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Theres a lot of guys that have used this.
both Blackbear and the Range device have been used by many and reported great results all over the forum. Should take about 30 seconds of searching to find reviews on both. Just depends on what your end goal is. Is it to just disable AFM? Then your best bet and most cost effective route is the Range device. Do you want to disable AFM and improve the overall drivability of your suburban? Then get a Blackbear tune. I went with Blackbear a few years back and would do it again in a heartbeat without even thinking about it. My suburban drives like a completely different vehicle than it did when stock. Throttle response is a million times better, shifting is a million times better, acceleration is a million times better,....The list goes on.
At this point I do not remember the final cost cuz it's been a while but there are two ways to get a blackbear tune and @JennaBear can add to the details of this. One way is an in person tune that get organized in several areas throughout the year where they tell you where they're going to be ahead of time and folks sign up to come out and get tuned in person by Justin. Route number two is via email. You purchase and AutoCal device, follow the instructions and basically send your stock tune logs to Justin. He takes those and creates your new tune and sends them back to you. Again, you get instructions on exactly what to do so it's really straight forward. Justin will essentially create a tune based on what you want to accomplish. You can get a tune for better mpg, performance or whatever or a good mixture of everything. I have two tunes loaded but actually have 3 separate tunes. I've got an MPG tune but I've never loaded it. The other two are performance based. the one we use daily is for performance and takes out all but 20% of the torque management system. I also have the "sport tune" which has all of the torque management taken out. I can access that tune just by hitting my tow/haul button. I've only played with that "sport" tune a handful of times but this thing feels like a race car with that tune and having all of the torque management removed. The only reason I haven't ever run my MPG tune is because I enjoy the performance so much. I've heard that the MPG tune will yield as much as 18 mpg or so.Wow, sounds like the way to go. I'd really like a blackbear tune because I think the way it is set up now stock, it really performs lousy. All the things you pointed out that were improved are all complaints of mine the way it runs now.What specific tune did you get, where did you get it done, and what was the final cost.??? Much appreciated
Thanks that is awesome and just what I am looking for. Can't wait to hear back from them so I can drive my Hoe like she was meant to be ridden
If you're in or near the St. Louis area, Performance by Joe (PBJ) does a great tune and will eliminate AFM. He did a fantastic job with my Denali XL. Better shift points, more power and increased MPGThanks for the info. Cant wait to get mine dialed in. I almost hate driving it with the AFM
I just returned from a 4K mile road trip in my 2011 Yukon 5.3 using the Range Technology device. It works well, no fuss, I am still under extended warranty so I unplug it when going in for service.
nope. no reason not to get a tune. will be money well spent.
