Hey folks

I picked up this nifty procedure from Lou G at LG Motorsports. If you ever do anything that alters your idle rpm speed then you should follow this procedure to get the PCM timers to run and expire which will help the PCM accept the new parameters:

(Note this is the procedure for the A4. I don't know if you'd use the same setup for the M6. Maybe someone else can chime in on that)

1. Start motor, allow the engine to reach operating temp
2. Idle in Park for 5 minutes (or more, just to be sure)
3. Shift to Neutral, engage the parking brake, and idle for 5 minutes
4. Turn on the A/C, then idle for another 5 minutes in Neutral (keep the parking brake engaged so she doesn't roll off on ya!)
5. Shift to Park with the A/C still on and idle for another 5 minutes.
6. Now drive the car in "Drive" for at least 5 minutes.

If you do not experience any rough or wandering idle during this procedure then you should be good to go.

After getting my mods done my car eventually "learned" the new parameters but with the stock idle setting and the motor would die on start. Lou had me run through this procedure after he did an idle adjustment with LS1Edit. Worked like a charm!

 

There a a couple of different versions floating around.

Automatic Transmission:
1 Turn off the ignition
2 Restore the PCM battery feed
3 Turn Off the AC controls
4 Set the parking brake and block the drive wheels
5 Start the engine
6 Allow the engine coolant temperature to reach 176 degrees F
7 Shift the transmission selector into the drive range
8 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes
9 Turn on the AC controls (Omit for 2000-01 model)
10 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes (Omit for 2000+ model)
11 Shift the transmission selector into Park
12 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes (Omit for 2000+ model)
13 Turn off the AC controls (Omit for 2000+ model)
14 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes
15 Turn off the engine for 15 seconds

Manual Transmission:
1 Turn Off the ignition
2 Restore the PCM battery feed
3 Turn Off the AC controls
4 Set the parking brake and block the drive wheels
5 Transmission in neutral
6 Start the engine
7 Allow the engine coolant temperature to reach 176 degrees F
8 Turn on the AC controls (Omit for 2000+model)
9 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes (Omit for 2000+model)
10 Turn off the AC controls (Omit for 2000+ model)
11 Allow the engine to idle for 5 minutes
12 Turn off the engine for 15 seconds

 

I have Patches procedure written down but I'm just curious where all of these "relearn" procedures come from, I looked thru the service manual and wasn't able to locate anything.

 

Perhaps this safety tip should be noted on each of these procedures:

The C5 parking brake is not reliable. The operator should remain in the vehicle when idling with the gear selector is in the "neutral" position.

There have been several posts of people's cars rolling away on them with just the parking brake engaged.

Just my $.02 worth.