Hey everyone.
On a previous post I asked everyone what kind of gas mileage they were getting. The reason is that my 2000 bolt in 2800 miles has generally gotten 11-12 mpg. Yes I certainly understand that these are Beasts and not economy trucks. My intent is to know a average mpg figure since this then serves as a baseline to known future engine/drivetrain
health changes due to significant gas mileage
deviations....well today took the Bolt in for it's 3rd oil change. Asked my SVT mechanic if he could check the stored cpu codes to determine if any problems existed.
SURPRISE.....it so happens on the 2000L's that there are MULTIPLE Program subroutines
that the Bolt can be SET to run in (only takes 5 min or so). Mine was set for timing retard disabled AND NO premium gas. So changed to retard enabled and 90 octane gas.
The mechanic said this would really increase the performance and correct the "TOO LOW" gas mileage. We took the Bolt out on the highway
and layed rubber at 45-50 MPH....FUN>>FUN>>>
SO the LESSON here is that some of our L's
may be NOT set up for MAX performance from the factory. This might answer some concerns
previously posted.
It's easy and quick to check AND change your
Bolts program settings (at the dealership) and if your not happy with the changes modify them back to your default settings.
Next week hope to visit the EATON supercharger plant here in Athens Ga. They
want to see a real Lightning and maybe offer me a job.
Georgia_Moon

 

Can you provide any details of what they did??

I took mine into dealer last week for lack of power problems and they found NO codes and nothing wrong. If I had details of what the steps were I could go back and ask them to specifically check those things.

If I need to but a tool to make these changes I will.

Sal or other techs have you seen these options in L setup ??

Doug

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Got Silver 2000 Lightning 2/28/00!!
1st run 13.9 sec 1/4 !!
Doug
Carrollton TX
drbdkb@hotmail.com
Had 87 Turbo Coupe traded for
92 F150 XLT 302, Put K&N Filter, cat back and Chip on 92 still not enough.

Silver 2000 Lightning, Valentine 1, Snuglid, Bedrug and nickel tint.
Have Sals Chip and Filter and 3.73 gears on order, cant wait.

 

To Silver_2000 :
My L DID NOT have any error codes either. But
the "baseline" programing was set up for optimal performance. For example, the basic "profile" or "configuration" of the mainboard computer (specifically for the 2000) allows the mechanic (hopefully a svt type) to set the Bolt program to run at conservative OR
more aggessive values (more happy juice or less happy juice). When the mechanic plugs into the diagnostic port (under the drivers side dashboard) The CURRENT profile or settings are displayed (timing, gas octane, tire size etc.)these settings are easily changed through a menuing system. Now in my case, I really wont know the real measure of
my Bolts changes until next week....
Hope this helped you a little bit.

Georgia_Moon

 

Moon.

That's good news for me. I have never bothered to even check my mileage, just knew it wasn't anything to write home about. I do have a major concern with her lack of power on the low end.

I called my dealer and talked to the service department, asking about the multiple program subroutines. He confirmed that to be true and said that it could be easily changed and that it would make a big differance to my performance.

I will keep you posted.

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00 Red
Took Home 3-6-00
SnugTop, Bedrug, JBA Headers, Walker Dynomax, Belltech, Sun-Gard, Zaino

 

Need details so I can go back to dealer. Buzz words, tool name, something

Doug

 

Very interesting information indeed!!!!!!

I like it.

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2000 Red Lightning Born 3-8-00 / Delivered 3-22-00
22% Window Tint, Clear Corners, MPulse LoPro Tonneau, AIM 2" Drop Shackles, Bed Rug

'99 Yukon Denali - Silver, Lowered 1", Borbet CW4's, 285/60R18 Toyo Proxes S/T's, Hotchkis AntiSways, Edelbrock Shocks

2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car

 

This is a correction to my post today to Silver_2000...........

My 2000L "WAS NOT" set to the optimum Bolt program subroutine....therefore I had it
changed to the "OPTIMUM" subroutine or profile. I'm sorry for the typo. The message is still exactly the same.

Based on what I'm seeing here there may be a unknown number of 2000 l's that simply may not have their computers "configured" as
maxed out as us guys and girls would prefer them them to be. Please note if you have your
gas octane set to 90 (in the program) this is a good starting point because octane is actually an averaged value at the pumps.

Georgia_Moon

 

I called SVT they checked with a Engine engineer who stated that all F150's have a 3 degree timing retard setting on the computer but it would hurt performance not help, and would only be used in case of detonation.... No other adjustments ...

Doug

 

Called my service manager and asked him what he knew about this issue. He replied that he had never heard of multiple programs on the Lightning. Of course, these are the same folks who have been unable to contact SVT for several weeks to find out anything about the front end "clunk" issue. I am beginning to have zero confidence in these people. Anyone know of any Ford service departments in my area who know their assess from their elbows?

 

Some clarification-
There is but ONE program that runs and manipulates the Lightning performance. This computer program, like any program, can usually be altered, modified or set to a factory default state (just like your pc
bios setting or a given program preferences).
For the L, this specific ONE program allows
the Tech to change performance settings. Each
setting change involves calling up a "subroutine" which then causes the NEW change
to take place in the real world in the drivability of the vehicle.
To know this stuff and properly apply it requires a very good tech that also uses judgement. When Ford or any mfg. creates new vehicles the individual computer programs that run each one is generally a broadbrush
software/hardware application that "AVERAGES" or assumes how the typical American driver runs their vehicle (gas,throttle technique,
idling etc.)This is a normal programming approach since the mfg cant build and SETUP each personal car because they dont know you or me.....SO this even happens with
High Performance stuff too!
In my own case the factory settings were NOT set at max performance. In the next week I'll
be able to see on a consistant basis what my
changes really accomplished (good or bad).

Georgia_Moon

 

Hey all, I know what you are talking about, when I installed my 3.73's last week, used the NGS, and flash cable to get into the PCM, and change the revs/tire size, to correct the speedo, also saw a bunch of other items in there like timing, octane, gear ratio, ect, but did'nt jack with anything else, tried to just change the ratio number to 3.73, but PCM would not allow it, something about a configuration error, so I changed the tire size to 883, and all seems fine. I've got a 99, so i'll see if I can get anywhere with the NGS or not. Later Shawn

 

Are you saying a stock Bolt can have CHIP like performance if you happen to have a very good tech at your local dealer who can re-program it for you ?

IF you purchase a chip it that kind of guaranteeing that you have a good tech guy ?

OR if you want to save $ you could research and hope the "good tech guy" knows what he is doing at your dealer ?

I am assuming the CHIP overrides everything the tech could tweak. Correct ?

 

Ok where do I buy the tool/computer that does these modifications ??

I know they sell GM computer readers at parts stores never seen one for Ford

Doug

 

To Silver_2000 [Doug]
I am not aware of any tool that does the same
thing as the "in house" Ford /Mercury Factory
proprietary test equipment. I am due to see my mechanic next week and will try to get some part numbers etc of the equipment that was used on my L.

 

Georgia Moon
In your original post of this thread you said that the timing retard was disabled and the tech changed it to enabled. Am I wrong in my thinking that the retard enabled would be worse for performance then if it were disabled?

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Billy Martin
00 Lightning
99 Cobra Vert
88 GT