Handheld tuners or performance programmers are designed to re-tune your vehicle’s powertrain control module (PCM). The PCM in most vehicles is tuned to have smooth shifting and the best fuel economy straight out of the factory. However, some vehicle owners might want to prefer tuning their engine to get more horsepower and don’t mind getting fewer miles per gallon. Others might also want to upgrade their vehicles and change a few components, and to maximize their vehicle’s performance with the new part, they’ll need to change their PCM’s tuning.
If you’re interested in tuning your vehicle, your options are to go to a pro tuner or get a handheld tuner. Pro tuners specialize in changing a vehicle’s PCM so that it can create more power. This involves putting your vehicle on a dyno and testing several parameters to achieve the best performance. Pro tuners are great since they can customize parameters that might not be accessible with a handheld tuner. Additionally, they have a lot of experience. However, they might also be expensive.
With a handheld tuner, you can customize settings like shift points and fuel maps. Handheld tuners have become extremely popular in recent years because tuning know-how is becoming more accessible through the internet. When it comes to getting more horsepower, getting a handheld tuner is hard to beat in terms of value because they’re quite cheap compared to other expensive upgrades
Here are some good handheld tuners you can get:
The Edge Products EvoHT2 handheld tuner is designed to give your vehicle the most power for the best price. It gives you the power to unlock better performance, fuel efficiency, or towing capabilities in the palm of your hand.
It can alter various aspects of your vehicle like shift points, engine settings, and other transmission parameters. Depending on your skill level, it also has presets so that you can change your vehicle’s characteristics with the push of a button. The EvoHT2 performance tuner is also an OBD-II reader, so you can use it to read and clear diagnostic codes.
Edge Products has specific performance tuners for specific vehicle models.
The Superchips Flashpaq F5 Tuner is designed to help you maximize your vehicle’s performance. It is a small device with a sleek, slim design with a full-color, 2.8-inch color screen. The intuitive graphic interface makes it easy to use and navigate. The device has presets for performance, towing, and economy settings. These presets boost horsepower, torque, and overall performance while also improving fuel economy and reducing unnecessary downshifting when climbing hills.
Aside from improving performance, the Flashpaq F5 also excels in diagnostics. Its user-friendly interface and enhanced memory with a high-speed processor ensure rapid tuning and updates, all powered via your vehicle’s OBD-II port or a USB connection to your PC/Windows computer.
Customizable to fit your needs, the Flashpaq F5 lets you adjust various parameters, including torque management, speedometer calibration, shift points, and more. While it offers pre-loaded tunes designed to improve your vehicle’s performance and economy, you also have the flexibility to tailor settings to match custom modifications.
You can get easy software updates if you connect it online, allowing you to get the latest presets and calibrations from Superchips. This particular Flashpaq F5 is designed to work for various GM models like the 1999 GMC Yukon with the 8 Cylinder, 5.7-liter engine. That said, Superchips offers tuners for other vehicles as well.
Please note that this tuner is not legal for use in California on pollution-controlled vehicles. For those looking to elevate their Silverado’s capabilities while enjoying enhanced efficiency and diagnostics, the Superchips Flashpaq F5 Tuner is an excellent choice.
The first Diablosport Predator handheld tuner was known for its rock-solid performance, and the Predator 2 continues its legacy with upgrades.
The Predator 2 allows you to unleash your vehicle’s full potential with ease with its 2.8-inch touchscreen and intuitive 5-button navigation. The tuner has a great user experience, thanks to a faster processor, increased memory, and superior tuning and updating speeds.
The Predator 2 can refine throttle response, optimize drivability, and improve fuel economy, all while increasing horsepower and torque. The tuner comes pre-loaded with dyno-tested performance programs tailored specifically to your vehicle, offering both 50-state legal and custom tuning options to meet your performance needs while remaining compliant with regulations.
Aside from boosting power, the Predator 2 also allows you to scan and clear diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), calibrate your speedometer for different tire sizes or gear changes, and fine-tune transmission shift points and firmness.
It can be difficult to choose among these three tuners, as they all have a very similar set of features. All of them can tune your vehicle with preset profiles while serving double duty as a trouble code reader. All these tuners are also within the same price range. Overall, most of the tuners on this list have good reviews from performance enthusiasts, so you can’t go wrong in choosing any of them.
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