[Hagels316]

WRONG and WRONG

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

So Stainless Works is just using the wrong terminology and Tim isn't WRONG as you tried to point out.

[EFI Tuning]

Guys grounding is NOT what the CCM is looking for. Plain and simple. Go rotate the actuator from its current position and remount on your dummy valve. It will set a CEL.

[Perdieu]

Originally Posted by Hagels316

WRONG- Grounding the valves DOES prevent a CEL. I upgraded to the Stainless works exhaust with AFM delete option (which provides AFM grounds in place of new valves). This is one of the many options you can select when purchasing a SW exhaust (either include AFM valves or delete them with included grounds).
The SW exhaust with AFM delete does not have AFM valves, but allows the factory AFM wiring to connect and be grounded to the exhaust via "dummy valves" thus fooling the car into thinking the valves are connected and working when they really are not. If you do not have a way to connect the AFM to something, it will throw a CEL. It's similar to the AFM delete module wiring that you can purchase.

If you don't believe what I am saying, call SW, they will explain it to you. My car is also proof that grounding does work.

Some of the catback exhausts do not include a grounding option for A8 cars, which forces you into purchasing a setup with new AFM valves making it more expensive. Or using the AFM delete harness from EFI as another option.

I should probably add that whether you have AFM grounds ("dummy valves") or not, you will still need to tune out AFM at the ECM level to prevent the engine from going into V4 mode.

Unless they changed something in the past few months I'm calling BULL SHIT.. I was one of first ones to do a AFM delete cat back from SW and had a CL from day one. They didn't have a clue as to why "plug them in and bolt them to the dummy mount" was all I got in response from them.

Maybe they have removed the butter fly and put a spring set up with tension on the "delete" mount.. that's the ONLY way it would work without getting a CEL

[Hagels316]

Originally Posted by Perdieu

Unless they changed something in the past few months I'm calling BULL SHIT.. I was one of first ones to do a AFM delete cat back from SW and had a CL from day one. They didn't have a clue as to why "plug them in and bolt them to the dummy mount" was all I got in response from them.

Maybe they have removed the butter fly and put a spring set up with tension on the "delete" mount.. that's the ONLY way it would work without getting a CEL

It's not bullshit. I have this setup on my car and it works just fine. I ordered my exhaust March of 2017. They must have changed something if you did not get the same result which would be rather lame on their part to not have it right the first time.

[Hagels316]

Originally Posted by EFI Tuning

Guys grounding is NOT what the CCM is looking for. Plain and simple. Go rotate the actuator from its current position and remount on your dummy valve. It will set a CEL.

Well, valve grounding works on my vehicle without setting off a CEL.

In any case, the EFI module that is offered is proven to work, but so does grounding.

[1LE Red Dragon]

Sounds like they keep the motor but remove the valve/flap itself. The motor moves like it's being told to do, but physically there is no flap connected. So motor stays functional and plug in, moves its shaft, but doesnt do anything within the exhaust flow.

[Hagels316]

Originally Posted by 1LE Red Dragon

Sounds like they keep the motor but remove the valve/flap itself. The motor moves like it's being told to do, but physically there is no flap connected. So motor stays functional and plug in, moves its shaft, but doesnt do anything within the exhaust flow.

This is probably the best explanation so far and upon visual inspection this is indeed what does occur (on my setup the motor movement is tuned out but still connected). SW calls it valve grounding.

But to Perdieu's point, this may have not been the case when this setup initially came out.

So we have 2 options:

1) Use the AFM module from EFI that is proven to work with no issues. This requires removal of the valve motors.

2) Keep the motors, but connect them to a grounded housing that has no physical moving flap but can still allow the motor to move (call this option whatever you like)

[TheRealJA105]

It's not grounding, that is what everyone is saying. Just give up, the terminology used is wrong.

[Hagels316]

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

It's not grounding, that is what everyone is saying. Just give up, the terminology used is wrong.

Call it whatever you want, All I'm saying is it works on my vehicle and this is how the creator of that design explains it.

[TheRealJA105]

No one ever said their setup didn't work

[EFI Tuning]

The actuator is already grounded via pin 1 of the connector. Pin 4 is 12V. Pin 2 is the PWM signal from the CCM. Pin 3 is the PWM feedback signal from the actuator. The CCM is looking for the correct frequency and duty cycle on the feedback signal.

Anyone that says it is because of being grounded is just flat out wrong and doesn't understand how it actually works. If you turn off AFM in the ECM and the actuators happen to be in the correct spot for AFM = off then you can certainly end up in a situation where you don't get a CEL. But don't imply it's because of "grounding". That is just false.

If you move the actuator from its commanded position you will set a CEL no matter what you do.

I'm an EE. I know what I'm talking about as it pertains to the workings of the AFM actuator. I had all of this on the scope when I did the PCB design.

Tim

[Perdieu]

Originally Posted by TheRealJA105

No one ever said their setup didn't work

I did

I fought the issue this past Oct for a couple weeks, Talked with Tim about it that's when he started the R&D..

[Hagels316]

Originally Posted by EFI Tuning

The actuator is already grounded via pin 1 of the connector. Pin 4 is 12V. Pin 2 is the PWM signal from the CCM. Pin 3 is the PWM feedback signal from the actuator. The CCM is looking for the correct frequency and duty cycle on the feedback signal.

Anyone that says it is because of being grounded is just flat out wrong and doesn't understand how it actually works. If you turn off AFM in the ECM and the actuators happen to be in the correct spot for AFM = off then you can certainly end up in a situation where you don't get a CEL. But don't imply it's because of "grounding". That is just false.

If you move the actuator from its commanded position you will set a CEL no matter what you do.

I'm an EE. I know what I'm talking about as it pertains to the workings of the AFM actuator.

Tim

That's great.

Then why does SW call it grounding? What should this option be called? It makes sense to me that the creator of this "grounding" design would know what they are talking about. Just as you do as it pertains to your design.

[EFI Tuning]

Like I said... the notion of grounding has no merit here.