So tonight I fill up the tank as normal. I had been using the 93 Perf. tune from Bama, and decided to switch to 87 for $$ reasons. I started loading the tune and then began filling up. Once I was done, I left the station and got about 500 feet down the road when the wrench lights up and the engine loses power. I figured it was failsafe mode, and something was up with the tune. I push in the clutch and the rpm's go to 0...and I realize it's not failsafe mode at all.

I checked for DTC's and got none. I restarted the car, and got about another 500 feet down the road when it does it again...this time it gave me P061B, and P0446. So, while sitting on the side of the interstate at 9:30pm, I called my dad who looked up the codes. He told me he couldn't find anything on the first one, and the second one was "Evaporative Emissions Control System Vent Control Circuit" See here for more info on this code.

Since Doug just sent me these tunes and this was the first time I had loaded the 87 tune, I figured it might be a bad tune, so I reloaded the 93 tune that I was running and knew worked. Even though I had 87 in the tank, I knew I could baby it home no problem. I got that loaded and it started again, but once again died after 500 feet...no codes this time.

I got out and checked the engine compartment, everything looked good. Got it started once again after cranking it for like 5 seconds. By this time the battery was getting a little weak after so many starts and the hazards running for 20 minutes. After idling for about 5 minutes, I gave it one more try and this time it made it. I made it 15 miles to home, no more stalling. Once home I reloaded the 87 tune and everything is fine now. I made it 30 miles to work no problem.

I did some research on the first code and it seems to be a Torque Management error of some sort with the PCM. My thoughts are that since I was loading the tune WHILE filling with gas, it got the computer all screwed up. Why reloading a different tune didn't cure it, I don't know. Any other thoughts? I did not enjoy being stranded on the side of the interstate tonight, and barely made it to work on time. I don't have a backup car, and this one needs to be reliable!! Argghh!!!!

 

I pull the fuel pump fuse and if engine is hot, fan control fuse before using my SCT tuner. That way I don't get voltage fluctuations that might cause a bad tune install.

 

Yeah, I get what you are saying. I don't think it was voltage fluctuations though, there was nothing on at the time of my reflash, and I have done it dozens of times without pulling any fuses with no problems.

 

More than likely the computer got confused since you were loading the tune while filling the tank. Flash it back to stock, don't start the car. Un-hook the battery for 10 minutes to clear the memory. Hook it back up, flash it back to whichever tune you are going to use, should be good to go. Don't touch a thing while the computer is being flashed.

 

Thanks for the advice. It seems to be fixed, no problems since that night. I just never knew that the PCM had a hand in fueling!! It makes sense now that it got confused somehow while fueling and flashing at the same time...but at the time, it was me who was all confused!