PCM Diagnostics & Tuning HP Tuners | Holley | Diablo

Help with Cold Starts

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 17, 2019 | 01:56 PM
  #1  
DFORESI's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, Michigan
Default Help with Cold Starts

I'm hoping someone can help me out with my cold/warm restarts. I get huge oscillations in AFR and the idle is completely erratic. The car runs beautifully once it is up to temperature. I get some slight oscillation when I'm idling with the car at speed, but nothing too bad.

The behavior also doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen more often than not. Seems to be worse when running E85.

I've uploaded a log file. If there other PIDs that are needed to diagnose the issue please let me know.

Thank you for your help everyone.
Attached Files
File Type: hpl
V28_09172019.hpl (851.7 KB, 58 views)
Reply
Old Sep 18, 2019 | 03:47 PM
  #2  
ChopperDoc's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 179
From: Virginia
Default

Your timing is far less than what it could be. Looks like there's an adder at work here, needlessly removing your timing down to sub zero numbers. Just at a quick glance, a few degrees isn't going to hurt you even on a the coldest of mornings. There is absolutely no reason it should be firing past TDC. Check your spark adders and limit them *some* and see if that improves your erratic idle. You don't want to zero out these tables. Just adjust where you are seeing the issues. Erratic AFR on cold start is fairly normal. That's why no one tunes MAF or VE on a cold engine.
Reply
Old Sep 19, 2019 | 01:10 PM
  #3  
DFORESI's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, Michigan
Default

Maybe it is the catalyst light-off routine running. I'll have to dig through the tables and see if that's something I can turn off.

I'll start there.

Thanks Chopperdoc
Reply
Old Sep 21, 2019 | 02:38 AM
  #4  
gametech's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,904
Likes: 906
From: Stockbridge GA
Default

Whoever did this tune changed some **** they did not understand, or loaded a glitchy program. As Chopperdoc pointed out, there is no reason for the timing to be that low, but I see other irregularities with timing vs coolant temp that seem way off. Below 100* coolant, the timing seems to just stay far too low, but at 100*, it looks like it is trying to hunt down a reasonable number while still generally ranging too far and usually too low.. Then, after around 117*, it seems to shift back to some ridiculous low range. I would put back in bone stock values and incrementally work toward a proper tune, because what you have now is for some reason just a comedy of error.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2019 | 12:08 PM
  #5  
DFORESI's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, Michigan
Default

No reason to be rude, this is a learning experience for me. I'm working on this tune myself and I've gotten it pretty far as is. When I get a chance I will post my tune file, but the thing is, not much has changed as it relates to timing and different coolant compensations down in the idle range. Most of my changes have been to the injector table for the ID1000s and to the VE table and the upper areas of the spark table. It's possible that it's something I did, but I would be just as willing to believe its something funky in the software. When I was running MAF only it never seemed to hunt like this.
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2019 | 12:40 PM
  #6  
Darth_V8r's Avatar
Moderator
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10,451
Likes: 1,873
From: My own internal universe
Default

There is a cranking spark table. Set to 10 degrees and try again. Might need to increase startup airflow adder also
Reply
Old Sep 22, 2019 | 08:26 PM
  #7  
gametech's Avatar
TECH Veteran
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Top Answer: 1
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 4,904
Likes: 906
From: Stockbridge GA
Default

Originally Posted by DFORESI
No reason to be rude, this is a learning experience for me. I'm working on this tune myself and I've gotten it pretty far as is. When I get a chance I will post my tune file, but the thing is, not much has changed as it relates to timing and different coolant compensations down in the idle range. Most of my changes have been to the injector table for the ID1000s and to the VE table and the upper areas of the spark table. It's possible that it's something I did, but I would be just as willing to believe its something funky in the software. When I was running MAF only it never seemed to hunt like this.
I did not intend to be rude. I have loaded tunes before that just did not load correctly and had random glitches.
Reply
Old Sep 23, 2019 | 07:57 AM
  #8  
DFORESI's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, Michigan
Default

So I took a look through things. The ECT spark adder table is not changed from stock, and there's nothing else obvious to me that would be causing the issue. I did change the open loop Gas tables a touch, but I don't know if this would be related.

Anyway, I've posted both my tune and the stock file if anyone has time to take a look.
Attached Files
File Type: hpt
SD_7psi_V32_KR_11P.hpt (885.9 KB, 88 views)
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 24, 2019 | 02:25 PM
  #9  
DFORESI's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, Michigan
Default

So as I suspected, when I revert to a MAF only tune the weird timing issues seem to go away. Timing is still pretty retarded at start up but it advances to my target idle spark pretty quickly. I don't understand why spark would act different for MAF or MAP based tunes.

Data attached.
Attached Files
File Type: hpl
V37_09242019_002.hpl (275.2 KB, 30 views)
Reply
Old Sep 24, 2019 | 04:05 PM
  #10  
Darth_V8r's Avatar
Moderator
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10,451
Likes: 1,873
From: My own internal universe
Default

IMO, what I see is in your VVE model, there are very large fueling changes for very small changes in RPM or map readings in the idle region of your VVE. Then when you plug in your maf, it overrides the VVE and stabilizes fueling, which stabilizes everything else. I also see your maf fails on second error. Should set to first error for SD tuning.

Anyway, it then appears as though your spark over/under speed is trying to compensate for AFR swings, so your spark ranges from -3 to +24. Before anything else, the fueling needs to be stabilized. MAP also looks like a sine wave, but much of this is due to the rpm changes and some is likely the TB trying to open and close to help control idle speed.

Bottom line, your idle region fueling in SD mode looks like the root cause of everything else going haywire - and since it isn't like the genIII ECU where you can just key the number into the VE table, this is why you see lots of guys go to maf only on genIV ecu's.

BTW - the ecu goes to low octane tables when MAF fails...
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2019 | 09:17 AM
  #11  
DFORESI's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, Michigan
Default

That's helpful thank you.

I haven't been using the MAF because the flow is quite turbulent (due to the supercharger intake), but a couple nights ago I installed a 1/2" thick piece of aluminum honeycomb about 1" before my MAF and it cleaned things up a fair bit. Now that the signal is usable I've started to reference the MAF again. The car is running significantly better at this point.

Two notes on your comments:
- I could be wrong, but I do not think that genIV reverts to low octane when the MAF fails, at least from what I can tell it appears to be referencing my main table
- My understanding is that the MAF will fail as soon as it violates the fail frequency, HOWEVER, it will not SET THE MIL until it sees two drive cycles where the MIL is faulted. At least this is how it works in Ford logic.

You are probably correct about the VVE table. Using coefficients to calculate the table makes it difficult to get the surface I want.

Thanks for your feedback.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2019 | 12:05 PM
  #12  
Darth_V8r's Avatar
Moderator
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 10,451
Likes: 1,873
From: My own internal universe
Default

Originally Posted by DFORESI
That's helpful thank you.

I haven't been using the MAF because the flow is quite turbulent (due to the supercharger intake), but a couple nights ago I installed a 1/2" thick piece of aluminum honeycomb about 1" before my MAF and it cleaned things up a fair bit. Now that the signal is usable I've started to reference the MAF again. The car is running significantly better at this point.

Two notes on your comments:
- I could be wrong, but I do not think that genIV reverts to low octane when the MAF fails, at least from what I can tell it appears to be referencing my main table
- My understanding is that the MAF will fail as soon as it violates the fail frequency, HOWEVER, it will not SET THE MIL until it sees two drive cycles where the MIL is faulted. At least this is how it works in Ford logic.

You are probably correct about the VVE table. Using coefficients to calculate the table makes it difficult to get the surface I want.

Thanks for your feedback.
Gotcha. You're probably right. Those were minor points anyway. However, I still think the VVE fueling swings are what's causing the issues, and getting your maf in and the airflow readings stabilized is addressing the root cause. No amount of anything was going to compensate for AFR swings from 0.9 to 1.4. Slight increase in idle speed may help stabilize too, if that's an option worth considering for you.
Reply
Old Sep 25, 2019 | 12:54 PM
  #13  
DFORESI's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
 
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: Detroit, Michigan
Default

Its funny that you mention that, I ended up trying that about 2 hour ago. Increased target idle speed from 675 to 700 and it seems much more stable.

For now the MAF has cleaned up a lot of the issues. Next time I get on a dyno I'm going to have to pick through the VVE table.

Thanks for your help.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:29 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE