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Old 12-14-2013, 09:40 PM   #1
antman
 
Drives: Victory Red 2013 Camaro SS/RS, L99
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Is it AFM or drone?

I have a 2013 SS L99 and just had the Borla S axle back put on. Aside from the exhaust everything is stock and still with the AFM. I notice now that when driving and get into the 1500 to 1700 RPM range the exhaust note gets real deep not in a good way. When the car is in park and I rev the engine to that same RPM range there's no deep exhaust note. So is the deep exhaust sound due to AFM or is it because of drone?
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Old 12-14-2013, 09:47 PM   #2
Iam Broke
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Sounds like drone to me, put it in sport mode at the same range of rpm's. I believe it keeps the L99 AFM from kicking in.

If it drowns out all the bass in the stereo, it's drone.
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Old 12-14-2013, 09:48 PM   #3
MrPace
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antman View Post
I have a 2013 SS L99 and just had the Borla S axle back put on. Aside from the exhaust everything is stock and still with the AFM. I notice now that when driving and get into the 1500 to 1700 RPM range the exhaust note gets real deep not in a good way. When the car is in park and I rev the engine to that same RPM range there's no deep exhaust note. So is the deep exhaust sound due to AFM or is it because of drone?
AFM. I know that RPM range well and what it sounds like when AFM is kicking in and out.

It's not pretty.

But I'm surprised you are just noticing it only after the new exhaust. It's totally noticeable with the stock exhaust intact.

BTW, I'm seriously considering the Borla S axle that you just put on. I'm looking for a deeper grumble but nothing too too loud, and it seems the Borla S might be the ticket. How do you like it minus the AFM farting?
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:15 PM   #4
Red Jewel RS

 
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Sounds like AFM to me. I also have a L99 and put on Flowmaster catback and can clearly hear AFM kick on.
On the 2010 and 2011 you can temporarily turn off AFM.
Here's how:
Place shifter in "M" mode.
Press tap shifter down, up, and the down again.
AFM will not activate now but, you will have to drive using the tap shifter.
When you move shifter out of "M" mode it will return to normal again.
I use this all the time, it always works. It doesn't harm anything. It's just the way GM programmed the computer.
Now, I don't know if the 2012 - 2014's have this option. Give it a try.
Good luck.
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:20 PM   #5
Arbgast
 
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I have the borla s type axel back on my 2014 ss. Had to buy the afm disable by range. Like night and day. Worth the money,
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:27 PM   #6
antman
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrPace View Post
AFM. I know that RPM range well and what it sounds like when AFM is kicking in and out.

It's not pretty.

But I'm surprised you are just noticing it only after the new exhaust. It's totally noticeable with the stock exhaust intact.

BTW, I'm seriously considering the Borla S axle that you just put on. I'm looking for a deeper grumble but nothing too too loud, and it seems the Borla S might be the ticket. How do you like it minus the AFM farting?
I guess it just wasn't as noticeable before the change.

As far as how I'm liking it I have mixed feelings. I like the way it sounds on the outside. It's the right loudness, not too obnoxious. I too was looking for something a little louder.

I've gone from the stock exhaust to a Dynomax VT and now the Borla S and to me they all just offer a different loudness of the same sound.

I'm not crazy how it sounds like inside. I guess it's partly due to the AFM. To me it sounds like a V6 with an oversized exhaust.

I used to have a 96' Z28 with stock exhaust and was trying to get close to that same sound. Maybe it's the resonator or just the way the engine is built on these cars but it doesn't sound anywhere close to the 96 Z'.
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:29 PM   #7
antman
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Arbgast View Post
I have the borla s type axel back on my 2014 ss. Had to buy the afm disable by range. Like night and day. Worth the money,
I was thinking about doing that too but wanted to make sure it was the AFM causing the sound before I put anymore money into this setup.
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:55 PM   #8
rontammy0
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It's afm for sure....the stock exhaust did well to hide it....it drives me nuts...I'm tuning in the spring.
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Old 12-14-2013, 11:55 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antman View Post
I guess it just wasn't as noticeable before the change.

As far as how I'm liking it I have mixed feelings. I like the way it sounds on the outside. It's the right loudness, not too obnoxious. I too was looking for something a little louder.

I've gone from the stock exhaust to a Dynomax VT and now the Borla S and to me they all just offer a different loudness of the same sound.

I'm not crazy how it sounds like inside. I guess it's partly due to the AFM. To me it sounds like a V6 with an oversized exhaust.

I used to have a 96' Z28 with stock exhaust and was trying to get close to that same sound. Maybe it's the resonator or just the way the engine is built on these cars but it doesn't sound anywhere close to the 96 Z'.
I hear you loud and clear. I drove a '94 Z28 for almost 16 years with stock exhaust and never even considered changing it...

The funny thing about the 2013 Camaro, IMO, is that it sounds perfect from the outside when doing an ice cold start....but when it warms up, it becomes silent as a church mouse...I want to keep that cold start tone and volume all the time...
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Old 12-14-2013, 11:56 PM   #10
MrPace
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rontammy0 View Post
It's afm for sure....the stock exhaust did well to hide it....it drives me nuts...I'm tuning in the spring.
I would have figured that if you keep the resonator intact (which I believe the OP did), then the AFM would still be sort of hidden...that it wouldn't become worse by simply adding an axle back setup....guess that isn't the case.
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Old 12-15-2013, 12:01 AM   #11
MrPace
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by antman View Post
I was thinking about doing that too but wanted to make sure it was the AFM causing the sound before I put anymore money into this setup.
I have the Range unit...it completely eliminates AFM and thus all the noises associated with it...

Only drawback is that for some, it can cause startup issues which have been well detailed in the Range threads here...
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Old 12-15-2013, 12:21 AM   #12
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It's AFM and it blows. Only way to cure the AFM blues is to buy my Gen II "Range AFM" turning off device. Works like a champ and no startup issues for me.
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Old 12-15-2013, 12:34 AM   #13
rontammy0
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrPace View Post
I would have figured that if you keep the resonator intact (which I believe the OP did), then the AFM would still be sort of hidden...that it wouldn't become worse by simply adding an axle back setup....guess that isn't the case.
When I first picked my car up..I drove it 6 hours home. I hardly noticed it. Once I put the magnaflow muffler delete axle back on it was way more noticeable. Added the solos and now it's driving me nuts. Just installed jba shorty headers a few weeks ago but I haven't had a real good run yet. Maybe an axle back with mufflers would work better.
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Old 12-15-2013, 09:36 AM   #14
98GTcoupe
 
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I just turned my AFM off yesterday with a hypertech programmer, left everything else stock.

I have a. Borla catback, drone in AFM is horrible. I mean horrible... Not anymore though!!!!!
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