AF/X-Race ECU (II!)

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Sun Mar 26, 2006 10:41 pm

79cutlas wrote:Well, again, I'm disappointed to hear the results of Howell Auto again...I emailed Gary about an ECU for my car, thinking that I would spend the money on gettiing one. Never even got a reply. My car was origonally an 01 Es auto. Now it has a 99 R/T 3.94 tranny, 02 Magnum engine, and the same 01 ES auto ECU. I asked what ECU I should order, and got nothing in responce, so yeah...I agree with cutting off Howell all together.

That's nothing new. He has never answered the e-mails. You have to call him directly to get any answers.

01rtgurl · Post by **01rtgurl** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 11:06 am

79cutlas wrote:Well, again, I'm disappointed to hear the results of Howell Auto again...I emailed Gary about an ECU for my car, thinking that I would spend the money on gettiing one. Never even got a reply. My car was origonally an 01 Es auto. Now it has a 99 R/T 3.94 tranny, 02 Magnum engine, and the same 01 ES auto ECU. I asked what ECU I should order, and got nothing in responce, so yeah...I agree with cutting off Howell all together.

IM him on AIM. "TheWitchDOHC" I think it is.... sometimes he takes a while to respond, b/c hes busy.

seisephiroth · Post by **seisephiroth** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:26 pm

It can't be that hard to reprogram an ECU can it? I'm gonna look into this. Maybe we should look into giving ol gary some compatition

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 5:31 pm

seisephiroth wrote:It can't be that hard to reprogram an ECU can it? I'm gonna look into this. Maybe we should look into giving ol gary some compatition

What kind of experience you got in programming?

seisephiroth · Post by **seisephiroth** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:11 pm

I've dabbled in QBasic, but I learn Quick

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Mon Mar 27, 2006 6:37 pm

yeah this is pretty much the only area Gary has us by the balls with. The dang AFX ECU's. Can't beat em.

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 2:08 pm

2/23/06 - Ordered placed.
2/27/06 - CORE PCM Sent to Howell. (USPS 03052710000294820342)
3/02/06 - CORE PCM Delivered to Howell.
3/03/06 - Called Howell, they said the CORE was indeed recieved and they are getting together with the programmer to confirm the core is good and begin programming.
3/10/06 - Called Howell, they said it should be done in about a week.
3/17/06 - Called Howell, they said they should have it next week. (wtf)
3/23/06 - Called Howell, again they said it should be in within a week. Also asked about my Core Refund ($150) I won't get that back until it ships.
3/31/06 - Called Howell, again they said it will be there in a week. I asked why do they keep telling me the same thing every week when i call, their response 'It's what the programmer tells us.' My reply, well thats fucking stupid. Goodbye'

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:29 pm

Dude relax. It has only been 4 weeks, most companies take at least 6 weeks to ship stuff to your door.

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:38 pm

soul_sword34 wrote:Dude relax. It has only been 4 weeks, most companies take at least 6 weeks to ship stuff to your door.

more like 5 weeks

tamadrumr88 · Post by **tamadrumr88** » Fri Mar 31, 2006 8:08 pm

mine took 4 months!

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:53 pm

Why does Howell have the market cornered here? How come no one else has anything close? Sucky!!!

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:37 pm

MINES SHIPPED

fedex 048681560120485 ETA 04/28/06 (TOMORROW)

which means i need to wire up my butteryfly gadgets

2/23/06 - Ordered placed.
2/27/06 - CORE PCM Sent to Howell. (USPS 03052710000294820342)
3/02/06 - CORE PCM Delivered to Howell.
3/03/06 - Called Howell, they said the CORE was indeed recieved and they are getting together with the programmer to confirm the core is good and begin programming.
3/10/06 - Called Howell, they said it should be done in about a week.
3/17/06 - Called Howell, they said they should have it next week. (wtf)
3/23/06 - Called Howell, again they said it should be in within a week. Also asked about my Core Refund ($150) I won't get that back until it ships.
3/31/06 - Called Howell, again they said it will be there in a week. I asked why do they keep telling me the same thing every week when i call, their response 'It's what the programmer tells us.' My reply, well thats fucking stupid. Goodbye'
4/7/06 - Called Howell, was told to call back monday around 1-2pm. They have to call the programmer to find out the ETA on the PCM, and they wont be able to reach him until monday. (Finally someone gives me a decent answer rather then 'should be here next week')/
4/12/06 - Called Howell, forgot to call them on monday. Was told they are expecting it this week...
4/21/06 - Called Howell, they said that their sales manager talked to the programmer and they should have a tracking number for me on Tuesday or Wednesday.
4/27/06 - Called Howell, they told me to check my email for the tracking number.

01rtgurl · Post by **01rtgurl** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:30 pm

Updates: I disconnected the battery to install booger bushings on my bday (sunday) and then re-connected and started the car, let it idle for about 3 minutes, then took it out for a spin, car was idling fine in the drive.... got to the first stop sign and rpms shot up to 2k and it was idling really funny (but rpms were steady at 2k) it was kinda like, brrapp braap brap brap brap. I went back to the house, figuring I had left a vacuum line un-hooked or something(i uninstalled/reinstalled my CAI too hoping to rid the foghorn)... nope. So I let it sit, idling at 1,500 now, waiting for a fan cycle. It never came, so I shut it off and went in the house for a few. Came back out and it was FINE. Idles like normal now. I'm assuming it just was figuring my car out again, but it freaked me out at first

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:35 pm

Two months is not bad, that's 8 weeks. Still, the hell with Howell. I'm going Megasquirt.

Same thing but better.

scneonchic · Post by **scneonchic** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:21 pm

soul_sword34 wrote:Two months is not bad, that's 8 weeks. Still, the hell with Howell. I'm going Megasquirt. Same thing but better.

yeah thats not that bad, I will be ordering one as soon as i find another computer to use instead of my stock one.

grambo · Post by **grambo** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 6:33 pm

Is there anybody that does SRT-4 ECU's? Like Vishnu or Road Race Engineering or AEM? Someone out there, other than Howell, must have some experience messing with a tuner-popular car like the SRT-4.
That would be the person to approach I think. Just my $.02. I don't plan on messin' with my Puter....

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:20 pm

This subject is being researched already by a few other members who's names want to stay quite for legal reasons

grambo · Post by **grambo** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:38 pm

That's messed up. All the Japanese cars get WAY more support than we do. Shitm even Rousch does Pontiac G6's now. WTF!

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:15 am

01rtgurl since my LT install, my rpms stick sometimes around 1500 but it drops after i come to a complete stop.. still not sure why but i still have the CEL for the pcm being unplugged in the last 50 cycles.. so i dunno, it did it to me before when i did some work to the car but eventually went away.. does the af/x pcm dance ;D

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:59 pm

got my PCM today.. lets say im already not happy and all i did was take it out of the box.

it is NOT the pcm i sent in as core. as instructed by gary to clearly label 'PROGRAM THIS CORE'.. my PCM that i sent in was a 2002 ACR with no mounting bracket.. the PCM i received is a 2001 Non-Magnum PCM with mounting bracket and a nice huge dent at the rear of the PCM.. if i have ANY problems howell is gonna definately hear about it. Gary told me to send in my core asap (i sent it in 3 days after my order, due to it being the weekend) It was clearly labeled as GARY instructed me to do so. I know that the PCM is reprogrammed.. but ive heard a from a few people that they have had issues using a AF/X Programmed Non-mag in a magnum.. and just the fact that they kept my ACR computer and sent me a 01.. Base/SXT.. kinda pisses me off

IT WONT IDLE.. even with the SAFC2 set to remove 50%.. it still dies..

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:18 pm

grambo wrote:Is there anybody that does SRT-4 ECU's? Like Vishnu or Road Race Engineering or AEM? Someone out there, other than Howell, must have some experience messing with a tuner-popular car like the SRT-4.
That would be the person to approach I think. Just my $.02. I don't plan on messin' with my Puter....

*cough*Megasquirt*cough*

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:26 pm

well.. i fought the idle for 5-10mins, i kept revving so it wouldnt die.. got the safc2 down to -30% at idle and it idles better then the stock pcm at -27%.. i guess the PCM just had to learn some stuff.. or maybe it was the zipties holding it to the stock pcm.. yeah im still not ready to unbolt my stock unit.. took it out for a spin.. finally got the intake wiring working how it needs to.. and let me just say.. wheres the redline? =P 7250rpm is as high as ive gotten (safc2 recorded peak) and im gonna need new tires.. when i hit 2nd at WOT.. they like to spin hehehe!

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:55 pm

dawm wrote: 7250rpm is as high as ive gotten

man would that be nice

BlackRoseRacing · Post by **BlackRoseRacing** » Sun Apr 30, 2006 8:52 am

^^^
agreed 3rd gear pulls hard when im passing someone but then I need to grab 4th before I hit the 6500rpm rev limit, if I could pull to 7k rpm when im passing it would be nice

01rtgurl · Post by **01rtgurl** » Mon May 01, 2006 11:33 am

man, i need to hook the VAFC up hahaha. w/o those butterflies, you can physically HEAR the engine struggling past 5k.

I shift at 5k right now.

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Mon May 15, 2006 7:16 pm

AF/X RACE IS JUNK!!!!.. i seriously believe that is the cause of my almost no gain.. im gonna try and go back to the dyno next month and run the stock pcm as well as advance the cam 2degrees.. pretty pathetic that i only pulled 9 extra horsepower over stock from my mods

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Mon May 15, 2006 7:38 pm

doesnt the AF/X Race need to have the Butterflies removed?

dawm · Post by **dawm** » Mon May 15, 2006 7:54 pm

moxhairr/t wrote:doesnt the AF/X Race need to have the Butterflies removed?

only because it doesnt control them, mine are controlled manually to operate like stock. if i run with them open (same as if removed) the car loses all its pep

MoxHair · Post by **MoxHair** » Mon May 15, 2006 9:35 pm

oh ok.. thought i heard that somewhere

soul_sword34 · Post by **soul_sword34** » Tue May 16, 2006 8:36 pm

dawm wrote:AF/X RACE IS JUNK!!!!.. i seriously believe that is the cause of my almost no gain.. im gonna try and go back to the dyno next month and run the stock pcm as well as advance the cam 2degrees.. pretty pathetic that i only pulled 9 extra horsepower over stock from my mods

Go with a Megasquirt