Ses light Heibeck Chip and Secondaries Question

[Torchred96]

Okay guys Pardon the newb questions. I have searched but not found specific question answered.

I understand that the ses light prevents the secondary throttle valves from opening....or does it? Is that the case even with the H chip installed or does his chip somehow bypass those trouble routines in the computer? I'm pretty sure it's his basic chip described on his page for the 91 lt5. Does that also mean that the secondary injectors are not going to fire as long as there is an ses light ?

A little history as I understand it from the seller of the car. He told me that he was really unimpressed with the performance of the car and that the power key was broken off in the switch (on or off i dont know). He told me he contacted Marc Haibeck (sorry about the spelling) for a chip. He said that after he put the chip in, he then got an ses light, but the performance was much improved leading him to believe the secondary injectors and throttle valves are opening. I'm pretty sure that the ses light wasn't there before the chip.

I have the paperwork on the chip which says that the default position is full power.

thanks in advance.

sam

[Kevin]

sounds like you may have a vacuum leak

[Torchred96]

I think you are right. Well, in the interest of making this a reliable fix, I'd like to go the elimination of secondaries route when I do the injectors. I've studied the diagrams, and though I think I understand the system enough, it just seems the system is more trouble than anything else. Actuators leaking, not assembled correctly, then the trouble of taking the plenum off every time for a leak. Not to mention the expense of the individual parts, vacuum pump etc. etc. I like the idea to KISS.

Do you know if the chip I have from Mr. Haibeck will allow deleting the system without setting off a code?

thanks
sam

[Kevin]

in order to remove the secondaries you'll need to do quite a bit of work to get everything out....what i plan to do is wire them open and have mark burn me a new chip for $200 to get the car to run on all 16 all the time and wire the power key to be on even if I take it out.

[Torchred96]

ah, I see, all the injectors work together if you have it programmed that way. I think that answers my question.

I really don't plan to reinstall them once removed. I need to do a search on what is required to remove everything completely and the extra work involved. Sounds like taking off the plenum is like opening a can of worms. and all the gremlins of the lt5 seem to be hiding under there. Can't wait to let them all out.

thanks Kevin!

[Kevin]

taking out the secondary throttle plates requires digging into the runners and removing all of the hardwear in there. if you just wire the arms in the full open position and then get the car tuned for them it's 99% the same thing for 1/4 of the money.

pulling the plenum isn't hard and it's a right of passage. Enjoy

[Torchred96]

Gotcha. I'm gonna do a search for the cost issue. I don't want to be rude and not do my own research..

Thanks...and that is a gorgeous car you have!

[mike100]

You might only have one bad part in there if it is a vac leak issue. Might be easier to fix it. You bought a ZR-1, it's 20 years old, you have to remove the plenum-it's a right of passage- everything you need to get at it is under it.

if you have a hand held vacuum pump, you can easily diagnose the whole vacuum circuit once the plenum is off.

The trouble codes can be brought up on the instrument display- even easier than counting the flashing check-engine-light diagnostic that other GM cars had.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by torchred96

Thanks...and that is a gorgeous car you have!

thanks!

[Torchred96]

Mike, even though I now understand much (more than I did before) of how the secondary system works (thanks to this forum), it seems like it is more expensive and problematic than it's worth, aside from the fact that it is cool and very interesting.

In my case, I have a bad pump and 132k miles on all the parts in there..I'm guessing that if they aren't bad yet, they are going to be soon, which means I will soon be pulling the plenum again. I'm fairly certain it is a simple matter of troubleshooting the system once it is off, but why not take care of the issue once and for all and build in more reliability in the process? No?

I'm looking at doing the chains soon too since I don't have any maintenance history of the car...so, these things are going to add up fast.

I'm not complainin mind you, just sayin