AFM/DFM Disbler

[Sparky01]

I know this question has been asked too many times but I want some advice. I have a 2021 Trail Boss LT with the 5.3 and I am looking for info on a AFM/DFM diabler. I hear good things about the Range products but they are really expensive. Everytime I get in my truck I shift it into 9th gear so it can go into 10th and I push the Auto Start/Stop button and its a pain. Anybody have advice on what product to use? Anybody still have a fail with the disabler still installed? If its a $240 Range I need to get instead of an 8-10K repair I get it

Thanks

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

I know this question has been asked too many times but I want some advice. I have a 2021 Trail Boss LT with the 5.3 and I am looking for info on a AFM/DFM diabler. I hear good things about the Range products but they are really expensive. Everytime I get in my truck I shift it into 9th gear so it can go into 10th and I push the Auto Start/Stop button and its a pain. Anybody have advice on what product to use? Anybody still have a fail with the disabler still installed? If its a $240 Range I need to get instead of an 8-10K repair I get it

Thanks

As you stated, Range Technology does have good products. I went with the Range and have had it now for some time with no issues such as failures. The following is the one you need for your year and it plugs into your OBD-II port. The one for my year had to be installed into my ECM in the driver side wheel well behind the liner because after the refreshed year, the location for the disable changed.

https://www.rangetechnology.com/products/afm-dfm_disabler/parts/RA003B

 

[Sparky01]

As you stated, Range Technology does have good products. I went with the Range and have had it now for some time with no issues such as failures. The following is the one you need for your year and it plugs into your OBD-II port. The one for my year had to be installed into my ECM in the driver side wheel well behind the liner because after the refreshed year, the location for the disable changed.

https://www.rangetechnology.com/products/afm-dfm_disabler/parts/RA003B

Thank you very much! I aapreciate the advice and the info....

 

[Mato Hota]

Hey Sparky,

Looks like we're running the same truck, right down to the color. I added the DFM Disabler from Range Technology last September. No issues over the last 6 months. Nice to know I'm running on all 8 cylinders. Debated between it and the Pulsar, but just didn't think I would use all of the bells and whistles that came with the additional cost. Like you, I looked at $240 is low cost insurance. So far, so good.

 

[Jeffh70]

Purchased the Range RA007 for my 25 6.2. Looking forward to getting it Thursday. So just to get a heads up this one does not plug into the OBD port but goes behind a front wheel well? I've read for months how people like these and if it will help extend the life of the engine I decided to jump in. I saw some cheaper but was a little scared of those so spent the money and went Range.

 

[Mark L]

I know this question has been asked too many times but I want some advice. I have a 2021 Trail Boss LT with the 5.3 and I am looking for info on a AFM/DFM diabler. I hear good things about the Range products but they are really expensive. Everytime I get in my truck I shift it into 9th gear so it can go into 10th and I push the Auto Start/Stop button and its a pain. Anybody have advice on what product to use? Anybody still have a fail with the disabler still installed? If its a $240 Range I need to get instead of an 8-10K repair I get it

Thanks

I bought one of the Range disabled but have not installed it as yet. I called Range and asked them how would I know the DFM was disabled, and the customer rep told me there wasn’t any visual or instrumentation cue (besides the auto start stop) that it was working.

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

Purchased the Range RA007 for my 25 6.2. Looking forward to getting it Thursday. So just to get a heads up this one does not plug into the OBD port but goes behind a front wheel well? I've read for months how people like these and if it will help extend the life of the engine I decided to jump in. I saw some cheaper but was a little scared of those so spent the money and went Range.

Yes, the module plugs into the bottom slot of your ECM behind the front portion of the driver side wheel well liner (GM's refreshed Global B electronic infrastructure). First after locating the ECM, you want to remove the bottom harness plug. Second, after removing the bottom harness plug (there are three harness plugs located on the ECM), you plug in the Range module. Third, you plug in the harness plug onto the Range module. That's it! Easy!

 

[Jeffh70]

Yes, the module plugs into the bottom slot of your ECM behind the front portion of the driver side wheel well liner (GM's refreshed Global B electronic infrastructure). First after locating the ECM, you want to remove the bottom harness plug. Second, after removing the bottom harness plug (there are three harness plugs located on the ECM), you plug in the Range module. Third, you plug in the harness plug onto the Range module. That's it! Easy!

yep, watched a quick Youtube video looks like no problem at all.

 

[Mark L]

While I have yet to install my Range disabler, I did see in the 400 page truck owners manual that there is a specific process for disconnecting the negative cable on the battery. After shutting the engine off, leave the radio on so that you know when the accessory power finally shuts down, which I think is 10 minutes. Then you can disconnect the negative battery cable prior to installing the Range DFM disabler. If you do not do this, the emergency Onstar battery will be discharged, permanently, and need to be replaced. If I was Range I’d make sure and put those instructions in the box with their product. I’m sure most people don’t read all 400 pages of the owners manual.

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

While I have yet to install my Range disabler, I did see in the 400 page truck owners manual that there is a specific process for disconnecting the negative cable on the battery. After shutting the engine off, leave the radio on so that you know when the accessory power finally shuts down, which I think is 10 minutes. Then you can disconnect the negative battery cable prior to installing the Range DFM disabler. If you do not do this, the emergency Onstar battery will be discharged, permanently, and need to be replaced. If I was Range I’d make sure and put those instructions in the box with their product. I’m sure most people don’t read all 400 pages of the owners manual.

I wish I had a "print" style owner's manual.

 

[Jeffh70]

While I have yet to install my Range disabler, I did see in the 400 page truck owners manual that there is a specific process for disconnecting the negative cable on the battery. After shutting the engine off, leave the radio on so that you know when the accessory power finally shuts down, which I think is 10 minutes. Then you can disconnect the negative battery cable prior to installing the Range DFM disabler. If you do not do this, the emergency Onstar battery will be discharged, permanently, and need to be replaced. If I was Range I’d make sure and put those instructions in the box with their product. I’m sure most people don’t read all 400 pages of the owners manual.

Nope I didn't do any of that, just disconnected the negative, got at it, reconnected the negative and off I went. Have drove it a few days now and such a great difference none of the feeling the engine changing constantly, the trans shifting so much well, well worth it and glad I did it.

 

[JD TrailB]

Does the Range disabled work on 10 speeds? I just started looking into it because of a lifter tapping on start up and sometimes when I accelerate on a hill it gets real bad. It seems most plug in disablers I looked at don’t work on 20 spd transmissions.

 

[BigBlackie_'25TB]

Does the Range disabled work on 10 speeds? I just started looking into it because of a lifter tapping on start up and sometimes when I accelerate on a hill it gets real bad. It seems most plug in disablers I looked at don’t work on 20 spd transmissions.

Seems to work fine on mine...the 10L80

 

[Mark L]

I wish I had a "print" style owner's manual.

The sales gal offered to print it off for me, and I jumped at that!

 

[Mark L]

While I have yet to install my Range disabler, I did see in the 400 page truck owners manual that there is a specific process for disconnecting the negative cable on the battery. After shutting the engine off, leave the radio on so that you know when the accessory power finally shuts down, which I think is 10 minutes. Then you can disconnect the negative battery cable prior to installing the Range DFM disabler. If you do not do this, the emergency Onstar battery will be discharged, permanently, and need to be replaced. If I was Range I’d make sure and put those instructions in the box with their product. I’m sure most people don’t read all 400 pages of the owners manual.

So much for the Range DFM disabler. The first module I purchased would not completely engage and “lock” onto the trucks “port”. They sent me a new module and a return label for the bad unit.

The new module clicked right into place, with the spring loaded catch positively engaging with the trucks port. OMG! After hooking the battery back up I attempted to start the truck and not only would it not even start, the instrument panel lit up like a Christmas tree. Every error and trouble light that thing is capable of showing was lit up. I tried multiple times to get the truck started. My first thought was, “shit, what have I done to my brand new truck!?”

For what it’s worth, I’ve personally removed multiple engines from vehicles and put them back in, so I’m pretty sure the problem wasn’t my mechanical ability or lack there of. I used the return label that Range sent me and returned both units. Thus far I’ve not received a credit back on my card. I’ll just chalk this one up to lesson learned.

And that lesson is to never buy GM DFM products again. Now I have a ticking time bomb that I’ll have to trade in prior to warranty expiration. And yes, I have been using L mode and paddle shifting to 9th gear (a pain in the ass every single time I use the truck) to supposedly prevent DFM from working, but as you know, the truck does not advise you when it is deactivating cylinders, so I don’t know with certainty that this hack is working.