I'm currenty running with BBK short headers, moroso air induction system, gutted cat, and a flowmaster cat-back exhaust. I got my car dyno-tested a couple of months back and on occasion it shot some large puffs of black smoke out of the exhaust. We then did an air/fuel ratio test and I'm at anyhere from 14.8 to 13.6. He said it appears as though i'm running lean. I was going to fix this by getting the Hypertech Programmer. Will this fix my problem? Also what should my air/fuel be for when I do change it? Also i'm not sure if this is the way to go or not as far as a programmer because in the future I plan on putting in a gm847 cam, port and polish stock heads, torque converter, 3.73 gears, and some other mods. Will this programmer be ok to make all the neccessary changes? Please let me know thanks.

 

Unless you have an A-4, I'd stay away from HPP.
They are ok for shift points, 160 Stat, etc. but doubt that A/F programing is the greatest.

You might have something else going on with a lean condition, since most come on the rich side.

I understand that 12.9-13.1 is a good A/F.

Probablly don't need programing until you get a cam, but when you do, I recommend going with a tuner like PCMFORLESS, etal.JMHO

 

So Hypertech isn't very good? Where can i get the PCMFORLESS tuner at? I've hear a lot about it. Do you think that i'm definately running lean?

 

14.7-1 is the idea for most conditions under light load, under heavy load your a/f ratio will need to richen up,(ie: under boost my a/f is at around 12.1-1) sometimes a little richer. I have a custom supercharger tune from Hypertech that I got several years ago and the car runs great with it. My best advise is to give the different tuner guy's a call and see what they can do for you.
Also check the small stuff, you might find out that their are some bad vacum lines, exhaust leaks, etc, etc that are giving some of your sensors bad readings causing the poor running of the motor. Think about it, since your car is a 1995 its been on the road for at least 8-9 years! the little stuff does go bad. In any case good luck and hope this helps.

 

I highly recommend NOT getting a Hypertech. Using a HPP doesn't let you control the air/fuel ratio, if that's what you think it does. It will load a set program into your PCM. Most people have found that this program tends to lean out their air/fuel ratio way too much, and they end up selling the HPP.

 

www.pcmforless.com
or
www.madz28.com

 

large puffs of black smoke has signified a way rich mixture here on this planet as far back as i can remember. im wondering how the conversation over that symptom was eventually turned around to being too lean. i dunno, i read things and it makes me have to ask these questions. the hpp will do nothing for what you are describing. maybe make it worse, i guess. there was a wideband installed on your car to determine af ratios?

 

I would bet you are running lean b/c you have a gutted cat unless you are running O2 sims in the rear.

 

I appreciated the help. I have been really confused about this. I'm not sure if my gutted cat would cause the problem or not. On my dyno i have some little spikes down which i think is from when the puffs came out. So a good a/f would be about 13.1 then, and i can change this with pcmforless?

 

He has a 95... there are no "after-cat" O2 sensors. Scratch that idea.

As noted in one of the posts above.... the data is inconsistant.... black puffs of smoke (rich) and apparently 14.8-13.6:1 on a wide-band (lean). I'd be willing to bet it started at 14.8:1 BEFORE they hit full throttle, and then went to 13.6:1, but that is still generally too lean.

Since you really don't have a lot in the way of mods.... a CAI and headers, you shouldn't be running lean on stock programming. First thing I would do would be to check the fuel pressure. May be low. Then do a data logging scan and look at the long term fuel corrections for any indication of a problem that would cause the "lean" problem. Any chance you have some exhaust leaks, allowing air into the system?

Since its likely there is something wrong with the engine or fuel system, doing a "tune" at this point would just be covering up the problem. Not the way to go. And the last thing I would try for any sort of serious tune would be the HPP.

 

I have the HPP III w/ module for headers, cam, & supercharger. I'm switching to PCMforless (just sent Bryan a PCM) so I will be able to do a comparison, at least for my car.
Just my $.02, but I would save your $$$ and go w/ PCMforless. The HHP just doesn't have enough capabilities, especially if you plan any internal upgrades. Like previously posted, you can make the adjustments for gear changes, tire size changes, 160 degree thermo, shift points, speed limiter, and a few other minor adjustments. Anything else, you need a more sophisticated approach to tuning, IMHO. However, if you plan to stick w/ bolt-ons, I have my unit for sale. E-mail me if interested.
Thanks!

 

yes that is exactly how it was. i was running 14.8 before full throttle and then 13.6 once we were on it. I know that i do have a couple of exhaust leaks where my flowmaster exhaust system is hooked together with muffler clamps. Could this be the main cause of this problem? They aren't major leaks, but there is blackness showing by the joints where they meet. So is 13.6 lean or am i getting that because of the exhaust leaks? I need to fix this soon so i was wondering the best way to do it. Not sure what to check as far as fuel pressure and so forth.

 

also is the pcmforless a programmer that i can make changes as i go along or is it something where I actually send way my pcm and they configure it to what mods i have then send it back?

 

Go to Bryan's website, www.pcmforless.com or madwolf's (don't have it, sorry) and all of your questions will be answered. I have 3 pcms so I have eliminated any down time or charges for exchanges. With Bryan, once your pcm is reprogrammed, he can send you updated files in accordance w/ your mod changes and you can upload them yourself if you have a computer and the appropriate cable. All of this is explained better by Bryan at his site. Hope this helps!

 

Yes. You send it in and you either get your own back or another one that is programmed. I understand additional programming would be less expensive.

I also understand that they can provide you with programs which require you to use LT1 Edit or your own computer to download.

I just bought a used PCM and sent it in to PCMFORLESS (actually, I originally had it programmed by Ed Wright, but Ed apparently hides some of the readouts and my emissions police would not pass me without the readings.

PCMFORLESS didn't delete the readings and I was able to pass.

I keep my stock PCM just in case.JMHO