Ok, I got the newest version of Smarty on the truck today. Ran #9 and the cruise surge still there.

Also I put the speed limiter at 70mph just to test it, and it doesn't work. I hit 90mph with the truck and I could have kept on going. What's up with that?

 

Sorry to hear it.

If they ever get the kinks worked out, I'll be back to it. I sold mine due to some of the issues you guys are talking about.

Dave

 

I dropped the speed limiter to 60mph, was able to hit 90mph again. It can go way more, but not going to on a public road!

Ran #5 and #3 programs. Still surges. #5 is about the same as #9, and #3 is a bit less.
Really #3 I could almost not tell other than watching the boost gauge... it runs up and down about 5psi.
I will test stock tomorrow and see how that is just to compare.

I like the get up and go it has, but the cruise surge makes that about not worth it you know?!
I ran a Superchip programmer before and no issues. My friend has an Edge setup on his truck, no issues. It is something that Smarty changes that messes up with the cruise.

It's like the computer says give x amount of fuel, but Smarty overrides that and says give y amount. Computer does and then realizes whoah... too much. And Smarty is like... uh... F.U. now... computer your on your own

 

how do you like the smarty compared to the superchips?

Thanks
DAn

 

Can't comment on the speed limiter part but did you install a spray can straw into the vac line to the cruise control servo?
You can also retrain the cruise after resetting the APPS and do the following sequence.

CC off , level ground, drive a constant speed for some seconds (at least 20 secs IIRC) , turn on CC and set. Let the speed stabilize. Hit cancel. Adjust your speed + or - 5 mph and hold for 20 secs, hit set again. Repeat several times. This should be done on flat ground.
The CC learns the slack in the cable and the characteristics of the servo. With the straw installed it won't be able to jerk the cable as quickly.
Do also check that the CC cable to the APPS is moving smoothly. (And add some oil for good measure)

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

I will look into it. Truck has almost 180,000 miles, never touched that APPS deal.
I do have a WD40 straw in the line. It helped ALOT but maybe a 75% fix you know?.

 

With the newest versions available I did test the speed limeter at 20 mph. Worked perfectly. Would not fuel beyond 20 mph. I like this feature because it is a great option for valet mode. In the wrong hands it would be too easy to melt one of these engines. I also like the SW programs. My cruise surges bad, but I personally don't think that is something software is going to fix. I have not been out in the cold weather with it yet so I'm not sure about the high idle or the cylinder cutout, but these are great options that make the smarty so appealing!

 

Well since the smarty makes the go pedal that touchy you might succeed with a bit more restriction than the WD40 straw offers. (Either another one in line or a straw with a smaller ID)

HTH

AlpineRAM

 

In my truck I figured the cruise surge was caused by the over active bottom end fueling when coupled with mods. So, it behaved as described above.

A simple program that would allow for the bottom part of the pedal to be closer to stock fueling to a given point of travel, then switching over to the Catcher programs. I say simple, but I ahve no idea how much work it is or isn't.

I envision this as a smooth transition that would take effect over a given voltage/ throttle position range.

The work around I built does fix the cruise surge. But it has some other touchy issues that I would not feel comfortable giving to people.

That all said, the program was built the way it was. If you don't like it, I guess you don't have to run it. But it would be nice to be able to use the USB cable. A throttle curve similar to other boxes on the bottom would solve all the surging issues. But, you lose that bottom end hit that everyone is wanting. When I feel the need for that, I just put my foot a little deeper in it.

With the great stability I had with the program, I feel some days it was a loss and others a gain.

No product is perfect. I am just glad that I don't have "the only truck that has ever done this". It may be but I hope not!!

Dave

 

Ok, well confirmed that the speed limiter doesn't work on my truck. Anyone else?

Also I noticied my trans shifts better without the Smarty. There is almost a cross shift with the Smarty, and none without. Just 1st, bam.. 2nd... bam... 3rd, etc. (good trans with shift kit).

Sounds like Marco has some more tuning to do. As for the cruise surge, I'm going to mess with the APPS before working on that issue again.

 

The shifting issue is akin to light throttle shifting issues. Since the truck is producing more low end torque at light throttle, the trans has very little input from the PCM and the cable.

This results in hard "bang" type shifts. If you try driving with your foot in it, you will most likely have smoother shifts.

The cruise surge is directly related to the touchy throttle and the rate of increase/ decrease of the cruise control. It is my beliefe this rate is "fixed" in the computer, so a rate change or a stepper motor arrangement may solve the issue. But I am only guessing.

The price you pay for fast throttle response and torque management elimination on 2nd gens is the symptoms some have reported.

Has anyone heard from anyone if there are any updates on the horizon? The 3rd genners don't seem to have as many issues as the VP, automatic crowd.

Dave

 

I love my smarty, I have the updates for the speed limiter, and extended RPM range, easily revs up to 3600, not safe, but it can. I want to update it again to the extreme cold, but, I believe it say same catchers as the original version, what original version do they mean? Will I lose the performance of the new update?

I have been in a CR with a smarty, and it was night and day, we have to remember the days of the vp44 are out, and cp3's are in. I don't blame mads for spending more time on the CR version, If I could I would have one of those trucks, **** they are fast, so fast, my friend is in the process of doing a destroked kit, bye bye 6.0 leaker, and hello 5.9 CR

 

I don't think the VP44 trucks are on the way out. Alot of us
don't want to go out and spend $45,000 on a new truck every
few years. I plan on keeping mine along time. The Smarty was
on the high end ($649.00) when it came to 65hp non wire tap
upgrades. The reason alot of us paid the premium was, we were told
it was going to be upgradable thru the USB port.

 

Yup!

The last VP44 trucks are only a couple years old even.


I think most of us feel suckered a bit. When the first Smarty came out it was more or less a "beta" as I understood, and people were to let Bob/Marco know how it worked so they could make new programs to better work on the trucks.

I realize that you can only get so much power from the VP44, and the Smarty I guess gets every last bit I'm told.

Stuff like the speed limiter is nice... but it doesn't even work on my truck. High idle is nice. Would be nice if we could adjust the idle... or bring it down a bit more. (Smarty does bring it down about 50rpm on my truck)

The cruise surge is the big thing for me. There's got to be a way to fix it. The Superchip programmer I had didn't do it. I realize that the programs aren't even close... Smarty has more power on the bottom and Superchips has WAY more mid and top, but still.

I'd recomend the Edge w/Attitude before the Smarty... I wish I had gone that route.

 

Never had a surge issue with my truck whether cruise on or not with the smarty... My APPS was adjusted within .002 volts.

Oh and I dont have a fancy WD40 straw either