Sounds as if the OP is describing 2 Step not Anti-Lag -

And then went 2 Step'n his way to a F'd up motor.

 

Burnt valve and 2 step/antilag would lead me to think that it was a little more than 2 pops or there was more than normal amount of time between them. Its not something that has alot of variables, so if its on its more less done and then you launch at the track.

I would wager there is something more to why it failed than I have read. Brad developed the triggerdisc which helps the car start like it should and not have to crank for so long like most AEM startups. I think he knows his way around the AEM just fine.

I would add John Reed and Jason Seibels (sic I am sure) to the list of the "5 best". If you dont know those names you arent allowed to vote.

 

WOW. A lot of hate in this thread.

Since the internet likes to paint a terrible picture when these sorts of problems happen, I guess I should address that these problems will arise time to time in this business even under the most detailed oriented individuals control, if you say it doesn’t happen to you, you haven’t been in this game long enough.
(OR YOU’RE DAMN GOOD AT COVERING YOUR TRACKS) As a tuner I can’t make everyone happy. I personally can not help anyone with a problem they may have with me if they don't contact me about it, or give a chance to resolve it. Running to the internet is not the way to solve a problem. Unfortunately running to the internet tends to be the first response and usually it just causes more misinformation and a lot of unneeded typing. Modifying performance vehicles to the level most EVO folks do, is bound to be problematic over time. How we address these issues is really all we can do to make the best of it.

Occasionally, I work through ISP tuning ISP customers cars on their dyno for a set fee set between me and the owner. The 800 dollars you claim to have been charged, I can guarantee I received no where near that amount for your tune (try 300). I think you’ll need to talk to Peter about that. This fee hasn’t changed in over 2years. This tuning arrangement has caused me quite a few problems lately as I typically screen my own customers to see if it’s something I’m willing to tackle. Usually I can spot a problematic customer before I even begin just in how they talk. Usually the first sign is not having a good grasp realistically of what these cars can and cannot do with the parts on hand. Another is bringing all your friends with you like you’re headed to the NFL season opener for your dyno session. Sadly, going through ISP I typically have communication problems as to if the customer is going to actually show up or not. To counter this, I will intentionally come about 30mins late to spare me the unneeded 4dollar/gallon drive with a phone call.
(To the other who commented “2hrs late” if that is so, I apologize as I do my best to be there in 30mins. More than likely what had happened is I never got a call as to if you were actually coming that day or not. Again, I apologize.)



The Anti-lag issue,

Most of Jeff’s AEM issues were because of the basemap that was installed in it. I normally would use one of my maps and just erase what is in the car, but I was on a new laptop (because my other had got wet and killed the hard drive recently), basically causing me to tune his car from scratch in a limited time frame.

I advised Jeff against using the Anti-lag type launch form the get go. I had his car setup to a normal 6000rpm (soft cut) 2 step ignition cut rev limiter the first day. He insisted the following day he need his fireballs and fireworks display, so reluctantly I turned it on for him. I also advised not to stand on it for a long time whatever you do. 1-2 pops and go, that's it. Who knows what truly happened? I can speculate and say that he either stood on it long enough to melt the valves or possibly that the car’s valve train was just not up to the task of his cam profile under those conditions; be it from incorrect machining specs or what. Who knows, we could speculate all day. I do know that setting the Retard Rev to 200rpm lower than the ignition cut doesn’t typically do this. Hell, we used to leave with on a buddies 1G car using this technique in 03’ with 40psi off the line, time and time again going 1.3 60s

The idle issue.

Jeff’s car would not idle. It didn't matter if god himself came down and played with the AEM, it wasn't going to idle as it was. I ran out of time that day and he took the car home. I didn’t focus on it because he was on the dyno and figured dyno time was best spent working on maximizing the A/F and timing in the HP department. I setup a time to meet him the following day to look it over for the idle problem and dial it in for the cruising AF. After doing some Comparing between the IX base maps and the base map he brought to me in the car, I found that the “Cam Range degree” setting wasn't setup correctly, after copying over the 99degree adjustment the car instantly started to idle better. I tried to explain the problem, but it didn’t hit home. Jeff brought one of his buddies along with him. I guess basically to see what I was doing. This is when I knew no matter what I did, I couldn’t make this cat happy.

Long story short, **** happens and I personally try to help out the best I can when I can particularly if I feel I was at fault. In this case, I don’t think I’m the one at fault here.

Unfortunately, the internet brings on mostly the majority of the bad experiences. Hopefully in this thread a few others with good experiences can chime in to balance out the good and the bad.

 

Respectable post Brad.

It only took me a few of this guys posts to start to get the picture and I'll bet my cheerios dinner the OP stood on the 2 step too long.

Sucks that fireballs are so kewl! Like a fine wine, use in moderation.

 

I personaly dont like staying on any 2 step for very long, even with out anti lag.

He even sayed in the first post that he requested the anti-lag himself.

 

Anti lag or a so called two step launch control on a AEM ecu can result in blown stock rods and cracked stock pistons


Any situation where the car builds boost at the line can be deadly on stock internals

I have seen many blow up at the line using anti lag with stock engines (not cars that I tuned)

At the very least the tuner should advise the customer of the risks involved

I know for example with my Subaru tuning - I warn customers that the Cobb No lift Shift and launch control has been known to damage stock pistion ring lands and that I advise against it

On the AEM you can set the launch control to be a softer easy form or you can make it a poping nasty boost creating roar of a two step. Its all up to the tuner.

In a tuning session the tuner and customer should communicate goals and risks to each other so everyone is on the same page.

Sorry to learn of the OP's situation.

Al

 

That's what I figured, more to the story than what was originally posted here. I thought it was odd, and I said that in my first post, that Brad who has a good reputation left something out. Apparently he didn't. Nice response Brad.

 

The Cliff Notes:




The moral of the story?

When you contract a tuner, you are investing your trust in that individual's judgment. If a tuner advises against something and you insist on it anyway, you effectively agree to assume the responsibility and the risks from that point forward.

Jeff, I'd say you're lucky you ended up a damaged head/valves and not a rod through the block. Everyone here has learned a lesson the hard way at some point, so this is one is yours.

I hope everyone who's contemplated running this feature reads this for their own benefit.

 

brad never even had the cam range degree even turned on when he started tuning my car. you were like oh thats why it is not even turned on. and for the friends coming a long with, they just wanted to see my car get dynoed, and mat coming along the next he actually wanted to see how nice the infamous isp shop was. i never said i want fireballs lol i am more mature than that thanks oh yea i specifically told you that i wanted it to create less bogg effect coming off the line but you had nothing to listen to me about all day, you never asked what i wanted as a customer never introduced yourself i just said why did this anti lag ruin my motor and that you were being in a hurry you left without telling me you were even finished tuning my car WTF i never said that i was upset about my car **** happens and i have the money to fix it. i would have brung it back when it was going to get built i was happy with my numbers that i got. oh and for being pressed for time you should try not showing up over an hour late i showed up at 11 like i was supposed to you after 12. i am sure every customers car you dynoed no one that they knew was there too right yeah right

 

I know Brad and he is a good tuner and i have seen him tune many cars. Is he lazy? most of the time. Is he always on time? most of the time not. But he has never put a tune into a car that would cause unsafe conditions. He is usually a very conservative tuner. The forum can be such a terrible thing when people come on here and dont give the whole story and try to blame people for things that was there own fault!!! If you want to put on a show for your friends put a flame thrower on the back of your exhaust.

 

Hey now, easy on the lazy stuff. If rebuilding a car on the dyno that is there for a tune is lazy. Then yeah, i'm lazy.


Jeff. Call me man. We can get a lot more solved.

 

tried too you ignore my calls i have tried for the past couple days to tell you what was up with my car i never said it is brad brooks fault i hate him he blew up my car i was just asking what they thought about my car and where the problem could have layed thats all i even wanted to get that ignition done i was bringing my car back to you to get done i was happy with the outcome and i do understand that the car was stock i was just wondering why was it my car that blew up with in 3 hrs of having it i spent all this money on a hta 35r kit and aem and then 800 to get tuned and bam the car blows up and i was not mis treating it at all not the whole way home that day or to verizon i barely even boosted it. it was a good lesson learned though i guess

 

Glad to see more of the story come forward, nice response Brad, if i was on the east coast you would be the only person i would trust to tune a car.

 

If you can't say that whole thing in one breath without stopping, it suggests that you should break it into sentences. That would also be helpful to those of us who choose to try to read it...

You started a thread with a title that was clearly blaming someone else for your problems, and you said you were considering "legal action". It's kinda late now to claim you were just asking the general public for input...

 

You may have never said "It is Brad Brooks fault" but that's how people read it. Just the beast of the internet. I'm sorry your motor went. All you can do is get everything back together and try again. A stock motor is just that. A stock motor. It's going to be hit or miss at those power levels. A lot more things could have come into the equation. Brad is a good friend of mine. I have seen some of his calibrations. With that said. If I didnt tune I would definately have Brad tuning for me. What was the lesson learned? Good luck with the next motor