SS Automatic Active Fuel Management

[kbui]

Originally Posted by mlee

Just get a handheld SCT tuner from Jannetty Racing and turn off AFM yourself. (It's a very simple process) That way you can just turn it back on when you go in for warranty work. It still "could" void your warranty, but I seriously doubt anyone will call you out on it.

I had this talk with my service manager as well. Once you change the tune, the tune will no longer matches the one they have on their database. If it's a major repair, GM CAN deny your warranty. The dealer's hands are tied as they have to get GM's approval. With minor repairs your dealer might be able to look past this. Just have to keep this in mind. As an example, he is currently working with GM to help a customer with a different vehicle where the guy bought an after market tune to help improve his MPG and GM is denying his major warranty work.

[2SS BUMBLBE]

Originally Posted by mlee

Just get a handheld SCT tuner from Jannetty Racing and turn off AFM yourself. (It's a very simple process) That way you can just turn it back on when you go in for warranty work. It still "could" void your warranty, but I seriously doubt anyone will call you out on it.

What really sucks is the Pfadt parts are GMPP approved, yet I am sure that GM does not address the resonation and would give me a hard time on any suspension warranty claims now, too.

[mlee]

These handhelds store your factory tune and it can easily be restored... but there is a counter that tells how many times the ECM has been flashed. You also don't have to load the tune to turn off AFM... it simply modifies the factory tune to set AFM off or on. Still some risk you have to factor in..

Originally Posted by 2SS BUMBLBE

What really sucks is the Pfadt parts are GMPP approved, yet I am sure that GM does not address the resonation and would give me a hard time on any suspension warranty claims now, too.

You're the first I've heard of the engine mounts making this problem worse. Guess thats because not many are changing them out. It does make sense that it would get worse... good info...

[572HP]

I am going to take mine in next week sometime. My stance will be that I'm very dissatisfied with the sound/feel of the AFM, and I'll have the important parts of this thread in hand. I'll let them know that GM's technical department says that AFM should not kick in when in M/S mode, and that I want it fixed. If that means that they get a new tune file from GM, or they are instructed to disable AFM, so be it. I'd suggest anyone else that is dissatisfied with their camaro to do the same. I'm not going to stop when/if the dealer says that they can't do anything about it.

Jeff has armed us dissatisfied owners with as much as GM allows him to. It is up to us to follow through on the rest. Thanks Jeff!

[5thGenIndy500]

Originally Posted by Cpanthers85

This is simply a recommendation for Chevy, and to support the current talk of deactivating the AFM, through GM. Proof, that they can do it!

When I purchased my 2009 Turbocharged Cobalt SS, GM shortly released what they called a "STAGE 1 KIT". I am not going to get into the technicalities of the "Stage 1 kit", BUT it ultimately was a Tune that re-mapped the airflow sensors, removed the 'learn-down' feature for bolt-on mods, and it also boosted the amount of PSI the turbocharger could push from 16psi to 24psi. The end result was a car that put down 260hp/260 ft lbs of torque, stock, to a car that could put down 280HP/320ft lbs of torque (which was a lot for a 3,000lb car). Okay okay, so what's my point?! IT DIDN'T VOID THE FACTORY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY!

It was $1000 for basically a Facotry Re-tune, that HAD TO BE DONE AT THE DEALER. But for the amount of horsepower/torque that was gained just from the tune, and the ability to have the 'learn-down' feature removed, so I could add bolt-ons for even more HP/TQ, it was WORTH IT!

All I am saying is this... CHEVY! MAKE A STAGE 1 KIT or do a RETUNE FOR THE AUTOMATIC CAMARO'S! WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! AND WE WILL PAY TO KEEP OUR WARRANTY!

Ok folks this is a great thread however, so far it’s only amounted to a few posts and some good discussion.

I say we make a deliberate effort to do something about AFM. I suggest we start an official forum petition that we send to GM. First though we all have agree on what we want GM to do!

I suggest we ask them to offer a 5thGen L99 SS "STAGE 1 KIT". I recommend this because as stated in his above post there is already a president set by GM for doing this, in addition GM could charge for the kit and thus recoup any associated costs.

If we are really serious about this then let’s do it! If there is some reason why GM can't do it whether political, CAFÉ millage requirement, guzzler tax or other reason let GM come back and tell us so. I say we have nothing to lose at this point!

[572HP]

Originally Posted by 5thGenIndy500

Ok folks this is a great thread however, so far it’s only amounted to a few posts and some good discussion.

I say we make a deliberate effort to do something about AFM. I suggest we start an official forum petition that we send to GM. First though we all have agree on what we want GM to do!

I suggest we ask them to offer a 5thGen L99 SS "STAGE 1 KIT". I recommend this because as stated in his above post there is already a president set by GM for doing this, in addition GM could charge for the kit and thus recoup any associated costs.

If we are really serious about this then let’s do it! If there is some reason why GM can't do it whether political, CAFÉ millage requirement, guzzler tax or other reason let GM come back and tell us so. I say we have nothing to lose at this point!

I agree with the idea that having a stage 1 kit would be a nice option. However, as Jeff has stated, the automatic SS is not supposed to go into 4-cylinder mode when the shifter is in M/S mode. Also, this is making many A6 SS owners dissatisfied with the product. GM should fix this issue if they want to keep customers happy. I don't think that paying for a performance upgrade should be necessary for them to fix our cars. For those that want the performance upgrade, and GM wants to offer one, then they can make sure that AFM is tuned out.

[5thGenIndy500]

Originally Posted by 572HP

I agree with the idea that having a stage 1 kit would be a nice option. However, as Jeff has stated, the automatic SS is not supposed to go into 4-cylinder mode when the shifter is in M/S mode. Also, this is making many A6 SS owners dissatisfied with the product. GM should fix this issue if they want to keep customers happy. I don't think that paying for a performance upgrade should be necessary for them to fix our cars. For those that want the performance upgrade, and GM wants to offer one, then they can make sure that AFM is tuned out.

You make good points and since the purpose of a forum is to share ideas and points of view all of them are appreciated. However, I must point out that so far everyone who owns an L99 SS, me included, has stated that the AFM operation described by Jeff is NOT how it works in our cars. He himself stated that he cannot provide official operational documentation to support what he described. Simply put if AFM operated is as he stated this subject would not be the #1 issue of almost every L99 SS owner. I am convinced that it was necessary or maybe even required for GM to incorporate AFM into the L99 automatic Camaro. After having meet most of the Camaro team, I do not feel that the design and performance folks at GM would have been content to essentially detune their newly prized muscle car especially considering they had their eye on the, you know what, competition. I do not want to believe that faced with the preliminary AFM Camaro test results, feedback, the required modifications to mitigate it and the associated costs; that GM would have put AFM in the Camaro for the heck of it. Sorry, I’m just not buying it! This is not something broke that needs fixing; I think AFM is operating exactly as it was designed to and that it was necessary/required to be there. That being said the factory L99 SS meets whatever the requirements are when it is sold. If after the vehicle is sold the owner, who is not bound by the manufacturer requirement, wishes to, or can afford to apply performance upgrades then that is his right. From GMs perspective I understand why they refuse to honor the factory warranty when the “tune” is changed from original, after all they have no way of knowing or controlling what was changed in each tune and some tunes could and sometime do cause problems. However, I do not feel that a tune only designed to deactivate AFM would cause any problems. So in my opinion, GM should be able to, within the bounds of the factory warranty, provide a method of deactivating AFM. That’s why I say the solution should be a factory tune in the form of a “stage 1 kit” designed by the factory so that they can insure how it affects or impacts the car. That research time, evaluation, packaging and distribution cost money and GM should be able to recoup those costs by those who want the above factory provided performance. Those who do not want to pay or who like AFM as it is need do nothing.

[572HP]

Great points, but there is a cost to GM by not fixing the issue. The issue is that some customers hate the AFM feature. The cost to GM is unhappy customers, which decrease sales due to word of mouth. I don't feel that they need to recoup costs by charging their customer to fix an issue with a car. They will be repaid with better sales. I don't want to wait for their R&D team to come up with a performance tune which also includes disabling the AFM. They can issue a new tune to be downloaded to the cars in a week that completely disables AFM in M/S mode.

[kbui]

Originally Posted by 572HP

Great points, but there is a cost to GM by not fixing the issue. The issue is that some customers hate the AFM feature. The cost to GM is unhappy customers, which decrease sales due to word of mouth. I don't feel that they need to recoup costs by charging their customer to fix an issue with a car. They will be repaid with better sales. I don't want to wait for their R&D team to come up with a performance tune which also includes disabling the AFM. They can issue a new tune to be downloaded to the cars in a week that completely disables AFM in M/S mode.

This is the position my service manager was alluding to. As of right now, I can drive in M mode with AFM completely OFF, a new factory tune just to deactivate AFM in M/S mode shouldn't change their certification. It can simply be an updated tune. Personally it just a matter of whether GM would like to keep its loyal customers (I have been buying GM cars (all but 2) for the last 28 years). I would certainly look at other vehicles if this fiasco is not resolved to my satisfaction. I won't get rid of this Camaro since I love it too much, but will not consider another GM vehicle for a long time.

[04Ram2500Hemi]

AFM has never really bothered me, but I would like to do a different exhaust, and everything I’ve read states that AFM and an aftermarket exhaust = drone without a tune. Basically, the one mod I really want to make would do nothing but hurt the sound of the car, so I’m stuck with the big silver cans on the back of the car. If driving in Sport or Manual mode did turn off AFM, while leaving it in Drive kept the AFM active, I’d pay for a GM tune as long as it kept my warranty. I’m curious to see if you guys get anywhere with this topic.

[5thGenIndy500]

Originally Posted by 572HP

Great points, but there is a cost to GM by not fixing the issue. The issue is that some customers hate the AFM feature. The cost to GM is unhappy customers, which decrease sales due to word of mouth. I don't feel that they need to recoup costs by charging their customer to fix an issue with a car. They will be repaid with better sales. I don't want to wait for their R&D team to come up with a performance tune which also includes disabling the AFM. They can issue a new tune to be downloaded to the cars in a week that completely disables AFM in M/S mode.

I totally understand your side of the issue, I honestly do. Personally though I do not feel that GM needs to fix or owes me anything, after all they did tell me upfront that the car was equipped with AFM and I had a choice when I purchased it. I think it operates exactly as designed; I just don't like it. But, I do not feel they owe me anything because the 5th Gen Camaro is the still best muscle car in the modern world even with AFM!

I think what we can all agree on is that we would like GM to help those of us who don't like the feature turn it off without voiding our warranty and I would rather pay GM then going after-market and jeopardizing my warranty.

[5thGenIndy500]

Originally Posted by 04Ram2500Hemi

AFM has never really bothered me, but I would like to do a different exhaust, and everything I’ve read states that AFM and an aftermarket exhaust = drone without a tune. Basically, the one mod I really want to make would do nothing but hurt the sound of the car, so I’m stuck with the big silver cans on the back of the car. If driving in Sport or Manual mode did turn off AFM, while leaving it in Drive kept the AFM active, I’d pay for a GM tune as long as it kept my warranty. I’m curious to see if you guys get anywhere with this topic.

I really do think if we were to approach GM on a unified front we might at least get an official reply through this thread. An answer, good or bad for those of us who don't like AFM would at least put the issue to bed.

[2SS BUMBLBE]

Subscribed. I am in for a GM tune that eliminates AFM in M/S mode and leaves it alone in D. I know mine kicks in in S mode and I think that it kicks in in M mode, just not as often. Anyone know if there is a diagnostic device that can read history from one of the control modules for that kind of engine activity?

[Merk247]

Everyone's afm is working as designed as far as I can tell from posts. Want to know how to disable it? There's 3 ways .1 drive with your foot to the floor at all times. 2 learn to drive stick daily. 3 void your warranty. Its there for a reason you knew it when you bought the car and should only come on during light load light throttle situations so it shouldnt be affecting your performance during hard pulls so whats the problem.the car wasnt ment to be modified either so adding exhausts or intakes or engine mounts and getting abnormal sounds during operation is the result of YOUR actions not gms design problems.