Painless Power Quick, Easy and Economical Power for Dodge Cummins
Written by Bob Mcclurg
According to Painless Performance Product's design engineer, Mike Abbott, their Striker I performance module combines power improvement with easy installation, and has the advantage that it leaves no trace on your vehicle's ECU. "Striker I simply modifies the engine control module's fuel and boost signals in order to achieve a higher power level," he advises. Installation should take between 15 minutes and an hour, depending on the vehicle in question. The kits come with power module, necessary tie wraps, and Velcro strips for ease of installation.
There are a total of six assembly steps to successfully install the Striker I Diesel Power Module. First, it is necessary to disconnect the OE Dodge Cummins fuel pressure sensor and MAP or boost pressure sensors from the OE engine wiring harness. Next, reconnect them to the male and female connectors on the Striker I wiring harnessrnes reconnect them to the male and female connectors on the Striker I wiring harnessr I wiring harness per instructions. With that done, route the Striker I wiring harness across the firewall using the provided tie wraps in the installation kit. To ground the circuit, our installers used the 10mm chassis ground wire bolted to the driver side of the inner fender panel, as outlined in the instructions.
Next, route the wiring harness through the rubber grommet located near the master cylinder on the firewall and pull the wiring harness through the firewall grommet into the driver's compartment. Finally, use the provided tie wraps and Velcro material to install the Striker I module anywhere you choose inside the passenger compartment.
The module has eight mode functions, starting with the Stock Mode, the Fuel Economy Mode, and Power Level Mode with power levels ranging from 1 to 9. With Striker I, setting #10 is signified as the high output, or H.O., mode.
Striker I also has a Fuel Pressure display mode that shows fuel pressure, and a Boost Mode that displays boost pressure. There is also an Idle Pressure Compensation mode that increases fuel pressure in the fuel rails. That mode increases throttle response for off-the-line acceleration. On Ford Powerstroke models only, Striker I also features an Oil Pressure Mode, which is critical for today's high oil pressure reliant turbo diesel engines. There is also an Anti-Theft Mode that shuts out fuel at startup.
Users should expect about a 2-3 mpg increase in fuel economy, and about a 100 hp increase in rear-wheel horsepower, along with a 150-200lb-ft increase in useable torque at the rear wheels, Abbott told us. (See accompanying chart.)
"Off/On throttle response will be significantly increased. When pulling a trailer, you will immediately notice that you can get your rig up to speed a lot quicker, ideally using Power Level 4, or 5," he said. Like many performance modules, higher EGTs can result when the truck is worked hard in a high-output mode. "Therefore, we do not recommend that you tow a trailer in the High Output Mode," cautions Abbott.
Striker I is available through participating Painless Performance Products LLC retailers for approximately $500, and features a one-year limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. For about $100 less, the company offers the Striker II, which makes slightly less power but has many of the same features.
Mike showed us how to install a Striker I Diesel Performance Module on a 2005 Dodge 2500.
PRODUCT APPLICATIONS
1999-2003 7.3L FORD POWERSTROKE: Striker 1, p/n 64065, Striker II, p/n 64165
2003.5-early 2007 6.0L FORD POWERSTROKE: Striker I, p/n 64066 Striker II, p/n 64166
2003-2004 5.9L DODGE 555 CUMMINS: Striker I, p/n 64070 Striker II, p/n 64170
2004.5-early 2007 5.9L DODGE 600/610 CUMMINS: Striker I p/n 64071, Striker II p/n 64171
2001-2004.5 6.6L CHEVY/GMC DURAMAX LB7: Striker I, p/n 64060, Striker II p/n 64160
2005-2006 2.8L, JEEP LIBERTY CRD: Striker I, p/n 64075, Striker II, p/n 64175
1994 & later 7.3L NAVISTAR T444E: p/n 64480 all conclusive.
2. The Striker I Diesel Power Module kit is nothing if not simple. You have a well-detailed instruction manual, the hand-held Control Module measuring 2.75 x 2-inches, the wiring harness, plus necessary tie wraps and Velcro. The harness has a male and female Fuel Pressure and Boost Pressure Sensor hookup, a ground wire, and an enough armor-coated wire loom long enough to run from firewall to passenger compartment.
3. As with any electrical component installation, make sure that your Dodge's ignition switch is in the
4. Design Engineer Mike Abbott begins by uncoiling Striker I's armor-coated wiring harness. Note the male and female connectors for the Fuel Pressure and Boost Pressure sensors.
5. Shown is the Cummins Dodge Fuel Pressure sensor located on the diesel's fuel rail just behind the intake manifold pipe. This sensor is located directly below the engine oil dip stick tube, and mounted in the high-pressure fuel rail.
6. Our installer disconnects the factory fuel pressure sensor connector from the fuel pressure sensor as shown, revealing the
7. After stretching out the harness to run along the firewall, the Striker I female fuel pressure sensor connector can be plugged into the Dodge Cummins OE fuel pressure sensor like this
8. This is followed with the Striker I male connector being hooked up to the corresponding OE Cummins Dodge fuel pressure sensor connector.
9. Next, the Boost Pressure Sensor (blue plug just behind and to the left of the fuel pressure sensor) is disconnected.
10. This is followed with the Striker I male connector being hooked up to the corresponding OE Cummins Dodge fuel pressure sensor connector.
11. This is followed with the joining of the Striker I male boost pressure connector to the corresponding OE Cummins Dodge boost pressure connector.
12. With all engine sensor connections being made, the next step is routing the armor-coated Painless Performance wiring harness across the firewall.
13. You can bundle it to the existing engine compartment wiring using the provided tie wraps.
14. At the opposite end of the loom you will find a grounding eyelet which is attached to an existing grounding point located at the corner of the driver side inner fender panel. A 10mm bolt is used to make the connection.
15. The time has come to route the Painless Performance Striker I Power Module wiring harness through the firewall, and into the driver's compartment. You will find a large rubber grommet located ear the maser cylinder on the firewall.
16. On the inside, you must also remove the plastic decorative panel below your Dodge's steering column to allow you adequate working room to route the wiring cable through.
17. With the Striker I cable fully extended into the driver's compartment, our installer uses a small Phillips screw driver to loosen the protective back cover on the Striker I Power Module just enough to install the factory connector on the power cable. Then everything gets buttoned back up again.
21. In this particular application, our installer elected to leave the Power Module loose, sort of wedging it inside the map storage area. You can also mount it to the dash using Velcro for quick disconnect during on-the-fly power adjustments.
This series of dyno plots the extra engine torque and horsepower typically produced, which varies by application. The Striker I is designed to combine significant power upgrades with easy installation and moderate cost, without tampering with the factory ECM.
