I have read a lot of posts in this forum complaining about lack of tuning options for the Cobalt. Can someone explain the problem to me?

I had a 2003 Neon SXT ATX with a 16G turbo(running 9psi), intercooler, walbro 255lph pump(canistor modified to take out the factory regulator, Return line, Chill Factory RRFPR, bigger injectors, and a map blocker. I had no issues at all. I tuned my AFR with the RRFPR using an LM-1 Wideband. Car ran awesome, I never took it to a track to get times but I know that I was faster than most cars that I ran against at the airport(they didn't have timing device just a tree)

I got rid of the Neon when I blew apart the tranny. I put a used auto in it, took off all my parts and sold everything and traded in the car on a 2004 SRT-4 which I wrecked. Then bought a 2002 Ranger 4x4 which I drove for a 167k miles and traded it in on the Cobalt.

So basicly what is the problem in boosting a Cobalt?

 

lack of real tuning, we have piggybacks like SMT6 and AEM FI/C, but no hptuners software support, which most people are familiar with

 

The E16a computer is kinda weird in it's programming and no after market tuner thinks they are going to get their investment back if they took the time to crack it and make tuning availible. Basically to much of a hassle and too much effort according to them.

 

What about running the car off megasquirt?

 

we basically have the same problem the ngc neons had before the srt-4 came along. Except the ss/sc ecu is more different than the base models compared to the srt-4 and base neons. There's just a lack of motivation for aftermarket tuning support.

There are turbo balts running around. You can buy a turbo kit, but it comes with a pre-programmed pcm. We have sct live-wire support but they haven't actually released the tuning program to the public(it's what they use to program the pcms for the turbo kits).

The AEM fi/c is pretty decent for a mild turbo set-up. It controls injector pulse-width and allows you to retard timing, but it doesn't allow you to raise the rev limit, delete O2s etc. like you would be able to do with a better tuning device.

Really you have a mtx cobalt so you really don't have that many issues. There's kits available to you. And you have the ability to safely tune further with the use of the aem unit.

The main difference on these cars compared to the neon is our computer uses the maf sensor first and foremost to read incoming air whereas the ngc neon used the map sensor.

 

Yes, you could run megasquirts, but if your not looking for sick power, i dont see the point in all the work.

Dude, it sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of how to run boost. You shouldnt have a problem getting the cobalt boosted. Heres the thing. All these other guys on the forum are all stuck on HPTuners. Its kinda funny because they dont realize how many cars out there have to run piggybacks because they dont have full ECM control with a HPTuners or SCT type programs.

There isnt a problem boosting the cobalt. People are just too lazy/scared to do anything but use HPTuners or the like. You can run the Perfect Power SMT-6 like i am either using a 5th injector, or 4 secondary injectors ported into the intake manifold. We will be selling this tuning solution as one package here as soon as its put to use on my car. It will work, and it will work VERY WELL. It will consist of the 2.4 intake manifold with a choice of SS/SC injectors(32lb'ers) or 42.5lb injectors. That will give you enough fuel to run upwards of 380whp. The stock engine is good for about 220whp give or take a few. If your just looking to run about 8psi on a smaller T25/T3 turbo then you should be good using the AEM FIC or the SMT-6 tuning i explained above. So yeah, let me know if you need to know anything else about tuning these bad boys =P

 

if you really want to setup megasquirt... read this:
https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/2-2l-l61-performance-tech-45/wiring-up-megasquirt-79120/

and then some

It's going to be a little different for you though. Because in 07 they changed the trigger wheel setup to a magnetic sensor I believe. 05-06 use a hall ckp sensor.

I'd give our stock engine's more than 220whp... There's j-bodies with 2.2s running upwards of 270whp with stock internals.

I'd cut the limit at 250 though... just to be safe.

There's another problem... If you're looking to run more than 8psi or so, I'd look into getting rid of the plastic intake for a more solid aluminum/steel one. On the neons this was pretty easy because you could just swap to the HO(magnum) intake from the neon r/ts.

 

You could still pull a Saab Aluminum Intake on a Cobalt.

 

Thanks for the great info guys. I'm not going to be running anyboost until my warranty is up. I was just confused about why it seemed most people are crying about no Tuners for their cars. The Neon family has no support either in the way of computers. If you are running a 95-2000 you can get aftermarket with higher RPM limit but 2001+ you are boned for anything else.

I post a lot at www.neons.org and there are quite a few guys over there churning out great numbers using only a RRFPR and wideband. Others are making even more power using megasquirt.

Thanks again for the information looks like I found a good source for future information.

 

Most people here who cry about not having any tuning are doing it because either a)they want more control than what a piggyback offers or b)people hear people crying about a and think a piggyback can't safely run their turbo setup.

It would actually be VERY easy to wire up a simple fuel+spark megasquirt controller on our ecotec since you don't have to swap out for gm sensors. Really all you have to change is your crank sensor and your ICM(although you have to splice your stock ICM into the crank signal for your guages to work properly). It starts getting complicated when you start hooking up knock controls and idle air controllers. Even that's not too hard. Mostly just messing with your megatune programming. Also, unlike the neons when I was messing with them, you don't have to add an external crank trigger wheel for the 03+.

Megasquirt would be an awesome way to tune right now... but it requires knowledge the majority of people here don't have and it's difficult to bring yourself to hack up the wiring in a car that's only 1-2 years old.

 

Yeah when I first came to the forums here I got negative imput about tuning when I inquired and I decided to research it a bit and it's alot better than you would think listening to the cry babys. They just want an excuse to say their cars still stock becuase they feel inadequate next to some of the heavy modders! lol

 

good luck getting one...

 

You can get one it's just gonna cost.