Holley terminator x max

[MetalMulishaMarcus]

Hello all,

So I've got an 01 5.3 vortec (LS based) that I've been thinking of running a holley terminator x max on, who would be purchased through a member on here (@folkenheath).

I know there's tons and tons of videos and reviews online about the Holley Terminator but have any of you used this system? Have you or know anyone that has encountered any problems?

I recently seen a video on YouTube of a guys x max ecu going bad and not working at all but holley is fixing the problem (waiting for his youtube update).

I also read last night about the fiasco @sweetk30 has had with holley, although it is a different system..the customer service part scares me a little.

So do any if you guys have any feedback?

 

[sweetk30]

just a heads up if no trans control needed the pro flo 4 edelbrock is a plug and play on gm ls engines for stock parts or full intake kit .

yes in short to specific what you said to me the customer support seemed to blame me a lot for the problems and slow to do a thing about it . and the tech support manager was a total dumb a$$ . he said i have had 2 exact built motors on a dyno and same efi and the end results were huge and not even close . . . so he was trying to blow smoke up my A$$ . . . didnt work . he even blamed my pour fuel mileage on my basicly stock 4x4 truck .

what ever system you do pick tho do LOTS and LOTS of reading and feedback / you tube videos / forum chit chat / facebook sites . i wish i had done more my first go around .

 

[MetalMulishaMarcus]

just a heads up if no trans control needed the pro flo 4 edelbrock is a plug and play on gm ls engines for stock parts or full intake kit .

yes in short to specific what you said to me the customer support seemed to blame me a lot for the problems and slow to do a thing about it . and the tech support manager was a total dumb a$$ . he said i have had 2 exact built motors on a dyno and same efi and the end results were huge and not even close . . . so he was trying to blow smoke up my A$$ . . . didnt work . he even blamed my pour fuel mileage on my basicly stock 4x4 truck .

what ever system you do pick tho do LOTS and LOTS of reading and feedback / you tube videos / forum chit chat / facebook sites . i wish i had done more my first go around .

I have been and haven't seen to many problems. I haven't been on Facebook but I guess ill be getting back on there for a while to hopefully get more info.

Thanks!

 

[mrk5]

I've had good experience with Holley tech. I've had them replace a carb several years ago and the ECU on the Sniper EFI more recently even though they were both out of warranty. Didn't even have to argue.

The ECU on the Sniper failed after a short time, but the replacement has been going for nearly 6000 miles. Aside from that, it has run fine and I have no complaints.

I recently installed an Edelbrock Pro-Flo 4 (PF4) on my C10. It has a few quirks I had to work out with the tuning, but it runs great. I do wish it had more turning options like the Sniper. I got the PF4 from @folkenheath and I swear the Volcano mod must really help with the low end, because it amazes me how hard the old, stock 350 pulls from a stop.

Having had both the Holley Sniper and the Edelbrock PF4, I would still strongly consider a Holley Terminator Stealth for the next time I need EFI. For me the trans control would be a big benefit. While I like the PF4, it hasn't wowed me enough to pick it hands down for future needs. Really in the end it would come down to the situation and which one fits best.

 

[bix]

Not sure how relevant this is after a few months, but i just installed a terminator x max on my truck, Install went well. Even had to deal with a holley tech and he helped me source out the bad ground of a relay very fast but doing continuity tests on the relay and harness pins. Had my problem found and fixed pretty quick.

Obviously theres bad out there but i dont have anything bad to say.


In my research ive found that the base tune for the Ls engines on the x max are good enough to get ya running but definitely not the end all be all of tuning. The biggest thing i realized with it was the whole "self learning" thing was sorta just a get your truck started for you and running.. decent. The rest is on you, and doing homework or getting someone to tweak the timing, fuel maps, and timing tables as its all very conservative. I was dumb and thought itd just "fix itself.." im happy it didnt because now im learning.. but a heads up its not just plug, play, and burnout.

 

[MetalMulishaMarcus]

Not sure how relevant this is after a few months, but i just installed a terminator x max on my truck, Install went well. Even had to deal with a holley tech and he helped me source out the bad ground of a relay very fast but doing continuity tests on the relay and harness pins. Had my problem found and fixed pretty quick.

Obviously theres bad out there but i dont have anything bad to say.


In my research ive found that the base tune for the Ls engines on the x max are good enough to get ya running but definitely not the end all be all of tuning. The biggest thing i realized with it was the whole "self learning" thing was sorta just a get your truck started for you and running.. decent. The rest is on you, and doing homework or getting someone to tweak the timing, fuel maps, and timing tables as its all very conservative. I was dumb and thought itd just "fix itself.." im happy it didnt because now im learning.. but a heads up its not just plug, play, and burnout.

I ended up buying the x max. I haven't started messing around with it yet as my engine will be getting a rebuild soon (hopefully, money a little tight). I have been watching videos on the whole tuning thing so I have a tiny tiny idea. The self learning feature is one thing I wanted because this engine will probably go through different phases of being built/upgraded so to have that feature to at least get me going will help a lot and I won't necessarily have to pay someone or pay to have it retuned (I'm talking about the cost of buying something like hp tuners and credits).

By not being an expert in no way and learning as well, im hoping by having the self learn, it will kinda help me learn the base stuff to get me going further into it.

I'm hoping all this made sense. I appreciate the input and relevant or not, I'll take all the input/feedback I can get. You guys are more experts then I am. So thank you. I appreciate it.

 

[JoshHefnerX]

There's a couple of huge threads on the ls1tech forum, it's pretty popular over there.

 

[bix]

I ended up buying the x max. I haven't started messing around with it yet as my engine will be getting a rebuild soon (hopefully, money a little tight). I have been watching videos on the whole tuning thing so I have a tiny tiny idea. The self learning feature is one thing I wanted because this engine will probably go through different phases of being built/upgraded so to have that feature to at least get me going will help a lot and I won't necessarily have to pay someone or pay to have it retuned (I'm talking about the cost of buying something like hp tuners and credits).

By not being an expert in no way and learning as well, im hoping by having the self learn, it will kinda help me learn the base stuff to get me going further into it.

I'm hoping all this made sense. I appreciate the input and relevant or not, I'll take all the input/feedback I can get. You guys are more experts then I am. So thank you. I appreciate it.

ah right on! Ive noticed when it comes to self learning, it doesnt explain to you how its doing it or what exactly its changing but with some read ups you will get to undersatand VE tables and how the computer is compensating air mass in the cylinders to the target AFR ect.. I had to watch a few videos over and over because most of them think you understand HP tuners somewhat or even fuel maps in general.. i didnt know anything besides a flathead screwdriver carb tuning or TBI.. so i was very lost. I found once it clicks a bit, its go time from there.

Theres many ways to mess with the fuel tables but i found the VE tables the easiest to understand with MAP and RPM as the x and y axis, rather than lb/hour ect..
Im no expert but DM me or just tag me in your build if ya have any questions installing it, i havent done too much messing around with it as my truck doesnt move right now but ill be rolling in a bit and messing with the tune more

. I had a couple issues i could maybe help with if you run into them also. The instructions do a good job, but for me it was a little overwhelming and im a scattered worker, so things got messy a few times and things ended up in the wrong place haha.

 

[bix]

The issues i had such as PS and how to swap to a single wire alternator, are all in my thread if you have those challenges as well. The holley ECU has no control on alternator output voltage like the factory ECM/PCM

.... as far as i know