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[Z06] vararam install issues

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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 03:44 PM
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Default vararam install issues

well i had to sell my halltech a few weeks ago. So i just replaced it with a vararam. The install was not to bad and it seems to fit okay. I have put maybe 200 miles on my car since the install. NOW i am getting a check engine light with codes 0171/0174. These are codes that say lean bank 1 and 2. Does this mean that the vararam has leaned out my a/f ratio to the point i need a tune? Or could this be i just need to make sure i dont have a air leak somewhere? I have cleared the codes out twice now and as soon as i drive the car, turn it off and then restart it the light/codes come back.
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 04:38 PM
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A tune will fix it.
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 05:09 PM
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yea i was hoping to hold off until i got my long tubes in the spring. hate to pay twice.
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 08:20 PM
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I have a Vararam but have yet to install it... I wondered about this issue myself. A lot of VR sellers say a tune isn't necessary, but... well, these things tend to happen.

Aside from getting a tune to straighten out any errant trouble codes, would the tune also add more power above and beyond the Vararam (completely stock otherwise?) About how much?
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 08:25 PM
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When I first installed mine, I had the same codes but not as often as you described them. I eventually got tuned and never saw them again.
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 08:48 PM
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check for leaks....and buy your own tuning software....tune as many times as you want for one cost
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Kurtomac
check for leaks....and buy your own tuning software....tune as many times as you want for one cost
I've thought about this, but I have NO idea what I'm doing when it comes to this kind of stuff. I'm certain I would blow my car up and take the house with it.
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Old Nov 5, 2008 | 09:13 PM
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Originally Posted by QUIKSILVERZ
well i had to sell my halltech a few weeks ago. So i just replaced it with a vararam. The install was not to bad and it seems to fit okay. I have put maybe 200 miles on my car since the install. NOW i am getting a check engine light with codes 0171/0174. These are codes that say lean bank 1 and 2. Does this mean that the vararam has leaned out my a/f ratio to the point i need a tune? Or could this be i just need to make sure i dont have a air leak somewhere? I have cleared the codes out twice now and as soon as i drive the car, turn it off and then restart it the light/codes come back.
Why did you have to sell your Halltech and buy a Vararam?
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Old Nov 6, 2008 | 09:56 PM
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had some home repairs i had to make so to offset the cost i sold the halltech kit.

I pulled fuses 16/23 and let the engine relearn the idle. I drove the car a lot today and did not get any codes/check engine lights. I still have a surging/bucking (light but there) esp in higher gears/low rpm/very light throttle. I am hoping this goes away or can be fixed with a tune.
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 08:39 AM
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Installed the vararam on my 03 z over the summer and have never received any codes...i wonder why some cars get codes and some dont anybody?
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 08:52 AM
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Disconnect the battery and do a relearn. You can do 3 heatups to
opp. temp and let cool back down. Or take it out and drive it up
to around 200 miles varing the speed and it should adjust its self.
I have had 3 vararams and this has worked everytime. The only
problem I had on my 04 Z was a low speed surge. I took the descreened
MAF out and put in a screened one and solved that problem.
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 10:33 AM
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Some tuners won't charge you a second time to retune. Ask the shop you are going to and see what they will do for you. If you've checked for leaks and all is well their I would prefer to get the car to run right now to stop some of the problems you describe. A tune will solve it.
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Old Nov 7, 2008 | 11:14 PM
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Originally Posted by QUIKSILVERZ
had some home repairs i had to make so to offset the cost i sold the halltech kit.

I pulled fuses 16/23 and let the engine relearn the idle. I drove the car a lot today and did not get any codes/check engine lights. I still have a surging/bucking (light but there) esp in higher gears/low rpm/very light throttle. I am hoping this goes away or can be fixed with a tune.
When I first installed a VR on my 02 Z I had no problems with codes or surging. Then I brought my car to the Chev dealer for a recall on the ignition lock and the dealer reflashed my PCM. After the reflash, my car started throwing the same codes as you report and started surging (I've heard that the 02s came with a pig rich tune and that dealer reflashes on all Zs after the 04 model were the leaner 04 tunes). Eventually, the car stopped throwing those codes but it still surges on the highway under very light throttle. I was planning a header/cam/tune last summer, but never got around to it. So still no tune for me.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 01:08 AM
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have put around 150 miles on the car since i did the relearn. no codes! but the low throttle stuble sucks lol. may have to go ahead and get a tune. the stuble is not bad but i dont like it.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 09:09 AM
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Air leak POST MAF. Make sure your coupler is on the TB all the way.
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Old Nov 10, 2008 | 12:28 PM
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everything is tight. the coupler is all the way on, the clamp is tight, the intake tube is tight and all the way flush against the maf. i have checked it a few times.
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Old Nov 18, 2008 | 04:56 PM
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Got the vararam air bridge installed. Good news bucking is gone. Bad news check ehgine light is on again. Same codes.
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 02:27 AM
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I have had my vararam and bridge installed on my 04 Z for about 6 months now and my check engine light comes on periodically. I am going to get it tuned, but for the time being, I just go into the diagnostics and clear the codes myself and that usually takes care of the light for a few months. I do encounter the lowspeed surge, but hope that will stop after my tune. None of the issues are a problem for me considering the increase in performance I got. Just my opinion
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 11:20 AM
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I have an 02 Z06 and recently installed the VR and the new air bridge - I get the same codes almost every time the computer goes into closed loop at warmup. If I clear them out, they do not re-appear the entire time the car is running. I have also checked all of the connections a couple of times, disconnected the battery, etc, so it's looking like I need a tune also.
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Old Nov 19, 2008 | 08:25 PM
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Sucks that i have to get a tune for a cai. Esp when i could not even feel a difference between the halltech venom and the vararam on the street. At this point i wish i had just bought another venom kit for my car.
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