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BAMA tune issues...again

14K views 52 replies 17 participants last post by  KSconvert 
#1 ·
Well I have tunes for life from BAMA and have had 3/4 tunes go bad, maybe 4, but I never ran the street tune.

First tune I noticed, the BAMA cam 91R tune. It didn't lope, just gave me horrible mpg. I sent out for a revised tune.

Second tune, the 91 Performance. I ran this at the strip, because at the time I only had the race tune with the ghost cam and didn't want to run that. My two fastest runs were 13.6 at 108.

This was when I switched to VMP. I now get better response and gas mileage, but haven't had a chance to get it to the track.

Third tune, the revised ghost cam. It ran awesome for a whole afternoon. Then it threw the P219A code for "engine bank 1 lean". I immediately shut it off and swapped back to my VMP tune and the code hasn't reappeared since.

I called BAMA about this. The rep seemed a bit rude and told me it was a bad O2 sensor. I told him about the code going away after swapping tunes and he said he had no idea then, and I should do a data log. If the tune leans out one or both side(s) of the engine, the LAST thing I want to do is some WOT pulls. Anyone have a similar experience? I'm tempted to wipe all of the tunes off of my SC3 and just run the VMP.
 
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#3 ·
Customer service less than great. Tunes worse than their service. That's why I run my VMP now. When I get more mods, I'll swap to AED probably.

I just couldn't believe they suggested I do WOT pulls when the engine is running lean, rather than offering another revised tune.

Sent from church, because I'm out of cheerios.
 
#4 ·
I don't see why people continue to go with Bama when they are clearly not good tuners. Sure there are some that like there tunes but when you have so many dissatisfied customers it speaks volumes to the tuners and there knowledge of these cars. You don't see people constantly complaining about or having problems with AED, Lund or JPC to name a few.
 
#10 ·
Bama is slowly getting worse as they have blown up. They have great prices and free shipping and generally are easy to deal with but it seems in the last 2-3 years their ability to diagnose has gone down as they have more asses to answer phones with less experience.

I loved their tunes up until I was cammed. Tune ran great but power left on the table. After cams, a dyno tune is always a better idea.

OP, how long did you drive after the VMP was reloaded? I would think the ECU is reset after each tune possibly clearing the code?

Are you catless?
 
#5 ·
Welcome to the club man. I dropped them and went to Lund. They are great!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Mustang Evolution mobile app
 
#7 ·
I wish any of their other tunes were worth a damn, since I have tunes for life from them. I regret buying out of convenience rather than quality.
 
#8 ·
I'm sorry to hear about the issues you're experiencing with your Tunes. It's pretty clear that something is right here. We tune more Mustangs than anyone else in the world so you shouldn't be having an issue with (1) Tune, though along (4). This is a red flag for me to step in for sure. I would have stepped in after the first revision, had I known about it!

That being said, can you please shoot me a PM with your order number included and I'll make sure you're taken care of. I'll get you in direct contact with our head tuning specialist. We should have your tune ironed out in no time. If not, I'll credit you back the cost of the free tunes for life as it's clear you've had no luck with us as of late.

Hope this helps!

-Dan
 
#9 ·
I'm sorry to hear about the issues you're experiencing with your Tunes. It's pretty clear that something is right here. We tune more Mustangs than anyone else in the world so you shouldn't be having an issue with (1) Tune, though along (4). This is a red flag for me to step in for sure. I would have stepped in after the first revision, had I known about it!

That being said, can you please shoot me a PM with your order number included and I'll make sure you're taken care of. I'll get you in direct contact with our head tuning specialist. We should have your tune ironed out in no time. If not, I'll credit you back the cost of the free tunes for life as it's clear you've had no luck with us as of late.

Hope this helps!

-Dan
haha.. I just sent him a PM telling him to contact you. You know i HATE Bama, but you guys at AM are great.
 
#43 ·
Steeda tunes are like the most safest tunes with great performance, not fast food. They power Ford dealer sold new warranty hot rods they have to be safe as well as perform.

MPT and Lund tunes are like the most extreme performance, specialist not fast food.
 
#15 ·
To think I was actually thinking about getting BAMA tunes... whew. Glad I came across some research first. As far as lean WOT goes. I mean, as long as you aren't boosted in which you'd spike lean, that's a lot of crap going wrong. Other than that I've just seen cats glowing red and starting to melt the inside but you said you were catless? I dunno. Maybe it does more damage than I initially thought on an NA motor.
 
#17 ·
I can't say for sure. My mind was too busy thinking "oh sht. oh sht. oh sht." to remember to listen for anything. But that means nothing was prominent enough for me to hear it unless I was listening for it, so most likely just the light.

I should also note that tunes 1 and 2 (performance and cam) from BAMA may have disabled some of the dash lights, at least one for sure. When I bought my wheel/tire setup from AM, I opted against the TPMS. But when I originally installed them, I was still running the 89 performance tune and no dash light came on for the sensor error. It wasn't until I got the VMP tune that the light came on. It also came on with the 2nd BAMA cam tune.
 
#19 · (Edited)
I have been catless since February and this was the first instance that code has come up. I had also been driving around several times that day before the code was thrown.
 
#21 ·
Its bama. I will say this again they are canned tunes. They can say they are not all they want. The questions they ask are already options in SCT software. There is a reason they can't tune for a blower/ turbo or e85. They do not know how to tune.

Sent from my HTC One using Mustang Evolution mobile app
 
#26 ·
Borii is correct. I swapped my stock h pipe out to the pypes off road H last year without adding the tune and it took about a month and a half for the code to finally pop up. In fact it didn't come up until the trip to NMRA in Bowling Green. A friend of mine with an 03 Mach 1 changed his out around the same time and his was on within the day.
 
#29 ·
You shouldnt get a code for front o2 sensor or catalyst deficiency from removing the cats. I have a 06 camry i took the cats off of in 07 and used spark arrestors on the rear o2 sensors and it has never thrown a code. I have had three other mustangs none had cats, only one had tune and none of them threw a code from front o2 or lean condition. only rear o2 sensor or catalyst deficiency.
 
#27 ·
I informed BAMA that I had an off road x-pipe when I requested the revised tune. With the BAMA tunes, you cannot change options. You get what they give you. My VMP tune gives me all kinds of options when I load it. Rev limiter, idle speed, tire size, gear ratio, etc. That still does not answer the question why it didn't show up immediately after I turned the car on and started driving, but waited 12 hours and several drives later.
 
#30 ·
I am not trying to be rude here. You asked for suggestions but it seems like you're looking for a specific answer.

1 - 02 code from an off road pipe can come and go forever and ever amen.

2 - Took weeks most likely due to many varying factors. Literally including weather coupled with driving habits. If the 02 didn't feel it saw that much exhaust/velocity or whatever, it will remain "satisfied" so the code stays off.

3 - Telling bama you had an off road x pipe doesn't mean anything. They could have easily rushed through and forgot. It happens, a lot. I literally had dozens of Bama tunes and at least a half dozen needed parameters re adjusted or they simply forgot.

4 - I could adjust any parameter in my bama tune as you stated in the VMP tune. I haven't had a 3V in 7 months though so unless something changed in the last 7 months, you can change the bama tune.
 
#28 · (Edited)
All the tunes do is disable the rear o2 sensors which monitor the performance of the catylist. The front sensors monitor A/F ratio. It should not throw a code for lean condidtion on either front sensor because the cats are removed. Either way i would still have them disabled to keep it from throwing a code for the rears being out of acceptable limits.
 
#32 ·
You shouldnt get a code for front o2 sensor or catalyst deficiency from removing the cats. I have a 06 camry i took the cats off of in 07 and used spark arrestors on the rear o2 sensors and it has never thrown a code. I have had three other mustangs none had cats, only one had tune and none of them threw a code from front o2 or lean condition. only rear o2 sensor or catalyst deficiency.
You can easily google dozens of threads where his code was solved with a revised tune or simply turning off the 02. The front code is caused usually by chain reaction. This is not a guarantee obviously but it is entirely possible and google will show you that.

All tunes are SUPPOSED to turn off the 02 as you stated but it can be missed. This thread though has probably received enough attention now and bama will hopefully take care of him. Then he can track test both tunes for us for comparable track data :)
 
#35 · (Edited)
With the VMP, I select the tune and it asks if I want to keep or change options. When I select any of the BAMA tunes, it goes straight to the load screen. If I go to "Options" on the main screen, it only gives me one option for something called "KAM". What am I missing here?

I'll try calling BAMA again with my order number and do this over the phone. Hopefully figure out why I can't fiddle with any options.
 
#36 ·
With the VMP, I select the tune and it asks if I want to keep or change options. When I select any of the BAMA tunes, it goes straight to the load screen. If I go to "Options" on the main screen, it only gives me one option for something called "KAM". What am I missing here?
Maybe they recently locked users out for a better "guarantee"? Possible I suppose.
 
#40 ·
Buy the SCT tunning software. You will beable to do the exact same stuff bama does. **** there's even a option for id1000's in the new software.

Sent from my HTC One using Mustang Evolution mobile app
I will test this out next time im on the dyno. Test the strategy tune on SCT against Bama 93r tune. See how close they are.
 
#39 ·
Just got off the phone with them. This rep was a lot better than the last. He assured me it was not the O2 sensor remaining on and that it was an air/fuel ratio SNAFU. They're looking into it and should have me something by today or tomorrow.

He also said they stopped allowing the options a few years ago due to implementing the cylinder #8 warranty and customers essentially using those options to get a free engine.
 
#41 ·
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#44 ·
I've dealt with the P219a code on my 12 GT w OR-X pipe. Steeda re-tuned it and then worked w me on data logging to lock in the tune w improved idle, no code, etc. it takes some effort on your part to Datalog but that gives your tuner better data to base your tune revisions.
 
#45 ·
I bought the x3 tuner a couple of years back from Bama. When I asked for one of their canned supercharger tunes they said that they don't do blower tunes. They would not refund my money on the tuner. I called several people there ans said nowhere was it written they didn't do blower tunes...that customer DISservice sucks- I still have the new SCT tuner to this day and can't use the dang thing. Unmarried and unlocked in case anyone wants to make me an offer. Grrrr...
 
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