Well obviously im new here, and I dont 100% understand this "death flash" thing...

From what I have learned my searching is that it is a software update that changes the ignition timing to prevent ping...
I looked and on my PCM it says "authourised software update" , one thread I looked at said that means it has the death flash...

I do notice my truck doesnt have much power right off the bottom.

Can someone explain to me a little more what this "death flash" is, im still kind of confused. What can I do to get rid of it?

Thanks

 

Yep...you go it[:@] You will have to have your pcm reprogrammed....thats the only way to get it out of the computer. You have the most of it. It was jst a short cut attemp to stop pinging......

 

Programmer gets rid of it...i got a Hypertech for, i think it was, $150 off of EBay. I also had the death flash, and after i installed the programmer, it was like a whole new truck.

 

You definitely have it. The "deathflash" detunes the motor and takes timing advance out of it to reduce the "ping" problem. It was also done to reduce the number of tranny failures. You can get rid of it with a Hypertech programmer (new for like $285 at truckaddons.com) or by having your pcm reflashed by someone. The later model trucks also have a "torque management" program in them that reduces the amount of power made off idle so as not to strain the tranny also. I don't think the Hypertech will get rid of that part - mine still won't light the tires up even with my mods and the Hypertech. It DEFINITELY runs better though!

 

I am pretty sure my 96 has the "death flash" as well. You state that it is a shortcut to stop the pinging. If I were to get my pcm reflashed what would be the correct fix to stop the pinging?

 

I don't know if they did the deathflash that far back....
The fix would be to change to a 180 degree thermostat, cooler plugs, and add a less restrictive exhaust and air filter system.....among other things. Hopefully someone else will chime in on if they did it that far back - I thought it was mainly on '01s

 

I don't have my truck with me otherwise I would check right now but I remember seeing a sticker under the hood saying something about "authorized update". Will verify when I get home tonight.

So a K&N "Pancake" (round on top of throttle body) style filter with headers and larger single side exit exhaust would satisfy the less restrictive exhaust and air filter system right?

What plug temp range should I run even if I don't have the flash?

I bought the truck like this just shy of a year ago and haven't had hardly any complaints except for one time it wouldn't start, it would turn over fine but not fire. The next day went back out and it started right up. The other is it seems a little gutless but I don't have much to compare it to since this is my first pickup of any kind (granted it is a 5.2 so maybe thats just the way it is).

 

How hard is it really to replace the thermostat? is there a noobie faq somewere?

 

ummm, trannys shifting hard is better less cluchpack slipage and other slipping to make it soft, firm shifts make for happy cooler tranny.

 

So how common are the tranny failures on these trucks?
Why do they go out?

Kinda scary knowing that you own somthing with a "non tough" tranny.

I always poo pooed it before, my dads 1972 D200 went all the way to 340,000 miles before the tranny went out.


My truck wont light the tires up in a straght line, but a quick tap of the brakes to get them going and they will leave 50ft marks.
I put on some old tires to from my dads ford (****ty *** tires) and honestly if I hit the gas from about 30 mph it would lay some rubber down.. haha