Bully dog tuner

[billyj]

A truck accessories shop wanted to sell me a Bully Dog tuner, so I allow them to temporarily tune my truck and it worked well. If I decide not to but the Bully Dog unit, will I have to go to a Ford Dealer the get the codes reset before I can use another type of tuner?
Thanks Billyj

[Rob]

If it was the try before you buy, then you should be ok because it will revert back to stock after a certain amount of driving time.

[jesilvas]

It will NOT revert to stock. It works like this.
You have stock. Then the dog takes the stock tune, copies it, puts the dog tube as the BASE tune on the pcm, then puts stock on top of it.
So the dog is always running, but uses stock parameters once it "runs out." Reset the pcm and you'll still have the tune there. It's a flash tune, like an sct.

My Samsung SGH-I997 made me send this.

[drunk on diesel]

the bully dog doesn't copy the stock tune. it has it's own version of the stock tune in it.

don't run the bully dog on your 7.3. Just get a 6 position chip and be done with it

[billyj]

Originally Posted by Rob

If it was the try before you buy, then you should be ok because it will revert back to stock after a certain amount of driving time.

It was a try before you buy. I choose that route, because there is so much information to have too consume when deciding what will work best for me. I didn't realize at the time what is was in for until I read somewhere that if I choose another brand I would have to go to a ford dealer and have them reset the codes

[drunk on diesel]

it absolutely will not go back to true stock. I have put triple dogs on a LOT of 7.3's. I will sell them to guys with 7.3's and load them on their trucks, but I ALWAYS recommend a physical chip.

If they insist? It's their money and their truck, but I wouldn't recommend it.

[billyj]

Originally Posted by drunk on diesel

the bully dog doesn't copy the stock tune. it has it's own version of the stock tune in it.

don't run the bully dog on your 7.3. Just get a 6 position chip and be done with it

Then I shouldn't have go to a ford dealer for anything, just install the chip and go, Right?

[drunk on diesel]

correct. don't let them load the temporary bully dog tune. it may be temporary power, but it is NOT a temporary reflash!!!!!!!!

buy a 6 position chip with some good tunes on it, install the chip, and enjoy.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by billyj

It was a try before you buy. I choose that route, because there is so much information to have too consume when deciding what will work best for me. I didn't realize at the time what is was in for until I read somewhere that if I choose another brand I would have to go to a ford dealer and have them reset the codes

I tried this with my 6.0. It was ok, then I chose to buy a bully dog and it fried my PCM so I don't know if you have to have a reflash or not... I would stay away from Bully dog from here on out if I were you. When I said it reverts back to stock, I meant it reverts back to a "stock" calibration, NOT ford OEM stock, I should have been more clear. It's bully dogs own version of stock. My Edge CTS did the same thing to my 6.7.. Now I have to go get it reflashed if I want to have the option of my gear indicator lights always on in my message center because it went away with their tuning. Get yourself a 6 position chip like mentioned before, you will be happier with that anyway..

[drunk on diesel]

the thing is, it's not even their version of stock... it's similar to the triple dog adjustable file but instead of four power levels, it has two power levels and once you hit a certain number of key cycles, it goes to the stock power level.

if you load a triple dog on a 7.3 or 6.0 and disconnect the batteries, it will revert to the stock power LEVEL

the other stuff is still loaded on the ECM

it isn't back to "stock" until you actually reprogram the truck back to stock and it can cause problems blocking other tuners, etc.

if you REALLY want a triple dog, I'll sell you one for $240. If you're anywhere near Alvin, TX I'll let you try it out before you buy.

but, I would recommend a 6 position chip