Fed up with the L99 and AFM

[c6vettepilot]

I've finally reached the boiling point with the Active Fuel Management! So much so, I am trading my SS back to my dealer for an LS3, 6 speed manual. I have had my car less than 3 months and slightly more than 1,000 miles. That annoying sound and the automatic shifting up and down has driven me crazy. I put Borla S-type axle back exhaust on and it just magnified that irritating sound the AFM makes when it kicks in and out.

Not wanting to void my warranty by deactivating the AFM, I just called the dealer and told them to get me a 6 speed. I'm taking a loss by trading it back in this soon, but it's either now for another Camaro or later for another car altogether!

Hopefully, I will be able to report that the LS3 is what I should have bought in the first place and saved $1,800 on the automatic tranny!

[bumblebeecamaro]

how much of a beating will you be taking on trading in your L99?

just curious...

[Matrix]

Originally Posted by c6vettepilot

I've finally reached the boiling point with the Active Fuel Management! So much so, I am trading my SS back to my dealer for an LS3, 6 speed manual. I have had my car less than 3 months and slightly more than 1,000 miles. That annoying sound and the automatic shifting up and down has driven me crazy. I put Borla S-type axle back exhaust on and it just magnified that irritating sound the AFM makes when it kicks in and out.

Not wanting to void my warranty by deactivating the AFM, I just called the dealer and told them to get me a 6 speed. I'm taking a loss by trading it back in this soon, but it's either now for another Camaro or later for another car altogether!

Hopefully, I will be able to report that the LS3 is what I should have bought in the first place and saved $1,800 on the automatic tranny!

Emmm what noise?? wth are you talking about???

[Atti2de]

Left the big ass resonator on it i assume? Get rid of that if you did, will sound 80% better.

[CynAgain]

What was your primary reason for getting the automatic?

Have you really played with tapshift? Spend a few days using only the tap so you get to know it well and can use it easily. Then you can essentially eliminate the drone manually in the city anyway.

Have you looked into the all exhaust options. Perhaps you can limit the drone by switching a piece in the exhaust?

I'm not going to talk you out of an LS3, I love mine. I just hate to see you lose money on the deal. :(

[ravensjeff]

Expensive lesson. I'll deactivate afm and put on a tune, among other things, when the supercharger is installed. Also comes with a 3yr 36,000 mile warranty.

[JCL-2SS]

Im fed up with my AFM too, wife forced me to get Automatic. I tried to trade in but dealer put the screws to me and it would cost too much out of pocket to get a manual. so it looks like im going to get a tune, I have flowmaster catback and K&N intake

[future2010camaroowner]

I thought the auto tranny costs $995?

[longbeachss2010]

what sound does it make when the afm kicks in. i dont hear it. i play my stereo loud.

[Revo1]

Originally Posted by longbeachss2010

what sound does it make when the afm kicks in. i dont hear it. i play my stereo loud.

Probly have stock exhaust too...

[TripleB]

Originally Posted by longbeachss2010

what sound does it make when the afm kicks in. i dont hear it. i play my stereo loud.

it sounds like sh*t....hahahah...no seriously, it's been driving me nuts lately too. i can't wait to get a tune! i have the Borla S-Type also and it got louder and more obnoxious to me after i installed it. i knew it would, but didn't expect it this much.

[chapinville]

Had mine tuned out the first month I had the car. Best mod yet!

[mlee]

Borla strikes again....:(

[rolnslo]

Originally Posted by c6vettepilot

I've finally reached the boiling point with the Active Fuel Management! So much so, I am trading my SS back to my dealer for an LS3, 6 speed manual.

Even though only a relatively small number are having issues, just hope your new LS3 manual doesn't have the clutch problems that have been reported. That would probably drive you more insane than working around AFM.

Did you check with the service department to see if GM has a provision to maintain the powertrain warranty but let the dealership disable AFM for you? Might be worth a shot before losing money on the trade...

[MrE]

Originally Posted by rolnslo

Did you check with the service department to see if GM has a provision to maintain the powertrain warranty but let the dealership disable AFM for you? Might be worth a shot before losing money on the trade...

Problem is, if the dealership offered the ability to tune AFM out, there would be a line a mile long.

[MaroSS]

Turned off my AFM and im a happy camper! lol

[5thGenOwner]

Originally Posted by MrE

Problem is, if the dealership offered the ability to tune AFM out, there would be a line a mile long.

And an IRS agent at the front of it collecting his Gas Guzzler Tax!

[SoTHavok]

i have yet to notice what any of this sound is, probly cause im also bumpn tunes and i dont have stock exhaust hahaha ill listen for it now

[youngoliver]

i dont hear this either:/

[axis]

Originally Posted by ravensjeff

Expensive lesson. I'll deactivate afm and put on a tune, among other things, when the supercharger is installed. Also comes with a 3yr 36,000 mile warranty.

You might want to read the fine print on the SC warranty. Those "among other things" will probably void it's warranty as well. You have to run the original pulley, OEM exhaust, completely stock engine, and supplied tune. Anything other than that will void it.

[JoshJ81]

The AFM sound with stock exhaust is slightly noticeable IMO. However, it can be like that little annoying gnat that keeps flying around your head during that awesome weekend BBQ. The sound that it makes is like a buzzing sound when kicked in. But once you put some throttle on, it goes away cause all 8 cyclinders are kicked in. The problem in my mind is it just kicks on and off way to much.

The other problem is if you remove the resonator section (big box directly under the driver's seat under the car), the buzzing/drone will become even more apparent. I think if you remove any one of the 4 exhaust parts (manifolds for headers, stock cats for high flow cats, resonator removed for Xpipe, or stock mufflers for aftermarket mufflers) you'll hear this buzzing in some form.

I have not tried just changing the mufflers (looking at Flowmasters) but I would think just a muffler change would be the least difference. Just my opinion and I've not tried it.

A Diabo tuner chip turns off the AFM for you, among other goodies. But the best part, if you ever need to go to the dealer and fear a tune will ruin your warrenty, you can remove the chip and your computer will change back to stock maps (AKA turning AFM back on). I'm considering this as I'm looking into more stuff that will require my AFM turned off.

Good Luck but I urge you to looking into work arounds before taking a dump on your wallet. Unless you are just a staright up rich dude and money is not a problem.

[trudawg660]

Originally Posted by 5thGenOwner

And an IRS agent at the front of it collecting his Gas Guzzler Tax!

without AFM you still are no where close to getting the gas guzzler tax. i dont know why gm put it there in the first place. i guess it looked good on paper and to the people that think they are saying gas. the people that tuned it out say they lost 1 mpg

[wullger]

Have you tried driving around in S mode all the time? It doesn't eliminate the noise, but I -seem- to experience AFM kicking in less based on the areas/speeds that I usually drive.

[JoshJ81]

Originally Posted by wullger

Have you tried driving around in S mode all the time? It doesn't eliminate the noise, but I -seem- to experience AFM kicking in less based on the areas/speeds that I usually drive.

It doesn't matter what mode you are in, if the computer see that the engine's RPM is sustained at a certain number for a period of time, the AFM kicks on. There is no way to avoid AFM coming on short of a tuning it out by a tuner.

[wullger]

Notice I said -seem-? The shift points are a little different in Sport mode. Based on how I drive, it seems (again, seems--read the post this time) to have less occasion to kick in to AFM. Was curious if the OP has experienced this, to see if it might help him.