Will the X Tune be an 05-06 only fix due to being the only two years that have the NGC pcm? Even though the 2004 and below are JTECH and hard to tune, is there any major breakthroughs coming for them at Wranglerfix R&D?
Wranglerfixed
- Thread starter AndyG
- Start date
OP
I made a 26 mile highway run tonight to reevaluate my assessment - wow.
First, I can’t get over how little throttle opening it takes to run 65 plus. Talking 1/8” of pedal maybe.
- the transmission shift points are perfect and the shifting is so tight and smooth I can hardly believe it is the same transmission. It feels like someone redesigned how it works. It turns about 150-200 more rpm at speed than before …which is fantastic. I had no idea these transmissions were capable of this.
There is zero reason to turn off the overdrive to get more oomph….maybe to pull a trailer but otherwise it is fine on.
I really don’t want to oversell how good this PCM is, but I can’t bring myself to downplay something this good either.
When Mark gets these on the market and people experience the performance there is going to be a buzz.
First, I can’t get over how little throttle opening it takes to run 65 plus. Talking 1/8” of pedal maybe.
- the transmission shift points are perfect and the shifting is so tight and smooth I can hardly believe it is the same transmission. It feels like someone redesigned how it works. It turns about 150-200 more rpm at speed than before …which is fantastic. I had no idea these transmissions were capable of this.
There is zero reason to turn off the overdrive to get more oomph….maybe to pull a trailer but otherwise it is fine on.
I really don’t want to oversell how good this PCM is, but I can’t bring myself to downplay something this good either.
When Mark gets these on the market and people experience the performance there is going to be a buzz.
OP
I like to tell people my avatar alone can outwheel a four door any day of the week.
OP
Not to waterfall post but I’m about to hit the sack and it hit me how to describe this-
Imagine someone saying -
“ We brought back the LJR for 2024 and fixed the bugs - we gave it better power and a smoother transmission that doesn’t hinder the engines’ performance. If you regear it for oversize tires like many Jeep owners do you will be especially happy with the new power curve.”
It feels like a new improved version of the same platform.
One other note is your takeoff power is excellent - it gets big tires moving effortlessly.
Please keep in mind this rig is geared correctly, has low miles, and is very well maintained. The new PCM won’t fix neglect or 35’s with stock gears.
Imagine someone saying -
“ We brought back the LJR for 2024 and fixed the bugs - we gave it better power and a smoother transmission that doesn’t hinder the engines’ performance. If you regear it for oversize tires like many Jeep owners do you will be especially happy with the new power curve.”
It feels like a new improved version of the same platform.
One other note is your takeoff power is excellent - it gets big tires moving effortlessly.
Please keep in mind this rig is geared correctly, has low miles, and is very well maintained. The new PCM won’t fix neglect or 35’s with stock gears.
OP
OK here’s another update-
It is apparent that I’m getting much better fuel mileage and I’m going to track that from a full tank starting tonight so we will see what happens- The jeep was guzzling fuel before
This is what I’m most excited about-typically you end up with everything being a little bit too short if you turn the overdrive off and everything being geared a little bit tall if the overdrive is on-
Now it turns 2800 rpm at 55 with it off, 2300 ish with it on - It is using the fuel so much more efficiently that I’m giving it way less throttle-
Instead of two modes with compromises now it’s like I’ve got a normal driving mode and a sport mode.
And if you decide to turn the overdrive off and you get up
to higher speeds and turn it on it doesn’t just go flat on you.
Please don’t misunderstand me- I’m not saying that this PCM makes things feel like a V-8. It just makes it feel like Jeep got everything right with the auto.
With the overdrive off it is now reminiscent of the 32RH, Rather than starting to scream to keep it up to 55 or 60, you don’t have to give it hardly any fuel. And with the overdrive on it just does not annoy you and feel like you’re driving against the wind.
How smooth and tight it goes from gear to gear is noticeable and that keeps the power right where you want it.
Don’t get lost in the RPM comparisons because it doesn’t matter if the RPMs don’t change when you give it gas because it’s so lazy- The impressive part is how little throttle opening it takes to get those RPM and the response that you get when you give it more pedal.
It is apparent that I’m getting much better fuel mileage and I’m going to track that from a full tank starting tonight so we will see what happens- The jeep was guzzling fuel before
This is what I’m most excited about-typically you end up with everything being a little bit too short if you turn the overdrive off and everything being geared a little bit tall if the overdrive is on-
Now it turns 2800 rpm at 55 with it off, 2300 ish with it on - It is using the fuel so much more efficiently that I’m giving it way less throttle-
Instead of two modes with compromises now it’s like I’ve got a normal driving mode and a sport mode.
And if you decide to turn the overdrive off and you get up
to higher speeds and turn it on it doesn’t just go flat on you.
Please don’t misunderstand me- I’m not saying that this PCM makes things feel like a V-8. It just makes it feel like Jeep got everything right with the auto.
With the overdrive off it is now reminiscent of the 32RH, Rather than starting to scream to keep it up to 55 or 60, you don’t have to give it hardly any fuel. And with the overdrive on it just does not annoy you and feel like you’re driving against the wind.
How smooth and tight it goes from gear to gear is noticeable and that keeps the power right where you want it.
Don’t get lost in the RPM comparisons because it doesn’t matter if the RPMs don’t change when you give it gas because it’s so lazy- The impressive part is how little throttle opening it takes to get those RPM and the response that you get when you give it more pedal.
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Are the improvements more from Mark's update or from the @Wranglerfix PCM in general?
I'm happy with my Wranglerfix PCM, but I'd prefer if the 3-4 shift and lockup w/ OD off could occur higher in the RPM range.
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OP
I don’t know sir- I really understand the question and just don’t know why my LJR responded so well and if it was off on power prior. Might text you after while with some more details that may shed light.
See if you can get a better handle on the RPM change from drive to overdrive. The OD ratio is .69 so going from 2800 in drive to OD should be a lot closer to 1900 RPM, not 2300. At 70, we typically see a 1000ish RPM drop going into OD as a rule of thumb.
OP
I don’t know. I’m going to hang on to my old one in case I get the urge to be miserable.
OP
I sure will, may have time this evening-
I even took pics but were a tad blurry - it’s all over 2200-2300 in mine.
I really was paying attention.
Blaine is correct that it should be about 1900rpm. I suspect the smaller rpm change is the torque convertor locking and unlocking versus a full gear change. Glad you’re enjoying the modded shift points/tune and kudos to Mark for making this happen. It does make for a noticeable difference and makes the 42rle OD more tolerable.
OP
That may be the case- There is no waiting for it to shift or feeling a significant shift- It just seems to be doing everything right all the time.
We live on a small “mountain”and just for an acid test I hit it last night without a lot of speed and went up the mountain 65 mph and could accelerate at will and it never did do the hard shift down 3/4 of the way up like the other ones I have had in the past...nor was it floored.
I do feel inclined to say I think I’m getting as much benefit from the transmission performance as I am any changes to the engine management.
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@Wranglerfix may not have seen my question in a reply to him or he's keeping possible improvements under wraps until it's a for sure upgrade. Don't want to give people any expectations and it not pan out. The JTECH version in the 97-04 sounds like a real temperamental ECM.
Glad to here the 05-06 X-Tune is such a big improvement according to "drive it until the wheels fall off @AndyG".
OP
@Wranglerfix may not have seen my question in a reply to him or he's keeping possible improvements under wraps until it's a for sure upgrade. Don't want to give people any expectations and it not pan out. The JTECH version in the 97-04 sounds like a real temperamental ECM.
Glad to here the 05-06 X-Tune is such a big improvement according to "drive it until the wheels fall off @AndyG".
Now my fear is he will want it back to see why it works so good
This makes me want one, even though I don't need one.
I wonder how well the engine tweaks will work at high altitudes (I live at 5,000 ft, and wheel at 13,000 feet regularly). I would expect them to be just fine.
Perhaps I'll wait for reviews from people less ebullient than AndyG (yes, I had to pay extra for that word).
I wonder how well the engine tweaks will work at high altitudes (I live at 5,000 ft, and wheel at 13,000 feet regularly). I would expect them to be just fine.
Perhaps I'll wait for reviews from people less ebullient than AndyG (yes, I had to pay extra for that word).
Do we have any idea of an ETA for this new tune to come to market?
Will pricing be similar to the standard?