I had a feeling something was going to go wrong, and it did. I ordered some stuff from MTI (cam, valve train stuff, and a custom PCM) that showed up yesterday. Everything was there and correct (or so it seemed). The cam/springs/p-rods won’t be going in till spring but I wanted to get the PCM done now cause it needed some other work anyway (like ditching TM). So I install this core PCM that they tuned for me and it won’t start the car. The starter cranks strong, but the motor won’t turn over <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0"> I figured a-tap might show me a code or something so I plug it in and it won’t connect. It says something about not being able to find a VIN to connect to. At this point (with the key in the run position) I realize that I’m hearing a relay in the underhood fuse box “clicking”. I thought that maybe there was another problem with the car so I put the stock PCM back in and the car fired up just fine. Thinking that maybe it was just a bad connection I put the MTI core back in. Car won’t start and that relay is clicking again <img src="images/icons/confused.gif" border="0"> <img src="gr_images/icons/mad.gif" border="0"> So I put the stocker back in and sure enough it fires right up again.

I call MTI this morning and after telling them the situation I was informed that my order was the first time they had used a core PCM with their new tuning program (I’m guessing they mean LS1 edit). They said that as far as they knew the changing of the VIN went just fine during the tune, but that this must be the problem because A-tap wasn’t even recognizing a VIN. They said with their old tuner using a core was never an issue, but that it obviously seems to be now. So now I’m waiting for a final call back about what they want me to do, which is probably send them both PCMs and they’ll tune my stock one and just take back and credit me for the core that didn’t work. I really wish they had told me I was going to be the first so that I would have been expecting some issues, or just sent them my stock PCM to begin with.

So, to all of you who plan on having a shop with LS1 edit do your tuning, make them use your stock PCM and not a core, unless you want to take a gamble that what has happened to me might happen to you too.

 

What a nightmare . . . Thanks for sharing. <img src="graemlins/gr_guns.gif" border="0" alt="[guns]" />

 

So I just talked to MTI and they want me to send both PCMs to them, and they’re going to credit me for the core and reprogram my stock PCM with the parameters that we decided on before. Then ther’re going to tune it and send it back next day air for Friday. They are using LS1 edit, and apparently until and/or unless the developer updates the software they will not be able to tune core PCMs. They will need YOUR stock PCM, at least at this time.

I would highly suggest to any of you that are going to have an LS1 edit shop do your tuning to have them use YOUR STOCK PCM. At least until this “bug” is worked out. This is the reason why it sucks to be the first to have something done.

If MTI can actually pull this off and have my stock PCM tuned and shipped out to me tomorrow, then I will be very impressed and sing enormous amounts of praise to them. I know they have a good reputation, and I’m hopping it holds up. I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt at this point and thank them for all the effort to get this resolved for me this quickly. Let’s hope it works out...

 

Man that sucks, hopefully you will get it straightened out soon.

 

[quote]Originally posted by LS1powerN20:
<strong>Man that sucks, hopefully you will get it straightened out soon.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thanks for the well wishes <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

I hope LS1 edit doesn’t fail me again <img src="gr_sad.gif" border="0"> ...

 

Well let us know if you get it today. <img src="gr_images/icons/cool.gif" border="0">

 

Note, when LS-1 edit comes out for the masses you will have an entire section devoted to it. Not for me, I will leave it to the pros. Ed is the man.

Dave

 

Ok, I got a tracking number from MTI last night for my PCM. I checked it this morning and it’s out on the truck for delivery! At least that went right (and a BIG thanks to MTI for turning this around so quickly <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> ).

Unfortunately, I’m stuck here at work and I won’t be able to install it till tonight. I’ll won’t have access to any computers over the holiday weekend, so I doubt I’ll be able to give a full report on the LS1 edit tune until after the holidays. I will post and let everyone know by Wed. next week. If by some miracle I happen to end up near some internet access over the weekend I’ll post sooner.

And yes, I agree that I would never try to use LS1 edit on my own till it’s been out A LOT longer...

 

Glad to hear MTI took care of you! They were great getting my PCM turn-arounded when they recently did mine. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

 

hmm hold on a second... you sent a computer away for custom tuning for a cam.. and you expect it to run fine when the stock cam is still in the car???

i hope u see my point.. dont install the new computer until you have the new cam in.

i would think it should still start though.

make sure they know that the cam the computer is tuned for.. is not in the car.

 

[quote]Originally posted by MIGHTYMOUSE:
<strong>hmm hold on a second... you sent a computer away for custom tuning for a cam.. and you expect it to run fine when the stock cam is still in the car???

i hope u see my point.. dont install the new computer until you have the new cam in.

i would think it should still start though.

make sure they know that the cam the computer is tuned for.. is not in the car.</strong><hr></blockquote>

They are well aware that the stock cam is still in the car. They said that was fine. Raising the idle and playing with the WOT fuel maps isn’t going to effect the way the car starts or runs at part throttle. When I a-taped the core it would not connect because there was a VIN discrepancy.

I’ll see if I can make some time to update you guys on the situation tomorrow morning...

 

Well, let me start off by thanking MTI for a job well done!! <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> The tuning is great and the car runs just fine now. I do, however think that I’m going to send the PCM back after the cam install to further raise the shift points as I’m shifting at about 6100/6200 when I get traction, and with the B1 I think I should shift at 6300/6400. Plus the fan runs constantly now after the car gets warm. I think they need to set the cut off temp higher. But otherwise, it’s great <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> I can’t say how glad I am to be rid of TM. TM is the spawn of evil <img src="graemlins/gr_devil.gif" border="0" alt="[devil]" /> Now the ‘puter won’t freak when I put the new tranny in this spring and it barks the tires on a WOT upshift <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

All I have to say to guys that still have TM is, you are seriously missing the boat if you’re planning on a built tranny and don’t have TM removed. There is a world of difference in how the tranny behaves now. It’s not a “slush box” any more. I was getting negative timing on my upshifts though, so some of you who didn’t have it as bad as me might not notice as much difference, but to me it was huge.

 

RPM WS6 - make sure you go to the track and Atap your shift points before sending the PCM back to MTI. I found playing around on the street (punching from a roll) with Atap did not accurately reflect the way the car shifted at the track (WOT from a stop). Seems that the computer takes load into account when determining shifts, and spinning through 1st into second on the street may very well shift differently that your 1-2 shift hooking at the track.

 

Thanks Onyx. I do notice that my shift points vary a great deal when traction is an issue. Sometimes the car will shift as early as 5600 when the tires are spining. I was planning on a trip to the track with the cam before sending the PCM back and just some regular drive time too, that way I can see if anything else needs to be done/changed.

 

Do you have the right thermostat setting for your thermostat. Fans shouldn't run on the highway. Use ATAP to determine when your fans come on and go off.

Also besides your tach likely being slow, ATAP has a hard time measuring the 1-2 shift. Log only mph & engine rpm or just rpm. 1st gear flies by.

 

I have a 180 t-stat, and they said that they would set the fans for a 180 t-stat, but I think what they actually did was set them to come on at 195 (that is the temp it got to on a-tap before it came on) and go off at 180. Problem is, my 180 stat isn’t letting the motor get any cooler than 192. I’ll have to talk to them about this, but I don’t consider it a big issue. I use the car so seldom that the extra wear on the fan is minimal at best.

About the shift points, I didn’t do any logs, I just graphed the data in real time in Windows, which I know is probably slower. I should run a log on this at the track before I make any changes I guess...

 

Reading your first post, I couldn't help but to think:

Why didn't they use their old program to insert you VIN into the new PCM, then move to the LS1 edit system to do the actual programming? Surely they are creative enough to think of that.

 

Hey Ryan, good to know you got it fixed <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0">
But tell me, What are all the changes you had done to the ECM? I'm tired of TM and I'm sending mine in next week to have it done too. Let me know what things I should do to the ECM As you know I have the A4 and the SY3500 <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> <img src="gr_grin.gif" border="0"> The SY3500 Really rocks.
Waitin' for your reply....
Thanks Ryan

 

I almost ran into this same issue about using a spare PCM.

I talked to Dave at Carputing about LS1EDIT and it's ability to change the VIN. He said that LS1Edit will not allow you to do this. Also he said I would have to make sure the PCM came from a LS1 Camaro and not a Truck/other vehicle, or I would have to get a dealer to re-flash the PCM with the propriatary GM flash file on a Tech-II. I called the dealer and they said I would have to tow the car in with that computer in it, then pay them $400 to flash it. So $400 + Towing... I paid MMS to tune the computer for me and got it done now instead of waiting for LS1Edit which was supposed to be out in August 2001 (Riiiiiiiight, Glad I didn't hold my breath).

The farther I look into LS1Edit and the more questions I ask I am finding that it is rather limited.


Oh, and BTW, 90% of all the PCMs you see for sale out there are either "blank spares" or default with "Truck Programming" accoding to Shaun (ValveGod@AOL.COM). If you're looking for a spare he's the guy to see, his pricing and attitude are awesome.

[ December 22, 2001: Message edited by: HalfMoon ]</p>

 

Pete, sorry I didn’t respond sooner, but I wasn’t near any computers over the holiday. (nice to see you on the board, BTW <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0"> )

To answer your question, what you have done to your PCM really all depends on what you’re planning for your car. I had my idle raised for the cam, PO300 misfire code removed, B1 cam specific WOT “power” tuning, shift point changes, fan temps changed, rear O2s removed, EGR code removed, and some other small stuff, plus the TM being removed.

My best suggestion to you is to contact a tuner like MTI and tell them what you plan for your car. Then go over with them what they think you need and what you would like to do. The price is the same if you have 3 changes or 20 changes, so get everything you think you want as the price is the same.

I would like to say again that MTI did a great job once they got the proper PCM, and they took care of me great when this problem arose. I would recommend anyone to use MTI for tuning; just remember to send them YOUR STOCK PCM.