Community Forums

Peter27C · 06-02-2015, 05:02 PM

I got my Five Star Tuner as part of the buying group and fitted it a couple of weeks ago. It seemed to run fine around town and I was looking forward to seeing how it ran on a decent trip. We set out from Atlanta Ga, to Knoxville Tn, then across to Charlotte Nc and back to Atlanta Ga. Just over 700 miles of mostly freeway, but perhaps a third on two lane roads as well as round town stuff at each destination.

I spent my working life, firstly as an automotive apprentice, then tradesman, foreman and owner of several automotive repair shops and then set up an operation from scratch designing and re-engineering F-series vehicles, including the F53 into right hand drive vehicles for Ford New Zealand. I also was contracted as a freelance test driver desert testing a New Ford F 350 development vehicle in Dubai. I have written twenty odd QA manuals for training purposes so I feel I have some qualifications to write about my experience with the Five Star Tune.

I purchased the unit because I was not happy with the shift pattern in my 2014 Winne 30T, which I operate mostly with the cruise control engaged. I typically drive in the 57mph to 63mph range.

While being driven manually ie without cruise control, I feel the Five Star operates well and improves the shift patterns, minimizes the early down changes and feels good to drive.
However while in cruise control I was experiencing hesitations/"pulling back" in the 1800 ish rpm area when climbing a hill. In the 2500 to 3000 rpm range at times the transmission was "hunting" at times again when the load started to come on, as though the transmission would started to change but then change its mind, again and again. On four occasions the transmission dropped into third gear while climbing a hill and would not shift until it hit 4000 rpm. I felt it should have easily made the hill at 3000 in a lower gear.

I contacted Five Star and impressively a "technician" rang me back within minutes. I relayed the above to him. He said that they were well aware of the issues I spoke of and it was due to the transmission using a different operating logarithm in cruise control and they are not able to unlock/modify the codes in use when the cruise control is in operation. He did feel they had made some improvement however.

I guess I was impressed that the tec did not do the "nah, never heard of that, doesn't happen" spiel.

Am I unhappy/disappointed, yes. Am I going to return the unit, no. I think they have done a good job so far, and with luck and time the unit will be able to be developed further so that the above issues are rectified or minimized.

Pete

Knightab · 06-02-2015, 05:09 PM

Yeah I think I would agree the cruise is the only issue I have. I actually had it down shift and hit 4800rpm a few times and it wasn't a big hill.

Milehghcty · 06-02-2015, 05:21 PM

Haven't installed mine yet (purchased on the group buy), but this is not good news. I purchased so I could drive with the cruise control on without the transmission kicking down into 3rd gear on short slight inclines ... such as overpasses on the interstate. I now shut the cruise off and feather the throttle over these slight inclines to keep the transmission in 5th gear. I'd be tempted to return if this issue was not fixed.

cc8375 · 06-02-2015, 05:22 PM

Do not know if I have the same issue.... I have made the same run before however; I usually come out of cruise when tackling a hill. I cannot tell you when the last time I had the coach up around 4800 rpm. Previous V10's went there before 5 Star.

Knightab · 06-02-2015, 05:43 PM

Yeah it was weird, the majority of the time the cruise worked great with just kicking down one gear and a couple hundred rpm, then if it didn't keep up it would go one more but 4 times in a totL 420 mile drive she went into rocket gear. This is running i80 from the east towards Elkhart. There are no big hills. I am not unhappy with the tuner by any means it is awesome and still barring Thales few instances worked great in cruise.

DDDonkey · 06-02-2015, 05:43 PM

Wow Peter27C I just did a 350 mile trip and felt the same way! The hunting was bad enough that my wife asked if there was an issue, I did call and talk to Mike and he was helpful and said he could tweak it but, not to use cruise control. There were a number of times I was at 5K RPM till it would shift or I just did not have the power I thought it should, mind you I was at 7500 feet in elevation. I think that the programer works well and as they said it would, the staff is very nice and prompt. I am happy but think it could be a little better with trans tweaks, oh and the starting in third gear if the gear selector is in '3', mine does. I did not figure this out till I accidentally put the selector in third and tried to move from a stop and the coach just would not move till I put it in drive. Has anyone else tested this?

Peter27C · 06-02-2015, 06:45 PM

DDDonkey I use cruise control virtually all the time. The technician, Jacob according to my notes, did not tell me not to use cruise when I specifically asked him about transmission damage. Is Mike the owner/Boss? If we can not use cruise I will return my unit as if I have to drive manually, I was doing that prior to fitting the Tuner.

Pete

Knightab · 06-02-2015, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDDonkey

I did call and talk to Mike and he was helpful and said he could tweak it but, not to use cruise control.

Well that's not a very supportive comment to purchase their tuner! Seems as though that should be up front!

Pirate · 06-02-2015, 07:23 PM

Not use it in cruise control? How absurd! Why even have the 5star tune? I wish I would have known this. So, all along I thought the tune was doing something but it is just the same old stock Ford tune since I always use cruise control?

floridaflash · 06-02-2015, 07:50 PM

I just installed mine and am not happy to hear this. I haven't tested it yet but leave for a long trip next week. I can't drive any distance without cruise control. I hope 5Star chimes in on this thread and gives us the facts.
David

DDDonkey · 06-02-2015, 08:45 PM

Mike said not to use cruise to see if it helped with the "hitching" that I was feeling. Mike was very nice and helpful and said he would work with me if I felt there was a problem with the unit. Mike could be just trouble shooting with me, I don't mean to upset anyone by any means. I don't have a trip for the next couple of weeks and I will see how it preforms with no cruise control, I usual always set the cruise on the highway. I will say that I am happy the unit even if there are some drawbacks, as long as the "hitching" issue get resolved I will be happy. If anyone has an issue I would contact 5 start tuning as they very willing to help.

Rmblaster · 06-02-2015, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDDonkey

oh and the starting in third gear if the gear selector is in '3', mine does. I did not figure this out till I accidentally put the selector in third and tried to move from a stop and the coach just would not move till I put it in drive. Has anyone else tested this?

DDDonkey yes I tested that after another member WebRving mentioned it and mine also does the same , if you have it in third it takes off in third . I really don't see it as an big issue just another quirk Ill just have to remember to put it in drive

Peter27C · 06-03-2015, 02:04 AM

My issues with the unit are only in cruise control mode. Out of cruise the unit is a big improvement. I will attempt to get hold of Mike.
Pete

DDDonkey · 06-03-2015, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter27C

My issues with the unit are only in cruise control mode. Out of cruise the unit is a big improvement. I will attempt to get hold of Mike.
Pete

I agree 100% once the hitching problem is fixed I will be completely satisfied, I really don't care about the third gear thing. The power is great, no over heating issues, the tune just needs a tweak and I think they will get it figured, I will report back to them after my next trip.