Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum and hope you all can lend some advice.

I have a 2000 A4 coupe with the following minor mods: Corsa Exhaust and Vortex Rammer set up.

Hypertech, Powerloader II, Superchips...what do you have?
I've heard that some programmers can really pep up the A4's. I read a couple of reviews, but would like to hear more on which one to look at and what I can expect out of them. Any dyno results?

Also, I used to manually shift my A4 C4 and it worked GREAT, but with this C5, there is a problem. I have a pause from 1st to 2nd when trying to manual shift...??? It doesn't seem like transmission slippage. Is this normal? When keeping it in 3rd or O/D and punching it from a rolling start, this doesn't seem to happen.


Any other "what I should do next" advice would be helpful as well.

Thanks !!!
:confused:
1BAD C5
(Richard)

 

First I would get a power loader I have one and it works great for the A4. The thing with your shifting is torque mangement being applied by the pcm. It takes away torque from the car in between shift to save the tranny parts. Only way GM could use that old tranny and still get a 100,000 mile warrenty out of it. The power loader will stop that torque mangement crap. Car will diffently shift alot firmer and better. :yesnod:

 

Get LS1 edit, and tweak it yourself as you make more mods, soliciting help from these boards.

 

Any other opinions?? :sleep:

 

If you are not into tweaking then get the powerloader from what people are recomending.

LS1 Edit is really cool and is similar in cost if you can get a buddy to go in with you on it and then split the $650 cost for 2 Vins.

Hypertech os a joke compared to these other 2 programers.

 

Your best options are Ed Wright programming atwww.fastchip.com OR LS1 Edit at www.carputing.com.... :yesnod: The TTS Powerloader is not a reliable source any longer IMO.. :rolleyes:

 

THE HYPERTECH MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST BUT IT DOES HAVE IT'S GOOD POINTS, AND FOR LESS MONEY. IT WILL IMPROVE YOUR SHIFTING, TURN ON YOUR FANS SOONER, CAN RAISE YOUR REV LIMITER. MINE WORKS GREAT EVEN THOUGH I AM RUNNING MANY BOLT-ON MODS.

 

Wow! Glad I revived the topic. I was leaning toward the powerloader, but now I'm rethinking my options.

Thanks to all !!! :cheers:

 

LS1 Edit is actually pretty easy to use. At least where the shifting and TQ managment is concerned. Personally I would and have bought it. I am going to buy it for the Vette now too.

 

Try a Hypertech III. Set it as follows:
1-2 shift +2mph
2-3 shift +5 mph
3-4 shift no change
rev limiter 6300 rpm
shift firmness 75%
195' thermostat optimized settings
power programming (use a stock screened MAF if you use this function/accurate airflow measurement is essential for success)

You will be very happy with the results. You want sharp, quick shifts...you got 'em. You want to break the tires loose on shifts...you got it. You want your cooling fans on earlier...you got it. Are you tired of those areas (30-35mph and 70-75mph where the transmission will not always downshift all the way...these settings fix that, too. You want easy programming...you got it. Also, you're still protecting your transmission with torque management.
LS1 Edit obviously will do more, but you really have to know what you're doing with the PCM in order to use it. The Hypertech is available for your 2000 (look for a used one), can return the car to stock (unlike the Powerloader unless you get it reprogrammed), and, you can sell the Hypertech when you change cars (as long as you return your car to stock wiith it, so it'll work on another 2000 C5). The Powerloader will work on your car only. It cannot be resold.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Powerloader, and it performs really well, but the Hypertech has a solid place, too, without most of the downsides of the Powerloader.
If the Powerloader had the capability to return the car to stock, without having to send it back in for reprogramming at an additional charge, and then another reprogramming charge if you wanted to return the car to performance programming (and all this on top of the original $450, or so), I would have tried it. But, it does not....therefore, Hypertech for me. I am happy with it. :yesnod:
Ed


[Modified by C5XTASY, 9:34 AM 4/30/2002]

 

I'm an LS1-Edit fan but would echo C5XTASY's comments on the HPP3. It's very well suited to a near stock setup, can be resold, and has a certain degree of flexibility to it in that you can pick and choose which programming features you want. A near stock car doesn't really justify the issues that come with custom programming. I used an HPP3 as an interrim solution until I outgrew it (and sold it to a fellow Forum member:))

 

HPP3 is fine as long as you don't install a gear above 3.15. Then you may have problems as I am. Also Hypertech will not stand behind their product on a A4 with a gear above 3.15 as I learned first hand.

 

I delayed my gear change until LS1-Edit was available. :)

 

I am not sure on the Y-bodies but on F-bodies the HPP3 won't effect shift firmness at WOT. And most of the tranny manufactures don't recomend using the shift firmness enhancment. They always say to leave it at +0.

I agree the HPP3 is a neat tool for a mildly modded car and it worked great while I as mostly stock but you never know how far you are gonna go. But like the others said, you can always resell it. :)

 

This is an urban legend. It is not true. I believe the way it got started was the term 100% firmness being used when describing WOT shift firmness. That should read 100% STOCK stock shift firmness. About 15% is added to the 100% stock firmness setting at Hypertech's 100% setting at WOT.
Call Hypertech or do a search on http://www.LS1tech.com. A member there called Hypertech and performed a PCM analysis that verified that the Hypertech does indeed affect firmness at both partial AND WOT. It wouldn't make any sense to have only partial throttle shifting affected. :confused:
However, when a shift kit is installed, Hypertech directs the user to NOT use an additional firmness setting. I suspect this may be what you have heard about "transmission manufacturers". There is a ton of "he said, she said, I heard, my friend's friend said that his cousin heard". things on these forums and that's okay. We're all enthusiasts enjoying ourselves. Just don't believe everything you read, or hear, and state it as fact, particularly if it doesn't seem to make any sense, without doing some personal investigation first. On stock transmissions, there are thousands of these things in use in F-bodies, Y-bodies, trucks, SUVs, etc., without any issues.
There, I'm finished. :) Just a personal bone of contention of mine.:D
Peace!:cheers:
Ed

 

Legend or not I didn't feel any difference in mine except at part throttle. Could be just me though.

Also I didn't hear it from manufacture from word of mouth. I have been through 3 trannies and am awaiting my 4th now and both Yank and FLP told me the same thing. But like you said maybe this has more to do with the fact that those manufactures usually put shift kits in their trans.

BUT, how many people said that ported MAFs wont hurt anything either? And how many are now having trouble with shifts because of em?

Either way you're probably right but since I couldnt feel a difference nor did it help my 1/4 mile times I left it at +0. :)

 

One of the very best things about LS1-Edit is that you can begin looking at your very own PCM, seeing what it actually has in it. It can be very instructive. It sometimes makes it very obvious what posts are based on speculation and what posts are based on fact. I'll offer the fact based observation :) that the HPP3 makes it's greatest changes in force motor current at intermediate throttle, less at high and low throttle (but still changed.)

I don't know why anyone would expect lower ETs or higher traps with *just* firmer shifts though. A firmer shift is not the same as a shorter shift.

 

Thats exactly my point. If it doesnt help your ET and some say it could hurt your trans then why do it???

Like you mention above, with LS1 Edit you can also shorten your shifts in addition to firming them up through the rpm and gm/cyl range, and change your downshift rpms which can help immensely when you change your gear ratios to lessen the dead spot in your mph range.

I don't know about anyone else but I have had and still have both the HPP3 and LS1 Edit so I am definately speaking from experience with both units. :)

 

I tend not to listen to what "some say" too much. Absolutely anybody can post to message boards and your BS filter must always be on. Given that and the fact that firmer, shorter shifts are easier on the tranny and I like the way it felt (less Cadillac, more Corvette) I did it. Quarter mile performance is not the be all and end all, and even irrelevant for probably 90% of Corvette owners. :)

To head back towards 1BAD C5's topic, LS1-Edit is a great tool, I love it. I do think it's overkill for the lightly modded car and those completely unfamiliar with the C5's engine management systems though. That said, I think it has some educational value (beyond the performance tuning value) for the hobbyist that wants to learn more about how their car works. It's not something that would interest the guy who gives his keys and a check to his tuner.

 

[QUOTE It's not something that would interest the guy who gives his keys and a check to his tuner.
[/QUOTE]

Unless your tuner is willing to do the tuning with LS1 Edit for you. :D