Lil Red

I currenly have a '98 A4 w/2.73's and i'm interested in installing 3.42's. I currently have the PCM programed via the Powerloader from TTS. I am considering having a local Chevrolet dealership do the gear swap and my question is can the Chevrolet dealership reprogram my PCM over the previously installed Power Loader program. If so, will I loose all of my previous PLII modifications as well. Because of the extremely looooooong wait for modified programs from Steve Cole, I would rather not wait and get it all done at one time.

Also, all that have had this done in the Dallas/Ft.Worth area please give me advise on dealerships to use.

Thanks,
Lil Red :seeya

BLK02C5

I recently had my 2.73 swapped out for the 3.42's. You'll love the new gears, they make a big difference. I think you may have trouble finding a Chevy dealer to do this work as the 3.42's are not an option on the A4's. I used the Vette Doctors here on Long Island.

As for the programming, you can consider having Chevy reprogram your PCM to the 3.15 gears (I heard that this works pretty well assuming they will do it for you). Then you can send the Powerloader back to Steve Cole for reporgramming and not have to worry about the wait time.

Good luck and you will love the new gears :cheers:

_________________
2002 Black/Black A4 Coupe, 3.42 Rear, ZO6 Air Box Cover, Powerloader II

vstella

Unfortunately your dealer can not accomodate the programming of the 3.42.:nono: They CAN reflash it back to stock only. Also, it's unfortunate that Steve Cole is so backed up with orders and he has been ill over the last 8 months that you can expect a lenthy wait for the Powerloader to be reprogrammed for the new gears... :( I personally waited over 4 months for mine( some are still waiting over 6 months) and couldn't wait any longer and ended up with Ed Wright programmingwww.fastchips.com.

It's a very sad state that Steve Cole can't honor his products expeditiously and he won't delegate anyone else to help him pick up the slack.

WALLstAL

vstella

Totally agree!

Lil Red

Thanks for the input and information BLK02C5 and vstella. I am going to move forward on this project. I guess the wait time on the PLII will give me some time to save a lil $$$.

Any additional input is also welcome gang.
:cheers:

goldman

You'll LOVE the 3.42 gears !!!!

Send the powerloader off now & wait untill it's ready to do the gear swap is what I'd suggest !!

Mike Mercury

Like mentioned above, the dealer can flash your PCM for the 3.15 and that will be close enough for the 3.42 to where you won't throw any error codes or check engine lights. But; this will over-write any and all changes made by your powerloader. So, its kinda like throwing away the money and time spent on your original powerloader upgrade.

My dealer quoted me $60 to reflash the PCM to any "factory available" ratio. Again.... they can do it, but many won't do it.

Good luck. You'll feel a day/night difference going from the 2.73 to 3.42 :)

ToplessTexan

I think this is a YMMV solution. There was a least one recent thread discussing an instance where this trick didn't work. Kind of depends on your driving habits and terrain among other things. It's hard to get away from custom tuning.

Gear is Good. :blueangel:

Mike Mercury

I agree that custom tuning is always best.
I now have 2100 miles of the whole spectrum-of-driving on my 2002 A4 w/3.42's... still with the original factory 3.15 programing. No errors or check engine light (but I retained the stock TC).

Lil Red

I'm glad that you bought up the point about retaining the original TC. I think that I will do the same. I'm not interested i doing a ton of racing at the track (just occasionaly), i'm just looking for better throttle response, quciker launches and constantly kicking the SVT Mustang in it's tail! :yesnod:

Mike Mercury

if you haven't yet, here is a web page about my 3.42 upgrade:

mikemercury.home.att.net/342.htm

96WhiteLT4

I have a 99 a4 with the 2.73's and changed them to 3.42. The computer will not be happy with the change. I am setting code P1870, transmission component slipping. You must have a program that will tell the car how to deal with the gear change. I am waiting on LS1 edit to get mine right. I have a HPP3 and it will not correct for a 3.42 rear. Been screwed up for 3 months now. Had local dealer put the TECH II on it and it showed the torque conv. slipping but it's not and after the codes set twice it will inhibit the tourque conv. I guess you can go from a 3.15 to 3.42 with no issues but going from 2.73 it too big a jump.

Stu in CA

The HPPIII WILL correct for the change from 2.73 to 3.42, for a '98 anyway, when you go through the gear change part of the program you will need to input the correct tire diameter, which was OEM for me. If you need stock diameter, I can email it to you later. I retained the stock TC on my '98, and am completely satisfied with the driving characteristics, probably around 5K miles now. Course, I am shopping for H&C...my laaaaaaaaast mod... ;)


[Modified by Stu in CA, 2:28 PM 6/14/2002]

Mike Mercury

I agree that the only re-prog proof axle upgrade would be from 3.15 to 3.42 (especially if using the stock TC). It is an 8.6% change and the PCM apparently can handle that much variation.
But the 2.73 to 3.42 is a 25% change... quite major I'd say.

And from 2.73 to 3.15 is a 15% change.

My stock 3.15 prog with a 3.42 upgrade shifts WOT right at 6000rpm. The factory rev limiter is reported to be set to 6200. Got by just by the hair on my
chinny-chinny chin :)

ToplessTexan

FWIW, the P1870 test fails when "TCC slip speed" is between 80-800 RPM for seven seconds (when a few other conditions obtain.) TCC slip speed is defined as the difference between Engine Speed and Transmission Input Shaft Speed. This Trans ISS is a value computed directly from the Transmission Output Shaft Speed (which does not model any internal splippage, all slippage is lumped into the TCC Slip Speed value) which is in turn computed from the VSS and tire size inputs. (The only speed sensors in this loop are the tach and VSS, all other values are [mis]computed from these.) If you go through the math you can see why virtually no higher stall converter would sneak by this test. The engine speed value will be correct but the trans ISS will be wildly off and thus the difference substantially exaggerated (by like an order of magnitude typically.) So if you're changing gears and not doing custom programming, plan on staying with the stock converter like Tim. :)

If you're paying for custom programming, I suggest you verify it's correctness by using a scan tool and monitoring these values and doing a little bit o' math.

My experience with HPP3 on my 98 was that it did not offer options other than 2.73 and 3.15. I don't consider it a viable option for gear changes outside of the factory options. I've heard a couple of "it worked for me" stories, but many more "it didn't work for me."

Mike Mercury

ToplessTexan


you da' man :cool:

great info. Does this "slip" error pop a check engine light?

ToplessTexan

With factory programming, yes. (You have to fail the test a couple of times before the code sets though.) Better still, it commands max line pressure (really firm shifts) and prevents TCC lockup. Vey noticeable and likely alarming if you aren't aren't aware this is an effect rather than a cause since the sudden change in behavior correlates with the SES light.

Stu in CA

"My experience with HPP3 on my 98 was that it did not offer options other than 2.73 and 3.15. I don't consider it a viable option for gear changes outside of the factory options. I've
heard a couple of "it worked for me" stories, but many more "it didn't work for me."

I sure would hate to see people misinformed that the HPPIII won't work for 2.73 to 3.42 diff change with stock TC, unless they're what, lucky?

Page 12 of my HPPIII lists the options of 2.73, 3.15, and 3.42. I chose "3.42," input the tire height, and it works. Maybe I'm one of the "a couple of" guys whose HPPIII offers the 3.42 option with a manual that clearly relects that? :crazy:

ToplessTexan

I'd be equally disappointed to see people misinformed that it will in general. Many have tried and had to find other solutions, see 96WhiteLT4's post above for an example. What would be useful would be be revison numbers of manuals and firmware id's from units that seem to be able to do this.