Found the Autostick weakest link, The hard way

[Ian-PT-GT]

It looks like it was a real factory problem compunded by agresive driving.

I sat down with my weekly timeslips and found out that the car had lost its performance after week one at the track. My first pass ever, in stock configuration, the car made a 15.8 in "Drive" and the computer was shifting into overdrive before reaching the 1/4 mile mark. The next week I decided to use the "Auto Stick" mode and it should have improved the times. It didn't happen. It made worst times, 16.1 on the first pass. I then made engine mods and improved but with the engine mods, the car should have been on the 14 sec club. To me this means that the converter was screwed. The dealer agreed with me so I am getting a new one.

Ian

[DTs_PTGT]

Wow, so if you're running 1/4 mile runs, any damage is still covered by warranty? Cool!

[Ian-PT-GT]

well...

Yes, the repair was covered by the warranty but, The car was bone stock when it went to the dealer with the exception of the K&N filter and the rear weatherstrip.

Ian

[Ian-PT-GT]

Well, The car is back in my destructive hands!!!!!
I guess I have to say that this is transmition number six in my kill book.

I got it on saturday and all I paid was for a Spoiler that I ordered.

The car is now better than ever! K&N filter, Autometer Gauge, Greddy Turbo Timer, A'PEXi AVC-R boost controller. Just ordered the exaust. Although I enjoyed my hallman controller I have made the next step, Electronic Boost controller! I can make adjustments for any RPM, gear selection, and vehicle speed. Best of all, No Boost Spikes!!!!!!! The only down side is that you have to keep a calculator to convert PSI to whattever that metric number is...

Ian

[Exhaust Depot]

quote:.Your breakage is our breakage.

LOL, I love that one!

[PT-Dave]

quote:Originally posted by Ian-PT-GT

After intense R&D with my car (48 1/4 Mile runs at 15 secconds), I have found the weakest link of the drivetrain (at least the first thing to go). The Torque converter![V]

Ian

Ian,

What were the symptoms? Did it fail completely, or was there just a very noticable lag or slippage? I, too, have been power launching, and after several mods, my times don't seem to be any better than pre-mods. I haven't really noticed any convertor problems, but then I haven't been looking for any.

[Dalite]

Try resetting the PCU (remove negative cable for 30 seconds) and see if the performance returns. Not sure of the outcome, but I would suspect that resetting the PCU will possibly negate some of the many ways that the firmware has "learned" to curb performance.

I had installed a boost controller for a few days. I took it back off, and never got above 9 pounds boost at WOT. After resetting the PCU, the boost level was resurrected.

It could have been my imagination.....

[Ian-PT-GT]

Here is what I noticed.

When in Stock factory setting with everything it came with, the car made 15.74 in "Drive" and the Overdrive shifting before the 1/4 mile mark. When I went there the next week thinking that the car should make a faster pass in "Auto Stick", the car made 16.1 ET, This is worst than what I did first. A few weeks passed, and I would see the turbo spooling 14 PSI with no drop at all. This was very strange. Then I made seven passes in a day trying to improve times but I coudn't feel forward acceleration as good as in the first day at the track... The next day the final sign showed up, a wining in the transsmition. it would sound in conjunction with the RPMs not the vehicle speed. My dealer explained to me what I already new from Dalite's research, The computer was compensating for the lack of acceleration by increasing boost.

I am thinking that the converter realy had a manufacturing problem but was accelerated by my hard driving.

Ian