newbie turning Questions

[scexy]

Greetings to all. I'm new and have been trying to find some answers to a few things.

I have a 2000 Exy that is Supercharged (thus the moniker SC exy)
with a KB Twin Screw Supercharger and a tune from from KB.

It runs great, but doesn't seem to feel like a SC'd car should or at least I think so. I'm used to turbo cars and this one just doesn't pull like them.

But, that's not the problem. Twice, I have tried to stomp the gas to get onto the highway and the car seemed to hesitate and the CEL started flashing. I let off the gas and the CEL kept flashing for another 30 seconds or so.

After the first incident I went to autozone and scanned for codes. None were stored.

I ran a can of ChemB12 to clean the fuel system just in case and installed a new fuel filter. I run 93 octane. The truck, about 3k miles ago, had a full seafoam treatment as well.

After the second incident I took the car to the Ford dealer, removed the piggy back chip tune and had the full diagnostic testing done. The car was 100% perfect.

The temps here in KY have been pretty cold (from 4- 35 degrees), I always let the truck warm up so I'm running out of ideas.

Is there something more I should look at and would I benefit from a custom tune?

Any suggestions would be welcome.

 

[scexy]

17 views and no ideas?

BTW, it's the 5.4 engine.

 

[JUST4FUN]

sounds like the start of a misfire problem

 

[chuck s]

TURNing question?

I was looking for something on turning radius. When I found out it wan't the question at all I didn't comment...

-- Chuck

 

[Wed Turner]

Sounds like it could be a tranny tunning issue. Did you get a good kick down when you hit the gas hard?

 

[JUST4FUN]

i think he meens tuning?

 

[ELVATO]

Maybe you partly clogged an injector when you ran the Seafoam? Or does that throw a code?

 

[lakmflx]

Some things come to mind since you have a custom tune... Need bigger injectors? fuel pump?. If not start off small by checking spark plugs and coils may be as simple as one of those.

 

[green03]

I think KB had an update to their tuning a while back... check with them first.... I seem to remember this being an issue and something about an updated tune and a bigger fuse for the boost a pump or something like that.....

Matt R

 

[scexy]

Sorry for the delay in response. I wasn't getting email notifications.

Yes it was TUNING not turning... I was late when I was writing.


Anyway, I did call KB. They had an update that according to the tech was minimal and required tomco injectors but he didn't seem to interested or informed for that matter. In fact the company that did the install stopped doing business with KB due to their poor customer service and difficulty in dealing with them.

Currently, I have stock injectors and I'm not sure about the spark plugs but the previous owner was pretty meticulous about maintenance.

As for the Trans question, the trans shifts fine and smooth like a caddilac. I guess it would be nice if it was a little firmer...

As for misfire or coil, I had the full-boat dagnostice at the FORD dealer with zero issues...

AS for the seafoam, I ran it through the engine and fuel system about 3k miles ago. I did the ChemB12 more recently. - I was thinking that the fuel filter might be clogged so I replaced it. (There were a couple of instances where the car wouldn't start- even one time I was down to just over the "E" in fuel and the car decided not to start. I added some more fuel and it started and ran just fine.

Every once in a while I feel a sort of shudder. The RPM's don't drop or anything like that and I don't get any CEL's.


I hope I answered everything. I am open to upgrading injectors, etc, if I can get some more ooomph from this truck. This is my first SC vehicle. My other cars are turbo'd so I'm used to power that slams you into the seat. Am I asking too much from this truck?

According to the specs, this SC is supposed to be worth 100hp to the wheels. I think I might need more.

 

[green03]

Did the shop close the spark plug gap when they installed the blower? You need to close the gap on the plugs to about .035 when going boosted to keep the spark from blowing out. At anything over 6psi your are pushing the limits of the ignition system at the factory gaps.

If you are going to have to do this i recommend replacing the plugs with a heat range colder and iridium like the NGK TR6IX you can get them for half the price of the Denso iridium plugs.

Matt R

 

[scexy]

Good info. I'll need to get on that soon.

Actually the SC was installed when the truck was new in 2000. It's pushing 8lbs of boost according to the installers. There was no mention of sparkplug reapping.

It's a little chilly out these days so I may have to hold off on the plug swap but it should be no big deal.

Are there any other things I should be looking at?

BTW, Matt, I've been reading other posts and you seem like the guru. Do you have any tuning/ programing that you could recommend for me to squeeze more power out of this combo?



NOTE TO THE ADMIN: I HAVE SELECTED THE EMAIL NOTIFICATION OPTION AND HAVE NOT YET ONCE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM THIS SITE. CAN YOU CHECK THIS OUT? THANKS.

 

[green03]

you can remove some of the safety factor but I don't recommend it. would be only worth 15hp or so but no room for an octane error so one batch of bad gas and there goes your pistons.... if they didn't regap your plugs chances are that is the issue with the lack of power.....

Matt R

 

[Wed Turner]

Originally posted by scexy
Twice, I have tried to stomp the gas to get onto the highway and the car seemed to hesitate and the CEL started flashing. I let off the gas and the CEL kept flashing for another 30 seconds or so.

Something just hit me, so I have two questions to ask.

Straight on ramps, or the clover leaf kind where you have to turn?

How much gas was in the truck?

 

[scexy]

level on-ramps. Full tank of gas. Trying to get up to highway speed quickly so as to not get smashed by speeding truckers. It seems as if I ease into it, there is not as much hesitation and both of these times was when the car was slightly warmed up but, maybe not to the leve it should be?

If it warms up this weekend I'll just go ahead and do them and report my results.

So, at this point as far as tuning is concerned, I'm maxed out? Just curious. BTW, I run on 93 oct and am not avers to adding a little Alky. All my other cars are alcoholics

 

[green03]

maybe not maxed out but would be interested to see what the truck is doing maybe on a dyno to see if it is fuel or spark related....

 

[scexy]

I've been looking around for some "car people" to get some referrals. I'm kind of **** about my cars and frankly don't let anyone touch my car unless they are under my direct supervision. I'm in a small town and not yet familiar with the places I can go.