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  • JeepLab Prodigy Install LIVE

    Ok, So the install went pretty much off without a hitch.

    The plan was for us, JL guys, who had never seen a turbo before, install it with the Prodigy guys watching for issues as we went. Our ace, Carolina Pete lead the charge, as usual. Like any true mechanic, it was hard for Wes from Prodigy to watch from the side lines and not get dirty with the rest of us.

    Wes was a master mechanic before he was 21. He owns 2 garages in FL. The guys knows cars, and he knows forced induction.

    Jessee is one of our guys, who offered to put his jeep on the operating table in the name of science. LOL. Jess was an excellent sport and was just as busy with the install as the other guys.

    Here's a shot of Jessee as he opened the Turbo.





    This article was originally published in forum thread: JeepLab Prodigy Install LIVE started by JeepLab View original post
    Comments 253 Comments
    1. NOLAjeeper's Avatar
      NOLAjeeper -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      Congrats to NOLA for getting his wastegate setup properly for stage 2 today! He has joined the the 8.0-8.2 psi club with me and the official Prodigy website claim of 8.2 psi: https://www.prodigyperformance.com/3...ler-turbo-kit/

      Snarf - I'm starting to think your 9 psi is an indication of a problem. Here's some things to check for:

      Leaks in the boost sensing line for the wastegate (along with any other vacuum hoses that it is teed into). Any leak, anywhere in that system of hoses that all hooks into the same small port on the intake manifold, could cause a false low pressure reading to the wastegate, which would allow higher than intended boost levels in the manifold.
      Check for any cracks/damage to the hoses.
      Check the ends of all hoses for damage, make sure they are pushed on the hose fittings fully, and securely zip-tied.
      Also check the banjo bolt for the barbed hose fitting on the wastegate to make sure it is tight.

      The evidence seems to be stacking up in favor of 8.2 psi being the true expected boost level of stage 2. I was told, however, that the tune is designed to handle up to 9.2 psi. I think I'll ask for Prodigy's opinion on using a manual boost controller to get the full 9.2 psi boost: http://www.grimmspeed.com/manual-boost-controller/
      Woot woot! Thanks Jeff for all the info on this and guiding me in the right direction!
    1. Snarf77's Avatar
      Snarf77 -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      ]

      Snarf - I'm starting to think your 9 psi is an indication of a problem. Here's some things to check for:

      Leaks in the boost sensing line for the wastegate (along with any other vacuum hoses that it is teed into). Any leak, anywhere in that system of hoses that all hooks into the same small port on the intake manifold, could cause a false low pressure reading to the wastegate, which would allow higher than intended boost levels in the manifold.
      Check for any cracks/damage to the hoses.
      Check the ends of all hoses for damage, make sure they are pushed on the hose fittings fully, and securely zip-tied.
      Also check the banjo bolt for the barbed hose fitting on the wastegate to make sure it is tight.

      The evidence seems to be stacking up in favor of 8.2 psi being the true expected boost level of stage 2. I was told, however, that the tune is designed to handle up to 9.2 psi. I think I'll ask for Prodigy's opinion on using a manual boost controller to get the full 9.2 psi boost: http://www.grimmspeed.com/manual-boost-controller/
      I got a new (custom) tune in my email this morning. I'll first add the tune tonight and take her for a spin and probably run a few logs for the record. While I like to think my extra .8 pounds of boost is due to my sheer awesomeness willing the jeep to propel forward, its probably wise to eliminate other possibilities. It didn't leak when I was smoke testing the system two months ago, but it can't hurt to go through it again.

      Pickles - keep up the great posts. These are all good ideas and its really helpful to the crew.
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      Quote Originally Posted by Snarf77 View Post
      I got a new (custom) tune in my email this morning. I'll first add the tune tonight and take her for a spin and probably run a few logs for the record.
      Don't form a final opinion of the new tune until you drive several days. Every time a new tune is written, the long-term fuel trims in the computer are cleared out. It takes a while for the computer to adjust the trims again, and the result can be that it drives quite a bit differently a week later than it did the first day with a new tune.
    1. Snarf77's Avatar
      Snarf77 -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      Don't form a final opinion of the new tune until you drive several days. Every time a new tune is written, the long-term fuel trims in the computer are cleared out. It takes a while for the computer to adjust the trims again, and the result can be that it drives quite a bit differently a week later than it did the first day with a new tune.
      I just drove for about 20 minutes on the new tune and its driving well. Yes, this is without several days of driving. I took logs which will be provided to Prodigy to compare with my last tune's logs. I will say this though, I've have loaded a couple tunes thus far and none were this good out of the package.

      I will monitor and re-log after about a week's worth of driving to see if the tune's drive-ability has changed. Either way, Prodigy was pretty responsive in getting this back to me with my specific topics addressed. I will keep everyone updated.
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      I got a new custom tune from Prodigy today. So far, it's a HUGE improvement in driveability below 2500 rpm. Now I just hope it remains this good as the computer builds up its fuel trims over the next week or so. I did still come across some imperfections, but they seem small compared to the issues that were fixed with this latest tune. This is promising. A future tune approaching perfection now seems feasible.
    1. NOLAjeeper's Avatar
      NOLAjeeper -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      I got a new custom tune from Prodigy today. So far, it's a HUGE improvement in driveability below 2500 rpm. Now I just hope it remains this good as the computer builds up its fuel trims over the next week or so. I did still come across some imperfections, but they seem small compared to the issues that were fixed with this latest tune. This is promising. A future tune approaching perfection now seems feasible.
      Jeff, i just sent you and email with my most recent data log. Glad your custom tune is working out for you! Hopefully they can get my tune perfected.
    1. 2k13jk's Avatar
      2k13jk -
      I still dont under stand why you guys are messing with 'canned' tunes still. when i installed my ripp kit my jk ran decent for a 'canned' but didnt feel like all the power was there. I payed a local tuner to do dyno pulls and custom tune the ecu for optimal air fuel and timing that way i made 344 whp on 8lbs of boost and im still on a safe tune. You guys keep complaining that the tunes are a hit and miss go get a custom tune from a local reputable tuner. It will save alot of time and frustration dealing with your truck running like crap. One thing you have to realize is not every jeep is the same when tuned different sea levels different engine loads auto vs manual gears tires they can only tune one jeep save the tune then send it out for there customers. Some of your trucks are different and should be specifically tuned for your vehicle and setup
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      Quote Originally Posted by 2k13jk View Post
      I still dont under stand why you guys are messing with 'canned' tunes still.
      Because the "canned" tune from Prodigy is intended to be good, and this is supposed to be a complete kit that does not require additional custom tuning.

      Because I don't have money to spend on a custom tune from a local tuner. I'm saving for wheels and tires and gears and... etc.

      Because Prodigy will continue to improve the tune over time, and those improvements are available to me for free, rather than requiring me to spend more money on additional dyno/tuning time at a local shop if I come across something that needs some more fine-tuning.

      Because a custom tune done by a local shop in a day or two cannot possibly be calibrated to handle variations in temperature, humidity, elevation, gears, tire size, etc. It will only be a fairly quick tune to handle the current configuration of my Jeep well. I don't want to have to pay for a new custom tune when I upgrade tires/gears/etc. I also want my Jeep to run flawlessly if I take a trip to another part of the country with much different elevation, etc.

      Because Prodigy is much less likely to support any future issues I run into if I'm running a non-standard tune. I don't want to get into a situation where Prodigy blames the tune for a problem, then I have to work it out with the shop that built my tune.

      Because Prodigy is building its tunes based on feedback from many people that drive in different ways, with different mods, in different environments, to build up an OEM-level tune that handles all the different altitudes, engine loads due to different tires/gears etc. The feedback I provide will make the tune better for many other people at no cost to them. The feedback that other people provide will improve things for me that I didn't even identify as something needing improvement, at no cost to me.

      The stock tune for the Jeep works for everyone. You don't have to take your brand new Jeep off the lot straight to a tuner to get it custom tuned for local conditions, or whenever you change tires/gears. A tune CAN be built that works very well for everyone. It's just a lot more effort to get all the parameters and lookup tables properly calibrated so that the correct outcome is calculated under varying conditions.

      A tune from a local shop may be the quickest route to a good tune right now, but in the long run, the tune from Prodigy should overall better, fine-tuned, more versatile (tolerant to changes), and well-supported by people that know this particular turbo system inside and out.
    1. 2k13jk's Avatar
      2k13jk -
      The custom tune from a tuner is a one time tune the on board ecu accounts for out side weather changes plus the pentastar is tuned off of one sensor so a custom will be most benificial to any setup
    1. jeepsking's Avatar
      jeepsking -
      Bad news for me. My jk has Artech reinforce kit in front axle and its lifted by 2" and the clearance between the exahust where the passenger side and the axel housing is almost 1". The only solution is to cut through the kit or lifted more.
    1. UselessPickles's Avatar
      UselessPickles -
      ^^^ SPAM ^^^

      Moderator: please destroy!
    1. JeepLab's Avatar
      JeepLab -
      Quote Originally Posted by UselessPickles View Post
      ^^^ SPAM ^^^

      Moderator: please destroy!
      Good catch pickles. ZAP!
    1. boosted1's Avatar
      boosted1 -
      Tuning a vehicle is far more complicated than you would expect. We continually make revisions using data from our customers around the world. I would say with a fair amount of confidence that your local tuning shop will not even know where to start when it comes to the vehicle configuration and initial setup. We provide tuning support and free updates.
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