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Bryan Irons photos
Power to the People
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Bryan Irons photos
Power to the People
Simply install the connection cable into the OBD2 port under the dash.
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Bryan Irons photos
Power to the People
Run the wiring up the trim panel…
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Bryan Irons photos
Power to the People
… to the CST2
Story & photos by Bryan Irons
Tuning the electronics with the Evolution CTS2
It seems about time for another long-term project build around the 4WDrive office. Editor Irons 2012 Ram Big Horn is just about at the end of its warranty safety blanket and has served him and his family well in the rat race of life. This is normally the point where most of us start making upgrades that would normally void said warranty in a brand new truck, and we’re no different. Welcome to project “Low Down Dirty Dodge” (LD3), where we’re going to take this reliable daily driver and add the words “fun and exciting” to the DD moniker without taking away from it’s easy on the street profile. Not everyone wants to drive a deer stand.
With larger tires, more power and other future upgrades in the mist, we wanted to be pro-active in our assault. To that end, we need a programmer capable of dealing with these changes. After much research, we landed on EDGE performances doorstep and their CTS2 unit.
We’ll level with you from the start: there have been a few different programmers strapped to the dash of this truck, all of which were removed with the factory tune reinstalled. It’s not an easy job to improve upon what millions of dollars and countless hours the OEM manufactures have done, but in our opinion, EDGE scored a home run.
The installation and setup is so easy, it’s borderline comical. An online connection to the www is all you need to get the latest tunes for your rig. After that, plug it in and follow the on screen directions. The touchscreen itself can be used to switch between pre-programmed tunes (which only take a few minutes), adjust parameters on the fly, check ECM codes or keep an eye on engine vitals more in depth than the factory gauges. Included “apps” are performance calculators using built in accelerometers, fuel mileage instructors, custom background and gauge programs, data logging, as well as EDGE’s new EAS (Edge Accessory System). And if you just want to alter the parameters of your rig and not deal with another screen staring you in the face, the CTS2 can be removed completely.
The EAS options piqued our interested as we get questioned all the time about being able to monitor parameters that the OEM never intended us to know (like differential oil temps) and also how to allow for switched outputs like auxiliary lights. This is our prime concern as there is nothing that decreases a rigs value like butchered factory wiring or holes drilled for gawd-awful Radio-Shack switches. Don’t be “That Guy”. Preconfigured modules can be purchased for easy hookup and interfaces ranging from the above, to a self-contained back-up/front view camera… Wouldn’t that be nice on a rocky trail!
With all this in mind, we went through and tried out a few of the different tunes that came with the unit.
“Fuel Economy” mode didn’t just throw the truck into 4-cylinder mode more frequently; it actually impeded our jerky throttle input and made for a smoother drive, while saving a few pennies at the pump. A word of caution - you will not recoup the cost of a CTS2 just by sticking the truck in economy mode and crossing your fingers. Driving habits rehab and adhering to the onboard “driving coach’s” advice will pay dividends if you are patient.
“Towing Mode” required 91-octane fuel (we forgot a few times, but no detonation was felt or heard). With 7,000 lb of Stinky Jeep in tow, the altered shift points, firmer transitions, and torque converter lock up activated more frequently, we actually noticed that our transmission temperatures were kept a little lower. The OEM tune folded back the power of the truck depending on the load it was hauling, the EDGE tune kept us rolling with full power and being able to monitor torque converter lockup and temperatures were a welcome addition. While the HEMI motors are not known for their compression braking, the truck did hold it’s own while descending some steep grades as the tune kept the transmission geared down while we were on the brakes. Smart.
“Performance tunes” are available depending on what octane fuel you wish to run. The HEMI motors from the factory determine the rough octane rating of the fuel in the tank and tune accordingly, but do so very conservatively. By selecting a performance tune to correlate with the go-juice you’re packing, the ignition timing is set to maximize this. The MDS/cylinder deactivation remains intact unless you choose to run on all eight pistons, all the time. The shifts are much firmer and the lag in the accelerator activation is greatly reduced. We actually preferred the 87-octane performance tune for day-to-day driving to the others and didn’t lose any fuel mileage over the OEM tune.
Custom engineered tunes for compatibility with forced induction, nitrous, cam swaps, displacement changes or just about any upgrade can be maximized. We’re not smart enough to be meddling with the in depth side of this controller, but many are, and EDGE can guide you towards an individual with the necessary skills and training if this is where you want to go.
With the first steps of the LD3 now complete, keep an eye out for other carefully chosen tweaks and upgrades in the future. Stepping up the full mambo CTS2 from EDGE assures us that our tune will not be the weakest link in our chain.
Edge Products - www.edgeproducts.com