need help with PowerMax 3

[Todd T]

ok first, let me say, "OH, MY, GOD"

now for the Questions; I noticed at idle about two or three times the yellow light went out and right back on. is this normal or should I call TST. I rechecked all the connections and they all are good, as far as I can tell.
also, I was running it up in fourth and just hit fifth when I was about to check the Pyro and it shut down, it felt like you turned it off. I was just over 100MPH and I think it hit the speed limiter but, I could sware I have had it that fast before or right at it.

what do you think? if it was the limiter I saw where Marco had told us to cut pin 43 at the ECM if that is right anyone know the color or can tell me what row and pin # it is.

I did some searching and found the color is white/orange so i'll wack it tomorrow
------------------
Todd,
2001 Q-cab SB 4x4 5spd 3. 55's, A pillar Boost/EGT,4" turboback exhaust,custom built aluminum airbox W/K&N-RE0860 through the cowl, and more to come...

[This message has been edited by Todd T (edited 04-18-2001). ]

 

[JohnB]

Do you have an adjustable PM3? Mine has the yellow light blink sometimes and Mark told me it was normal when the adjustable unit communicates with the box. As far as the shut down, I never had mine to that speed.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Are you talking about the yellow light on the box or on the remote? If it's on the remote then I wouldn't worry about it, mine does it too (it only updates every second or so by my understanding). If it's the light on the box itself that's another thing.



------------------
-Steve St. Laurent - President of the Great Lakes TDR
'98 QC LB (CMNSPWR), 4x4, ISB, 5sp, 4. 10 LSD, TST Powermax3, 275hp RV injectors, Joe Donnelly modifed Sachs Clutch, SS ladder bars, SW fuel pressure gauge, BD exhaust brake, Isspro turbo temp monitor, front Draw-Tite receiver, rear Draw-Tite class V receiver, BFG 285/75R16 AT KO's, (all the common stuff clipped)

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

If you have the street box then it will begin defueling at 2700 rpm and will be back to stock power by 2900 rpm. It does feel like the truck loses a ton of power at 2700 rpm. I had a custom box programmed to allow my box to fuel all the way to 3200 rpm - but I'm taking a chance that I'll eat my injection pump.

-Steve

 

[MHindman]

Todd,
Like everyone said, the light on the remote doesnt reallt tell you as much as the box. When i was having problems with my box Mark would ask me what the light were doing, but only on the box. It sounds like you are working normally to me. But you may want to run it past Mark, just to get his take on it. But it seem right. Its Pretty **** fast, isnt it

------------------
(Silver Bullet)1999 Ext Cab 4X4 5SPD, All options. Power Max 3(adjustable), K&N Filter, no muffler, Pyro,Fender Flares, Toolbox, bedrail covers, 450 watt Kenwood Sub, 33 12. 50 16. 5's, 3. 54's... Soon to have: 4inch, DDIII's, Southbend clutch.

 

[Todd T]

Thanks guys yes it is the remote light not the box itself. #ad

as for the fueling limit that is interesting, I'm not sure what rpm I was at but I think it was around 2800 to 3000rpms #ad


I guess this means I have a governor now. 100MPH is not very fast, that means you would only be able to run low 14's to high 13's in the quarter
like it would ever be able to do that #ad


------------------
Todd,
2001 Q-cab SB 4x4 5spd 3. 55's, A pillar Boost/EGT,4" turboback exhaust,custom built aluminum airbox W/K&N-RE0860 through the cowl, and more to come...

[This message has been edited by Todd T (edited 04-19-2001). ]

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Be glad you don't have 4. 10's!!! 87 mph is even slower! That's why I had the custom box done, because the truck was defueling before I hit the end of the 1/4 mile.

-Steve

 

[Specter]

Has anyone watched thier boost gauge and the green light on the remote? Mine doesn't come on till 6 - 8 psi. I am also having some surging problems starting at about level 6 and gets progressively worse till level 9.
I wonder if my MAP sensor could be going bad. Hope its not the injector pump.

I don't know if its a PM3 problem or something else. The PM3 could just be enhancing an existing problem. Since the fuel light doesn't come on till 6 - 8 psi I am hoping it is something as simple as a MAP sensor. Dodge wants $95 for it.



------------------
99 24v Quad 4x4, SLT, white, 5spd, 3. 54
LSD, Camel leather(All options except
cab clearance lamps), pyro, boost, fuel pressure guages, Husky
Liners, K&N Air filter, Mopar bed liner,
Mopar molded mud flaps, smitty bilt
stainless nerf bars, auxilliary back up lamps,
Tekonsha Sentinel, DD stage III Injectors,
TST adj Powermax3, 16cm2 HX40, BD 4" exhaust,
and a slipping extreme duty clutch.

 

[Vaman]

I have surging issues when I'm just cruising, unloaded, and feathering the throttle. I believe it's just small changes from the ECM amplified by the PM3. I haven't confirmed this with Mark though. Is this what you're seeing also?

 

[Vaman]

Just to confirm this... I had the same question. Don't be concerned about the boost light on the remote. As far as the other issue, you may have hit the defueling point on the PM3 but I'd call Mark and get his opinion. What RPM were you at? Let us know what happens...

------------------
98. 5 2500, 24v, 5 speed, QC, 4x4, 4. 10 LSD, short bed, Line-X liner, tow package, camper suspension, Westin nerfs, camper shell, TST PowerMax Competition, 275 RVs, Psychotty air, HX-40, 4" straight pipe exhaust, ProComp A/T 305/70/R16s, EGT/Boost pillar gauges, Grover air horns... Love my Cummins, no love for Dodge

 

[Todd T]

I noticed a fiant surging too but its been so windy the last few days i wrote it off to that.

I also noticed the fuel light doesnt come on till about 6-8PSI on levels 4 and 5. but it does seem to come on faster on the higher levels so its probably just not adding as much, as soon, on the lower settings, and you noticed it.

the other things i have noticed are; to just drive normal, and not race the wind, I have to keep it down to 3 to keep the fueling from coming on.

also I could sware, I heard the turbo screaming at me, it was saying "WEEEEEEEEEE"

#ad




------------------
Todd,
2001 Q-cab SB 4x4 5spd 3. 55's,PowerMax3 adj. , A pillar Boost/EGT,4" turboback exhaust,custom built aluminum airbox W/K&N-RE0860 through the cowl, and more to come...

 

[Specter]

Actually the surging is getting annoying. I only really notice it above level 6 gradually getting worse till level 9. One of us should give Mark a call on Monday. I'd like to be able to leave it on 9 most of the time without that annoying surging.

I thought I read somewhere that the green light on his newer boxes is supposed to come on at . 2 psi. My old box (PM1) started adding fuel at 2psi.

------------------
99 24v Quad 4x4, SLT, white, 5spd, 3. 54
LSD, Camel leather(All options except
cab clearance lamps), pyro, boost, fuel pressure guages, Husky
Liners, K&N Air filter, Mopar bed liner,
Mopar molded mud flaps, smitty bilt
stainless nerf bars, auxilliary back up lamps,
Tekonsha Sentinel, DD stage III Injectors,
TST adj Powermax3, 16cm2 HX40, BD 4" exhaust,
and a slipping extreme duty clutch.

 

[CCollar-OLD]

I had a problem with my PM3 that is very similar to what you are experiencing:

fuel wasn't added until 6-10 psi;
annoying surge;

Then for some reason the truck wouldn't start (crank w/ no turn over) and the inerds of the box got real hot (5A fuse didn't blow), melted the epoxy and stunk up the whole **** cab for a couple of days. Only when I removed the PM3 did the truck start again.

I worked with Mark and Greg over the phone for the next few days, sent the box in for testing (which showed no problems), and after much hair pulling and cussing installed a replacement box. Absolutely no problems with the new box, fuel comes on early, no surge, and I run with 100% of the time now.

I think I had an problem in the PM3 wiring harness, which caused the strangeness. Perhaps an intermittent short? You might want to replace the box.

Craig

 

[J Allan]

My pm3 box was very hot the other night, have not checked it again. Has any one else have this happen

 

[Todd T]

we put over 600 miles on this weekend, and overall it is great, we were headed down 44 in MO. which is pretty hilly, and it performend well. On the way home we had 1200-1500lbs of load with us and at one point, up a grade I was running 71mph and it took it 19PSI of boost to maintain that speed up the grade. the EGT's never went over 900F and it was 80F outside. I was running it on level 3 to keep from slippin Mr. Clutch. it hasnt yet and I dont want it to, so I run on level 5 at the most.

overall I'm pretty pleased with it, the two complaints i have now are 1st, the defueling at 90-100mph, my wife was diving it this weekend and passed someone, it cut out at 90mph. on her. the other is; one time this weekend i jumped out of the throttle real quik at about 65mph and it bucked hard, almost like it died and refired. I plan to call Mark today and see what he thinks.

------------------
Todd,
2001 Q-cab SB 4x4 5spd 3. 55's,PowerMax3 adj. , A pillar Boost/EGT,4" turboback exhaust,custom built aluminum airbox W/K&N-RE0860 through the cowl, and more to come...

 

[Bigsaint]

Todd T, that "died and refired" makes me think of one thing, LIFT PUMP. If you have not already, hook up a temporary fuel pressure gauge, duct tape it to the windshield and check out your readings,pre-filter and at WOT. You might be suprised, but better to correct the problem now rather than 1 VP44 later.

Scott W.

White 2001. 5 3500 ETH/DEE 4X4 Quad cab SLT,tow package and camper prep,Husky liners front and rear,DiPricol pyro,boost and oil temp gauges,SPA fuel pressure and temp. gauge,Edge EZ,Psychotty air,Bully Dog stage III injectors,ATS 3 piece manifold,HX40 turbo,4" BD exhaust,4" BD E-brake,McLeod clutch,Mallory 4150 lift pump,Mag-Hytec rear,Go-Rhino grill guard,Lund bug shield,PM tractor utility back up lights,Penda bed mat and blow by bottle is bye bye !!! I love the smell of diesel in the morning, it reminds me of... . VICTORY !!!
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089608" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>My Truck</font></A>
<A HREF="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1231655&a=9089604" TARGET=_blank><font color=red>THE SAINTS</font></A>

 

[Todd T]

I'll do that Scott, thanks.

I did email TST and they totally missed the point with the bucking, so i will have to call him, in person. the other thing i mentioned to them was the slight surging i have incountered and here is Mark's reply;

"If vehicle is surging at low speed, that is normally due to the use of a KN or other oil soaked air filter. The surging is due to the MAP sensors being stuck at some high boost value due to the dirty oil in the MAP sensor from the oil soaked filter. This does not happen with stock dry air filters. "

I will replace my Map sensor and imediately go out and see if this goes away, (which I doubt it will)

I'll keep you posted.

just an after thought, if the map sensor was truely stuck, then the yellow light would indicate that, by staying brighter than normal, and not returning to dim when not boosting, also the fueling would come one sooner if it were falsely reading the map sensor, being stuck at a higher boost level, right?
------------------
Todd,
2001 Q-cab SB 4x4 5spd 3. 55's,PowerMax3 adj. , A pillar Boost/EGT,4" turboback exhaust,custom built aluminum airbox W/K&N-RE0860 through the cowl, and more to come...

[This message has been edited by Todd T (edited 04-24-2001). ]

 

[Specter]

You can run the PM3 at 0 or with the main computer turned off. Either has the same affect (no fuel added). If you turn the switch off on the main unit nothing will be displayed on the remote.

Another note, I pulled the main box down where I could see it along with the remote then went for a drive. The green light came on at about 3 psi where the remote didn't show it till 8 psi. The yellow light never blinked like it does occasionally on the remote. According to Mark this happens when the remote is updated by the box.

Has anyone looked at the green light on the main pm3 box while driving? At lower RPMs and low boost the green light flickers. It seems like this would be normal to me if it is supposed to reflect the pulses being added to the main pulse coming from the ECM.



------------------
99 24v Quad 4x4, SLT, white, 5spd, 3. 54
LSD, Camel leather(All options except
cab clearance lamps), pyro, boost, fuel pressure guages, Husky
Liners, K&N Air filter, Mopar bed liner,
Mopar molded mud flaps, smitty bilt
stainless nerf bars, auxilliary back up lamps,
Tekonsha Sentinel, DD stage III Injectors,
TST adj Powermax3, 16cm2 HX40, BD 4" exhaust,
and a slipping extreme duty clutch.

 

[Todd T]

thanks spectar, another Q for the gang i am now seeing 30PSI of boost is this about right?

 

[MikeR]

Specter,
The lights on my unit compared to the lights on the remote operate exactly like yours do. Yes,the unit lights and brightens faster than the remote,and yes my green light flickers at low boost and RPM too.
I first thought the light thing was goofy,but my experience with another fueling box told me this Powermax3 is operating just as designed.

Todd,
30psi seems a little low to me. I would think you could get more like 35psi. Better check all your intercooler hoses and paper gaskets at the intake manifold and intake heater.