I have a 99 V6 Camaro, so this may seem an odd place to ask, but the 99+ V6s have the electronic throttle control, so I figured there might be a better chance of finding some help here.

I have rebuilt my transmission, including a shift kit, so it shifts quicker, and now I have new tires, which are shorter than stock.

I had noticed that my car seemed slower after the tranny rebuild, then I got Ease (scanner), and noticed, before I changed the tires, that every time I got between 25% and 30% throttle, the PCM would start pulling the advance back. I'd get between 35* and 42* of advance cruising on the freeway, and when the throttle would approach 30%, the advance would eventually drop below 30*. In addition to that, I can't get more than 18*, 20* tops, of advance at WOT.

After I changed my tires, I noticed that my gas mileage dropped like 2mpg, so I hooked the scanner up, and noticed that my advance at cruise was down to between 25* and 30*, and increasing throttle up to 30% would pull the advance back to around 20*.

I started looking at all the different parameters, and noticed that my Traction Control Requested Torque was at 100%, but my Traction Control Delivered Torque was at 55-60% at cruise. So, I gave it some more gas, and watched my Delivered Torque, and it dropped. I then let back off the gas, coasting at light throttle, and the Delivered Torque went up to 71%, and the advance went up 42*.

So, I figured out that my car really does have active torque management (The V6 Camaros were not advertised as having any type of torque management. The closest thing was a traction control option available on the V6 Firebirds, but that has a button).

So, I have read and heard that the torque management is part of the programming for the Electronic Throttle Control (that's where you Vette guys come in, the LS1 F-Bodies never got ETC).

So, here's my question/problem: I don't have any programming tools or options available. I'm going to try and reflash my PCM with a VIN from a 2000+ V6 Camaro, because they can use the HPP3.

If that doesn't work, then I'm stuck, I can't even reprogram for my new tire size. Does anybody know of any hardware ways to modify/defeat/etc. the torque management?

Seeing as how my car doesn't get ASR, I assume the PCM must use throttle position, the ABS sensors, and engine load calculations for torque management.

Any help, any ideas, even long-shot stuff, would be helpful, as I'm stuck. At this rate, my only other option is swapping in an LS1, because it seems that anything that I do to this car causes the PCM to pull the power back further. I'm already only getting around 20mpg on the freeway, and that's driving between 75 and 80 mph. Thanks. John


[Modified by Guardsman, 10:13 AM 12/22/2003]

 

sounds like some how you altered shift pressures/force motor pressures within the tranny such that the PCM starts tipping further into abuse mode/torgue reduction tables sooner than before (or desired). Just one theory. Only two options the way I see it- undo what you did or get Edit so you can change those auto trans tables within your PCM. As far as Edit goes, youd have to contact Ken at http://www.carputing.com to see if they have Edit that applies to GM V6. I'm sure it does.

If you're attached to the vehicle you could certainly do an LSx swap into it quite easily. Go check 'LS1' listings on Ebay and you'll see many complete LS1 motor/trans with all harnesses/electronics for cheap. Good low mile stuff I see go for ~$4k there. For $4k plus incidentals you'd be a V8. Check it out.

Robert Judd
Gen3 MS

 

Robert, thanks. My tranny guy and some other people had mentioned something about the PCM causing the torque management to retard timing in response to shift kits, so maybe that's what you're talking about there, that would explain why it acted like it did after the rebuild.

However, my shift kit didn't include a boost in line pressure, it has the stock size pressure regulator. The only major changes with the kit was the elimination of shift overlaps.

So, that would mean that the PCM goes into abuse protection for short shifts alone :( . Wonderful, more causes for problems.

Also, I was looking through my service manual, and it shows a traction control option for 3.8 Camaros :confused: , but it has a press and release switch, which I don't have. However, the drawings show a Requested Torque output from the PCM to the EBCM module, and a Delivered Torque output from the EBCM to the PCM, so..... It uses a uses a 12-volt signal, which the EBCM then lowers to command lower delivered torque.

So, I'm going to check and see if those two wires are on my EBCM Harness, and see if they're active. If they are, I'll try tying a constant 12-volt source (regulated, with a diode between the 12-volt source and the EBCM) back to the PCM, and see if that does anything :skep:

As to the swap, it's not so much that I'm attached to the vehicle (other than by the money that I've put into so far), but rather insurance. Insurance on a Z28 would cost me double what it does for a V6, and I'm already getting bent over the desk by the insurance company because of my yearly mileage, and the area that I live in :mad .

I'll also check with Carputing, but us V6 guys have become accustomed to having smoke blown up our a**es about the products that "will be available in six months".

Thanks again, and anything else that anybody can think of would be helpful :thumbs: . John