In every way, the Chevrolet Camaro SS is a true muscle vehicle. However, as we all know, true car aficionados are always looking for more power and torque from their rides.
Performance programmers are more difficult to find compatible with Camaro SS than they are to discover the characteristics that you want. It is my goal in this study to identify the top tuners for your vehicle that are compatible, trustworthy, and provide the settings you desire.
No Time For The Full Review? These Are Our Top 3 Picks
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1. Pedal Commander PC64 Throttle Response Controller
Only Pedal Commander may be purchased for a Chevrolet Camaro and is the only aftermarket performance upgrade available. It is compatible with all 5th Generation trim levels, including the SS, from 2009 to 2015.
With the Pedal Commander, or PC for short, you get a ton of functionality for a small price. The modern electronic gas pedal has a sluggish response time, and our throttle response controller fixes that.
Eight sensitivity levels let you fine-tune the sensitivity of the Eco, City, Sport, and Sport+ modes. To top it all off, PC says its Eco mode can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%.
PC64’s City and Sport modes are a big selling point. The throttle is more sensitive in Sport mode, allowing for faster acceleration and top speeds, while City maintains a more even ride at lower speeds with more frequent stops and starts. Only track-ready tires or burnouts can be used with Sport+, which brings the power to the extreme.
The PC64 is an easy-to-use tool that comes with a two-year warranty and Bluetooth connectivity. It also has built-in memory. PC64 won’t tune your Camaro well if you’ve added aftermarket parts, but if you’re keeping it stock and just want a little extra oomph, this is your best bet.
2. STC Performance 40490 BDX Tuner and Monitor
The STC performance programmer is the greatest all-around tuner available on the market. There are dozens of settings and diagnostics that may be changed on this engine and gauge tuner.
In theory, the device should be able to function with Camaro SS vehicles dating back to 2010 and give a significant power boost using one of the preloaded or bespoke settings. The STC tuner can be connected to your PC through USB or Wi-Fi to get the latest updates.
Additionally, the STC Performance 4090 BDX tuner can be utilized as a real-time performance monitoring device. A heads-up display mounted on the dashboard is an option. In comparison to the STC Performance 40490, the Pedal Commander PC64 is a simple-to-use but feature-limited tuner.
3. DiabloSport 8245 inTune i3 Performance Programmer
All of the features of DiabloSport’s inTune i3 performance programmer are included. To acquire the desired outcome, you may either download pre-built settings or tweak your Camaro manually.
As a result, inTune i3 may be used to fine-tune the settings of a bespoke engine system, such as a turbo or a supercharger, to get the most out of it.
Some users have experienced success with the DiabloSport 8245 performance programmer on 2017 and 2018 Chevrolet Camaros as well. The new DiabloSport 8246 tuner is recommended by the manufacturer for 2017 and newer vehicles.
You’ll have a lot of trouble getting DiabloSport inTune i3 up and running if you don’t have the time or patience to do it. Connectivity problems, freezing, and a sloppy user interface are all present. But once you’ve overcome these obstacles, you’ll have the tools and knowledge necessary to improve the performance of your Camaro SS.
4. Jet 15008 Performance Programmer
Even if your Camaro has been around for a few years, Jet 15008 is an easy-to-use tool that will let you to release all of its power. Modify the fuel air ratio, ignition timing, shift points, stiffness, and speed/rev limiter settings according to the type of fuel you’re using. For a device that is so little and inexpensive, it packs a lot of power.
As a rule, when you swap out your tires, you get an illuminated ABS warning light and an erroneous speedometer reading; however, the Jet 15008 tuner can address both of these problems. You can also use this OBD2 scanner to read and clear trouble codes with this performance programmer.
The Jet 15008 performance programmer may not inspire confidence due to its dated look and poor resolution screen, yet it performs admirably when it counts.
5. Hypertech 3000 Max Energy Spectrum Power Programmer
In terms of power programming, the Hypertech 3000 series sets the bar high. It’s simple to fine-tune your Camaro SS’s settings after the initial PC-based upgrade.
In addition, it is capable of displaying and deleting diagnostic faults, which means you won’t have to pay a mechanic for their services. Shift points and hardness, TPMS threshold and TCC slip are all on the feature list.
Auto start/stop and cylinder shutdown can also be turned off as well as other options, such as adjusting speedometer to match tire size. There is only one real concern with Hypertech: inconsistent customer service.
Customers have expressed displeasure with the assistance center because this tuner isn’t ready to use out of the box. Poor customer service is a major drawback when you’re trying to sell a $400 product with a slew of options.
6. Accel 49505 SuperTuner – Handheld Computer Programmer
Despite its low price, the Accel 49505 SuperTuner still has a lot to offer the 2010-2015 Camaro SS. Tuning your vehicle is as simple as plugging the device into your car’s diagnostic port.
The speedometer, shift points, shift hardness, speed and rev limiters, and fuel management can all be adjusted. It also functions as an error code scanner, saving you the cost of a separate $30 200 equipment.
Although the Accel 49505 SuperTuner can handle stock or low-modified vehicles, I’m unsure how it would handle a highly customized vehicle.
How To Pick The Right Camaro SS Tuner
To make sure you’re happy with your purchase of one of the vehicle tuners discussed in this article, you should educate yourself on the subject of car tuners first.
Establish Your Requirements
You won’t get a tuner that can handle it all unless you have a few thousand bucks to spare. Despite being billed as incredibly adaptable, all of the tuners examined had certain restrictions.
Write down what you want in a Camaro SS tuner and make sure you get it. It’s important to remember that certain performance programmers are only capable of altering a stock setup, while others can handle light or extensive modifications.
Legality Issues
For a variety of reasons, certain tuners are not road-legal. It’s because I don’t know a lot about this topic and don’t want to be seen to be repeating what the manufacturers of the evaluated tuners have claimed without any proof. To keep within the bounds of the law, check your state’s regulations to learn what you can and cannot do with a tuner.
Vehicle Warranty
Using an aftermarket tuner to void the warranty on your Chevrolet Camaro SS is a simple and fast process. If you utilize a tuning device, you could lose hundreds of dollars in warranty value because of all the fine wording in the contract.
Remove the tuner and remap the vehicle to factory settings before taking it to the shop for any service or repair. The mechanics may still be able to see that you’ve been tuning up the vehicle, but that depends on the service.
Customer Service
Except in the case of a warranty claim, most electronic gadgets like cell phones, laptops, and televisions don’t require much in the way of customer care. Performance programmers, on the other hand, are a different matter.
In general, the firmware and user interface of tuners are somewhat dated. Both PC and Wi-Fi connections are required to update them, and occasionally none works. Even if you follow the instructions to the letter, your tune-up may still fail, necessitating a call to customer care for assistance.
FAQs
Can a Camaro be tuned?
The Chevrolet Camaro SS’s 6.2-liter V8 engine is well-suited to aftermarket tuning. You can use one of the tuners reviewed here to increase horsepower, improve throttle response, modify the fuel air mixture, and more.
How much does it cost to get your Camaro tuned?
An OBD2 tuner may boost the performance of a factory Camaro SS for $250-$400. If you really want to see a difference in performance, you’ll have to spend a lot of money on high-end aftermarket parts.
Summary
A performance programmer and a pre-defined tune up, or your own custom tune up, are the most cost-effective solutions to improve the performance of your Camaro SS. It’s important to note that the tuners I’ve researched are compatible with your car and offer differing degrees of modification.
