Hello All!

I've been trying to get my '01 convertable just right but I'm having some issues! I installed a pro-torque torque converter, a 172 thermo stat, a vortex air-bridge/K&N filter, and a 3.42 rear end. Obviously the computer needed to be modified for the gear change in order not to show a "Check Engine" light.

Well, I have been dealing with a vendor on the West Coast (I'm on the east) who has been less than helpful. I bought all of this equipment from them AND a PCM upgrade... SO far we've been through THREE PCM's and the car still does not work correctly! The first PCM - the car wouldn't even start, the second PCM - The car ran, no check engine light but it detonated like HELL! and the shift points were all over the place... Also, the rev limiter was set at 6! (It was supposed to be raised slightly!)

Well, today I received the third PCM and it's still blitzkreig! This time the Check engine light stays on, it WILL NOT shift out of 3rd gear under WOT, it detonates TWICE as bad as the aforementioned working (the second one) PCM, there is NO rev limiter, AND they DID NOT EVEN program the PCM to account for the 3.42 gear swap! (RPM's register different than with the old PCM that was at least programmed for the gear swap!) :boxing :smash:

The people from the WEST COAST company I'm working with on these PCM's (We'll call them giarc and derf) have just told me (not 30 minutes ago over the phone-after I explained what was wrong), "It's the car, something is wrong with the car!! We do 30 PCM's a month! It's not the computer.. You need to bring it to us! Just send it ALL BACK!"

I take issue with their comments for several reasons..


1. This car was PERFECT when stock NO detonation - and I've done NOTHING to change that OTHER THAN getting a different PCM. ERGO - it's the PCM NOT the car.

2. "THEY" do NOT do 30 of them a month.. They send the PCM's off so EVEN if THEY had the car THEY couldn't find their butt with two hands and a map

3. I am GOING to make this right but I'm not exactly sure the best route to take at this point. This has all happened over a year and the car has just sat and sat and sat...

This brings me to my questions...
1. What would you do? Send the PCM's back and get a full refund for them or would you make them keep sending them until they get it right?

2. IF I were to send it all back - Should I buy LS1Edit (I'm very computer savvy) and do the reprogram myself? Will LS1 edit let me program the PCM for a 3.42? Will it let me adjust the rev limiter? Will it let me set the shiftpoints?

How difficult will this software be to learn? Is it rather intuitive? I've used autotap before and I've programmed my ECM on my Grand National many many times.

I'm just trying to get an idea of how hard this will be for me to do since the guys who make a living doing this crap can't even get it right!

Thanks for your help, advice, and time that it took you to read this long post! :) :seeya :seeya


[Modified by EdwardETraylorIII, 1:10 PM 4/6/2002]

 

ttt

 

Can't comment on the software, but I posted the same questions yesterday as I will be going to the 3.42's and a new converter soon. Don't want to wait to get my PCM redone from TTS so looking at LS1 edit. There are a few on here that are using it and have been helpful in saying that these issues can be addressed. You may want to look at the thread I created yesterday to see what has been said there.

I'm sure they will chime in her soon.

 

I´m not happy with my new PCM program also.
This is why I just ordered LS1 edit!!

Michael

 

Okay - Where do you get LS1 Edit? I'm looking at it too.


[Modified by C5stein, 2:52 PM 4/6/2002]

 

1) I would send it all back and get a refund.

2) I would get LS1Edit when it comes out for the '01. I ahve been using it and love it!! Everything you really need to do can be done with the program. You can change it as much as you want and anytime you want. NO WAITING. You screw something up and you can change it right back ( did that :eek: ).

On a side note you don't need to change anything in the pcm for a gear change. You might have got some t/c slippage when the new converter went in, but I have personally never seen that happen. Mt t/c went in and is a st3500 and had no issues.

Once you get Ls1edit you will be amazed at how lil is changed in the PCM by ..... ;)

I love my Ls1edit!!!
Get the software, very easy to learn and there is an email list at ls1edit.com to hop on. Also, ls1tech.com has a great board for questions. Doing the tuning yourself you will love it!! :D :cheers:

 

Buckmaster :seeya

Thanks guys!! Lots of great responses!

Yes, I was afraid that this vendor was just a bunch of crooks (an earlier dealing) and now I know by the way they've handled this PCM situation!

This car I've been working on is actually my Dad's. I took it on as a charity case to make it faster.. Every since I bought my Z06 he's wanted to taste victory... He's so pissed right now about all the hell he's gotten that I took over and have been doing the work/ working (or not!) with the vendor...

I called him a moment ago and told him that it was a command decision to ship all this crap back and we'll order LS1Edit for him. He said, "No, gawd damnit! I've paid these people and they are going to make it right! I'm SO mad I want to fly out there and whip someone's azz!" He really said that. LOL He's upset, and rightfully so. I wouldn't put it past him to contact his attorney and proceed with litigation towards these bunch of bozos for obvious reasons... :seeya

I've received several emails regarding success with LS1Edit (thanks yall!!! Keep em coming!). I'm all for it! I'm going to buy it for MY car (when I am once agian gainfully employed! :) LOL )

Also, I'm already on the LS1Edit mailing list! :)



[Modified by EdwardETraylorIII, 6:17 PM 4/6/2002]

 

We have been using it for a while now and for what you are looking to do, it really will not be difficult for you to do yourself. If you were planning on doing a complete custom tune, that is a very different story. :)

Get it and try it out. One hint, if you start modifying for performance, make very small changes and only one change at a time. :yesnod:

 

Hey, Thanks A LOT Chris!

I've built fuel maps for a Fel-Pro DFI (Methanol and Pump Gas), so I'm actually pretty good with tuning. I just don't know how friendly the interface is with LS1Edit.

From what everyone here has said it's fairly intuitive. :)

:seeya

 

If you're really lucky , you would find some tuner with a BETA version of 2001 LS1EDIT. I have sent you E-Mail of one in the northeast :yesnod: :lol:

 

I ordered a copy last week for my 1999 C5. Currently there is a 2 week waiting list for the LS1 Edit. But, I wasn't happy w/ my custom reprogramed PCM and that's why I bought it. This way I will be able to compare stock vs custom tuning and see what was actually changed. Italso seems like a good tool to learn more about how your C5 runs.

 

opps ...me bad :D
Oh yeah... ahaah almost forgot that :D Have to raise them shiftpoints!! :yesnod: :cheers:

 

I'll echo what Chris said. If you're gonna flip a simple bit like gear changes you should be just fine working with the LS1 Edit.

On the other hand, if you're working on performance programming, and, if you're not familiar with good programming/coding practices (not to mention documentation) making changes with LS1 Edit... the best advice is slow is good, slower is better and always verify the outcome of your changes with something like autotap afterwords to see if your expected results match the actual results. This should be one of the benefits you get from working with a pro shop on the tuning side.

My .02 is working with a good tuner is excellent education on how your car works and responds to programming changes. Once you understand that, refining the program they build during a dyno tuning session on your own should be fairly safe, if, you remember the slow is good, slower is better mantra.

You should know what you changed, what it was before it was changed, what you expected to gain from the change, and what the end result of the change was. If the end result doesn't equal the expected result (assuming it doesn't exceed your expectations), you MUST be able to back out the changes you made and regroup. Hence, my initial statement on coding/programming practices.

ALWAYS save every file, and make sure you thoroughly document all details of the changes, what, why, good or bad etc. and ultimately, you'll really understand what make's your car tick.

FWIW, I've been developing software for over 20 years on everything from PC's to mainframes and have worked with the LS1 Edit (and LT1/LT4) since last year and started working with the LS1 version at 0.93. It can be your best friend, or worst enemy depending on how you approach it. Unfortuntately, that also goes for the shops(tuners) using it also when they're working on our cars. As the say... carpe diem.

 

Buckmaster

You have mail, albeit a couple of days late . :smash: