Acceleration Lag

[Calandrino]

Greetings to all. I have a 2012 Sonic hatchback turbo-- auto transmission. I live in Albuquerque NM which is at 5000ft elevation. This is the first automatic transmission that I've owned. There seems to be substantial acceleration lag when I floor the pedal from a complete stop: approximately 1 second before anything happens.

The mechanic at my dealership basically told me that there is nothing I can do about it without voiding the warranty, but he didn't seem like a very credible source of information:blankface:

Any performance suggestions within the constraints of the warranty? Throttle, air intake, etc?

Thanks in advance---

 

[CoHPhasor]

Trifecta tune brings up power and changes trans behavior.

Eff the warranty, the tune is stealth, undetectable, and you can reflash in <30 mins if you're worried.
(BNR has it on special for $300, basically free cable!)

 

[Calandrino]

I'm not very familiar with car engine modifications. What is the Trifecta Tune and what is a reflash? Can I install myself? Thx--

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

Everything you need to know starts in my signature.

 

[Calandrino]

Thanks for your time,,,, short summary paragraph? If possible, I'm trying to take advantage of a 'advice on demand' instead of researching

It looks like the Trifecta tune is simply a cable (from somewhere to somewhere) but I'm still not sure about the function of "reflash".

If possible I don't want to increase the sound of the car.

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

The tune is basically sending new programming to the engines computer, You use a laptop to install it with the cable. It will give you a big jump in power and much better throttle response as well as much firmer shifting with the auto. Get it while it's on sale and you get the full tune and cable for only $300

 

[Calandrino]

I'll buy one tomorrow if I can avoid voiding the warranty. I assume that the 'reset' function bypasses the warranty dilemma when I need to have my vehicle serviced at a GM certified dealer? Thanks for the info...

I have always been skeptical of American cars for reliability issues, and although I love my sonic, I want to keep the warranty intact through 100k miles.

From your experience, is the trifecta tune completely undetectable when necessary?

Cheers

 

[key1cc]

I too have this lag issue. When I drive out of a lot and attempt to jump into oncoming traffic I get the same lag...and it pisses the guy off that I just jumped in front of because it initially appears like I jumped in to go slow..but then it takes off like a rocket. I have an auto 1.4 sonic and i have the $200 dollar budget version of the trifecta tune and I still get the lag. I now compensate my driving style for it by waiting for bigger gaps in oncoming traffic before I try to merge in. If there is a solution....I'm in. Perhaps someone with a full tune and a 1.4 auto can chime in.
Key1

 

[CoHPhasor]

First, I appreciate that you 'need an answer', but one was provided. (If you wanted the canned response)
You don't want to research at all?
A pathetic display of why the entire world thinks of Americans as lazy bastard children that want everything handed to them.

In the interest in finishing this topic off for good:
- The tune is stealth, proven and threaded here, SEARCH!
- The tune gets you big power gains especially if you 'mod' the drivetrain. (The ECM or 'car's brain' tunes itself down to keep the car performing the same all the time)
- Trans shift adjustment? I *BELIEVE* the budget tune does NOT include shifting modification but the full tune does.

Tuning or 'flashing' of factory engine control modules has been around for a long, long time.
Adjusting computer controlled shifting has been around a long time also.
(Pretty much as soon as electronics hit the street)

Before electronics you could buy 'shift kits' to change automatics, we just went digital.

Asking a weird question is one thing, but for normal sh**, for the love of god:
Use Google.

site://www.sonicownersforum.com [I]<thing to search>[/I]

Yes, I too have this lag issue. I usually drive for economy (playing meek) but I found it last week when an a**bag thought I shouldn't be allowed in his lane.
I jammed the accelerator, he closed the distance and right before he hit the power came on and I dodged him.
Needless to say, that's not just gay, it's rainbow-flags-on-fire gay and I'm looking to get the tune asap.
(unless of course our local GM Customer Service reps can convince someone to not be such a simpleton in the auto trans programming dept... it's a liability after all. Pretty please?)

 

[Eric Smit]

derp normal. get the tune.


-Eric Smit

 

[key1cc]

OP: Consider the full tune. My budget tune has loads of power....but it still has the lag (and the budget tune did include a tranny tune). If folks are saying lag is gone in full tune....I am definately upgrading.

Key1

 

[Eric Smit]

lag isn't gone with the full tune, but it's so much better.


-Eric Smit

 

[key1cc]

Really??

If one does a zero to sixty run does the lag time get subtracted out?

Key1

 

[JohnT]

I don't have an auto, but I did some acceleration testing at low rpm and found on low octane 87, the car would struggle to accelerate (to the point of being ridiculous) below 2500rpm. It smoothed out and increased considerably with 93 octane. If you're running regular it may be worth switching to see if that will help. In addition, turn off the traction control as it can be quite surreptitious in operation; I found that helps with initial acceleration as well.

If its just ecm/automatic transmission programming then flashing may be the only fix. It doesn't sound like you want to do anything major like an aftermarket flash, so I would try to stay within the chevrolet recommendations as long as possible. Try writing to chevrolet with some documentation on what they should do to fix it, its a new car you may be able to get the ball rolling on a GM flash update for everyone.

 

[seanp1]

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/forum/t1063/

 

[Calandrino]

Thanks for the kind reply CoPHase. Do you talk that way to people face-2-face? Certaintly didn't mean to rub you the wrong way with a simple inquiry. Anyhow, I will check out the Trifecta Tune. BTW I did check out your signataure links and learned a few things.

Cheers

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

His responses can seem to be off by more than a few people but he is a wealth of knowledge if you can put with him lol.

 

[Calandrino]

Thanks for the input John. I have been using 86 octane. There seems to be a debate about high octane increasing performance for cars that are tuned for low octane. However, if you say it works I'll give it a try. I will also turn off traction control and see what happens.

 

[ThatTmoGuy]

The OEM Tune for the 1.4 will adjust the timing depending on what octane you use. This is because you will have a higher chance of Knock with the lower rated fuel. Use the best stuff you can find and you will see more power.

 

[Calandrino]

Haha, got it. I haven't been scolded since the 80's lol. Thanks