The MADS
Electronics tuning software is well known as CaTCHER software.
MADS Electronics original products were EPROMs and Flash-EPROMs
(or “chips”) which could be installed in place
of the original OEM EPROMs and Flash-EPROMs located in the
vehicle’s on-board control module. These chips, just
like the tuners of today, keep the entire vehicle safety and
emissions systems intact, but modify the fuel injection settings
to deliver dramatic power, torque and drivability improvements.
Also the
fuel consumption is one of the most important point of MADS
Electronics research. CaTCHER software can be used to reduce
fuel consumption up to 15% depending on the driving condition.
With the
advent of OBD-II vehicle control module in the early 1990s,
most domestic vehicle manufacturers installed under-dash ports
(“ALDL ports”) which allowed dealers and service
techs to “re-flash” the vehicle's control module
to change engine settings without replacing any chip.
So today,
instead of chips, MADS Electronics products are hand-held
tuners that achieve the same dramatic drivetrain improvements,
without the hassle of popping the hood, pulling out the vehicle
control module and replacing a chip. Installation is quick
and easy, taking just 2 minutes and requiring no tools or
mechanical skills whatsoever.
Q.
What does "CaTCHER " stand for?
A. CaTCHER
stands for Clutch and Traction Challenger.
Q.
What is so special about the CaTCHER?
A. The
CaTCHER software is a unique animal. It improves throttle
response of the engine greatly. It spools up the turbo sooner.
(On average 200 RPM sooner.) It deals with the injection timing.
It alters the torque management. Just to mention a few benefits.
Customers report that the engine now "hangs" on
the throttle.
Q.
What has Smarty to do with the CaTCHER software?
A. Smarty
is the tool you need to update your ECM with any level of
the CaTCHER software. There are ten different software packs
in Smarty you can choose from.
Q.
What's the difference in the CaTCHER software?
A. Mainly
the throttle response, or maybe better the aggressiveness
of the engine response. Since the full blown CaTCHER develops
torque instantly, it can become a pain to drive it on slippery
roads. Thus the need to reduce the response some. Further
more, there are CaTCHER versions with and without added timing
stored in the Smarty. The software without added timing are
useful if you want to use a timing box stacked with the CaTCHER.
Q.
Does Smarty have only CaTCHER software on board?
A. No,
Smarty offers SW# 0 that provides about HALF the power of
a stock software. Emissions. Ehm. SW# 1 is a Fuel Saver software.
SW# 2 deals only with fuel and boost. SW
# 3 is fuel, boost, and timing. The remaining levels can be
considered CaTCHERs.
Q.
Does Smarty do the boost fooling function?
A. Yes,
all the the software modules in Smarty have modified boost
tables in them in order to allow for higher boost without
defuelling. (Except SW#0 and of course stock)
Q.
Could you take Smarty and install it on several different
trucks, one at a time?
A. Yes!
No problem, when you go back to stock Smarty unlocks from
the VIN# and ECM. Now you're ready to go into another truck.
As many times as you want.
Q.
Can Smarty go from one program to another, or do you have
to go back to stock, then to a program?
A. You
can go from any software # to any other software #. There
is no need to go back to stock.
Q.
Is Smarty ECM or VIN sensitive?
A. YES!
Smarty only works with one truck AND one ECM at one time.
Q.
What if a dealer flashes the ECM and Smarty was not returned
to stock? Is my Smarty now useless?
A. We've
been asked that question many times. Upon request, there is
a "safety feature" in Smarty. Should a reflash happen
without having Smarty returned to stock first, you need to
contact us and tell us the serial # of your Smarty and the
VIN# of your truck.
With that
information we can provide you with a password that will allow
Smarty to update your ECM. That password will work ONLY ONE
TIME. That means that you can unlock Smarty from the ECM only
one time.
Q.
Which version of "stock" will the Smarty come with.
Smarty
does NOT download the complete original software from the
ECM and does not store it into it's memory. That is for a
simple reason. The protocol in the ECM does not allow to read
the flash memory. How can Smarty then return to stock? Simple.
It has all the latest stock software already on board. When
you choose to return the truck back to stock, Smarty takes
the stock software from it's memory and updates the ECM with
that software.
Q.
Is Smarty's DTC reader also VIN# locked?
A. No,
the DTC reader works always in any truck. Even when Smarty
is VIN# locked to your truck, you can still diagnose your
buddy's truck. MADS did not want you to have the hassle of
going
back to stock only because you need to help someone.
Q.
How long does it take to update the ECM with Smarty?
A. We've
done some serious research in order to minimize the time needed
for an update. We've developed special boot loaders which
cut the required time for an update dramatically. A typical
update is done in about two minutes with Smarty S-03A and
three and a half minutes with Smarty S-06A. Once you get used
to Smarty it takes a few minutes from the moment you plug
in
Smarty to finish. With the fastest competition it takes more
than twice that time.
Q.
Does the Smarty Mount in the truck... or program and then
unplug?
Smarty
needs to be plugged into the OBD port of your truck, program
the ECM, then unplugged.
Q.
If the update is interrupted, how can I recover the ECM?
First
of all don't panic! An interrupted update is a piece of cake
for Smarty. Smarty will recover your truck automatically back
to the STOCK software. Unlike the competition, you don't have
to remove fuses or battery cables. Smarty will handle the
situation on it's own. You just need to turn the key on, plug
in Smarty and follow the on-screen instructions. A special
boot loader does that job.
Q.
Can a dealer detect Smarty?
If you
take your truck back to stock software then the answer is
no. Smarty updates are NOT
detectable by the dealer!
Q.
Does the CaTCHER raise the rev limiter?
The CaTCHER
versions alter the high RPM settings in the ECM for fuel,
timing, boost, torque limiter whatever... in order to allow
the engine to rev. Depending upon the mods done to the engine
that shows up on a dyno graph or does not.
Q.
How much horsepower will the CaTCHER add to my 98.5-02 engine?
A. The
CaTCHER is VERY noticeable from idle up. As soon as you touch
the throttle, you will KNOW that the CaTCHER is in there.
First of all, the power added by the CaTCHER depends upon
the mods done to the engine. On a stock engine, typically
we see an HP increase at the rear wheels of about 60 HP.
With taller
injectors, the HP gain increases. How much? That depends upon
the injectors, turbo, intake, and exhaust. The best mod combined
with a CaTCHER is without doubt a good set of injectors.
Fuel pump
wire tapping boxes without added timing come next if you're
after serious HP. In that kind of scenario, the CaTCHER becomes
very noticeable in the top HP range. Some customers have gained
over 75 HP with that kind of stack above all other stacks
they had tried before.
Is
there a warranty on this product?
Of course!
Anyway, let me mention the fact that out of the over 2000
Smarty's sold thus far, we have had only five defective units.
MADS uses the strictest quality control possible. Every single
unit is tested individually four different times during the
assembly before it leaves our facility. Everything is traceable
for every single unit. MADS knows exactly where the parts
for it came from, who assembled it, who tested it. MADS wants
the Smarty products to be as trouble free as possible.
What
is the Warranty Period?
One year.
