DerekVS
New Member
Just a quick review of this device. It took less than 10 minutes to install.
OK, I've been complaining endlessly about my Avalanche's gutless engine performance since buying it earlier this year. Not only was the engine gutless, but the transmission shifted way too soon, keeping it from ever producing any decent torque.
I checked out all of the programmers and other performance options out there and decided to go with the Jet PCM. I read mixed reviews on it, but most people thought it delivered as advertised, so I took a chance and ordered one from Amazon for $220 new.
Well, I can safely say that it was the best bang for the buck that I have ever spent on any vehicle I've ever owned. Not only did it modify the shift points to no longer shift too soon, but it has immediate accelerator response when I hit the pedal. I'm not saying it's race ready or anything like that, but this is the way I EXPECT a truck to perform when new and unmodified. It sucks that Chevy would choke out performance on an engine that obviously can produce a lot more with the right computer modifications.
Seriously, I felt like I was driving a 6-cylinder for the first few months that I owned this thing. I had to practically floor it just to keep up with traffic after a stop. Now, I barely hit it and it just goes! On top of the better performance, it seems to start easier and run more smoothly at cruise and idle.
Negatives: Only two that I found. First, the ECU cover no longer fits so you have to leave it exposed in the engine compartment. Second, you need to use 91 octane fuel to get the extra power out of the tune. I calculated that to be about an extra $15 per tank at current (2015) prices. So, it's like making $15 per tank payments on top of the cost of the device. Personally, I feel that the performance increase is easily worth that, if not more -- just listing it as a negative since many people want to stay with 87 octane.
So, anyway, I just wanted to pass this on to anyone who is also as irritated as I was with the performance of the stock 5.3 in an Avalanche.
-Derek
OK, I've been complaining endlessly about my Avalanche's gutless engine performance since buying it earlier this year. Not only was the engine gutless, but the transmission shifted way too soon, keeping it from ever producing any decent torque.
I checked out all of the programmers and other performance options out there and decided to go with the Jet PCM. I read mixed reviews on it, but most people thought it delivered as advertised, so I took a chance and ordered one from Amazon for $220 new.
Well, I can safely say that it was the best bang for the buck that I have ever spent on any vehicle I've ever owned. Not only did it modify the shift points to no longer shift too soon, but it has immediate accelerator response when I hit the pedal. I'm not saying it's race ready or anything like that, but this is the way I EXPECT a truck to perform when new and unmodified. It sucks that Chevy would choke out performance on an engine that obviously can produce a lot more with the right computer modifications.
Seriously, I felt like I was driving a 6-cylinder for the first few months that I owned this thing. I had to practically floor it just to keep up with traffic after a stop. Now, I barely hit it and it just goes! On top of the better performance, it seems to start easier and run more smoothly at cruise and idle.
Negatives: Only two that I found. First, the ECU cover no longer fits so you have to leave it exposed in the engine compartment. Second, you need to use 91 octane fuel to get the extra power out of the tune. I calculated that to be about an extra $15 per tank at current (2015) prices. So, it's like making $15 per tank payments on top of the cost of the device. Personally, I feel that the performance increase is easily worth that, if not more -- just listing it as a negative since many people want to stay with 87 octane.
So, anyway, I just wanted to pass this on to anyone who is also as irritated as I was with the performance of the stock 5.3 in an Avalanche.
-Derek