Frequently Asked Questions


Product

Q: How does the Power Pup work?
A: The Power Pup reprograms the engine computer (ECM) with engine tuning modifications. Bully Dog's engine tunes are designed to improve the engine's efficiency; the result is improved fuel economy and increased horsepower and torque.

Q: How many tunes are available on the Power Pup?
A: There are two tunes available: an "economy tune" and an "economy with power tune".

Q: What does the economy tune do?
A: The economy tune primary purpose is to improve fuel economy without changing a lot of other parameters on the vehicle. Fleet managers are generally choosing this option because they don't want their drivers to know that anything has changed on the truck, but both owner/operators and fleets are using both tunes with success.

Q: What does the economy with power tune do?
A: The economy with power tune is geared to improving fuel economy while adding extra horsepower for pulling large grades. The economy with power tune adds about a 15% improvement in both horsepower and torque to the rear wheels. Generally, owner operators are using this option.

Q: I'm installing an a Volvo chassis into a Cummins ISX. Do I need a Cummins adapter cable before I do the install?
A: Yes, we highly recommend that if you are installing on a Cummins engine that you have the adapter cable. Volvo is known for having a lot of communication on the bus and that interrupts the installation and sometimes stops it completely. The cable will allow you to bypass the dataport connect and plug in directly into the ECM.

Q: Can a customer switch between the economy tune and economy with power tune?
A: Yes, customers can switch between the two tunes as well as return the vehicle to stock. See the product instructions on how to change the tune.

Q: Can a customer load a fuel economy tune on the truck themselves or do they need to use an authorized Bully Dog dealer?
A: If a customer is comfortable with electronics and computers, they are more than free to do the install themselves. We recommend that if you aren't comfortable that you let one of our trained authorized dealers install one of the fuel economy tunes onto your vehicle.

Q: Where can I purchase the Big Rig Power Pup?
A: The Big Rig Power Pup can be purchased from any authorized dealer found on our dealer locator.

Q: What do I do if I need to take the vehicle into the dealership for service?
A: Follow these simple steps: 1. Return the vehicle to stock power level using the Power Pup 2. Update the Power Pup using the Update Agent while the vehicle is being serviced. 3. Download the program back into the vehicle. Note: If the download is not successful, it means that the dealership put new information on the vehicle that the download does not recognize. Call Bully Dog Technical support for assistance.


Installation

Q: How long does the install process take?
A: The install process varies by vehicle make as shown in the chart below. Bully Dog strongly recommends that a minimum of 5 hours is available whenever you download into a truck.

Engine Type Caterpillartm Cumminstm/Non DPF Detroit/Cummins DPF
Power Pup Read Time 5 min 45 min / 1.5 hrs 5 min
Power Pup Download Time 30 min 30 min / 1 hr 5 min


Q: What do I do if the Power Pup freezes during the engine read process?
A: Follow these simple steps:
1. Turn the key to the off position and unplug the Power Pup from the data port.
2. Try to resume the read where it left off, try up to 3 more times.


Note: if the vehicle has an automatic transmission, pull the transmission fuse and try again. If pulling the transmission fuse works then leave the fuse out until the entire download process is complete.

Q: What do I do if my downloader does not light up when I plug it into the data port.
A: Check your data port fuses or any associated fuses and replace them as needed. Ensure that the key is on because sometimes the data port is tied to a key-on fuse.

Q: What do I do when the download is complete?
A: Test the product our by taking a nice long drive and then send us a testimonial please!

Warranty

Q: Does Bully Dog offer a money back guarantee on the Big Rig Power Pup?
A: Yes, the Bully Dog offers a 30 day money back guarantee on all of its products including the Big Rig Power Pup.

Q. Does Bully Dog offer a warranty on the product?
A: Yes, all electronic products from Bully Dog are covered by a 1 year warranty policy.

Q. Will this affect the warranty on the tractor engines?
A. The Bully Dog programs that are loaded onto the engines do not interfere with the current OEM tools. Unless you tell them that the program is loaded onto the tractor they will not know that it is there.

Q. Are the tunes safe to install onto the tractor?
A. Yes, Bully Dog engineers have worked to ensure that the programs do not exceed safety parameters. We suggest using caution if you have already tuned the truck to the highest horsepower level or have the highest OEM horsepower tune for your configuration. Transmissions, clutches and drive lines already set to their highest horsepower level should not be exceeded.

Q. How long has Bully Dog had product out in the field in real everyday use?
A. The Bully Dog Big Rig downloaders were officially released in March of 2008, but product has been installed since 2006.