Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - 04 Z06 Sticky Check Engine light w/Vararam

Lee Adanti · 06-01-2008, 08:52 AM

I installed a vararam last year on my 04-z06. I had a lot of trouble with the check engine light and purchased a Diablo and ran the base performance tune and all was ok...but the car went into storage soon after. Fast forward to last week. Took it out of storage and drove it for 50 miles. Light is back on. I've even started playing with the fuel ratio settings a bit (riching by 10% and also max 20%) to no available. Before I go completely crazy I thought I would bounce it once again off you for advice...

Predator Diagositics state that the trouble code is "Too Lean"

**wvphoto** · 06-01-2008, 10:33 AM

check all your connections.. clamps etc. .must be very very tight.. sealed..

will throw lean bank codes. very common

alilpsi · 06-03-2008, 12:34 PM

this just happened to me...I threw P0420--my car has 10k miles and has never thrown a CEL. I do not want to have to tune the car now as I have more mods in store in the future--any advice, other than removing the VR?

oh, and I've verified all connections and everything is tightly sealed and connected.

**DennyM** · 06-03-2008, 01:46 PM

Welcome to

, Lee! (I know ... been around, but finally getting around to posting ...

Lee and Alilpsi ..., perhaps you need to go thru idle relearn?

Vararam

alilpsi · 06-05-2008, 11:23 AM

spoke with Patrick at Vararam yesterday for between 1.5 and 2 hours...great guy--he told me exactly what to do to avoid the CEL tripping on my 2004...and, so far, after 120 miles, no CEL...I think I'll get a tuner here soon enough to turn the fans on earlier and get even more out of the VR>..
thanks for the help

Lee Adanti · 06-06-2008, 12:37 PM

What did Patrick tell you?

allgood57 · 06-07-2008, 02:11 PM

What code are you getting?

allgood57 · 06-07-2008, 02:15 PM

Also, what do your fuel trims look like?

alilpsi · 06-12-2008, 05:24 PM

hey guys...I was getting code P0420--lean bank 1...I followed Patrick's directions, and went a good 300 miles w/o a code--then I threw P0171 but it was a history code, not current--this is for lean bank 1 as well. I don't know my fuel trims because I don't have a logger or tuner.

I don't want to speak for Patrick, but it has something to do with closed throttle (decel), low rpm (think 16-1900) and 50-60mph...when all of these things happen at the same time, it's the perfect storm of sorts, a moment in time creating a spike that trips the CEL--this is not a long-term lean condition, rather a momentary spike.

allgood57 · 06-13-2008, 11:35 AM

Just from a dealership perspective, I'd look very closely at your Mass Air sensor... it may just have a little air filter oil on it. Stores like autozone or other car part stores sell a Mass Air flow cleaner. 5-7$. its much less agressive than brake cleaner and made for the tiny wires (= very sensitive) in MAF sensors. Clean the sensor, and see what happens.

glamcem · 06-26-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alilpsi

hey guys...I was getting code P0420--lean bank 1...I followed Patrick's directions, and went a good 300 miles w/o a code--then I threw P0171 but it was a history code, not current--this is for lean bank 1 as well. I don't know my fuel trims because I don't have a logger or tuner.

I don't want to speak for Patrick, but it has something to do with closed throttle (decel), low rpm (think 16-1900) and 50-60mph...when all of these things happen at the same time, it's the perfect storm of sorts, a moment in time creating a spike that trips the CEL--this is not a long-term lean condition, rather a momentary spike.

what directions he told you to do so? drive the car little bit harder or?

alilpsi · 06-27-2008, 12:00 PM

specifically, to avoid deceleration with a closed throttle at 50-60mph and low rpms (under 2000rpms). So, the advice is to either downshift into a lower gear, or throw it into neutral (what I typically do)...

honestly, as an update, I keep getting CEL's...it takes longer to happen, and it's usually a history code P0171...but it's not gone completely away--Vararam is about to sell an air bridge that will relocate the mass air to directly in front of the throttle body--this is supposed to fix the problem completely, and add power to boot--I'll be waiting for that in the next few weeks...

I may also opt for a predator with a tune to right the wrongs...