Ideas? Help with a DOD/ AFM Deleted 2011 Escalade 6.2

[Jeffdylanproctor]

I just pulled my Fiero out of the garage and positioned the Escalade in there to start taking things apart in anticipation of parts arriving, lol, but now I'm thinking I need to find a way to deactivate the AFM

 

[rdezs]

I prefer the Diablo predator 2. No learning curve required, it's really self-explanatory.

 

[rdezs]

Something you can do that will give you an idea of the quality of work that took place with an AFM delete..... Look behind your intake manifold for the plug coming out of the harness that used to plug into the VLOM. It's a flat plug.

If it's just hanging there loose, I see that as sloppy work. Most people will at least try to wrap it and insulate it to prevent water intrusion and whatnot.

What I do is actually cut the plug off the wires. Slip a piece of shrink wrap tubing over each wire, with about an inch extra sticking out. Then heat it and shrink it, then fold the extra back over each wire, and slip another heat shrink tube over that and shrink it. Watertight. After that I will wrap it with electrical tape against the existing harness, completely hiding it.

 

[Jeffdylanproctor]

I just ordered a AFM disabler from Amazon, it should be in tomorrow

 

[rdezs]

I would delete the codes, plug it in, start the vehicle and go for a drive.

So if you bought it from a private party, I'm wondering if they removed their disabler. You might search the glove box, and center console? LOL, maybe it's stashed in the vehicle

 

[rdezs]

And don't forget to scan for codes after you get done going for a drive. Those will likely be real codes.

 

[rdezs]

Wow.... I didn't even consider that someone might have deleted the AFM but not turned it off in the ECM. (Or included a disabler plugged in for you)

I guess it goes to show that you can't make any assumptions when someone else has been in the engine.

One last thought, as they apparently had the heads off. Double check the ground bolt on the back of the driver side head, that it's tight. It should be a 15 mm if I recall correctly. Also check for a ring terminal going to a ground bolt at the front of the passenger side cylinder head. Clean and tight. You don't want a loose ground further complicating things. (Can cause all sorts of various codes)

 

[solli5pack]

I've been under the impression that even with a disabler the truck won't run right without the AFM disabled in the ECM. I've read a few threads on here about guys doing an AFM delete and forget to tune the computer and the truck wouldn't run at all....

 

[swathdiver]

I've been under the impression that even with a disabler the truck won't run right without the AFM disabled in the ECM. I've read a few threads on here about guys doing an AFM delete and forget to tune the computer and the truck wouldn't run at all....

That's right, they'll get misfires because the AFM lobes on the camshaft has different heights which a tune corrects for.

 

[rdezs]

With a disabler plugged in, or AFM turned off in the ECM..... And all of the AFM hardware still installed in the engine.... It will drive as if it does not have AFM. (As long as the AFM components are in working order when you disable AFM. )

As to deleting the AFM hardware and starting the engine without turning off AFM in the computer.... It should still run, although with drivability issues exactly what the original poster has described. The problems would occur when the ECM is altering the parameters to activate AFM. Remember, AFM is not active at idle, or over a certain engine load. (More than one quarter throttle, and probably over a certain RPM. 2000 RPM sounds about right)

In the AFM deletes I do, I replaced the AFM camshaft with an oem camshaft designed for the engine prior to the implementation of AFM. For example in an L94, I use the camshaft out of an L92. If the AFM were not turned off, at least the other four cylinders are what the ECM expects to see.

Now if you were to go the aftermarket camshaft, you're changing the entire camshaft profile on all 8 cylinders. You're altering the duration and probably the lift as well. If you do not disable AFM and program the ECM for the new camshaft, and turning off VVT if you deleted it, I can easily see why that combination would not start. The fueling and timing would be way off. That is why in this scenario you pretty much have to start with a base tune to get it started and running..... And then fine tune it after collecting some data.

In all of the AFM deletes I've done, the people just wanted it gone..... Keep the same horsepower and fuel mileage..... And they wanted it to last.

Nothing wrong with going for the aftermarket camshaft with higher lift, you can add significant horsepower. Like every other engine that comes at a cost. Long-term engine life basically. It's more stress on the cam bearings and the valve train components more than anything. The bottom end of the LS engine isn't so much of an issue.

One thing I've seen time after time on AFM deletes using an oem camshaft..... In every instance fuel mileage has increased. (Usually between 1 and 1.5 MPG.) It appears the AFM system fails miserably at what it was intended to do.... To increase fuel economy. Perhaps it helped in the first 50,000 miles, but it seems clear after that it's a pointless complication that kills engines.

 

[rdezs]

That's right, they'll get misfires because the AFM lobes on the camshaft has different heights which a tune corrects for.

I'm pretty sure it's not the height of the cam lobe that's different, I think it's the approach angle to the top of the lobe. Very, very difficult to compare the cams side by side and see any difference.

 

[swathdiver]

I'm pretty sure it's not the height of the cam lobe that's different, I think it's the approach angle to the top of the lobe. Very, very difficult to compare the cams side by side and see any difference.

On a 2007 LMG with AFM, the regular lobe has a lift of .283 and it's .289 with the AFM lobe.

 

[rdezs]

.005.... Probably corresponds to a difference in the AFM lifter?

 

[Jeffdylanproctor]

ok, so I had a bit of an unexpected development this evening...

I called my brother and told him what all was happening, and he informed that he had left a GM Tech II at my house a few years ago from when we used to race his c5 at the track.

I'm a neat freak, but had no idea this thing was literally under my bed! What a crazy thing!


Anyways, is there anything more I can do with this to communicate with the ECM about the AFM?

 

[rdezs]

Unfortunately, you can't use it to disable AFM.

However, it's as good as you can get for dealer level live data monitoring, scanning for codes, programming modules, etc. It will do the crank relearn faster than the aftermarket by directional scanners. And a whole lot more. Lol, move it out from under the bed and give it a place of respect

 

[j91z28d1]

if you're going to have the truck apart for the delete. there's a place that will turn off afm in the ecm for 40$. Just got to mail it to them.


but since the torque converter in these things seem to eat themselves and lunch the tranny with it. a tune is said to help with that, probably worth it to get a proper tune and have them turn off afm

 

[Jeffdylanproctor]

Are those torque converter codes related to any of that? Personally, I wish things were not over-designed, over the years I've known so many people to have problems as a result of torque converter lockup.

Honestly I would like to do a tune

 

[Jeffdylanproctor]

if you're going to have the truck apart for the delete. there's a place that will turn off afm in the ecm for 40$. Just got to mail it to them.


but since the torque converter in these things seem to eat themselves and lunch the tranny with it. a tune is said to help with that, probably worth it to get a proper tune and have them turn off

$40 seems like a great deal

 

[j91z28d1]

$40 seems like a great deal

this is the one that crazed performance guy always recommens. I've not used them thou. I already had hptuners on hand

AFM Delete

you can also search Facebook market place, I've seen people offer to turn it off locally. Just remember it's 2 credits to unlock the ecm, and then one drop down box changed to disabled. this isn't real tuning, don't let them charge you much more than 2 license cost.

you can also check the performance car message boards, fine a used hpt hardware for sale and do it yourself. which would allow you to tune other stuff, like ecm and tranny. but there's no can tuned from them you gotta deep dive and learn to do that yourself.

 

[rdezs]

Definitely pros and cons with everything. Simply having AFM turned off in the ECM is usually the cheapest. But is the best? I would say probably not but looking at the other options. HP tuners opens up a world of fine-tuning your engine and transmission, and there's a learning curve involved. The Diablo sport predator 2 is probably the simplest to turn off the AFM, and comes with prepared tunes for fuel economy, horsepower, different octane ratings, changing transmission settings to tighten up the shifts for prolonged transmission life or towing....BUT ... It is tied to your VIN number. You only get to use it on one vehicle. It stores your original ECM program and replaces it during the process. If you want to use it on another vehicle, you have to restore the original program to your ECM first. With HP tuners you just buy more credits.

I would say if you're going with an aftermarket camshaft and your performance driven and will be doing a lot of tuning, The choice is HP tuners.

If you have one vehicle you're going to keep a long time after deleting AFM, and you're not looking to bump up the horsepower with aftermarket stuff, it's the Diablo predator.

And in all cases, a Tech 2 is so useful for factory level diagnostics.