Kev4

The new version of Range AFM V4 eliminator which plugs into your OBD11 works well with the 2017/2018 A8 Corvettes. This unit stops your transmission from ever going into the V4 mode. I highly recommend these units and recommend you purchase through Range Technology for great service and warrantee, also lifetime free software upgrades. This unit will save the failure of the well discussed Torque Convertor failure causing rear engine main bearing wear beyond limits.

Fredtp

So the 8.6 version works with no CEL's on 17 models?

50th year

I don't believe there is enough info that 8.6 will work without CEL. All previous versions ended up causing problems. I have 8.4 with a switch but would return for update if I knew for sure this version was problem free.

Martman C7

Did your unit come with the switch or is this something you have to jury-rig in? I'm curious because I have an 18' A8 and don't want to risk voiding my warranty by "tunning" out the AFM.

50th year

about 10 bucks from amazon.

rmorin1249

I posted a question a few days ago about whether or not the CELs caused by the Range unit are stored in the car. The CEL light goes out after a couple of restarts with the Range off but I would like to confirm that there is no evidence of the Range unit being used. I remove my unit from the car when I take it in for service and nothing has ever been said by the dealer although I have experienced several CELs. I am now running V8.6 and am curious to see if I can now start the car with the Range on without causing any CELs.

50th year

keep us informed

Gearhead Jim

Someone once claimed even after removal GM could tell the Range had been installed and it would void the power train warranty. I don't know if they have any data to back that up.

OTOH, for a couple of months I used a Valentine detector Savvy unit plugged into my OBD port to get elec power and just read the car's speed for muting. It worked fine but caused several weird intermittent electrical problems even when the car was shut down. Removing the Savvy immediately fixed everything.

Over in the C6 section, some of the ECM tuners claimed for years that GM could not detect their tune or wouldn't care. I believe that has been thoroughly discredited.

Rebel Yell

Kev, please update us after you had it for awhile. If it doesn't cause any CEL's I'll return mine for an update.

Dif

The Range is a go between unit and does Not over write anything like an Actual Engine Tune will.
The reason the Range will randomly throw a CEL is when it's plugged in Before the engine is started.
When the engine starts and everything is being activated, the computer is running a startup/boot check process.
With the Range plugged in, it views it as something Foreign to the normal start/boot order.
One thing Consistent with all Versions of the Range, is if it's plugged in After the engine is started, and all system fully active, there's no problems or CEL generated.
As far as a CEL staying in the system being visible, they will be until they clear after a few restarts without using the Range.
I have an early Range V7.4 ...
It put the car into Limp mode once on startup.
Another time it prevented the car from starting until I unplugged it.
Over the last 2 years I've only used it occasionally and only plug it in After the engine starts and all systems fully active.
Using it that way it has Never thrown a CEL, and, many others using the Range regardless of the Version, have not had any problems when plugging it in After the engine is started.
At one point I used an On/Off switch and turn it On After the engine was started.
Then as an experiment, I shut it Off while driving, and turned it back On 10-15 minutes later.
Did that a few times without a problem.
Point being, the car is already running with all systems active.
IMO, even if and when the Range becomes problem free leaving it plugged in, if it still causes drain on the battery just sitting, it still needs to be unplugged or shut off.
Info for what it's worth

PS: I don't use my Range anymore simply because it doesn't make any difference the way my A8 is working, or the car drives.
Maybe my luck will run out, who knows ?
Some like running in V8 all the time
But, IMO I wouldn't count on the Range preventing the TC from going bad because it stays in V8.
There's been one report on this Forum from someone using the Range full time, and still had their TC go bad

Kev4

I will definitely be updating my results as I use the unit. Only baring the wet weather right now, but there will be good days in the near future.

Rebel Yell

Thanks Kev, I'm running the 8.2 version with an on/off switch now. I did an experiment without the switch a few weeks ago while out of town. Everything was good for approx. 6 starts, and that was that. So, it's back to the switch which is no problem for me. I mainly use the Range while driving in town.

C5_Tom

I have had V8.6 R1 on my 17 GS for two weeks now and no problems. I drive the car every other day so the have been plenty of starts and stops so far. V8.2 failed after three starts when I tried it.

Martman C7

Do we know if the Range will work on a 2018 A8? I've got one, and I'm trying to prevent a TC issue as I do almost 100% city driving.

I'm too afraid to use a tuner to disable AFM because I don't want to risk warranty issues.

If there was a case of TC failure even with the device, then I guess I'll just have to trust the TC Gods and hope mine's OK. God forbid GM should actually fix the issue!

rmorin1249

Thanks. I will be following your posts to see if any CELs are generated if you keep starting the car with your Range turned on or plugged in. I installed my new unit with V8.6 yesterday so don't have many restarts on it yet.

Rebel Yell

Martman, the Range will work on your car. I also understand that GM has updated the TCs, so hopefully you should be OK. I mainly use mine in the city as my '16 feels better when it's not switching back, and forth so much.

Thunder22

hey look, another Range thread

I hope it stays stable

Martman C7

Bumping this to see if we can get some updates form the guys running 8.6

rmorin1249

I'm up to about 10-12 restarts on my V8.6 with no CELs.

Rebel Yell

Liking what I'm hearing here my friend. Fingers crossed.