AFM TURN OFF

[SS Drifter]

AFM is a GM conspiracy to get us to void our warranty. And it's working....
On the positive note they gave us a good platform that we can easily build from.

If I knew what I now know about AFM when I bought the car, I would have bought an LS3.

[SonnyakaPig]

Originally Posted by Sax1031

Yes in a legal battle GM would lose on voiding the warranty for turning off the AFM. They would have to prove it caused the damage.

Unfortunately, too many people toss the claim that you just made around. I hear it from motor sport after market dealers and manufacturers and I hear it from customers.

What I don't hear is people discussing the application of burden of proof and burden of persuasion -- two very confusing but crucial points in a lawsuit.

In a breach of warranty and breach of contract civil suit involving automobile warranties and customer interference with warranted goods, who has the initial burdens and when does it shift?

I don't know the answer but my gut tells me that turning of AFM probably won't hurt the L99 motor but because I'm not an engineer or a mechanic, I don't know what other relevant factors and consequences follow the disengagement of AFM.

In this type of lawsuit, without case precedent that discuss AFM and warranties, the question would likely remain factually in dispute and in that case it could go to a ADR or a jury, where mechanical experts would be necessary.

How much money are people willing to spend against GM in this battle of the experts?

I'd bet on GM walking away with the win in this case, even if disengaging the AFM wasn't the actual cause of the damaged motor, ECM, etc.

[SonnyakaPig]

Originally Posted by Tatonka

so i have never bought a tuner before. is the diablo simple to use? does it walk you through turning the AFM off? i have a ss auto, and i actually called the dealer to ask what the deal was with the car after driving for a few weeks in stop and go traffic. it is like it wants to stay at 1000 rpms or something and feels bogged down, like it needs to downshift but isnt.

I am about to purchase a Pypes catback and Halltech CIA this weekend. I am debating on whether or not i should just go ahead and get the Diablosport tuner at the same time and do all 3 in one swoop. just makes me a little nervous messing with a tuner, as I dont have any experience using one. but i won 1500 at a casino last week and it is burning a hole in my pocket. :-)

and using the paddle shifters.. i haven't really messed with that much yet.. can i do that on the fly while moving, just dropping it from auto to manual? then do i have to upshift and downshift myself all the time or is it only when i feel like it? i mean if i put it in manual, can i just leave it in manual and let the car shift on its own, but it will keep the AFM from coming on completely?

$1,500 can buy you a Halltech (great intake, btw, I have one), a handheld tuner, and some time on a dyno at a good tuner's shop.

You'll get more of a gain going that route than doing it all yourself and possibly not getting the best result.

True, you won't have the exhaust yet, but exhaust will give you sound but not much of a gain. I got about 6 rwhp with the Corsa catback (measured on a Mustang Dyno).

Halltech and a good tune can net you over 16 rwhp.

From what I understand, you can put the shifter into Sport while you're driving (moving) and then downshift with the tapshift to drop it into Manual.

I've done this. And I'm not exactly sure (would really like to know the answer as well) but I think if you miss a shift when in manual, the trans will shift for you -- I think it will downshift for you. I could be wrong, though.

[SonnyakaPig]

Originally Posted by petman

this past Friday did the Headers and the Axleback exhaust on my A6. Then noticed the Drone.. heck it would even vibrate the car... TUNE took care of it and love the power. I am impressed

I was fortunate with selecting the Corsa catback. Zero drone as advertised. Not a very loud system but when I installed the Halltech it got real loud, especially upon first start in the morning. It just growls -- loud. But, still very little drone, even after installing the intake.

[SonnyakaPig]

Originally Posted by mlee

There's really no fix because it's not broke... However you can buy a handheld tuner and very quickly turn off AFM. Just put it back to stock when you go in for maintenance. It's highly debated on whether this can be detected and I think it can IF they really look for it, but if your dealer knows your situation common sense should prevail when getting warranty work since this would not hurt your car in any way.

I'm not sure if this is correct but I was told that once you tune out the AFM, it's gone for good. I don't understand the reasoning behind that opinion though.

[tony1]

Well I never noticed any sound difference stock or could really tell when it was in 4cyl. mode. I got the Magnaflow comp series axelback (muffler delete) and still really never heard it...maybe because I really wasn't listening for it. But then I got CAI and Vector Tune with the AFM off.. man after the Tune Iam glad I went this route and I'll drop the stock tune back in when going to the Dealer and take my chances. I bought a new Monte Carlo Z34 in 95 and after 1 year one winter it didn't start and had it towed to the Dealer and it was something like a washer down in the distributer (or something like that) it was a cheap part but labor was $$$. The bill was $1400 (which was alot in 95)and NOT covered under Warranty. I didn't have a single Mod ever done to the car..total stock. We all have LIMITED WARRANTY... just my 2cents.

[prostock69]

Originally Posted by SKERIS

Hey Guys

Other than voiding my drive train warranty, Are there any short or long term mechanical problems that might arise if I tune out the AFM?

It is driving me crazy at slow speeds under light loads!!!

It drove us crazy too. So we have ours tuned to come on when we reach the speed of 55 mph so we don't lose the AFM during highway driving. However, when hubby puts in new cam, he's going to eliminate the AFM all together.

[8ty8 ls1]

i tuned it out and will put the afm back on if anything happens to the drive-train so the calibrations are back to stock. it was driving me nuts when i installed the borla s-type axle back. now it sounds nice and throaty constantly and still gets decent mileage (about 18.8 with romping on it and about 23 on the highway).

[Jekyll-N-Hyde]

Originally Posted by 8ty8 ls1

i tuned it out and will put the afm back on if anything happens to the drive-train so the calibrations are back to stock. it was driving me nuts when i installed the borla s-type axle back. now it sounds nice and throaty constantly and still gets decent mileage (about 18.8 with romping on it and about 23 on the highway).

You do know once you tune that car no matter if you put it back to stock or not GM will know if it has even been tuned right ? other wise we would all do that if we had tunes.

[8ty8 ls1]

yeah i know. i could care less about a power-train warranty being voided because the car wont be heavily modded. plus my techs take care of me haha. but yes you have a good point.

[3BVert]

Originally Posted by Jekyll-N-Hyde

You do know once you tune that car no matter if you put it back to stock or not GM will know if it has even been tuned right ? other wise we would all do that if we had tunes.

There has certainly been a lot of debate about this. Have we seen someone that was turned down for warranty work because GM detected a tune that had been reverted to stock? I know that a lot have said that it's possible but have we actually seen it happen?

I tuned out AFM with the knowledge that this is a possiblity but it didn't stop me. What's the point of driving a car that annoys the heck out of you for years while you wait for your powertrain warranty to run out?

[Rich1]

The answer to the warranty issue is to purchase a new ECM and have that one tuned. It will still need to be flashed at the dealer for your particular car. If you have warranty work just put back the original ECM.

[BWood]

Originally Posted by Rich1

The answer to the warranty issue is to purchase a new ECM and have that one tuned. It will still need to be flashed at the dealer for your particular car. If you have warranty work just put back the original ECM.

The only problem with that is when you put the original back in, the mileage on the ECM won't match the car's odometer. They will know somethin's up, if they're even looking for it. I am, however, in complete agreement that the AFM sucks ass. I put a Flowmaster in my wife's Tahoe and when the AFM kicks in the drone literally makes me nauseous! It gives me a headache too. Just get a handheld and be done with it.

[SonnyakaPig]

Originally Posted by Rich1

The answer to the warranty issue is to purchase a new ECM and have that one tuned. It will still need to be flashed at the dealer for your particular car. If you have warranty work just put back the original ECM.

How much are new ECM's? And where can you purchase them? Just curious...