"De-computing" a C5
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Tampuhhh Floriduh
"De-computing" a C5
I'm curious just how much of the electronic monitoring and vehicle diagnosis sensors can be turned off via reflashes and/or inline resistors on the C5? I'm reading a LOT of threads which give me the impression that the vehicle management system on the C5 is very finicky and intrusive. I'm targeting a 99-00 FRC with minimal options as my ideal car and have little interest in traction control, power adjustable anything, tire pressure sensors, etc. Ideally, I would rein the computer in to the point that all it did was engine management and basic guage display functionality. Is this possible? Most imports are computer intensive as well, my Subaru having a particularly fiesty crank velocity sensor, but the C5 seems to be a nightmare for those of us that just want to make power and have no trouble monitoring the rest of our car's performance the old fashioned way. 
Safety Car
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From: SE Idaho
St. Jude Contributor
Why? You can turn off the traction control, tire pressure monitors do not affect engine power, remove standard seats and put in fiberglass shells to save weight.
Start messing with engine control sensors and outputs, and you may end up with either reduced power or a no start.
Start messing with engine control sensors and outputs, and you may end up with either reduced power or a no start.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Good question! I know you can turn off SRC with LS-edit and you can disable the skip shift too. I am sure there are other things you can do also. But the program isn't cheap. I think it's 250 for the base program and another 200 to 250 for the LS-edit program. And there are things you still need a scan tool for. Like cycling the ABS if you want to do a good job of bleeding the brakes. If anyone has more it would be helpful.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 801
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From: Ashburn VA
I just had LS1 edit done on my Z06. It was $300 with three dyno runs included. I wouldn't recommend messing around with the computer other then the LS1 edit. You start turning things off and you never know what it might effect. You sure don't want to mess with turning off the traction control especially if your coming from a WRX. Next thing you know you'll be wrapped around a tree, trust me, I've seen it happen! 
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
I can understand wanting to eliminate VATS and CLB. Only problems with AH I've heard of is because of odd sized tires. ABS can go into ice mode, but I can't imagine getting rid of ABS all the time because of some rare freak problem that only occurs on the track.
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
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From: Assachusetts
Laptrax makes a nice little box that allows you to auto disable traction control everytime the car is started. I run it, it's nice. Like $99 or something.
You can use a Tech 2 to turn off tire pressure sensors, but quite frankly that's just plain stupid unless you want to lose 1oz per wheel.
Dope
You can use a Tech 2 to turn off tire pressure sensors, but quite frankly that's just plain stupid unless you want to lose 1oz per wheel.
Dope
Lepus-temperamentalus
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Roswell Ga
Originally Posted by TampaWRX??
I'm curious just how much of the electronic monitoring and vehicle diagnosis sensors can be turned off via reflashes and/or inline resistors on the C5? I'm reading a LOT of threads which give me the impression that the vehicle management system on the C5 is very finicky and intrusive. I'm targeting a 99-00 FRC with minimal options as my ideal car and have little interest in traction control, power adjustable anything, tire pressure sensors, etc. Ideally, I would rein the computer in to the point that all it did was engine management and basic guage display functionality. Is this possible? Most imports are computer intensive as well, my Subaru having a particularly fiesty crank velocity sensor, but the C5 seems to be a nightmare for those of us that just want to make power and have no trouble monitoring the rest of our car's performance the old fashioned way.
Back in the 60's, we didn't have computerized engine management. We had carburators and 350 cubic inch engines put out about half the real net horsepower your C5 motor does, not even mentioning the emission controls that you'd have to fix in some way.
Yes, electronic engine management may occasionally cause problems but it's not a major concern. The problems you'd have and you'd create by attempting something like that would far exceed any maintenance problems you might have in the future.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Tampa FL
Originally Posted by leaftye
I can understand wanting to eliminate VATS and CLB. Only problems with AH I've heard of is because of odd sized tires. ABS can go into ice mode, but I can't imagine getting rid of ABS all the time because of some rare freak problem that only occurs on the track.
and as far as T/C or A/H goes, i haven't used it for months. I'm trying to find a way to disable it until I tell it to come on (bad weather). I thought I'd heard something about this somewhere.
and as far as disabling things in the c5, yeh .. it sounds like a b*tch to do.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,353
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From: Richmond Hill Ontario
Originally Posted by Neablas
I've had it happen on streets. :\ It's not very fun when you go to put your foot on the brakes and it wont engage. Something about being in a turn.
and as far as T/C or A/H goes, i haven't used it for months. I'm trying to find a way to disable it until I tell it to come on (bad weather). I thought I'd heard something about this somewhere.
and as far as disabling things in the c5, yeh .. it sounds like a b*tch to do.
and as far as T/C or A/H goes, i haven't used it for months. I'm trying to find a way to disable it until I tell it to come on (bad weather). I thought I'd heard something about this somewhere.
and as far as disabling things in the c5, yeh .. it sounds like a b*tch to do.
Supporting Tuner
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: ================== Houston, Texas www.englandgreen.com ================== Necessary Evil™ __________
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Originally Posted by Stock Man
Good question! I know you can turn off SRC with LS-edit and you can disable the skip shift too. I am sure there are other things you can do also. But the program isn't cheap. I think it's 250 for the base program and another 200 to 250 for the LS-edit program. And there are things you still need a scan tool for. Like cycling the ABS if you want to do a good job of bleeding the brakes. If anyone has more it would be helpful.
EG
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 254
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From: Dallas TX
Originally Posted by TampaWRX??
I'm curious just how much of the electronic monitoring and vehicle diagnosis sensors can be turned off via reflashes and/or inline resistors on the C5? I'm reading a LOT of threads which give me the impression that the vehicle management system on the C5 is very finicky and intrusive. ......
the C5 seems to be a nightmare for those of us that just want to make power and have no trouble monitoring the rest of our car's performance the old fashioned way.
the C5 seems to be a nightmare for those of us that just want to make power and have no trouble monitoring the rest of our car's performance the old fashioned way.
It's not as finicky as you describe above. Aside from column locks(get a Column Lock Bypass) and fuel gauge issues (which not everyone has a problem with), there aren't really any computer / electrical issues with the car.
Tire pressure monitors can be damaged when tires are mounted/dismounted. But they can be removed.
The stock PCM programming responds well to mods up to about a medium sized camshaft, and if you go beyond that to a cam lumpy enough to set a misfire code, an LS1 edit tune will work nicely. O2 sensors can be an issue depending on what kind of exhaust system you choose, but they can be turned off via LS1 Edit or replaced with 02 simulators.
As far as the active handling & traction control goes, just put it in competition mode and see how you like it.
Last edited by TTopJohn; Dec 13, 2004 at 08:02 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Tampuhhh Floriduh
Thanks for the comments all. I've driven some pretty powerful cars and actually have some track training under my belt, so the power doesn't scare me. I'm more interested in making the car more basic with fewer potential gremlins coming from unnecessary accesories, etc. ABS is what it is and I am aware that it is a safety enhancement, but things like that are not totally necessary if you have respect for physics and a knowledge of what threshold braking, etc are all about.
I want to make sure to keep the computer handling the engine management, just wondering how much I can turn off in order to avoid owning a car that spends more time in repair bays with electronics issues than on the road chewing up tires and gasoline.
Don't worry, I promise not to toss the car off the road.
I want to make sure to keep the computer handling the engine management, just wondering how much I can turn off in order to avoid owning a car that spends more time in repair bays with electronics issues than on the road chewing up tires and gasoline.
Don't worry, I promise not to toss the car off the road.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Actually our smog control inspection stations here hook into the OBDII port. I don't exactly know what they do. But if you start turning things off might affect your passing the test if they do this in your area. My .02
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: San Diego, CA "leaf" "tee" "e"
Originally Posted by Neablas
I've had it happen on streets. :\ It's not very fun when you go to put your foot on the brakes and it wont engage. Something about being in a turn.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,020
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From: DFW Texas
TampaWRX
Your using at least one computer at home. You likely use a computer at the office. Everywhere purchase you make uses computers. Billions of dollars trade hands every day by computers. Many comercial aircraft and dozens of military aircraft could not fly without computers. Millions of cars are controlled by computer.
What would you guess the failure rate combined would be?
Maybe .000001%
I'd go with those odd's any day!
Your using at least one computer at home. You likely use a computer at the office. Everywhere purchase you make uses computers. Billions of dollars trade hands every day by computers. Many comercial aircraft and dozens of military aircraft could not fly without computers. Millions of cars are controlled by computer.
What would you guess the failure rate combined would be?
Maybe .000001%
I'd go with those odd's any day!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Dallas TX
Originally Posted by TampaWRX??
I want to make sure to keep the computer handling the engine management, just wondering how much I can turn off in order to avoid owning a car that spends more time in repair bays with electronics issues than on the road chewing up tires and gasoline.
Now, anyone driven an E65 BMW 7 series? Theres a car that sometimes has to be turned of and "rebooted" like a PC.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,515
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From: Keller, TX
St. Jude Donor '07
Just a comment on traction control/active handling... I've owned quite a few high performance cars for a lot of years. None had TC/AH until I got the C5 earlier this year. I REALLY like the AH feature. You can dirve the car considerably more aggressively and not have to worry so much about unintended 180s and the like from just hitting a bit of sand or gravel. Of course it is another system than can break/fail, but even though you are used to power and have track experience, you may find you like it on the street. Try to drive a car with it if you haven't. Just my $.02
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Tampuhhh Floriduh
Originally Posted by diyguy
TampaWRX
Your using at least one computer at home. You likely use a computer at the office. Everywhere purchase you make uses computers. Billions of dollars trade hands every day by computers. Many comercial aircraft and dozens of military aircraft could not fly without computers. Millions of cars are controlled by computer.
What would you guess the failure rate combined would be?
Maybe .000001%
I'd go with those odd's any day!
Your using at least one computer at home. You likely use a computer at the office. Everywhere purchase you make uses computers. Billions of dollars trade hands every day by computers. Many comercial aircraft and dozens of military aircraft could not fly without computers. Millions of cars are controlled by computer.
What would you guess the failure rate combined would be?
Maybe .000001%
I'd go with those odd's any day!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Tampuhhh Floriduh
Originally Posted by TripleBlackxTwo
Just a comment on traction control/active handling... I've owned quite a few high performance cars for a lot of years. None had TC/AH until I got the C5 earlier this year. I REALLY like the AH feature. You can dirve the car considerably more aggressively and not have to worry so much about unintended 180s and the like from just hitting a bit of sand or gravel. Of course it is another system than can break/fail, but even though you are used to power and have track experience, you may find you like it on the street. Try to drive a car with it if you haven't. Just my $.02