Topic: Trifecta tuning for solstice - good numbers

[snaponbob]

An eng

Perris  You talk about swap to the Cobalt engine I though they were Front wheel Drive  ,or is that just the HHR. If they are in fact FWD How will that work with our RWD Kappas.may be wrong

An engine has no clue which way it is pointed. Bolt it to something, start it, and it will transmit power to what it is attached to. Example? The HT series engines in Cadillacs. They were used sideways in front wheel drive, and front/back in rear drivers. More? Lambo LM001's had a V12 going front/back and the Countach had it sideways.

[snaponbob]

FYI we had a bunch of modded kappas with GMPP tune and the power was the same as un-modded GMPPs

So it doesn't seem the no-learn down is true

I have read that the GMPP OS is written to optimize a stone stock car. It may not "learn down", but if it is not written to take advantage of mods, it may not.

[tazz]

tazz: for turbo engines backpressure doesn't help at all, makes only the things worse, turbo needs maximum free flow for exhaust

Thanks I didnt know that was the case for turbos.  The case is different for Superchaged engines though.

[kwtoxman]

GM has said the GM tune removes the learn down feature. I'm not surprised that the dyno's haven't seen much of a difference with mods on the car because many of the mods people have offer minor gains (as people have noted... CAI, exhaust, IC, etc.). That and the GM tune is probably conservative (as other posts have noted).

Going with a custom aftermarket tune will allow for a custom program to get more out of an individual's set up. At least this is what has been seen on the forum.

kennysabarese, I talked to Vince about the GM tune 3.3 bar sensors. He told me they will permit the engine to boost more, but the extra capacity of these sensors isn't needed on stock turbo with what he can do using the stock sensors in his tune. On an upgraded turbo the GM tune 3.3 bar sensors could very well be an advantage because of the extra boost capacity.

As for cobalt LNF's, snaponbob is right. An engine is an engine. GM has used the LNF in a FWD and RWD platform. They will be interchangable. Completely is a guess, but generally, yes.

[snaponbob]

Due to the Kappa having a power steering pump, the "front" of the engine potentially be different (but production costs would say not) as relates to mounting the pump on the Kappa and not the SSR and Cobalt.

[kennysabarese]

Modded how? vs un-modded and when?
How was the system reset?
I pulled my battery and pulled the fuses 42-43 after the GMPP install not sure if I needed to do both but I did so all the learned items started from a 0 start point to make the learning process easier.
Also I'm not sure if this holds true for a turbo vehicle but it is true for a Supercharged vehicle that the engine needs some sort of back pressure not sure how much though.  The back pressure allows more low end Tq but it will cost you some high end Hp.  When you lessen the back pressure it goes the other way you loose low end Tq but you gain high some end Hp at least this holds true for a supercharged vehicle. 

If this question is directed at my statement tazz we had some that had IC's exhaust intake, charge pipes all those mods. none made a big difference in HP or Torque with the GMPP tune. all were within a few HP

[Sly Bob]

As for cobalt LNF's, snaponbob is right. An engine is an engine. GM has used the LNF in a FWD and RWD platform. They will be interchangable. Completely is a guess, but generally, yes.

I work at a GM Powertrain plant in Canada and on the line you will find both front wheel drive and rear wheel drive variants of the same engine. Now I can't speak for the LNF but a complete HHR front wheel drive engine will likely not fit without swapping out a bunch of parts.

Go to your local Chevy dealer and open the hood of a HHR or a Cobalt SS and you see what I mean. You could probably do it but it may take a little doing.

[U4EA]

What I wish is the cable and interface he(Vince) uses could upload and download tunes so I can try different tunes in my car.

Latin Venom it is my understanding that the Infiniboost tune from Vince @ Trifecta is not only stealth but switchable. Would that not allow you to have a DDM tune and a Trifecta tune on the same ECM allowing you to switch between 2 performance tunes on one ECM?
With a spare ECM or two you could have a library of tunes with the Trifecta being switchable and other tunes being uploaded and downloaded not interfering with the Trifecta tune. Push the button DDM, push the button Trifecta. Sounds good if that is how it works.
Just a thought.

[CJ Krause]

i would have to ask Vince on that in that the DDM tune would have to be on the ecm and he would have to know ahead of time to not tune over it and just install the tune on the button.

i will have to verify if this is possible.

[Arabas]

I read some things about Trifecta and the Select-a-Tune feature. it says one can select the OEM or Trifecta tune through Cruise control or Traction Control Switch.
CJ, can you pls explain some more on this feature. since Cruise is useless in Greece, if i decide on Trifecta, i can actually use the Cruise control button for this purpose, but sometimes it can be accidentaly pressed while driving and it got me thinking...
anyway, can u pls describe how this feature works and if it is safe for the ecm to switch while driving.
Thx in advance

[Kelu]

Arabas activating cruise control system (left main button) doesn't do nothing, you have to press set or reset button to order cruise control to engage.

So using cruise control button is a nice idea because it has the small light indicator.

[kwtoxman]

The cruise control switch sounds like a good idea. As mentioned is it the left button on the wheel that can be used? I asked about the wiper switch before because I don't want to set it up with the TC switch. Are there any other button options as well?

I've been thinking this could be a great for AXers. Run the stock tune for the stock class and still have an aftermarket tune at the flick of a switch for the streets or another class.

[CJ Krause]

you can switch anytime and on the fly is when you need it mostly. LOL
plus you go to dealer and it is stock, then press cruise and vualaa nice instant power
win win for fun time
plus you could tell your friends you have a kick butt cruise feature on your soltice
lmbo

[Arabas]

you can switch anytime and on the fly is when you need it mostly. LOL
plus you go to dealer and it is stock, then press cruise and vualaa nice instant power
win win for fun time
plus you could tell your friends you have a kick butt cruise feature on your soltice
lmbo

CJ, i also like the idea, but can you describe the process? simply push the cruise butoon and the ecu gets remapped or is it a sequence of buttons to be pressed???
If i run the Trifecta tune and accidentally push the cruise button, will it instantly change to stock?
Pls advise on the process

[kwtoxman]

CJ's can you confirm it is the left button on the steering wheel only that needs to be activitated for the cruise? Kelu, your post is a little confusing to me. You are right and wrong. The left button doen't activate the cruise that moment, but it sets the car up to be activated. I'm hoping the trifecta selectable tune can be used with that prompt.

Also, what if I set up the selectable tune on an spare ECM... then swap in the stock ecm again. Does that mean that my stock ecm will be altered? I like the idea of selectable tune on a spare ecm. And keep my stock ECM completely clean, so to speak.

[LatinVenom]

I was told by Dave from Dejon that I can not have both the DDM and Trifecta tune and switch between them.
This feature can only be done with the Standard OEM tune and the Trifecta.
Maybe Vince can comment on whether Dave is correct or not

[Kelu]

kwtoxman why? do you used cruise control? seems like you understood what i mean even english is not my first language. Let me know how I might clarify it.

[tazz]

Next ? could a person have the GMPP tune and a Trifecta tune on one ECM or just the STOCK OEM SOL GXP tune?

[kwtoxman]

Vince told me he can do the trifecta tune with all its options on both the stock 2.0 and the GMPP tune.

Kelu, I think it was the double negative that got me. Reading it a few more times made more sense to me now.

[DCLocal]

Hello all, while I've never posted on this forum I was a regular on the solsticeforum but have been absent for quite some time. Now, I’m jumping back in to the forums and Solstice meets with both feet to give my ’07 GXP some long overdue attention.

Imagine my delight to log in and see all the great progress on tunes, especially Trifecta's offering. I spoke with Vince today and as has been already mentioned here, he seems like a great guy and was very patient answering my many questions. I am so impressed I've ordered the tune plus the cable and hope to have it this weekend. By going with the cable I can send logs back to Vince for review he'll tweak the tune if opportunities are identified. It will also be easier in the long run should I add mods requiring retuning.

CJ, i also like the idea, but can you describe the process? simply push the cruise buttoon and the ecu gets remapped or is it a sequence of buttons to be pressed???

I asked for clarification on this and Vince said for the cruise option, it uses the master control switch (the largest left—most button with the indictor light)  The tune is active when the master cruise control switch is set to “off” (light out) with the reasoning being you wouldn’t normally want the extra performance when using cruise control.  Turning on the cruise control master switch (but not necessarily engaging cruise) switches the ECM to the stock tune.

The traction control switch option would enable the Trifecta tune when in “competition” mode.  I'm in a bit of a quandary over this as I don’t know if I always/only want the tune active when in competition mode.  If using the cruise option I could have the tune in any mode.  Does anyone have any input, suggestions, recommendations or considerations for using the cruise vs. traction control switch?

Either way I’m totally stoked and can’t wait to try the tune! 

[Imaj]

Humm...Welcome DCLocal...your post got me thinking...Could someone set me straight on this...when dyno tuning should your car be in competition mode? Thanks!

[Gentleman Jack]

Imaj,

How would that affect the dyno?  Isn't that traction control / ESC related?  Shouldn't lose any grip on the dyno right? 

Gentleman Jack (formerly Tierra del Sol)

[Arabas]

Imaj, since in competition mode, traction control is totally off and the car can drift a little bit to the left and right (actually a lot), during dyno i am confident it would not affect the dyno.

DCLocal , thx a lot for sharing this usefull information with us, you have answered my questions. it seems that Trifecta's choice to go with the tune being active when cruise is off is the right way to go. you may need to go on some drift day with lots and lots of power just to make an impression (so you need the extra power to burn more tire) but in competition mode, you will not be able to do that, so cruise button is the most appropriate for me.

DCLocal, you get to keep the cable? i am really interested in this option, since you may need to get your ecm completely stock to go to the dealer and then reflash it to get the extra power.

[CJ Krause]

if you do a stealth tune, dual infinity tune then you dont need to reflash.
stock or GMPP tune will be there so it is not necessary.

the cable is only needed for the install and data logging.

[kennysabarese]

the only problem i see by having the tune enabled when the cruise button is OFF is that if you take it to the dealer and they drive it, they will definitely notice the tune.