tunning my own SSR, I have a street tune and as of right now three strip tunes and I can scan to see how everything is doing and know I have a safe fast tune, That is why I added what I should have put, You are right a hand held won't give you the tune that the HPTuner can, If you don't know someone that will and can help you let someone else do it, But some are in a spot where they can say email me a tune a lot easier than they can drive to a tuner
Take care
My SSR: 2005 Ricochet #14248 " Lean into the turns if that don't work pray"
Yep understand what your talking about Double-L, just thought I would add that the guy I took my SSR to will retune it for free as long as I own my car and he incouraged me to stop in whenever I go by his place in case he has an upgrade from the factory. But I competely see the point in doing it yourself if you are capable which I am not.
Custom Tune Installed
automatic in to Martin near Bowmanville so he could custom tune it. The cost was $400 Canadian. Here are my thoughts on the process. First off let me tell everyone I think in my opinion it is worth the money, for another $400 may as well let all the ponies out right. But to say it is a big difference I would be over stating the facts. 
Wayne
Anyway No problems no sensors going off, gas pedal is so touchy now, that I need to be cautious pushing on it or the 
