Arrow PCM Removed for service - Stock driving impressions post removal

[timberwolf]

Since I received my car with the Arrow PCM in it from the get go, I never had a chance to experience the contrast between stock and tuned.
In addition, it was the first time I had the car out since December as the weather was amazing here in CT on Saturday. Part of my experience may be distorted due to lack of venom in my veins lol...

Right off the bat, I experienced the cold start which the tune removed. Throttle mapping seems less aggressive around town making the car actually easier to drive around smoothly. The decel burble is mostly gone, with less feel of engine braking when you let off the throttle. On the highway, the car has less bite on WOT inputs with a smoother, yet less aggressive pull to redline. The car almost feels heat soaked compared to the tuned state. You feel the 30 or so wheel hp being gone all over the power range. Loss of torque is apparent as well down low. I drove for a few hours, which I normally don't do, as I sort of go stir crazy even with just the tune. For some reason in stock form, I was able to keep cruising with less anxiety. The car is just softer all around. Again having not had any seat time in months, my a$$ probably took one for the team lol.

On a side note, the car clearly runs much cooler, and get's mildly better gas mileage. I've used sound and heat insulation on the inside of the rockers to prevent paint from melting, which typically emits a melting smell with normal aggressive-ish driving with the pcm, but much less stock. That tells you how bloody hot those cats get. But after hours of driving, the rockers felt much cooler to the touch. Could dumping all the fuel for decel burble really cook the cats? I don't know... But she runs much cooler as such. Temps never climbed over 197 with a mix of back road driving, highway and stop and go.

My car goes in next week for the R29 recall, so I'll revisit putting the tune back and perhaps some AR Headers with highflows in the Spring. I will say that the car is darn great stock! It really doesn't need anything to be a thrill to drive!

Thanks,

Greg

[swexlin]

Driving as I do, stock, and what a beast it is, I can't imagine it with a tune.

Thanks for the comparo writeup

[venum4u]

Regarding the PCM swap, did you perform the swap or is this required by the dealer.

[KB Viper]

I have arrow stage 2 PCM and my temps never go above 198 and I push it pretty. Where you seeing higher temps with the stage 1 PCM?

[timberwolf]

Regarding the PCM swap, did you perform the swap or is this required by the dealer.

Nope, it literally takes 5 minutes. A few bolts and plug and play

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I have arrow stage 2 PCM and my temps never go above 198 and I push it pretty. Where you seeing higher temps with the stage 1 PCM?

Yup. The car cooked with the tune. It started yellowing my paint on the inner ducts above the rockers.

[The_Ruski_Driver]

Nope, it literally takes 5 minutes. A few bolts and plug and play

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Yup. The car cooked with the tune. It started yellowing my paint on the inner ducts above the rockers.

So you had installed just a stage 1 Arrow PCM, no other mods? Any pics of the paint damage? That's kind of alarming. Can you go into detail how you alleviated this?

[timberwolf]

So you had installed just a stage 1 Arrow PCM, no other mods? Any pics of the paint damage? That's kind of alarming. Can you go into detail how you alleviated this?

I'm actually going to redo this in the coming months as the stuff I used doesn't handle the heat well enough. I'll probably use an adhesive gold foil in the areas near the cats. I'll keep the tar foil in cooler areas to lower harmonic vibrations.
Here is the post I had done on this last year.
http://driveviper.com/forums/threads/8711-Heat-shield-to-prevent-paint-yellowing-on-rockers

[Stealth]

I'm actually going to redo this in the coming months as the stuff I used doesn't handle the heat well enough. I'll probably use an adhesive gold foil in the areas near the cats. I'll keep the tar foil in cooler areas to lower harmonic vibrations.
Here is the post I had done on this last year.
http://driveviper.com/forums/threads/8711-Heat-shield-to-prevent-paint-yellowing-on-rockers

Also, pay close attention to the clamps holding the CATS to the mufflers. My OEM setup had the clamp bolts very close to the sills on top and this was heating my clear bra. I discovered this when I put Corsas on and also had boxes of heat insulation if needed (returned because not needed). Once we properly installed the Clamps (I still run Stock CATS in CA), there was no problem. In addition, my car is race yellow so I am not sure I would recognize any discoloration. If you ask any clear bra installer about white cars (any white cars, not just vipers), they will tell you that the film will yellow over time--it is just noticeable on white cars.

Btw, I also run the Arrow PCM and have had no problems and have not noticed any heat issues. That said, to some extent it is common in most applications to experience more heat with more performance.

When I went from stock to the Arrow PCM (with Corsa Exhaust as my only other mod) I did not feel a quantum difference in performance. This may be in part due to our 91 octane gas in CA. The primary difference I notice is that the car seems to run smoother and better. There is also the decal burble that everyone mentions. The Arrow PCM tune feels like the way the engineers wanted to tune the motor.

[Dave1968]

What is the difference between the stage 1 and 2.

[timberwolf]

Also, pay close attention to the clamps holding the CATS to the mufflers. My OEM setup had the clamp bolts very close to the sills on top and this was heating my clear bra. I discovered this when I put Corsas on and also had boxes of heat insulation if needed (returned because not needed). Once we properly installed the Clamps (I still run Stock CATS in CA), there was no problem. In addition, my car is race yellow so I am not sure I would recognize any discoloration. If you ask any clear bra installer about white cars (any white cars, not just vipers), they will tell you that the film will yellow over time--it is just noticeable on white cars.

Btw, I also run the Arrow PCM and have had no problems and have not noticed any heat issues. That said, to some extent it is common in most applications to experience more heat with more performance.

When I went from stock to the Arrow PCM (with Corsa Exhaust as my only other mod) I did not feel a quantum difference in performance. This may be in part due to our 91 octane gas in CA. The primary difference I notice is that the car seems to run smoother and better. There is also the decal burble that everyone mentions. The Arrow PCM tune feels like the way the engineers wanted to tune the motor.

I get a white car yellowing, but my car is a 2015 that sits in a climate controlled garage with only 2100 miles on it! If the car were sitting in the sun all day I'd agree. The area that yellowed btw is not covered by clear bra.
http://i.imgur.com/8c8DZbn.jpg

[dethred]

Nope, it literally takes 5 minutes. A few bolts and plug and play

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Yup. The car cooked with the tune. It started yellowing my paint on the inner ducts above the rockers.

Whoa, wait a second. I thought the Dealership had to do the throttle re-learn?

[Steve M]

Whoa, wait a second. I thought the Dealership had to do the throttle re-learn?

Throttle relearn is a one-time thing only...once you've done it the first time, you shouldn't need to do it again.

[v10tt]

I have Belangers with HF cats, with ARROW PCM never seen more that 194 F water temp. 188s in the hwy.
and I NEVER turn the A/C off. windows up and A/C on all the time.

[venum4u]

Arrow PCM is next for me, just waiting to complete the R28/R29 recalls