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20745
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Thu May 17, 2007
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Description:
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Paperback: 398 pages
Publisher: Bentley Publishers; 1 edition (April 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0837608619
ISBN-13: 978-0837608617
Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 1 inches
The engine is the heart of the Corvette and the heart of the Corvette engine is its electronic management system. Corvette Fuel Injection Electronic Engine Control is the book that explains that system.
Chuck Probst, author of the authoritative Bentley books on Bosch and Ford fuel injection systems, has worked with GM and aftermarket engineers, trainers, and technicians to bring the same sort of inside information to an authoritative understanding of Corvette engine controls. The comprehensive troubleshooting tips and service procedures presented here are a great aid in mastering Corvette engine control systems.
The book begins with a survey of the different fuel injection systems used in these cars: Throttle Body Injection (TBI), Multiport Fuel Injection (MFI), and Sequential Fuel Injection (SFI). Probst covers the reasons behind J1930 terminology (electrical/electronic systems diagnostic terms, definitions, abbreviations and acronyms) and the engine management concept of Open Loop and Closed Loop Operation. In addition, oxygen sensor and heated oxygen sensor operation, traction control, Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR), Air Injection (AIR), catalytic converters, evaporative controls, octane and fuel volatility are among the many thoroughly covered topics.
Probst's treatment of On-Board Diagnostics (OBD and OBD II) involves topics such as misfire detection, crankshaft position sensor operation, Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor design, Electronic Spark Control (ESC), and Central Processing Unit (CPU).
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Keywords:
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bentley electronic engine control fuel injection efi
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Technical Writer for Internet & Print Media
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Hib Halverson
Technical Writer for Internet & Print Media
Registered: January 2001
Location: Southern California
Posts: 2110
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Review Date: Thu May 17, 2007
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Would you recommend the product? No |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 1
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Pros:
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There is some error-free, good information, particularly in the explanations of general EFI theory and in a section at the back of the book on basic diagnostics.
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Cons:
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Unfortunately, interspaced in the theory and explanations are so many typographical errors, mistakes and inaccuracies that, for laypeople, this book would be an unreliable source of information.
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The Corvette has had electronic fuel injection since 1982. For most of that time, about the only places to get good information about how those systems worked was either GM service manuals and training publications or a few aftermarket service manuals. What the world has needed is a good textbook on Corvette EFI systems directed at those not well-versed on EFI and focused on theory and general description rather than on diagnosis and repair.
At first glance, this book appears to fit that bill. It's written and laid-out more like a textbook than a service manual. Its 400-page package size leaves room for plenty of detail. It has nine chapters, each covering one aspect of Corvette electronic fuel injection theory and function with only two chapters on diagnosis and service and one (a very large one) of schematics. The book's outline is pretty good. Charles Probst, who’s authored other books on electronic fuel injection seemed like a perfect match for Bentley Publishers, a long-time publisher of automotive technical books.
Unfortunately, once you find out how much inaccuracy and sloppy proofreading are in this book, there's just no way around the fact that How to Understand and Modify Corvette Fuel Injection and Electronic Engine Management 1982 Through 2001 has more problems than just a long title.
The errors begin as soon as you open the book, on the inside back cover, in a an '82-'01 Corvette powertrain listing) where the L98 engine is misidentified as an "L89" and the 2001, LS1's power output is listed as 345hp–it's actually 350hp.
You might be wondering: if all that's wrong with this book is a few typographical errors in engine RPOs and power ratings, how can a reviewer have such a negative opinion? After all, it was the late Chuck Probst's final project in life. He died at age 82, a week after finishing the project for Bentley.
Well, with all due respect to Probst’s legacy, it's not just a "few errors"; it's a lot of errors–throughout the entire book. Further, any excuse for such errors misses the point. This book is supposed to be a textbook-quality reference on electronic fuel injection and, thus, must be accurate. Probst was a automotive technical author and training film producer. He probably began this project as nothing less than the definitive text on EFI as used on Corvettes. I'm sure he believed that accuracy was of prime importance. Perhaps in his final months, Chuck Probst might have been ailing but that was no excuse for substandard fact-checking and proof-reading by Bentley Publishers, especially not to the extent I found in this book.
This title’s problems extend farther than typos. For example: there are several discussions of differences between the current, SAE-standard, engine controls nomenclature and manufacturer-specific terms used prior to 1993. In several places, "short-term fuel trim" is listed as the modern term for for "block learn" and "long-term fuel trim" is listed as the modern name for "integrator". Fact is, it's the other way around, ie: STFT=integrator and LTFT=block learn. In other places, the two sets of terms are translated correctly. If one purpose of this book is to explain Vette EFI basics to laypersons; the book confuses its intended audience because few of these readers will know which translation is right and which is wrong.
Throughout the book, engines are identified with their RPOs, such as: L83, L98, LT1, LT4, LS1 and LS6. The LT5 engine is, in most instances, misidentified as "ZR-1". RPO LT5 identified the engine in a specific Corvette model known as the ZR-1. This error ironic is because at the beginning of the book there’s a picture of Probst in the driver seat of a ZR-1. We can assume he was at least a ZR-1 enthusiast or, perhaps, a ZR-1 owner and should have known the difference.
The book's mistakes and inaccuracies are not only text. They extend to illustrations, too. A drawing, which according to its caption portrays the computer-aided gear selection (“CAGS” or "skip shift") wiring and components on the ZF S6-40 six-speed manual transmission in a '89-'96 Corvette, actually shows the Tremec T56 six-speed used in 1993-2002 Chevy Camaros. Another drawing’s caption says the reader is viewing 1997-1999 Corvette LS1 and '01- oxygen sensor and catalytic converter placement but shows that hardware for a 1998-2002 Chevy Camaro LS1 which has an entirely different O2S and cat layout.
There are scads of other screw-ups to, too. Detonation is misidentified as pre-ignition in a mistake which laypersons often make but in a book like this is inexcusable. The first emissions controls are listed as being introduced in 1968 but, in reality, the year was 1966 for California cars and 1967 for all cars sold in the U.S. The book consistently lists six-speed introduction in Corvette as 1990 but it was, actually, 1989. The LT5 is said to have two different lengths of intake port runners. It does not. The book claims most Corvettes use engine-driven AIR pumps. Most Corvettes have electric AIR pumps. The book says "underhood" catalytic converters (also known as "auxiliary" or "pup" cats) only operate during the first four minutes after start-up. Pup cats operate at all times. There's a chart of model year, number and location of Corvette catalytic converters that has incorrect information for several years. The list of problems goes on and on.
Perhaps the most grievous error in the book is the chapter on EFI modification which, in addition to having errors, lacking detail and being too short, relies too much on aftermarket manufacturer claims of performance gains rather than facts gained through impartial testing. What Bentley Publishers should have done is left out the 112-page, Chapter 12 on Corvette electrical schematics (because they are of little value without the accompanying diagnostic service information one finds in a factory service manual) and used that space for some credible content on Corvette EFI modification.
Now, this book is not all bad. There is some error-free, good information, particularly in the explanations of general EFI theory and in a section at the back of the book on basic diagnostics. Unfortunately, interspaced in the theory and explanations are so many typographical errors, mistakes and inaccuracies that, for laypeople, this book would be an unreliable source of information.
I think you get the picture. Understanding and Modifying Corvette Fuel Injection is a stinker. If you're looking for a text that offers accurate and detailed information about Corvette EFI, don't look here. Until Bentley Publishers decides to revise this book, stick to the factory service manual or other sources.
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Hib Halverson
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;)
Registered: January 2001
Location: Southern California