Let's see how bad Scot can mess up his Sonic!

[Scot]

2013 LTZ 1.4L M6
Inferno Orange

First mod: Borla catback

Second mod
Chevrolet 200W DSP amplifier & 200W Kicker Subwoofer.
Sounds incredible and looks like a quality system, but then again, that's probably why the kit costs about 3X more than something you could put together DIY.

The sub hits hard and you can really crank the volume w/o distortion - the only thing I hate about the setup (and they did not tell me when I ordered it - I don't think the dealership knew) - is that the way the sub was designed and attached to the car SUCKS! It connects to the LATCH system behind the D/S rear seat, but ONLY AFTER REMOVING THE CARGO FLOOR. :sadbanana:

I bought the car with my kids in mind:

The sub placement kills about 30% of the cargo area. That wasn't going to work for me, so I took out the spare tire and mounted the sub in its place. I can't used the floor over the spare now, but there's enough room to put the cargo floor back down over the sub and have the whole hatch area open for my dags.

It didn't seem to hurt the bass or cause any new buzz or rattles. :banana:

Third mod: HPTuner
I haven't got around to setting it up - they send a CD with the install and my damn laptop doesn't have a CD drive. Plan on doing a few things up front to increase fuel economy and change the driver demand tables to suit my driving style a bit more. Stay tuned :sadbanana: for updates!

Fourth mod: Eibach lowering springs
Installed 11 August 13

Fifth mod: LTZ wheels with 225/45R17 Conti DWS tires (Thanks RDSS!!!) Going to plastidip the wheels gunmetal with metalizer and put snow tires on the current wheels this fall.

More pictures when I actually get things installed...

06 SEP 2013 update:

Built & installed 3" downpipe and midpipe.

21 APR 2014: Long time since an update!
20/35 tint

Also added, but no pics:
* Redline hood struts
* DDM sh!tter bushings
* MTech short shifter
* 5mm wheel spacers
* Hella supertone horns

 

[AdorableKaren]

Lol cute kids and great start. I think you'll love the eibachs!

 

[cndctrdj]

Let us know how hptuners works for you. I've heard they smooth out the powerband so you get no drop off at high rpm and more power than others with less boost

 

[sx sonic]

Looking good so far.

In4results with HPtuners.

 

[Stew]

I'm also watching for HP Tuner updates. This is likely what I'll do as well, I know Trifecta's good but I enjoy the process and will get personal enjoyment from the tuning process. Plus, Trifecta is just a short drive from me so when I'm ready to tune I may just go there for some dyno time.

 

[Scot]

Well, I have an update. I'm having trouble with a pesky DTC (P0238) where I'm apparently getting a sensor voltage high problem.

Looks like I've got a pretty good reason for the over-voltage:

24 PSI of boost. :banana:

Almost 3 degrees of knock retard. :sadbanana:

I need to play with spark a bit and I'm also trying to figure out if the cams are parked advanced or retarded; the phaser tables look like nothing I've ever seen, i.e. variable cam timing on this engine isn't being used to its full potential.

The car pulls like a g-darned freight train until the voltage DTC puts me in limp-home.

More to come!

 

[sx sonic]

Whooo, so many tables.

 

[Stew]

The values are for the vertical line two thirds to the right, not peak, correct? If so your injector duty cycle is peaking around 75%, getting up there but at 24 psi you still have some wiggle room at least as far as fuel delivery goes.

 

[Scot]

The values are for the vertical line two thirds to the right, not peak, correct? If so your injector duty cycle is peaking around 75%, getting up there but at 24 psi you still have some wiggle room at least as far as fuel delivery goes.

Yes, but it was just a short pull and I hadn't gotten into any real PE adders to take up the headroom on the injectors. Still - there's no way I can find yet to change the calibration for TIAP overvoltage - i.e. even if I could get my engine to live with it, I'd still fail the diagnostic (even with the DTC set to "ignore"). I *could* set the limp-home torque table above my max torque, but that's also used for other torque security reasons and good to leave alone.

Anyway, having a blast. I need to remove the underfloor cat to make a jig so I can weld up my own test-pipe.

 

[Scot]

It's getting better, but now I need to change the PID tuning on the WG a bit. ~22 PSI, wastegate oscillation and still pulling spark out for knock. Hopefully get the WRAF installed soon.

 

[firstorbit84]

I don't know what you're talking about but this is a great thread already.

 

[Scot]

LOL, thanks.

 

[Scot]

Eibach springs installed. :thumbup:

 

[rdss]

Looks nice!

 

[Thaifight-R]

lol I was just looking at info on Saab 9-2x's yesterday when I stumbled upon your thread on the Saab forums. hahaha

Lookin' good.

 

[Scot]

Ha! Shoot me a pm over there and introduce yourself!

 

[Thaifight-R]

I was only thinking about getting a Saabaru. Haven't joined the forums yet.

 

[rdss]

I was only thinking about getting a Saabaru. Haven't joined the forums yet.

What Saabaru are you interested in?

 

[Isambard]

How are the Conti DWSs? They are on my short list for replacement tires. I've heard they have a softer sidewall, is this true?

 

[rdss]

They where a great tire all around. Unless you're auto crossing the car I think the side walls are stiff enough, I never had any cornering issues with the DWS and RS suspension. The traction/stability control limit the car well before the limits of the tires and with it disabled (by the button not the fuse) they held the ground great on dry or wet payment. Scot should be able to give you a good snow review on them in a few months but everything I read about them was great.