Throttle response on 6.2...

f8l vnm · April 25, 2015

My 6.2 w 6 speed is still at school learning.... Here I'm at 7k miles now. The whole learning thing is such a big f'n joke. Yeah , it's learning alright.

LTZTom · April 25, 2015

Mine "learned" what a difference a custom tune can make!! So now, "school's out".

Brian S. · April 25, 2015

If u want to speed things up, teach it what u want. If u want a snappy response, drive it like u stole it. U want a granny driving gas sipper? Piddle around and never make any quick changes, and never exceed 35% throttle.

What is the logic behind this?

Do you think the computer in the truck is programmed to match the truck to the driver?

So if some 19 year old and I swap identical trucks, you think he's going to be saying "WTH? Why is pop's truck so slow?" and I'll be saying,"This is just too fast for me, I'm trading it in on Kia Soul! This is dangerous!"?

Personally I think the stock tuning is different on these trucks, and that is why the 4.3l 2014 I drove last year handled a lot like the 2010 5.3l I replaced with it. (and why my 2015 5.3l drives a lot like both of those)

Isriam · April 25, 2015

I wonder how many complaints of bad throttle response came from another vehicle other than GM. My tahoe has deadspots and crappy throttle response, and so did my 2012 6.2L. I think its a GM thing, because my F150 used to rip the tires loose pretty often for a 4.6L because it was so easy to push the pedal.

CounterMeasure · April 25, 2015

What is the logic behind this?

Do you think the computer in the truck is programmed to match the truck to the driver?

So if some 19 year old and I swap identical trucks, you think he's going to be saying "WTH? Why is pop's truck so slow?" and I'll be saying,"This is just too fast for me, I'm trading it in on Kia Soul! This is dangerous!"?

I agree. There is logic in "drive it like you stole it" early on, because it means it will fill out the shift table data for higher RPMs and WOT scenarios. That way when you do get on it, it already knows what to do, making it seem "tuned" to the driver. The same can be said for making sure you drive it around the city and get it on the interstate early on.

Brian S. · April 25, 2015

I agree. There is logic in "drive it like you stole it" early on, because it means it will fill out the shift table data for higher RPMs and WOT scenarios. That way when you do get on it, it already knows what to do, making it seem "tuned" to the driver. The same can be said for making sure you drive it around the city and get it on the interstate early on.

I'm saying I don't think it matters how you drive it because I believe it's programmed to shift at certain RPMs, no matter how it's driven.

If someone has some knowledge of this other than that, preferably with a link to something GM put out or said in an interview, I'd love to see it.

Would make it difficult to warrant it (or design parts) if just stomping on the gas all the time made it hold gears longer and the like.

What are the odds GM lets the customer set how the trucks perform when they want to have as few warranty repairs as possible, as much mpg as possible, etc?

I do believe skeazy car salesmen would tell guys they're trying to get to buy trucks, "Dude- just drive it like you stole it! Those mysterious computers in the truck keep track of how you like to go fast and set the engine and transmission to go fast!".

BlackZ71Silverado · April 25, 2015

...........double post

BlackZ71Silverado · April 25, 2015

What is the logic behind this?

Do you think the computer in the truck is programmed to match the truck to the driver?

So if some 19 year old and I swap identical trucks, you think he's going to be saying "WTH? Why is pop's truck so slow?" and I'll be saying,"This is just too fast for me, I'm trading it in on Kia Soul! This is dangerous!"?

Personally I think the stock tuning is different on these trucks, and that is why the 4.3l 2014 I drove last year handled a lot like the 2010 5.3l I replaced with it. (and why my 2015 5.3l drives a lot like both of those)

YES, it's called adaptive learning.

The computers recognize habits of the actual driver of the vehicle. Both the engine and transmission control learn based on driving habits and has the processor adjust the values while being driven trying to make the best shifting and throttle timing possible. The driving habits of the person driving the vehicle influence how your trucks throttle response and transmission will act up to a certain point.

Now if GM could figure out a way to make it perfect, that would be great. Unfortunately, the only way to do that now is with a real custom tune.

Maybe you can give GM a call, they can explain it better than I can. A technician should be able to read it to you right out of their little book.

gilleydog · April 26, 2015

I wonder how many complaints of bad throttle response came from another vehicle other than GM. My tahoe has deadspots and crappy throttle response, and so did my 2012 6.2L. I think its a GM thing, because my F150 used to rip the tires loose pretty often for a 4.6L because it was so easy to push the pedal.

try a sprint booster sure woke up my 5.3 best $300 i ever spent 3 settings, 5 minute install, no warranty problems 30 day money back policy

ConnRadd · April 26, 2015

try a sprint booster sure woke up my 5.3 best $300 i ever spent 3 settings, 5 minute install, no warranty problems 30 day money back policy

Gilleydog, thanks for sharing! Will add to my list of upgrades once I get my truck.

high country · April 26, 2015

Now you guys are speaking my language!! Now, how do I avoid any warranty issues...?

Don't let GM find in the truck.

high country · April 26, 2015

Funny thing about the electronic throttles, when they first came out people complained about it being to sensitive and hard to control the vehicle in off road situations, now they are complaining they aren't sensitive enough. Some people would complain if they got hung with a new rope.

Brian S. · April 26, 2015

YES, it's called adaptive learning.

The computers recognize habits of the actual driver of the vehicle. Both the engine and transmission control learn based on driving habits and has the processor adjust the values while being driven trying to make the best shifting and throttle timing possible. The driving habits of the person driving the vehicle influence how your trucks throttle response and transmission will act up to a certain point.

Now if GM could figure out a way to make it perfect, that would be great. Unfortunately, the only way to do that now is with a real custom tune.

Maybe you can give GM a call, they can explain it better than I can. A technician should be able to read it to you right out of their little book.

I Googled this and it looks like it was originally developed to adjust for the transmission components aging. (not to "hot rod" your truck)

Back in the 70s we had another term for "driving it like you stole it"- "beating on it".

I don't think I care enough if my truck is a 1/2 of a second faster 0-60 to "teach it" to shift at higher points and increase wear on the transmission.

The fact V6 Mustangs are going to dust me at the lights in any truck pretty much puts thoughts of racing these vehicles out of my head. To each their own though.

WendysOrBust · April 26, 2015

Gilleydog, thanks for sharing! Will add to my list of upgrades once I get my truck.

Just fyi, all the Sprint Booster does it modify throttle position signal before it gets to the ECM. So for example, if you are at 50% real life throttle position it will alter the signal and tell the ecu you are really at 75%. So its really a placebo effect at making you think you are accelerating faster than you really are.

WendysOrBust · April 26, 2015

Funny thing about the electronic throttles, when they first came out people complained about it being to sensitive and hard to control the vehicle in off road situations, now they are complaining they aren't sensitive enough. Some people would complain if they got hung with a new rope.

Well not all drive-by wire systems are created equally. I've driven drive-by wire s2000's that drove just like their mechanical counterparts. At the same time I had a Scion Tc for a few months that had a dreaded slow responding drive-by wire system.

And as I said earlier, poor throttle response that happens in these new trucks is a by product the way the TCM was programmed. Stock, there is virtually no torque available at tip in since torque management limits the hell out of it. Go get you a good TCM tune and see what a difference it makes in tip-in and partial throttle performance. You will be surprised at how much more torque there is.