03-17-2019, 09:03 PM | #1 |
Drives: Sold it Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: US
Posts: 126
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Range AFM Delete vs Overkill Transmission Tune vs other options
I hate the A8 so I am looking for ways to improve the driving experience.
I def want to delete AFM and that can be done for $200 with the Range plugin module but you need to unplug it when you're not driving or you will drain the battery. I wish someone would come up with a version of this that would turn itself off when the car is turned off. Removing the Range every day would also wear out the OBD port over time. You could also hack some kind of toggle switch for it but then you have to remember to switch in on and off all the time.. Problematic.. The Overkill Transmission Tune deletes AFM and also tunes the A8 to be more responsive but it costs $550 for the module and another $200 to unlock the A8 Computer. This writes to the Computer so no module to drain the battery when the car is off. But.. $750 to see if I like what it does is steep.. And it probably voids the powertrain warranty. I like the idea of AFM delete and tuning the A8 to be more responsive but $750 is a lot just to see if it really helps the performance of the A8. A $200 Range may be a safer bet as I at least get AFM turned off for cheap. Are there any other products out there to consider? Anyone have experience with the Range or Overkill Transmission Tune? It really sucks to have to waste time and money trying to fix a transmission so it works like all the other (non-GM) transmissions. GM should have made AFM a setting that could be to turned off from the informant screen. Or at least be able to kill it by pulling a fuse. |
03-18-2019, 05:41 AM | #2 |
Drives: 2020 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Dallas
Posts: 53
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The Trifecta tune is cheaper than overkill and it disables the AFM on sport mode. They sell two versions, the cheapest being under $500, though I couldn't tell the difference between the Advantage versus the Elite on their website
They also claim that this doesn't trigger a flash count (no warranty void) and can be reverted back to stock if needed, but I can't say if this is a valid statement since I haven't done it on my car yet. https://www.trifectaperformance.com/...-2016-present/
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2020 Camaro 2SS
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03-18-2019, 06:49 AM | #3 |
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The latest version of the Range AFM does not drain the battery like the older versions used to.
I had the Range AFM and returned it because it made the transmission torque converter go in and out of lock up. was just as bad at the transmission shudder. I think the best thing to do is have it tuned out along with the tune to the TCM. Good luck. |
03-18-2019, 07:38 AM | #4 | |
Owning SSes for 50 Years
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Quote:
The Diablosport handheld tuner can turn off the AFM at a very reasonable price. I used it on my 2016 8a and it not only removes the AFM, but Diablosport allowed trans tuning for faster and firmer shifts I'm sure some of the other tuners do the same thing. The Diablosport tuner can be used on almost any car, so when I sold my Camaro, I used it on my Silverado, would have used it on my 1le and will now use it on my 2SS. Diablosport says their tune is invisible to the dealership? True? I don't know.
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03-18-2019, 02:48 PM | #5 |
Drives: 2016 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: California
Posts: 3,491
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Afm is definitely useful for cruising, and nobody hears or cares how the exhaust sounds when just holding speed on a highway, so any solution you look for should allow on demand activation or disabling without having to reflash.
I only know of trifecta that does this. I've had it for a couple years now. Works just fine. I'm sure Overkill could do the same trick if they had the request. Can't imagine trifecta is using anything much different than hp tuners internally, but could be wrong. |
03-18-2019, 10:58 PM | #6 |
Drives: Sold it Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: US
Posts: 126
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Cool someone who owns a Trifecta.. Let me please ask you..
1. Has the Trifecta ever thrown an ecu code? 2. Is the shifting always better? 3. Does it eliminate throttle hesitation and dead spots in the gas pedal? 4. Does it increment the ECU flash count? 5. Any downsides that you have noticed? |
03-19-2019, 12:58 AM | #7 | |
Drives: 2016 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: California
Posts: 3,491
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Quote:
shifting is always better it eliminates most of the throttle hesitation in the 1st and second gears. However some hesitation is caused by not fully downshifting back to 1st when slowing to a stop and accelerating again before coming to a complete stop. It does not eliminate that. Though, that's not unique to the camaro. Dont know about the ecu flash count as that requires a dealer visit. That said, it does have an option to be "transparent" i believe it was called to not trigger this. Either way, I dont care. I voided most of the important parts of the warranty within the first couple months of owning it back in 2016. If you're not confident in having a solid example of the car, dont mod it. Trifecta really has no downside other than they lock their tunes, so you have to flash back to stock before you can do anything additional to the car unless you mail order tune thru them. Not unique to trifecta, sure, but it does mean you're at their mercy or you have to start from scratch just to make an incremental change. The programming process is at least easy. Also, for all the shifting / hesitation related features, I hope you have a 2016. Anything newer needs the TCM unlocked and that can only be done by sending it to the tuner if they offer TCM programming at all. If you're thinking of doing it yourself in hp tuners too btw, it's going to cost you 4 credits at 200 bucks plus 100 credits for the tcm (i believe it's 2 credits) + the 250 dollar cost of the tool (for non-pro) and any additional TCM unlocking you may need (which costs another 200 bucks). The lgx is twice as expensive as the v8. |
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03-19-2019, 04:57 AM | #8 |
Drives: 2016 Camaro Convertible 2SS Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Mass
Posts: 756
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I had the Range AFM Disabler because I did not want to void warranty. I purchased an in line switch to eliminate premature wear of pins but never used it because I just left the Range plugged in. Never had a CEL or battery drain. The car certainly felt more responsive and no more exhaust fart when switching from 4 - 8 cylinder and vice versa. Ultimatly I added headers and a tune and tuned the AFM out. Good luck.
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03-19-2019, 06:55 AM | #9 | |
Drives: 2020 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Dallas
Posts: 53
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Quote:
The 2017s are exempt from this for the Trifecta Tune according to their website: "-2017 Camaro models with the 8-Speed automatic transmission and T87A transmission control module (TCM)*DO NOT require an UNLOCK." They claim support is for 2016-2018s but since they haven't updated their website I don't know wether the 2018s require a TCM unlock or not. I'm sure a message to their customer service team should clarify on that.
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2020 Camaro 2SS
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03-19-2019, 08:46 AM | #10 |
Drives: 2016 Camaro SS, Garnet Red Join Date: May 2013
Location: Crowley, TX
Posts: 350
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I have the Range AFM disabler and it does remove the slight hesitation on pick up when the motor changes from 4 to 8 cylinders. Also you don't need to unplug it when you're not driving. I left mine plugged in all the time when I was using it. I stopped using it though because the improvement was minimal.
However, the Range does not and cannot 'fix' the A8 transmission shifting jerkiness. That's a different issue. |
03-19-2019, 07:49 PM | #11 |
Drives: Sold it Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: US
Posts: 126
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Sounds like a tune is the way to go and my 2018 will require the TCM to be unlocked for an additional cost.
Overkill's website says: "For 2017+, GM heavily encrypted its 8-speed Automatic transmission computer modules. In order for this module to be tunable, it needs to go through an unlock procedure through HP Tuners. You can purchase this service from HP Tuners for $199" Overkill Tune is $750 ($549 + $199) Trifecta Tune is $498 + Price to unlock TMP (probably $199ish) Last edited by T32803; 03-20-2019 at 03:07 PM. |
03-20-2019, 06:46 PM | #12 | |
Drives: 2017 1LT RS Convertible V6 A8 Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 280
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Quote:
So what is the truth with this? Does the 2017 require the transmission unlock or not? So confused...lol
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03-21-2019, 07:40 AM | #13 |
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Drives: Camaro Join Date: Jan 2019
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It was my impression the range disabler was only for the V8 cars and the OP has a V6 and this is in the V6 sub section. So I'm not sure that is even an option.
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03-21-2019, 07:54 AM | #14 |
Drives: 2016 Camaro 1LT Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: California
Posts: 3,491
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The only way I'm aware of, of anything newer than 2016 not needing the tcm unlocked is if it isn't getting flashed at all. But ask trifecta if that is still the case. I know it is for hp tuners and it used to be for trifecta as well
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