Quote:
quote:Originally posted by COP TZER
i am going to wait till the PCM is "cracked" or a "chip" is put out by a good aftermarket company. The stock turbo can't handle any more than we're boosting with MBC/EBCs now anyways.
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Let me preface this reply by saying that I am not a Moppar/PVO/DCX cheerleader. I have been very vocal about what I think about their policies on the GT and upgrades for it. Having said that, I will add these observations.
The new Prototype Stage II system makes 260 hp using the stock turbo. Both Stage I and Stage II will add an internal PCM controlled EBC that is matched for the turbo and engine.
The Stage II Prototype has a 4 position dial a boost that talks to the PCM and internal EBC, as well as an intercooler spray system and switch for selecting pump or race fuel. These all talk to and get their marching orders from the PCM and take advantage of the stock items such as the turbo and turbo management components that come stock on the car.
Larger injectors and a different surge actuator are the only mechanical items that are added.
There is the possibility of an optional Cat Back exhaust that is tuned for the Stage II upgrade.
Any deviation from the stock configuration that is not included in the staged upgrades will limit the available performance potential of the ugrade.
This is a total locked up, jam up , jelly tight, closed loop mod path. I don't really relish that conclusion, but it is the way it is at present, and the way it looks to be as long as DCX can keep the confusion level high around turbo 2.4L powertrain. (So far, they haven't missed a chance to further cloud the waters).
Since the dealers can't even keep up with DCX's changes in data link connector, communication protocol or OBDxx level, don't count on the aftermarket to jump in there until the dust settles.
At present, it is looking like 3 different combinations of diagnostic standards, connector pinouts, communication protocols in as many years. The aftermarket hasn't tracked past the 1st half of the 2002 model year.
None of the data logging/code scanning laptop software/comm cable producers have anything that can fully read the 2003 PCM, and the 2004s are already hitting the dealerships.
The 2004s (and the Stage I) PCMs use a combination of diagnostic standards, connector pinouts, communication protocols that are a further deviation from the 2002 models. The dealerships don't anticipate having the diagnostic gear capable of fully communicating with the 2004 model PCMs until later this year in December.
The MBCs, surge actuator spring mods and other "performance" add-ons are the single most limiting factor in obtaining the performance that is inherit in the engine design, when installing one of the staged upgrades. They are received equally as poorly by the stock PCM as far as getting repeatable and consistent performance and PCM reaction after their installation. The PCM will continue to derate performance once this type of add-on hampers it's ability to manage the engine, until the performance level is at or below the level at which the add on started to take away it's ability to completely manage the system. If you don't mind removing the negative cable every 200 miles or so to put the PCM back into the "learn" mode, they will show temporary gains. As some are already learning, higher boost is actually slowing the 1/4 mile speeds and times. The SRT-4 crowd is rapidly learning that the Stage I performance is downgraded proportionally to the ammount of deviation from the stock configurqation..
The only way to reliably unlock the performance designed in this system will be to buy it from DCX/Team PVO/ Mopar Performance; one upgrade at a time.
You will get a lot more out of the engine by changing the way the PCM crunches numbers than by turning wrenches or incr