08 Cobalt 2.2L, Auto Trans, Trifecta Tune Review
 

Trifecta Performance Tune Review

Hi guys/gals!

I ordered a Trifeca tune for my car (2008 Cobalt, 2.2L, Auto Trans, see my sig for mod info) the beginning of January from Clear Image Automotive. Little did I know, Trifecta Performance was closed for the month of January, so I had to wait a month for my tune…………but, was it sure worth the wait!! From the time Trifecta told me that they had received my tune information, to the time I received the GT Tuner package (I live 2,000 miles from Trifecta), only 4 business days had passed.

I unpackaged the tuner, charged it (took an hour), and installed my tune all in 75mins. I took the car for a test drive. It was a night and day difference in how the engine performed than on the stock tune. MUCH more responsive! The transmission preformed better as well, just not in the way I was expecting. Before I go any further, I live downtown in a city of 350,000 or so and I do almost all my driving in a stop and go environment.

When I got back home, I sent Vince (the owner and programmer of Trifecta) an email about my disappointment in the way the transmission performed. Within 45 mins, he had responded with an explanation about why he had tuned the TCM (transmission control module) the way that he did; He offered to change the TCM tune to suit what I wanted. I took him up on the offer. By the end of the day, he emailed me another TCM tune along with detailed instructions how to load it into the GT Tuner.

I loaded the tune into the GT Tuner and reprogrammed the TCM again. I test drove it, and it still wasn’t quite exactly what I had hoped for. (This was my fault.I wasn’t real descriptive about what I wanted, the first time I emailed Vince.) When I got back from the test drive, at Midnight, I emailed Vince again. By mid-afternoon the next day, I had another email from Vince with another TCM tune. I loaded it, test drove the car, and the tune was AMAZING!


I would HIGHLY recommend Trifeta Performance to anyone who is looking to have a more responsive car!

UPDATE VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3GbiH0lWmc Sorry about the quality, its a cell phone video. Watch the needles and you'll get the idea. I timed 7.08 seconds 0-60 on a stopwatch. I spun a little off the line.


Thanks to Trifecta Performance and Clear Image Automotive for such a GREAT experience!

Just curious, what with the tranny's performance on the first and second go around didn't you like?

i was happy with my trans tune on the first shot. shrugs

blackbolt, what kind of 0-60 with the mods you have are you getting?

I am looking to do a header, CAI and exhaust at the same time when I get my refund.

I might get the Trifecta tuning as the next step.

Just curious if I would be able to hang with an automatic SS 2.4 or not, as I have an automatic also.

I drive in between 35 and 55 most of the time and i wanted to eliminate dipping below 2000 rpm (especially in 4th gear) during normal driving (not starting or stopping). I didnt explain that very well at first and then it took another go around to get the 3-4 upshift and 4-3 downshift to sync so it didnt effect driveabilty .

Wow, awesome post. Looks like I will definently be getting Trifecta to tune my Cobalt. Was planning on it anyways but this just set my mind at very much of an ease.

I too am curious if you can go a little more in depth about the overall tune...for the engine, what did you have done? Did you adjust the redline at all, did you mess with the rev limiter or the governor? Is there a noticeable difference in the low end? I ask because I see you have the 2.4 IM/TB (did you notice a loss in low end at all with those before the tune?). Also, I know you just got the tune and you're probably having too much fun, but have you noticed any improvements mileage wise?

As for the tranny, does it shift a lot firmer? I guess I don't quite understand what you were trying to accomplish...why don't you want it to dip below 2k RPM's in 4th? Is it so that your not in and out of 4th gear while driving at a certain speed (in the city while you're driving under 40-45)? This may be the way for me to go...I do a good chunk of combined driving on a daily basis to work and home, but I just picked up a part-time job delivering pizza near home which is all 30-45 speed limits (I don't drive below 35 myself usually)...I'm looking to get my exhaust installed (header, dp, cat-back) and get the tune...just trying to get the best MPG I can from the tune..so any info to let Vince know will help so I that hopefully I won't have to re-tune.

Sorry for 20 million questions...I'm just trying to get everything taken care of right away when I order my tune this spring. Also very curious about getting the 2.4 IM/TB as I am trying to figure out if there is any way they will benefit the low-end (obviously they gain in the upper RPM range), but if there is any kind of MPG or low end advantage to having them, then I will get that done as well.

Hope this helps
 

1. What did you have done?

This is the list I put down from my car’s modification:
• installing 2.4 liter throttle body (the 2.4L TB needs a tune or a JET MAF to be useful)
• Injen Cold Air Intake
• 2.4L LE5 Intake Manifold
• ZZP Mid-length header (1.5" Primaries 2.5" Collector)
• 2.5" Down-pipe
• High Flow Cat
• 2.5" Cat-back Exhaust
• 225/40/R18 Tires
• Remove P0420
• Remove Top Speed Limiter
• Increase the speed that it shifts into overdrive. (50MPH or so)
• I do 85% of my driving in the city. I drive aggressively. Most of the driving is done under 55 MPH. Performance is preferred over gas mileage.

As I mentioned, I had to elaborate on the “Increase the speed that it shifts into overdrive” part. I used to do my own tuning on the Turbo’d Grand Prix I drove before my Cobalt. Therefore, I was able to tell Vince what I wanted in regards to the 3-4 up-shift and down-shift. My 3-4 up-shift is set to 50MPH and my 4-3 down-shift is set to 47MPH.

2. Did you adjust the redline at all, did you mess with the rev limiter or the governor?

Our cars have a speed limiter, not a governor. For all practical purposes, the speed limiter has been removed. The rev limiter is set to 6500 (stock). I think, Vince got rid of the fuel enrichment delay that we had stock.

3. Is there a noticeable difference in the low end?

Yes, Big difference in the 2500 to 3500 range. I’m pretty sure that’s because of timing advances.

4. Did you notice a loss in low end at all with the mods before the tune?

Yes, the stock programming was optimized for the extra air flow. (Intake and Exhaust)

5. Any improvements mileage wise?

My gas mileage has actually decreased slightly but, that’s because at 45MPH the engine is running at 2,300 RPM instead of 1,600 RPM.

6. Does it shift a lot firmer?

I have TTR engine and transmission mounts so, I can’t really tell a difference.

7. Why don't you want it to dip below 2k RPM's in 4th?

My 2.2L isn’t very responsive below 2000 RPM. It makes it easier to get through traffic if I’m in the 2XXX RPM range when I give it more gas.


If you have specific questions about the general modifications that Vince makes to the 2.2L Cobalt, email him. He can tell you more than I can. His email is vince@trifectaperformance.com

Let me know if you have more questions.

Thank you for your info, I was thinking backwards in terms of what you were saying. I appreciate the info and I have been in contact with Vince a little, but I just don't want to bother him too much until I'm ready to actually get it done. I have been trying to talk to people who have an auto 2.2 to get info from them as to what has been done to theirs and what their goals were.

Again, thanks for all the info. I'll probably just stick to the intake, header, dp, cat-back...and then all the suspension mods I can get my hands on...btw...how are the TTR engine and tranny mounts...I'd like to get those, but that's another $250 I have to spend. I've got a long list of things and I don't really know if I want to spend all the money to do them...that's why I decided to skip going SC and just going for MPG's instead and buying a Sky RL or something else down the road.

i actually have no idea. once the weather gets a bit better ill test it out.

I like the mounts . There is alot more vibration all the time, at first, but it calms down once they break in. Except at idle. I've gotten used to it. They make the powertrain feel like its parts of the car, instead of just being bolted into the car. The solid mounts take away the upward jerking motoin when you get on it. I originally bought the mounts because my header and downpipe didnt have a spring section in them to allow for engine movement on heavy acceleration. The warrenty was void on the header and downpipe if I didnt have solid mount. Ignoring that fact, im still glad I bought the mounts.

BIG HELP! thanks

07cobalt2.2, I looked at you cardomain page...........Please lower you car before you do anything else. :cssNET: Fender gaps make me wanna :barf: :lol:

i know, i hate how high the dam thing is, what did you use for lowering?

Eibach Sportlines........I've had them on for about 15,000 miles (16 months) on stock shocks and struts. The stock struts are starting to leak. I have a full set of Koni's sitting in a box. When it warms up a little more I'm gonna put them on. :D

so how did the camber and stuff work out, is there a set up that you know of that just lets me put springs in and leave everything stock? haha even if its only 1.5''

I'm a little confused by what you mean in setup? I'll take a stab at it though.

If you lower your car, your going to have to upgrade or prematurely replace you factory shocks sometime. This is because the factory FE1 (base cobalt suspention) shocks arn't designed to be loaded that heavily continuously.

I put camber bolts in the front after 3 months. You don't have to but, personally I think it gets aligned a little better that way.

good info!
and yea vince is the man when it comes to tuning, and also getting your car the way you want it.
i seriously think he a surplus of never ending patience because no matter what he gets it done.

thank you haza for showing me this, :)

Yeah I hadn't come across this either. Thanks for taking the time to post this jlong!

Definitely get video up as I want to see how well your 2.2 auto with all those mods compares with the mods I have on my untuned 2.4 auto.

there are vids on YT with 2.2 auto

All i have for video is my cell phone :( but i can do a video with it and see how it turns out. Im gonna need a little help with posting it. Ive never posted a video before. What kind of video would u like?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn19HjHXbCw

Just something like that.

Thats my 2.4 0-65 video (was aiming higher but condition didnt allow for it :lol:)

jlong3382,
Has your idle changed?