Engine Codes & Check engine light--- BETTER READ THIS ONE!

Post by **daytonajim** » Tue Oct 21, 2014 10:44 pm

10/21/14.......... We've discussed this before BUT there is now information...........

If your check engine light comes on

PAY ATTENTION!

I've had conversations & e-mails with Mike Carnahan @ Vengeance & visited Stefano Bimbi @ NicKey-Chicago yesterday & Aaron Thornton was at the Test & Tune @ JD's this summer.

Here's the issue as I see it............

The tune on your GMMG may be as much as 12-14 years old. At the time that was the technology. Everyone has learned so much since then & the software has matured.

If you own any GMMG (especially a car with headers or Phase II/435 hp) & above.............

If you drive your cars............YOUR CARS NEED TO HAVE THE MOST CURRENT COMPUTER SOFTWARE LOADED.

Here's an example with my Hot Rod Edition #2000 - Phase II/435. The car ran like crap in the 1500-1900 rpm range - was a handful to drive. As soon as I picked up the car it started tripping codes. I called Mike Carnahan & the previous owner & gave them the codes.

I was on the 2014 Power Tour in Charlotte (Z-Max) & wanted to run the car.

After checking I was informed that I probably would be OK running the car. WRONG!!!! I blew the motor on the 4th pass.

When the car was torn down & all the codes were checked Bank 2 went lean........ The computer told it to do this.

The right fix was a brand new LS1 Block from GM. It was installed & when the car was fired there wasn't any oil pressure. The oil pump was stick open. Pulled the motor a 2nd time.

One or both of these symptoms caused the problem.

Had the car been updated & tuned I probably would have been OK.

I have over $15,000 in receipts between shipping the car all over, new engine & DYNO work @ NicKey. Every one of my other 7 GMMG's will be checked before I drive them. All of my 435/475 & 500 hp cars run bad in the 1500-1900 rpm range & have the OLD TUNE software. This was an very expensive lesson to learn & you can learn from my mistake.

DON'T IGNORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT...........FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON TO BE SURE YOUR MOTOR IS OK. This is NOT your normal LS1 motor.

The 435 hp & up motors tend to trip engine codes. Sometimes it's nothing BUT sometimes there is a problem.

Call NicKey, Vengeance or someone who really knows LS1 motors............ The old GMMG Tune is not like any other.

Please add & share your experiences............. Jim Smith

It's ugly!

Bent Rod

Shmitty10 · Post by **Shmitty10** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 12:27 am

Now you are making me even more nervous to drive my phase III ZL1! The check engine light is NOT on, but should the software update concern me, and if so, who can update it? I have notice idle inconsistencies at stops or gear changes (seems to rev too high) but the car only has 300 miles and is now getting fresher gas. The more I can learn the better!

Post by **daytonajim** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 2:24 am

If you plan on driving the car I'd call NicKey or Vengeance & ask - who ever is closer to you. Jim

Shmitty10 · Post by **Shmitty10** » Wed Oct 22, 2014 3:31 am

I have an email in to him and will see if I get a reply. I haven't driven it much this summer and was looking at a drive this weekend for a finale before it's kept away in the shop. If it comes to a computer shipment, then yes I would need help on something like that. I grew up wrenching on things but these new wave computers and electronics make me nervous! I guess if it was a Yugo I wouldn't be afraid to dive into it! Lol! Missed out on the group tune by a month or so, damnit! Really appreciate the help and advice I get on this forum, and hopefully cross paths sometime with one of ya from the Midwest!