GM Performance Intake

[MORTIS]

I picked up the GM Intake today and will install it during the next few days. My Sonic is a 2015 with only about 1,750 kilometers so I decided to let my dealer install it so that the intake will be included as part of my existing vehicle warranty. Otherwise if I install it myself, only the intake is covered for 1 year. Either way It's no big deal but this way they'll never have any cause to deny a warranty claim, plus it's only about 1/2 hour labour charge as estimated by my service advisor. An hour at the most with the calibration of the ECM which requires the dealer to perform anyway, assuming of course the calibration is still available.
I will update this thread with the results of the install and, hopefully, the ECM calibration.

In the meantime here's a few pics of the included parts:

The packing with the original part number

Beautifully finished air box

Nicely insulated inside

Beautifully finished and powder coated MAF tube and filter

And of course the dual diameter flex pipe and extended fasteners for the box

 

[bluejay]

any pics of the ecm calibration ?
lol

 

[MORTIS]

any pics of the ecm calibration ?
lol

Not sure what you mean by pics of the calibration. If I'm actually able to get the calibration I don't intend to have it dyno'd. I've seen a couple sites claiming an increase of about 10 - 15 hp/tq after the replash but that's probably a little ambitious. The manual only mentions that the intake "requires" the calibration but no mention of gains.

Here's a pic of the attached code and dealer instructions from the included hard-copy manual.

Here also is a pic from the included manual describing the 3 options of calibration required depending on whether you have only the this intake, or only the stage 3 exhaust, or both.

Expand the pic for details.

 

[MORTIS]

Everything about this intake exudes top quality. Today I removed the windowed top plate and discovered that the 3 hex bolts securing the cover are quick-release and spring loaded. One quarter turn of the bolt and they spring up to release the cover and remain attached to the cover.

'T' shaped bolt-end securing to the box

 

[bluejay]

lol i was just being a smart ass . but u did find me a pic of the ecm ,touche !

 

[spacedout]

its to bad from what I hear that GM messed up the tune. What I mean by that is there is two different calibrations for the intake, one with and one without the upgraded exhaust as well(as well as having a tune for just the exhaust).

Maybe I missed it, are you planning t attempt to get the tune installed by a dealer? or are you going to get an aftermarket tune instead? Love the look of this intake, to bad it was not on the market very long.

 

[Kcmo83]

I contacted all the GM and Chevy dealers in my area, and not a single one of them knows how to dona reflash or will even attempt to on my k&n typhoon.. guess ill be going aftermarket tune..

 

[carsNskis]

I contacted all the GM and Chevy dealers in my area, and not a single one of them knows how to dona reflash or will even attempt to on my k&n typhoon.. guess ill be going aftermarket tune..

Each code is specific to the gm intake only.... Vin specific and cannot be used on another vehicle... Discontinued because of the turbo 4 Camaro, no problems with the programming (although my GM Performance supplier will not confirm this) it's the same reason they killed the SS Cobalt and will not offer an SS Sonic

 

[spacedout]

Discontinued because of the turbo 4 Camaro, no problems with the programming

It would make no sense at all for GM to release the sonic intake only to discontinue the product in less than a year if there was no issues with it. They still sell the stage kit(exhaust and tune) that came out at the same time.

Yes there was issues with people not getting the correct tune, most likely due to dealer techs not understanding the procedure and there being multiple tune updates available for the part.

What does the Camaro have to do with anything? the turbo 4 Camaro starting price is almost 10K more than the average sonic price, well outside what most people buying in this class would even consider spending.

 

[MORTIS]

Each code is specific to the gm intake only.... Vin specific and cannot be used on another vehicle... Discontinued because of the turbo 4 Camaro, no problems with the programming (although my GM Performance supplier will not confirm this) it's the same reason they killed the SS Cobalt and will not offer an SS Sonic

If it is in fact because of the turbo 4 Camaro and therefore they discontinued the intake, and it's not due to a problem with the programming, then since I bought the intake from a Chevy dealer and the included manual says the reflash is included with the intake, it seems to me they are obligated to do the reflash for any remaining intakes that get sold out of their warehouse.
This would of course depend on them doing the honourable thing rather than simply stiffing the customer out of a reflash after it's sold.

 

[carsNskis]

The timing of the "quarantined" part (NOT discontinued because gets what's back on the shelf completely unchanged) and the "supposed" problems with the tune (if there were issues where is the thread here?? there isn't one because there was never an issue...and you'd have heard about a recall if the old reflash was bad, right?)

The arrival of the T4 Camaro and the quarantine are too close for me to believe otherwise.

They never had a problem with the reflash. Again, if there was a problem where's the notification to the people who bought the original part to come in for a new reflash? The install procedure and the specs changed in the ecu are all still the same as they were before. Just new part numbers. Funny, right?

You're welcome to draw your own conclusions, but my point of view comes from conversations with my Service Techs, a GM Regional Sales VP, and our Regional GM Performance Parts Rep.

 

[MORTIS]

I don't disagree with you. I as well doubt there has been a problem with the tune. Such a tune would be relatively easy for GM performance engineers to program. I don't know but I also suspect the same part with a new part number is not specified as including a reflash.

I understand you cannot confirm it but obviously my concern is whether they'll give me the reflash since it's clearly specified in the manual as included with my older part-numbered intake.

 

[Kcmo83]

On the topic of the reflash , is it needed for any aftermarket intake, or will the ecu pick up on the gains?

 

[MORTIS]

On the topic of the reflash , is it needed for any aftermarket intake, or will the ecu pick up on the gains?

From what I gather, some owners have reported fault codes which may depend on the design of the intake. I think it's more likely to throw a code with a short ram intake but I'm not sure.

Otherwise I believe the stock ECM has a built in and limited range allowing it to adjust to varying mass airflow and fuel mixture but only to the extent of a few extra hp/tq.

 

[carsNskis]

I understand you cannot confirm it but obviously my concern is whether they'll give me the reflash since it's clearly specified in the manual as included with my older part-numbered intake.

If the part includes the reflash code you should be good, it's whether the dealer will perform it. I know mine will as we just did one for a customer, but I can't speak for all of them.

Clearly my feelings on the issues with the old part are just speculation, but the end of the spec b parts, the end of the ecotec drag program, and the overall lack of support for the car make me a believer that Chevy really doesn't support the Sonic going fast.

That's why I love this forum, plenty of peeps pushing the envelope!

 

[Kcmo83]

Its a K&N typhoon intake and its been on for almost a week now. No codes and i can tell a bit of low end power. Just gonna end up getting a tune someday.

 

[Kcmo83]

Yeah it is to bad they dont support their car that is pretty dang popular. Thankfully we have these cool companies to help, now if we can just get as much goodies as the 1.4T for the 1.8

 

[spacedout]

They never had a problem with the reflash. Again, if there was a problem where's the notification to the people who bought the original part to come in for a new reflash? The install procedure and the specs changed in the ecu are all still the same as they were before. Just new part numbers. Funny, right? .

There was never a problem with the tune, what the problem was the confusion caused by there being two different tunes for the intake. The problem occurs when you put the tune for the intake/exhaust on the car with just an intake. I can't say my exact source as it may effect my job, but lets just say my engineering source will know more than a sales rep.

The Camaro 4 cylinder has nothing what so ever to do with the intake being discontinued and I find it laughable that anyone would believe otherwise. Wouldn't be surprised of your sales source made that up because people will believe anything. $500 intake or $10,000+ to trade for a new camaro?

 

[carsNskis]

There was never a problem with the tune, what the problem was the confusion caused by there being two different tunes for the intake. The problem occurs when you put the tune for the intake/exhaust on the car with just an intake. I can't say my exact source as it may effect my job, but lets just say my engineering source will know more than a sales rep.

The Camaro 4 cylinder has nothing what so ever to do with the intake being discontinued and I find it laughable that anyone would believe otherwise. Wouldn't be surprised of your sales source made that up because people will believe anything. $500 intake or $10,000+ to trade for a new camaro?

I suppose I should clarify my opinion. I believe the Sonic isn't supported by GM Performance because they don't want it close to the Camaro. I'm sure the hiccup in the ecm rehash isn't part of that, just a funny coincidence.

 

[spacedout]

I suppose I should clarify my opinion. I believe the Sonic isn't supported by GM Performance because they don't want it close to the Camaro. I'm sure the hiccup in the ecm rehash isn't part of that, just a funny coincidence.

GM performance still does support the sonic, they have not discontinued the stage kits(exhaust + tune), they only discontinued the intake because of the confusion the tune has caused some dealers.