Huge thanks to Dave Vanek of Explorer Express for saving my butt on getting my car smogged!

I had been wracking my brains since January trying to figure out why the EGR wouldn't work on my car.

I was running an AM/BAMA emissions tune that passed inspections twice before. But now I was getting an EGR not ready error.

I tested and replaced components, checked calibrations on sensors, downloaded and studied over 1000 pages of factory service manuals and schematics, 100's of pages of OBD2 technical descriptions, went through all kinds of pinpoint tests, flashed and reflashed PCM multiple times, drove 1100 miles of drive cycles, checked wiring, PCM grounds, hoses, PIDs, logged live data, pulled Mode 6 data, checked: IAT sensor, CKP sensor, TP sensor, MAF sensor, MAP sensor, CT sensor, thermostat, throttle motor, solenoids, valves, and more.

Live data showed that EGR was never commanded over 0%. Other testing showed that the EGR monitor got through the voltage and vacuum checks, but just refused to activate the EGR flow during part throttle.

I tried to get the dealer to pull diagnostics on from the car, but they wouldn't touch it at all.

I emailed Dave last month and got a bunch of useful suggestions, but still couldn't figure out the problem.

By now, my registration is expired and I'm coming up on the end of my one time temporary operating permit. I'm figuring that I'll never be able to register or drive the car again.

Out of desperation this past week, I loaded the stock tune and drove the car, being careful to stay out of boost. As soon as I got down the block, the live data showed the EGR to be working fine!

So there was nothing wrong with the car at all. Just that the AM/BAMA smog tune didn't actually activate all the emissions equipment.

Great, so I emailed AM to get the tune fixed, because you know - "free tunes for life". Lots of back and forth emails, but the end result was "no tunes for you" and "we can't find any of your info/files".

This Friday, Dave emailed to see if I got things worked out. After a month, he still remembered my problem and checked in on me.

I gave him an update about the cause of the problem, and how I couldn't get anywhere with AM, the Ford dealer, or the local tuning shop.

By Saturday, he had contacted Doug Studdard(the original and REAL BamaChips, not the one that's currently using the name) and got me a new legal working CA emissions tune for my X-Charger Xtreme.

I loaded the tune and got all the OBD2 monitors to complete in less than 7 miles of drive cycle. So now I can pass inspection and get my tags.

Dave and Doug really came through for me when I needed help the most.

This is what Dave says:

And from my experience that is 100% true.

Big thanks!

OBD readiness and smog inspection issues can be a real pain. I went through this myself but my problem was with the rear o2 sensors. Glad you were able to get help from knowledgeable people.
So is Doug still in the tuning industry? Did he have to rename his business to get away from the Bama stigma?

Dave said Doug is tuning just X-Chargers now.

Would be great if Doug started tuning other cars again.

After my AM experience, I Googled Mike Wilson and BAMA and ran across a whole bunch of really questionable support.

Looking at a 9 page thread on svtperformance forums right now. That kind of explains some of the problems people have reported.

AM customer service emailed me a link to review my recent "tunes for life" purchase. I left a 1 star review, but don't see it on their website.

I did see other reviewers there and elsewhere saying that AM/BAMA refused to help them or lost their info.

I just unsubscribed from all their emails, and will unsubscribe from their Youtube channel. I don't need the constant reminders of my horrible experience.

Sad, because a few years ago, I used to use them as an example of a company with excellent customer support.

Dave is the best he had always been very helpful with my install about 3 weeks ago. I had originally received the wrong size pulleys so the drivebelt wouldn't go on so I searched the part number in the booklet to find a replacement to fit. After I drove to Napa I passed by to get the opportunity to talk to him and show him some of the things I was experiencing. One being that the hole for the breather tube on the metal intake tube was slightly offset to the side so it made the 90* fitting bend at an awkward angle so he checked all the other intakes and saw that they all had the same problem so he plugged the original hole and drilled a new one to fit where it was supposed to go. The pulleys he gave me the metal ones that were meant to go with the kit and we replaced those right away. Very helpful and definitely stays true to his word.

Good evening! A have bought an x-charger tuner 5 years ago for ford mustang 2010 4.0 sohc v6 and unfortunately have lost a programator. I want to istall it this summer, but i am not sure how to tune it. Unfortunately explorerexpress doesnt realize any support nowadays. Where is it possible to buy the tuner separedly?

You can get the SCT tuner from Late Model Restoration.

https://lmr.com/item/SCT-7015/SCT-Po...ang-96-14-7015

The tuner is not a problem. The problem is that I can’t find anyone who can send me a tune for x-charger

Heyy does any one know where I could get the California carb documents for the xcharger and xcharger xtreme

1. Contact Explorer Express and talk to them about a CARB cert. They might want to get some info from you about the product you have. Or they might know who you can contact.


OR

2. Calif Air Resource Board website has a search function that may help you locate the executive order for that product. Example of search: X Charger Mustang. You might need to use a variety of word combinations to find what you are looking for.