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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 01:30 PM
  #1  
Junk Yard Dog's Avatar
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Question New Lightning questions

I bought a 2000 L a few weeks ago and I have a question.
1. The advertised highway milage is 24 MPG, on my last long trip my milage figured out to a little more than 13 MPG.
2. From a dead stop I can't spin the tires. Lots of traction is good, but I figured the truck could burn 'em at least a little bit.
3. When the transmission shifts it sounds like (listening to the exhaust)the engine cuts out for a split second.

What I'd like to know is if these things are normal or if I need to get my truck checked out. It's bone stock right now, but I want to make sure it's OK before I make any modifications. By the way I haven't seen the engine light come on either. Thanks for any help.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 01:51 PM
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want-a-L's Avatar
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My truck only has problem lighting them up if I have two people in it. The more miles that get put on the truck, the more it will break in and loosen up. At first mine was like yours. After some miles and a new filter kit, it burns all the way through first. As for gas mileage, The only time I get above 14 is if I am doing more than 75mph and drafting some one. The sound you hear from the exhaust during the 1-2 shift is 4 fuel injectors being cut off to "save" the wear and tear on the tranny. Completely normal.

------------------
2000 Silver Lightning

 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 01:51 PM
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I am afraid that I don't have time to anwser all your question because I am spending all my time working up all the new FAQ's for this board.

But to be brief, yes, things seem normal
 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 01:56 PM
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From: Wiesbaden, Germany, 1st Armored Division
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Hey Junk yard Dog, welcome to the club. I too am a relatively new 00L owner. I am looking at my window sticker right now ant it says 13 mpg city, 17 mpg highway. When I drove mine home from Cleveland (450 mile trip) going 70-80 mph, I averaged 15 mpg and was very happy. Since then I have gotten 13-14 mpg, but that is with a heavy foot.
You should be able to spin the wheels easy. I would highly recommend a chip, I promise you that you will be able to spin the wheels on command. Without the chip, the computer shuts down 4 cylanders during the shift or right before the shift. A new chip will take care of that problem.
 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 02:06 PM
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woah.. 24mpg was advertised on the lightning?!?

are you sure you didn't buy a riding lawnmower? just joking!!!
i have a 2000 silver "L", almost 7k miles on it. i STILL get 10MPG!!!
several people told me that it would get better after the truck "loosens" up.
it seemed to have more power after 4k-5k miles, but gas milage was the same.
oh well... if i wanted good gas milage, i would have bought a bicycle.

oh, mine will lay some serious rubber when i stomp on it.. you should see the entrance to my neighborhood! LOL (i dont have a chip, YET!)

i live in louisiana, where are you from junkyard?


------------------
brooks
'00 silver "L"
member NLOC #496

_-mods-_

clunk (free with purchase)
V1 radar detector
colormatched ventvisors
redline waterwetter
eaton inside sticker
2" drop shackles
pro sport bed cover & bedrug
clear corners
clear tails - up next
waiting on lunar guages

 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 02:10 PM
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testing signature - i have some pics in here.

------------------
brooks
'00 silver "L"
member NLOC #496
my zing albums - http://www.zing.com/member/?name=clonetek


_-mods-_

clunk (free with purchase)
V1 radar detector
colormatched ventvisors
redline waterwetter
eaton inside sticker
2" drop shackles
pro sport bed cover & bedrug
clear corners
clear tails - up next
waiting on lunar guages


 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 02:37 PM
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I have 23K on mine. Drove it 650 miles Tuesday. With AC on going 13.64 mpg. Coming back I was pushing it. 12 mpg. WOT is always so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
noel
As a new owner please check out the FAQ. It will answer most of your questions.

[This message has been edited by noelvm (edited 08-15-2000).]
 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 06:36 PM
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4D THNDR's Avatar
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Sounds normal Junkyard. Where in VA are you?

------------------
Red '00 Lightning,
Adopted 4/19/00,
Power Surge Performance enhanced,
Sound effects provided by Flowmaster,
13.701@100.81


 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 07:03 PM
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Welcome to the board, Doggie, us canines gotta stick together. I have a 2000 L. with about 4500 miles and consider myself lucky if I get 10 mpg, but most of my miles are around town and I have a very heavy foot (just ask the CHP). The more technically astute on this board can correct me if I'm wrong, but even though the manual specifies 92 octane, the computer is set for 87 octane so the dunderheads won't implode their motors on bad gas. I am not sure whether this is the reason my L. runs so rich, but the exhaust pipes are just coal black with carbon. I expect these problems to be rectified as soon as I can get Swanson to install a chip, and I would expect to see at least 11 mpg around town and 14 on the hwy, even with my 4.10 rear end. But if you don't want to go the chip route you should take your L. to the dealer and have him program your truck for 92 octane gas, and I think you would then see an improvement in milage. Concurring/dissenting opinions, anyone?




------------------
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'84 Alan Record Carbonio, Aerospoke wheels, Campy brakes.
'00 SVT Lightning, silver, G-tech Pro, JBA headers, cam bolts, 4.10 gears
(soon, Swanson's chip and MAF, Cal-tracs)
2001 Kevlacat 2400, twin 115 Evinrude FICHT, Raytheon VHF, Radar, and Sounder/DGPS chartplotter

gmvye@pacbell.net


 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 07:22 PM
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and you are correct in the engine dropping some cylinders during shifts at WOT...that can only be changed with a 3rd party chip.

Daniel
 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 07:36 PM
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Spike Engineering's Avatar
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I drove from Lafayette, CA to San Luis Obispo last Saturday for breakfast. I was heavy on the throttle on the way down and only got 10 mpg.

On the way back I got 17 mpg (and I had a strong head wind for 70 miles).

Regards,

george

--------
2000 Red
 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 07:54 PM
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I have 5,000 miles on my L and I get about 1/2 a second spin on the tires when I stomp on it from a dead stop. I thought I had a problem (like you think you do) so I took it to the track. My best time is 13.77 and 98 mph. This tells me that the acceleration if fine. I talked to another L owner at the track, and his L also didn't spin the tires much. If I get to a point where I want tire spin, I'll put a chip in it, but for now I'll take advantage of the good launches. Also, I get 17 mpg highway.

Tom
 
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Old Aug 15, 2000 | 08:03 PM
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From College Station to St. Louis I got 17mpg with 2500 miles on the L. I kept it close to 75mph-80mph all the way.

DUCK

------------------
November 18, 1999 We will not forget.
The fallen 12 will live in our hearts forever.
Fightin Texas Aggie Bonfire 1999

 
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Old Aug 16, 2000 | 05:25 AM
  #14  
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Thanks guys!
I really appreciate all the responces. Sounds like my L is average (for now!) I'm not worried about the bad mileage, just thought it might point to a problem. I was looking at the 2000 L pamphlet from the dealer for the MPG it was 21 (not 24 like I stated before)
 
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Old Aug 16, 2000 | 10:58 AM
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I just looked at my window sticker for my 99. It says 13 city 17 highway.
Tom
 
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