Cascade Crew

QwkTrip

Saying it idles at all is optimistic. More like shuts off every time I let off the throttle. What used to be a poor idle in cooler weather is now a serious problem in warmer weather.

Should I,

1. Pay the big bucks and have a professional shop tune and troubleshoot the car? $500 minimum assuming there is nothing wrong besides the tune but it will run perfect when it comes back.

2. Do mail order tune from Frost. $200 and won't fix a thing if it is related to something else on the car. Might not be optimal for me either.

3. Buy my own credits to tune the car for $100. I have HP Tuners (came with my new engine) but I have zero, let me repeat ZERO, experience tuning engines.

IROCDave · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 8:08 pm Post subject:

You know what the right answer is.

Mail order tunes can work if your running a common combination, just wont be perfect. If your going to yank the drive train and put it your bird eventually, get a canned tune. Once it is in the bird spend the dough and have a local shop tune it.

JMO.

RSFreak · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:23 pm Post subject:

Spend the $100 and dive into the world of tuning! Wink

aaron_sK · Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 9:46 pm Post subject:

blue89 · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:09 pm Post subject:

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 3:16 pm Post subject:

blue89 · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:44 pm Post subject:

I speak and live geek!

Just because you don't have a code doesn't mean there isn't a sensor spitting out the wrong info.

QwkTrip · Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:13 pm Post subject:

I know all the harness experts where I work. It's not an easy job. Most people don't realize how challenging it is to make a wire harness survive on a machine that can rip solid granite, works at -40C, and is high pressure washed routinely.

blue89 · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 6:09 am Post subject:

I totally agree with you. This is my first experience with highway vehicles and it is an eye opener. Cavity plugs are your friend! And if you guys ever need help with identifying connectors, I'm that guy. Delphi, Packard, Tyco, FCI, Framatome, you name it.

chevymad · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:16 am Post subject:

I hope you do better then the last motorhome I worked on. There must have been a sale on yellow wire. Every single bit of wire the coach company added was yellow.

QwkTrip · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:00 pm Post subject:

ARGGGHHH!!!

The HP Tuner suite I have is the older serial cable and it can't be upgraded for new vehicles. It only took me two nights of frustration to figure that out.

Back to square one. Mad

IROCDave · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:57 pm Post subject:

When in doubt replace the MAF. If the ECM has been worked over do not realy on the trouble codes. Search this site as well as thirdgen.org for the issues that caused me trouble for several months.

Long story short MAF trouble codes can be limited or just ignored with programming.

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:27 pm Post subject:

I am constantly reminded why I didn't become a mechanic for a living. I suck at it.

I forgot that my turbo engine came with an MAF sensor so I swapped it in. Problem is I dropped it by accident trying to push it into the SLP lid. In my panic to not let it hit the concrete floor I bobbled it in the air several times and caught it, but I put my fingers inside the sensor. I'm not sure if I touched the heater wires but they seemed to be secure.

Anyway, the car ran a whole lot different. The idle is better, the MIL light is off, the car is a lot quieter, it coasts longer when letting off the throttle as if it is being ever so slightly pushed, and the exhaust seems to cackle a lot when the engine is decelerating under no load. Bad part is the Service Engine Light is on now and there are no codes so I don't know why.

I have no idea what changes are good vs. bad. It really makes me nervous that the cars sounds so much different. I'm seriously thinking of buying HP Tuners so I can have the scanner feature. My handheld OBD2 scanner just isn't telling me much. I mean, there should be some information as to why the ECM turned on the SES light, right???

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject:

Is it throwing the SEL after you've cleared codes with your scanner (or unhooked the battery)?

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:41 pm Post subject:

There are no codes to clear. That's what is pissing me off. I unhooked the battery for at least 15 minutes and the SEL came on immediately upon start up.

It's also mid-90F here with humidity and that is pissing me off, too. Laughing

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:43 pm Post subject:

Swap the old MAF back in real quick to test it.

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject:

That was my next planned move. It's too late here now because the car is so loud it will disturb the neighbors.

Alphius · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject:

iansane · Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject:

Alphius · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2011 7:07 am Post subject: