I know there are already a bunch of threads about the Hypertech Max Power Programmer, but I thought I would start a new one.

I ordered the programmer along with my lift because I am planning on putting on 37s and regearing, and thought, why not, I'm already throwing too much money into the truck, whats another couple $100, it it corrects the speedometer.

When I unpacked it, I thought it looked kind of cheap, especially in comparison to products like the Apexi VAFC and Greddy eManage (I spend a lot of time tuning Hondas), but I figured I'm not mounting it in the Jeep, so it doesn't have to look nice. So I plugged the thing in and it went to work, asking me questions about fuel, gears, tires, and temperature. It was simple and took about 20 minutes and said it was done. I started the Jeep and everything seemed normal.

According to my butt dyno, I really couldn't feel any spectacular difference. Perhaps a little more power on the low end, but who really knows. What I did notice is that on the ride home, it seemed to accelerate better than before after about 50 MPH, so I decided to hit the gas. I was able to burry the speedo, which never happened before. The navi said I was at 103 MPH. The fastest I ever had it on this stretch of road was 95 MPH. I'm not sure where the stock fuel tables end, but it wouldn't get over 95 on this strech of road before.

Before I get flamed, yes I know the Jeep is not designed for high speeds. I normally drive about 70 to 80 MPH, which is probably too fast for the Jeep anyway. I also live in Germany and was on the Autobahn on a section with no speed limit, so I am not breaking any laws.

Overall, I'm not disappointed with the programmer. It will adjust for the gears and tires, which is why I bought it in the first place. It is cool that it can read diagnostic codes, and the added power at the top end is nice. Not sure if it was worth the money, but I don't think I will complain about the cost in relation to the benifits.

 

Glad to hear that...No complaints with mine as well....Would love to see pics of your JK when your lift is installed....

 

Certainly not flaming you here...so please don't take it that way. First off, I'm glad you were able to tell SOME difference. The things is to me though, I'd be sending that sumbitch back cause who the hell needs the difference at 103 MPH?!?!?!? Where we NEED perfprmance is at the bottom end of the spectrum, and these companies KNOW this. Why they keep making product that doesn't work FOR us is beyond me. Hopefully Superchips will answer this for us.

 

The one difference for me that made it worth the extra money was the improved throttle response. That lag in the drive by wire would often lead me to mash the pedal and accelerate much more than I needed to from a stop.

 

Well said, and I totally agree... that lag was horrible, and is SOOOOO much better now!

To the Superchip comment above: Honestly, it could still use more low-end grunt, but let's be real here - you're not going to uncork 100 ft/lbs from a programmer on a JK engine, regardless of how it's set up.

 

I got my Hypertech and 5.13 gears the other day. I have 33s and a 3-inch lift.

I got the lift and the 33s a while back. I really, really hated to drive my Jeep on the highway. The constant in and out of overdrive along with the smallest hills causing me to slow down drove me completely insane.

I wasn't looking for a race car, but nor did I want a Trabant.

The gears and Hypertech made my Jeep what it should have been out of the factory. Acceleration is crisp, I don't have to mash the gas pedal to make it get out of its own way AND I can cruise at 70 or 75 without seesawing between 60 and 75.

And the best part is it looks like the gas mileage will not be any worse! I'm not going to figure mpg until the tank is empty but so far the gauge is falling at about the same, or better, rate than previous.

Just what are the laws in Germany concerning lift anyhow?

 

How is your JK running with the 5.13s & 33s? Is the gearing too much? The reason I ask is that I want to regear, but also want to hold off in purchasing 35s until the 33s wear out....Thanks...

 

i don't blv on feeling and dyno

best thing is to race with your friend then upgrade to what ever then try agine with him and see the difference cuz it will be fact.

 

Laws in Germany on modifying a vehicle are pretty strict. You can do it, but you have to get approval from the TUV for it to be legal. Aftermarket parts manufacturers somtimes get TUV certification for the parts, and you can put those on without a problem, but the parts are then more expensive. Some people modify their vehicle and restore it to factory for the annual TUV inspections and hope that they don't get stopped at police control points or for traffic violations. Lots of others register their vehicles in neighboring countries where the laws don't apply. I, fortunatley, do not have to have a German registration, so the German laws don't apply and I can do what I want to my vehicles. Good thing too, because I like big tires, big lifts, and loud exhausts.

As far as what RedneckJeep said, I have to agree. We don't need more top end speed, we need more low end power, but I don't think the 3.8 will ever deliver that regardless of tuning. Had I expected or wanted more than it correcting for gears and tires and providing a slight increase in performance, I would send that sucker back. I probably would have been just as happy with their less expensive product that only corrects for gear and tire changes. Though the SLIGHT improvement in the low end is nice. Having driven it a bit more now, I'm not sure if the improvement comes from improved throttle response or from the reduced overall vehicle weight from having an emptier wallet. I'll chalk it up to throttle response.

Just out of curiosity, I would really like to put it on a dyno, reset it to stock, and then reprogram it and compare the difference. If I get the time, I will see if I can do that, and I'll post the results.

 

I don't think it is too much at all! It actually feels quite normal to me. I had passing thoughts after I ordered the 5.13s that the Jeep would feel like a UPS truck Fortunately it's not like that at all.

The *only* time where the 5.13s feel like they are a bit much is if i mash the accelerator at a low speed. The tranny drops down to first ... and there is nothing there. It's pretty close to redline at that point and really has no where to go.

I find that if I just accelerate normally, it will get up and go much, much better than stock.

I haven't had a chance to get out on the highway much. My shop wants me to put 500 city miles on it to break it in. I did have it up to 65 briefly on a secondary road and in overdrive the tach was sitting at about 2500, so I think a 70mph cruise should be comfortable for a long haul.