Well the car has been running rich for awhile now or atleast ever since i used the hypertech programming over a year back.

Recently i just had my hooker headers installed and i think its running even richer now. I can smell it at start up and specially when i run open headers.

Question is what is the easiest way to fix this? Should i find someone around here with a hypertech programmer and tune it back to normal or maybe someone around here with LT1 EDIT?

2. What effects can running rich have on the performance and the car?

Thanks,
Brian

 

Leaking header gaskets, or running with the collectors open will cause an excessively rich condition. So will misfires. Any or all could have resulted from your recent changes. You need to check each possibility.

Running rich will lose power, foul the plugs, and with a severe rich condition, can wash down the cylinder walls and remove the lubrication, dilute the oil and cause serious damage.

Probably should have resolved the original year-old problem before putting the headers in. Now you've got two problems to resolve simultaneously. A good scan and data log would help diagnose and/or confirm the problem.

 

Well i kind of know what the problem is. Its the hypertech programing. Thats when its started running a little rich. I've read up and most people have had that problem with it and have said HP will adavance the timing and make it run rich to make more power.

I'm just wondering what the easiest way is to fix it. Do i need to get my hands on a programmer again and put the tuning back to stock or can someone with LT1 edit do the same?

 

I doubt it. The stock LT1 programming is way too rich to begin with. Causing it to run any richer would not be reasonable idea. The easiest way to add 15HP is to lean out the PE mode target A/F ratio from the nominal 11.7:1 to about 12.8:1. Advancing the timing isn't going to make it run richer. I ran the HPP "power programming" for a couple years and could find little evidence that it did anything to power or fuel economy.

To return your PCM to stock programming with an HPP, you need to have the exact HPP that was used to program it in the first place. The HPP locks to the VIN, and can not be used on another vehicle until the car it was used on is returned to stock. If you no longer have access to the same HPP, you will need to find someone who has hacked the VIN issue. It might be easier, and more productive to get a mail order program from someone like pcmforless or MadZ28.