Hydracarbon Trap Removal

[RedZR]

Good morning all,

I received a 2005 GT as a Christmas present from my wife (although it was was funded from the proeeds from the sale of my 68 fastback).

The car is a black premium car with the polished aluminum wheels.

When the sun comes out I plan on snapping a few pics to share with you...however in the interim I have a question about that hydracarbon trap that is in the intake inlet system.

I have been looking a lots of posts over the past few days and there sees to be some conflicting info on it.

I am trying to determine if the car has to be "tuned" if the trap is not in place (like it kinda falls out) or will I reap the 4-7hp gain without the tuning (IE by simply removing it.

I have also read that a car with the stock tuning will actually lose power if that trap is not there.

Can someone set me straight on this?

Thanks !!
Dan


PS I love the car !!

 

[tksuther]

Good morning all,

I received a 2005 GT as a Christmas present from my wife (although it was was funded from the proeeds from the sale of my 68 fastback).

The car is a black premium car with the polished aluminum wheels.

When the sun comes out I plan on snapping a few pics to share with you...however in the interim I have a question about that hydracarbon trap that is in the intake inlet system.

I have been looking a lots of posts over the past few days and there sees to be some conflicting info on it.

I am trying to determine if the car has to be "tuned" if the trap is not in place (like it kinda falls out) or will I reap the 4-7hp gain without the tuning (IE by simply removing it.

I have also read that a car with the stock tuning will actually lose power if that trap is not there.

Can someone set me straight on this?

Thanks !!
Dan


PS I love the car !!

From the research I've done, you should re-tune for best results. Here are a couple good reads.

http://www.modulardepot.com/?show=articlesdet&aid=52

http://www.alternativeauto.com/prodserv/05mustang_tune.html

Enjoy and congrats on the new ride!

Tom

 

[Black stalion]

I have to say the article is correct, because I took mine out and It did make it slower, , just enough to notice, so I put it back in, and It was back to normal in no time , so dont waist your time without a tune first, , guys

 

["car"azy]

i did not notice a plus or minus, mine has been out for 2 months and i even ran a 13.73 with it out (stock). sorry no prior passes with it

 

[tweety]

Tune

I also got an 05 GT legend lime for Christmas. Does this tune void the warranty, or can it be put back to stock?

 

[Black stalion]

According to the ht rod magazine, for jan issue, , the flash tune will not void your warranty, but you may want to check, I got my car about 3 weeks ago, and the local stang shop here , just got the flash tune in, , for me, just have to schedule the tune, , hope to see a differrence, this car already is quick, and to think its going to be even faster just gets my blood pumping, ,

 

[PolkThug]

According to the ht rod magazine, for jan issue, , the flash tune will not void your warranty, but you may want to check,

Just to add more. A modification does not instantly void your warranty. Ford would have to prove that the mod directly caused the failure. There is a law about this, but I don't remember the name right of the top of my head.

Regards,
PolkThug

 

[Stang8URMPRT]

Just to add more. A modification does not instantly void your warranty. Ford would have to prove that the mod directly caused the failure. There is a law about this, but I don't remember the name right of the top of my head.

Regards,
PolkThug

It's called the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act... Here it is...

http://www.granatellimotorsports.com/magnusonmoss.htm

Nick

 

[gilmoujr]

The car is my wife's car (the one in the Modular Depot article). The removal of the trap made larger than expected gains 9+ rwhp over completely stock, I think) when it was tuned. You definitely need to tune ANY intake mod. It ran extremely LEAN with ANY intake mod.

 

[WallDiver77]

To Remove HCT & Tune or NOT..that is the question!

Dan and others reading this thread:

I, too, am seeking the correct answer to your original question: must we flash the computer with a new set of rules just for the removal of the HC trap?

I say no.

A post from Modular Depot titled:

MAFs 101
By SCT-Super Chips Custom Tuning
Published: 03-11-04

had this to say when discussing flow through the engine and what the measurement of boost really was:

"So, as long as your mass air meter does not saturate (meaning the output of the meter exceeds the 5 volts that the EEC will acknowledge), and the transfer function within the ECU is correct (meaning at that given voltage the air flow that it thinks it has at that voltage is correct) the ECU will automatically put in more fuel at any given RPM based on the air mass increase."

Now, I take this to mean that reasonable mods done to both the intake and exhaust track will be handled properly by a correctly functioning ECU.

Having said this.......... the new tune (ECU flash) would probably optimize what is probably a very conservative A/F ratio stock program to better take advantage of your mods.

I have pulled the HC trap on my beautiful Screamin' Yellow 05 Mustang, and traded the stock mufflers for Magnaflows ....... I did not perform a tune/flash. Performance? Well, I think I can tell a difference.......... or is it just noise?!!! Truthfully, I think it got a little faster and the Magnaflows didn't make much of a difference concerning the "noise" . In fact, I believe they sound better........ of course, I'd better after dropping the money for the swap.

Disclaimer: I'm new to the board and just beginning this adventure of finding more cheap horsepower. I'd like to the car to be a "sleeper".

Patrick

 

[fr96ss]

05 computer

05 computer is different from 04 computer aparently the 05 computer will not learn the same way an 04 computer does to a degree of course.

 

[Black stalion]

Well to be honest, I really thought it made a differrence but, when I first took it out, i drove the car and , for some reason when it was cold it started, acting if i had a plug fouling out, but I just drove it a little softer, and it left, it hasnt happened since, im guessing maybe it took some time for the computer to read code or read the differrence in the trap being removed, , i dont know , what about you guys? now after driving the car for a few days I seem to feel a little more power, or is it just me?

 

[thunderstorm144]

I doubt the car needs a tune. All you did is allow more air to reach the intake and in a less disturbed flow pattern. The trap was agitating the air (jeez - did you see the thing??). So now we have more air which is also cleaner. The sensor will pick this up, and adjust mixture just fine. That's what it is supposed to do. I think the tune is always a plus but I don't think you drop power just for getting the air less disturbed and more of it. The car needs tuned, yes. But don't fret until that day comes.

 

[tylers65]

The 2005 Mustang uses the same computer as my Lincoln LS but with different programming.

I removed the factory air box and replaced my filter with an open element.I have seen dyno proven results of 14 RWHP gained on my LS with this mod. No tune needed. I also noticed 3.4 MPG (average) better fuel economy.

Take it for what it is worth, but my experiences with this computer tells me that a tune is not needed as until the 2005 came out, there was no chip available for my car.

The only place that makes it is SCT.

They are a great outfit BTW

 

[gilmoujr]

Hello! Is anyone listening? I am NOT BENCH racing here. I am giving you results from an ACTUAL A/F reading. Remove the HC Trap if you want but you better keep it handy so when you blow your engine from running lean you can put it back in and tell the dealership it was never out! All of these guys saying, "You don't need a tune" probably do not even own an '05 Mustang... I own one and have had it tuned on a dyno while reading the a/f ratio. I am not just talking BS here.

 

[kevlar911]

This may be a stupid question but has anyone tried reseting the computer after removing the HC trap to see if the lean A/F readings are still the same? I myself have put the HC trap back in after hearing about how lean the engine runs without a tune. I have yet to reset my computer by disconnecting the battery and may do that soon since installing my Magnaflow cat-back system. The Magnaflows are definitely nice! The sound is perfect. It is louder on hard acceleration and I believe it's actually quieter at idle and cruising speeds than stock, at least inside the car.

 

[gilmoujr]

When ours was tested, the battery cable was disconnected for every mod.

 

[kevlar911]

Any ideas why Ford has set the thresholds so tight on the computer for the 05? Why is the computer unable to learn new things such as better flowing air by simply removing the trap? Would replacing the stock paper filter with a better flowing K&N also cause a problem? How would putting super unleaded in the tank change the A/F mixture? How involved is tuning the car with a program flash and do you use your stock computer/memory or can you simply replace it with a new chip so you can easily go back to stock without bringing it in for a new flash to the stock chip?

 

[tylers65]

Any ideas why Ford has set the thresholds so tight on the computer for the 05? Why is the computer unable to learn new things such as better flowing air by simply removing the trap? Would replacing the stock paper filter with a better flowing K&N also cause a problem? How would putting super unleaded in the tank change the A/F mixture? How involved is tuning the car with a program flash and do you use your stock computer/memory or can you simply replace it with a new chip so you can easily go back to stock without bringing it in for a new flash to the stock chip?

The computer in both the 2005 and Lincoln LS (what I drive) are the same.

The computer does not "learn" anything. It has pre-programmed perameters that are set and "roam" meaning that the language is constantly changing. By changing the engine management computer, you will lose EVERYTHING else. Youe speedo will not function, nor will a tach. ABS will not work properly, safety equipment will malfunction, etc, But the engine will run.

SCT has to actually re-program EVERYTHING in your ECU to make it all work together. The Lincoln is so bad, that you actually have to remove the fuses from the ABS and a couple of other things when changing out the chipset so they do not malfunction all together.

Owners of the LS have not been able to supercharge a car, or tune a car since the LS was released. Now that the 05 Mustang is out, there is now a market for Ford to sell the programming language to. There was not enough demand until now. The 2004 F-150 uses the same computer.

I might not own an 05 Mustang, but my LS is so closely related, it is almost as though I do.

The LS has always ran on the "rich" side, so by doing the mods I have done, it has made my engine more efficient.

Look up Torrie at Ford Parts Network they are great people and can look up what version of computer you have with your VIN

http://www.fordpartsnetwork.com/sct1-X.html


Have fun!

 

[gilmoujr]

Why not just look at the Computer code yourself. It is written on the side of the fuse box.

BTW, the computers are not the same. When you said earlier that the cumputers were the same but the programming is different, you told on yourself. If they were the same, then they would have to have the same specifications - everywhere. You keep getting on here and saying that you have a Lincoln LS and that it is basically a Mustang GT but it is not... I do not claim to know the Lincoln LS (or even care to) but what would it look like if I went to a Lincoln LS board and started spouting off like I knew everything about it because I had its twin cousin - the Mustang GT. The worst part about it is that you are going to get some of these people in trouble when they modify their car - taking your advice to not get things checked - like the A/F - or get it tuned. I know what I do from experience. I am the one whose car was tested in the article on Modular Depot so that I could disspell rumors like the ones that you keep spouting off... The testing was done to disprove the nay-sayers like yourself... This is a 2005 Mustang GT board and not a Lincoln LS board. Until you have some FACTS, then I do not think that you should be coming here and giving advice on things that you have never tested or experienced.