Thread: Hypertech Programmer vs PCM (zzp)

What are the differences between using a Hypertech Power Programmer and a tuned zzp PCM? besides the price. Im new to this kind of stuff and i would like some direction. Please HELP!

What are you're short and long term plans for you're car as far as mods go?

Part Number 30030
well thats where i found it, maybe its fake? you tell me. I am not a huge car guy and i know very little about them. but i know people who use those programmers on their corvettes and have heard good things about them as far as changing shift points, increasing rev limiter, better gas milage and all that stuff. however after reading about these zzp PCMs it sounds like they both do the same thing. I just wanted an overview on the difference because i am clueless. And as far as my future "mods" i am not really sure. I mean its only my first car and i really dont know much but im pretty intersted already so we will see what happens.

well the reason i asked about the current and future mods is because if you wanted to do a bunch of stuff and will be changing things it may be better off just to buy a tuner.


Don't waste you're money on any hypertech ect. Just get a tuner. It will do way ore than that thing EVER will.

ok so the tuner programs the stock PCM and is recommended for people who constantly change their specs and the zzp pcm is pre-modded for people who will stick with that? haha am i even close?

A tuner isn't recommended for anyone who isn't going to sit down for hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, onto days and figure out what the hell they're doing before they blow up their car.

Well i gave that example because of the cost. First off let me say that i would not recomend a zzp pcm. So don't think that i am. What i am saying is that if you're going to be changing you're mods a lot it would be CHEAPER to just buy a tuner. Because more times than not depending on how far you go with you're modding it is benefitial to change you're tune when you change to different mods...on a performance standpoint.


So therefor it would be cheaper to buy a tuner rather to send the pcm back everytime you change something on you're car and them RECHARGE you.


With a tuner you can change anything you want anytime you want as many times you want.


Does that make sense?

Originally Posted by Street Wolf

A tuner isn't recommended for anyone who isn't going to sit down for hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, onto days and figure out what the hell they're doing before they blow up their car.

I'll agree to that...just don't make is sound so bad lol


You do need to learn a lot when tuning but again depending on where you want to go performance and economy wise it can be very benefictial to learn what is needed to start tuning.


Thats kinda why i was asking where do you want to go as far as modding.


That's what you need to figure out...that way you can save you're self some time and money.


But none the less good point StreetWolf

Originally Posted by TDCRacing

I'll agree to that...just don't make is sound so bad lol


You do need to learn a lot when tuning but again depending on where you want to go performance and economy wise it can be very benefictial to learn what is needed to start tuning.


Thats kinda why i was asking where do you want to go as far as modding.


That's what you need to figure out...that way you can save you're self some time and money.


But none the less good point StreetWolf

Not trying to make it sound 'bad' and completely turn him away from a tuner, but thats the truth he's going to have to accept when he gets one. Once you learn enough to actually do something without screwing something major up then it's obviously the better choice of the two. Just don't expect to get the tuner home, start it up, and know exactly what the hell your looking at.

LOL yeah i know. I sent him a pm with a link to the hpt site for him to check out...But yeah like he was saying...don't expect to get it home and see a ''stage 1'' ''stage 2'' type a thing. As that MAY be the case with the hypertech it's not with any REAL tuner available for our cars.


If you do look at the hpt site it may just scare you away...kinda did for me...im far from the best tuner but i've learned a lot. And it was overwelming at first as i look back it was just the fact that it was all new and there was so much to take in all at once...i think thats what scared me the most lol

haha yea i dont plan on doing anything on my own, a car is not a cheap toy. And im not planning on ordering this stuff tonight, obviously i dont know enough yet, im just trying to get a feel on what these things do and seeing if its something i would like to do with my car in the future.

also its more of my granpas project than mine. he lives for cars and knows alot, i was just trying to learn a little bit on my own from people who own grand prixs

IMO, im buying the HP tuner. 1. a friend of mine knows how to use it and 2. it can tune ALOT of other cars....people are ALWAYS wanting a tune! And they will pay you to do it. Or will pay you to let them borrow it. So you will kinda get ur money back or so I know I will! I already have people asking me when im buying mine!

Yeah but you can earn most of you're money back if you charge people for the credits that the tuner came with.


I think that is what he ment.Or maybe not. lol

Yes that what SHE ment ! I have some friends that would rather PAY me to add there car then buy the whole thing lol