Tuning Cost "Credits"

I was looking at some DHP's and they had some kind of "credits" system. Does that mean you have to pretty much put money into it just to use it, like an arcade game?

No, at least not with the deal I got. I can tune my car for as long as I like without paying any fees.

Where did you get your deal, it's seems pretty dumb that you need to keep paying the company to use a tool that costs almost $500. I'm thinking of just buying a flashed PCM.

Sounds like a similar deal to the HPtuners. Basically, when you buy it new, you get an account on it with 8 credits already there for $500. If you consider credits (at least GM credits for HPt) are $50, you're actually only paying $100 for the hardware and the other $400 is the value of your 8 credits.

To tune exactly one Riv (or one Riv PCM to be technically correct) as many times as you want, it requires 2 credits which leaves you 6 more spares. That's not the only way to do it but that's probably the most logical for the average joe.

In my case, I've started doing some tuning work on friends and coworkers cars and charge them only their credit rate for their car. If you have a few people that need something done that you can handle in terms of tuning skill, you can get half of your HPtuner paid for pretty quick.

The most ideal case is emissions. My coworker had a bad cat and a rear O2 sensor that never worked. He had 2 weeks to fix it and pass it. Instead of buying a $160 cat and $65 O2 for his van just in parts, he paid $100 and passed no problem - get it?

Ok, so you only need to use the credits per car? I was under the impression that each time you used it you needed credits. Am I understanding that I can tune my Riv as many times as I want with the 2 credits it costs. And if I want to tune another car, I can tune it as many times as I want for the credits they cost? I just use the credits for new cars, and not per tune?

That is Correct Sir.

Ok, that makes more sense. So it's just like a new car registration fee then. Makes me feel better about buying one. Thanks guys.

Don't confuse a DHP tuner with an HP Tuners unit. HPT has the credit system, and is the only NEW tuner you can buy now. DHP did not use credits, but at one time limited what car models/years you could tune. The later releases were wide open, such as the one I sold to chicken.

Dave, so are you saying if I were to get my hands on a DHP tuner it wont have that credit system and I can use it on as many vehicles I want as long as it is compatable with their car?

that's how I understand the DHP Powertuner to work. You can't buy from DHP anymore, so the only thing you get is whatever works, but it's unrestricted.

HP Tuners, you buy credits to unlock each vehicle etc etc.

With the HPtuners, you can tune a specific year car for a higher number of credits. ie any 1997 Riviera for 6 credits. It also allows you to tune any of a specific drivetrain platform. ie any 3.8L for 60 credits IIRC. Any 5.7L LS1 is 30 credits. That's all starting to get into big baller amounts of money though so that's really race shop stuff.

Does the DHP tune other GM's and Fords and such?.. IDR
I see the HPtuners as a better option for the future as it handles the new cars I could own later. They have GM and Ford pretty much handled already. They are heavily working on getting the new Chryslers supported now.

I know there are people tuning some 3100 and 3400s with DHP, but not sure what they had to do. I am pretty sure all 3800 is 'unlocked'. I think DHP has to unlock others for a nominal fee ($100?)

I don't think it can do Fords.

My understanding is that the DHP tuner became "wide open" not too awful long before they stopped selling, but I don't know the date. It can be determined by the serial number on the DHP box. But I think wide open was limited by the engine family you designated upon purchase, as I recall. You could choose 3800/3400/3100 or some such options. Mine was open for all SUPPORTED 3800 cars.

1998 Riv wrote:

My understanding is that the DHP tuner became "wide open" not too awful long before they stopped selling, but I don't know the date. It can be determined by the serial number on the DHP box. But I think wide open was limited by the engine family you designated upon purchase, as I recall. You could choose 3800/3400/3100 or some such options. Mine was open for all SUPPORTED 3800 cars.

Sounds like the "We're going out of business so fuck it" type of situation to me

Dave, if you download their latest software, all 3800s became unlocked.

Are you sure about that? I don't think the last software versions worked with the older units. I do know the newest units they sold HAD to use the newer software versions. At any rate, the answers should be available on the DHP forums.

I participate on the DHP forums, and i'm fairly confident about this. Bear in mind, that the scanning totally sucks on the newer software releases. It's pretty much broken for me. I have a 50/50 chance of having a scan saved.

Have you tried what's his name's new scan sofware yet?

No, I keep meaning to but haven't yet. I do have it downloaded. Have you tried it?

No, but I do also have it downloaded. I'm still using my LS1M when I want to scan. In fact, I keep getting P0442, I think, every few weeks. I'm pretty sure it's the gas cap not sealing well enough. The mating surface on the fill neck is corroded, and I sandpapered it this summer and it held for quite a while. I clear the code and it's gone for a few weeks, then reappears. I'm going to get my Dremel and clean it up better next spring.

Does that software function only in conjuction with the tuner though? (which I no longer have)

1998 Riv wrote:

No, but I do also have it downloaded. I'm still using my LS1M when I want to scan. In fact, I keep getting P0442, I think, every few weeks. I'm pretty sure it's the gas cap not sealing well enough. The mating surface on the fill neck is corroded, and I sandpapered it this summer and it held for quite a while. I clear the code and it's gone for a few weeks, then reappears. I'm going to get my Dremel and clean it up better next spring.

Does that software function only in conjuction with the tuner though? (which I no longer have)

I'm pretty sure that software was made to work with the interface module that came with the PT.

Be very careful using a dremel near the fuel neck!! I wouldn't - high speed spinning things usually create sparks!!!

No worries, I will have the neck plugged up so there are no fumes there. I used sandpaper on it in the summer, but could only get just so much pressure on it. Thought it would be good but it didn't last.