Luka Kusic
Updated on April 3, 2022
Chevrolet Camaro SS is a proper muscle car in every sense of the word. The brilliant V8 outputs a massive amount of horsepower and torque, but as we all know, proper car enthusiasts will always want more.
When browsing performance programmers, finding those that are compatible with Camaro SS is more difficult than finding the features you need. In this review, I’ve found six of the best tuners for your vehicle that are compatible, reliable, and have the settings you’d want to have.
No Time For The Full Review? These Are Our Top 3 Picks
| Title | Price | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|
Top TopTop | Pedal Commander - PC64 for Chevrolet Camaro (2009-2015) (5th Gen) Fits: 1LS, 1LT, 1SS, 2LS, 2LT, 2SS, ZL1, Z/28, & All Other Models (3.6L 6.2L 7.0L) | Throttle Response Controller | Buy Now | |
 Top | SCT Performance - 40490 - BDX Performance Tuner and Monitor - Diagnostic Preloaded and Custom Tuning | Buy Now | |
 TopTop | DiabloSport 8245 inTune i3 Platinum Performance Programmer 3rd Generation inTune inTune i3 Platinum Performance Programmer | Buy Now |
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
1. Pedal Commander PC64 Throttle Response Controller
Pedal Commander is the only performance tuner marketed directly for Chevrolet Camaro. It’s compatible with all the trim levels of the 5th Generation, from 2009 to 2015, including the SS.
The best aspect of the Pedal Commander, or PC for short is that it does one thing, but does it really well. It’s a throttle response controller that mitigates the lagged response of the modern electronic gas pedal.
You’ve got Eco, City, Sport, and Sport+ modes, each further customizable through 8 sensitivity settings. PC claims their Eco mode improves fuel economy by up to 20%, which is just an added plus.
The reason why you’d want to get the PC64 is the City and Sport modes. In the Sport mode, the throttle is far more responsive, resulting in much faster acceleration and speed while City provides a balanced ride in the low-speed setting with frequent stops. Sport+ takes the power to the extreme, and can only be used with track-ready tires, or for burnouts.
Bluetooth connectivity, built-in memory, and simple plug-in installation make the PC64 a very convenient tool to use that also comes with a 2-year warranty. If you’re installing aftermarket parts in your Camaro, then PC64 will not be enough to tune it, but if you’re running stock and just want an added kick when you step on the gas, it’s the best tuner available!
2. STC Performance 40490 BDX Tuner and Monitor
If you’re looking for an all-purpose tuner, the STC performance programmer is the best option available on the market. This engine and gauge tuner is capable of adjusting dozens of settings and running detailed diagnostics on your Camaro.
The device should work with Camaro SS models from 2010 onward and deliver a serious power boost through one of the pre-loaded or custom setups. You can plug the STC tuner into your PC to receive the latest updates, but it also works with Wi-Fi.
Aside from tuning and diagnostics, the STC Performance 4090 BDX tuner can also be used as a real-time performance monitor. Mount it on the dashboard and you can use it as a heads-up display. While the Pedal Commander PC64 represents an easy-to-use, albeit limited tuner, the STC Performance 40490 gives you all the features you’d ever need.
3. DiabloSport 8245 inTune i3 Performance Programmer
DiabloSport inTune i3 performance programmer is a complete tune-up device. You can download prebuilt settings, or manually adjust your Camaro to get the desired result.
It’s compatible with aftermarket camshafts, headers, fuel injectors, turbo, or superchargers, so if you’re running a custom setup, inTune i3 will help you tweak the settings for maximum power output.
DiabloSport 8245 performance programmer works with 5th generation Chevrolet Camaro, but some users have reported successful tune-ups on 2017 and 2018 models. The manufacturer recommends the new DiabloSport 8246 tuner designed specifically for 2017+ models.
While DiabloSport inTune i3 is great once you activate the tuning setup, getting it ready is going to give you a huge headache. It suffers connectivity issues, freezing, and has a poorly designed user interface. However, if you can get past those problems, you’ll be able to finely tune your Camaro SS and get that performance boost.
4. Jet 15008 Performance Programmer
Jet 15008 is another easy-to-use tool that will let you unleash all the power from your Camaro, especially if it’s already a few years old. Optimize your settings based on the fuel type used, modify fuel-air ratio, ignition timing, shift points, and firmness, as well as speed and rev limiter settings. For such a small and relatively cheap device, it offers a lot of functionality.
Changing tire size typically results in ABS light coming on and incorrect reading from the speedometer, but both issues can be fixed with the Jet 15008 tuner. Apart from adjusting settings, you can also use this performance programmer as an OBD2 scanner to read and clear error codes.
The archaic design and low-resolution screen may not instill confidence, but the Jet 15008 performance programmer is a solid device where it matters.
5. Hypertech 3000 Max Energy Spectrum Power Programmer
The Hypertech 3000 series sets a high bar for what power programmers can do. After the initial update through a PC, you can easily adjust the settings of your Camaro SS to where you need them to be.
It’s also capable of reading, displaying, and erasing diagnostic errors, which will save you the time and money spent on a mechanic. The list of features includes throttle and shift response, shift points and firmness, TPMS threshold, and TCC slip.
You can also turn off auto start/stop, cylinder shutdown, adjust the speedometer to match the tire size, and adjust idle RPM, among other options. The only real problem with Hypertech is customer service that is inconsistent in quality.
Because this tuner isn’t ready out of the box, the initial update can cause you some trouble, and some customers have reported dissatisfaction with the help center. When you’re selling a $400 product that has a lot of complicated features, not having the best customer service possible is a significant downside.
6. Accel 49505 SuperTuner – Handheld Computer Programmer
Accel 49505 SuperTuner is one of the cheaper options on our list but still offers plenty of features for the 2010-2015 Camaro SS. Once you update the device through a computer, you can use the plug-and-play functionality to quickly tune up your vehicle.
It’s capable of adjusting the speedometer for different tire sizes, shift points and firmness, speed and rev limiters, and fuel-related management. Like other options, it also doubles as an error code scanner, which saves you $30-200 on a separate device.
I would recommend the Accel 49505 SuperTuner for stock or low-mod setups, as I’m not entirely sure how it’d handle a heavily modified setup.
How To Pick The Right Camaro SS Tuner
Before you go and purchase one of the tuners reviewed in this article, you should learn a few things about car tuners to ensure you’re satisfied with the product.
Establish Your Requirements
Unless you’ve got a few thousand dollars to spend, you won’t get a tuner that can do everything. Even though they’re marketed as highly versatile, all of the tuners reviewed have certain limitations.
Write a list of features you’d like to get from a Camaro SS tuner and ensure a successful tune-up. Some performance programmers are only capable of adjusting a stock configuration, some accept light or heavy mods, so take that into consideration as well.
Legality Issues
Not all tuners are road legal, for a number of reasons. I’m not an expert on the subject, so intentionally left out the information provided by the manufacturers of the reviewed tuners, as I don’t want to repeat their claims without confirmation. Check your state’s regulation to see what you can and can’t do with a tuner to stay within the legal limits.
Vehicle Warranty
If your Chevrolet Camaro SS is still in warranty, using an aftermarket tuner is a quick way to get it void. The amount of fine print in the warranty contract no doubt covers the use of tuning devices, and if yours is discovered, you may lose thousands of dollars in warranty value.
Before visiting the dealership for whatever service or repair, remap the vehicle back to its original settings and remove the tuner device. It may still be possible for the mechanics to figure out that you’ve been tuning up the vehicle, but depending on the service, they might not bother to check.
Customer Service
For most electronic devices, like mobile phones, laptops, and TVs, you don’t really need customer service for anything but resolving a warranty claim. However, performance programmers are a different story.
Generally speaking, tuners are somewhat archaic in regards to firmware and user interface. They require an internet connection to update, whether through a PC or Wi-Fi link, and sometimes, neither will work. Even if you do everything right, sometimes the tune-up just won’t work, and you’ll have to resort to calling customer service and get assistance.
FAQs
Can a Camaro be tuned?
The 6.2 V8 engine in Chevrolet Camaro SS is highly compatible with custom tunes. You can use one of the tuners reviewed in this article to get a boost in horsepower, better throttle response, adjust the fuel-air mixture, and much more.
How much does it cost to get your Camaro tuned?
A purely stock Camaro SS can be tuned for $250-400, as you only need an OBD2 tuner to increase performance. For a greater performance boost, you’ll need to swap out parts for high-performance aftermarket replacements, a cost that can easily go into thousands of dollars.
Can you tune a 2019 Camaro SS?
Yes, it’s possible to tune the Camaro SS from 2019, but you’ll need the right tuner for the job. DiabloSport has the greatest range of compatible Camaro SS models, including the 2019 model. You’ll need their inTune i3 performance programmer 8245 or the 8246 version.
Can you tune a stock car?
Tuning a stock car is entirely possible and in some cases even a purely positive upgrade. You can improve fuel economy, get more power, and better throttle response without significant drawbacks, but the more you upgrade, the more stress you place on the engine. For this reason, a mild tune-up is enough for a stock vehicle.
Summary
If you’re looking to get a boost in the performance of your Camaro SS, there are plenty of ways to get it, but the cheapest is to use a performance programmer and install a pre-defined tune-up, or create your own. The tuners I’ve reviewed are compatible with your vehicle and will deliver varying degrees of customization, so make sure you know what you need before the purchase!
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