Xcal questions

[SuperHO]

so i need to get a tuner for my 98. if you have to ask why, this thread's gonna give you a headache. i know about most of the benefits concerning engine operation, and most importantly, trans longevity. now a question i have is whether or not there's benefits or flaws to having the torque converter set so it stays locked in 2nd through 4th gears, the way the lexus IS-F does? mayhap improve fuel economy that much more, not to mention gettin rid of this horrid slip on the highway. thoughts? musings? funny sayings?

 

[Izzmo]

I honestly like how you can just view a lot of options on your laptop while driving to see what your car is doing and being able to tune it yourself.

Obviously Paul has a lot of knowledge in this area and helps out as much as he can.

As for the transmission, maybe I've just had bad luck with them, but when tuned my ATX's do weird things.. sometimes they shift REALLY hard to where it feels like there is a kick back (not good I think..). I hate the AX4N. But it does allow for the TQCTR to be locked A LOT more than if it were stock which has a nice feeling to it, and I've heard it makes it last longer.. so that in itself should be a main selling point.

 

[SHOZ123]

You can't lock it in 2nd. I wish you could. Tuning does give you better gas mileage by keeping it locked and locking it up sooner.

From my experience the worst thing for the AX4N is stand start WOT runs. The harder shifts generally are better than the slipping factory way.

 

[SuperHO]

if my torque converter is acting the fool (i don't recall the code, but it was something about converter failing to lock 5 times consecutively), getting a tuner now wouldn't help much, would it?

 

[SHOZ123]

Not unless you radically changed tire and wheel sizes.

 

[Izzmo]

Changing tire/wheel's would help the torque converter?

 

[SHOZ123]

No it would throw off the calculations the PCM uses for the TC commands.

What is probably happening is the TC is slipping so much it gives up. SUPERHo has a bad TC and sooner or later it is going to go out and leave him stranded. If it is the original one the fins inside have flattened out and there is a large loss in pumping efficiency. If the blades break loose it will trash the whole system.

 

[Izzmo]

Ah, interesting. Thanks for the info.

 

[SuperHO]

hey paul...wanna change a converter for me? seriously...which would be more cost effective; getting my old trans yanked and rebuilt with a new converter: get the trans yanked and just replace the converter forgoing the rebuild: or finding a used trans, yanking my old one and putting the used one in it's place, replacing the converter? which is gonna be the most financially feasible choice for me for something that's gonna last me for another couple of years at the longest?

 

[Izzmo]

I know you asked Paul, so I hope you don't mind my input. But whatever you do, rebuilt tranny or just the TC, I would definitly get a shift kit. I've heard they work wonders.

 

[SHOZ123]

No I don't want to change the TC on your car. I don't have the time.