[Somnambulator]

Hi all, I bought an 08 GXP 6 months ago and am loving it. I've done a lot of research on the car, both pre- and post-purchase. I cherry-picked my car (as most did here) and was lucky enough to find everything i wanted about an hour away (that's FAR in the NE! I probably passed 50 new and used dealers on my way there). The price was right (but the miles a little high at 50k, and im already close to 65 hehe) and it had some minor mods done.

My problem is I've never driven or closely inspected a stock solstice, let alone a GXP, and I'm the 3rd owner of the car already. I don't really know what's stock on the vehicle and what's not.

It has an aftermarket touch-screen radio and an electronic cut-off before the CC. How do i know what sound system it came with, assuming it also hasnt been replaced? It's a component system...does it have a sub? There's a red anti-roll bar in the rear...is that aftermarket? How can I tell if the GMPP tune and sensors were installed?

And finally, I HATE the stock antenna. It's always getting in the way when we're putting crap in the trunk (you know, like my spare flip flops that won't fit in the cabin). There are plenty of shorty replacements out there, but which is the best? I live in New Castle County DE, which is sometimes on the outskirts of philly FM range and the signal already will come in and out of the few stations i listen to when it's cloudy. I don't want to lose these stations.

Thanks


btw I used to drive past the Wilmington GM plant pretty regularly without even knowing what it is. This was post-closure as I'm new the to area. SO sad to see it shuttered like it is but awesome to drive past the place my car was manufactured.

 

[DaveOC]

In your glove box is a label, which has all the RPO codes of everything that was installed on or in your car.

There's a listing of the RPO codes here:
http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f11/rpo-codes-detailed-option-list-8542/

I'll let someone else answer the GMPP question, since I am merely an NA owner.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[LiquidPT]

Are you SURE that cutout is before the cat? I'd love to do that setup for racing, but there's no room. There's only a few inches and a curve between the turbo and the cat.

 

[GMCustomerSvc]

Hi Somnambulator

If you send me your VIN (by private message) I can send you your build sheet with all of your factory options on it.

Jackie
GM Customer Care

 

[STVZ CARZ]

One way to check to see if you have the GMPP tune is to check your Boost level. The base GXP Turbo get max about 17psi. With the GMPP Upgrade tune you should be seeing minimally 19 to 23psi. That is one way to check. The other is the sensor on the tube will only have 1 screw holding it on the base GXP sensor has 2 screws.
________________________
'09 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe - (man.) Mysterious / Black - (NIICE) Vin: 000116
'09 Saturn Sky Redline - (auto.) Ltd. Ed. Hydro Blue - (COOOL) 1 of 49

 

[Radio Doc]

And finally, I HATE the stock antenna. It's always getting in the way when we're putting crap in the trunk (you know, like my spare flip flops that won't fit in the cabin). There are plenty of shorty replacements out there, but which is the best? I live in New Castle County DE, which is sometimes on the outskirts of philly FM range and the signal already will come in and out of the few stations i listen to when it's cloudy. I don't want to lose these stations.

The factory radio (which you apparently don't have) was designed to work with a specific length antenna. However, any of the "shorty" replacement antennas will not work as well, especially as you say you are in a fringe area. For better or for worse, the laws of physics still apply.

My advice is to leave the original antenna, be careful when loading the trunk from the passenger side or load from the driver's side. :devil:

 

[GrandpaSolstice]

I use this stubby antenna: Carbon Fiber Antenna- Telescopic- real carbon fiber antenna. At least it can be extended to 8 1/4 inches (1/4 of the length of a 1/4 wave FM antenna) when necessary. Oddly enough, I have more trouble with AM stations with mine all the way down. But I'm normally listening to Sirius-XM on the highway anyway.

 

[wspohn]

The factory radio (which you apparently don't have) was designed to work with a specific length antenna. However, any of the "shorty" replacement antennas will not work as well, especially as you say you are in a fringe area. For better or for worse, the laws of physics still apply.

While I don't doubt that shorter will compromise reception at least a bit, I run an OEM antenna - off an Opel GT. That might solve the OPs issue without bothering reception (it hasn't hurt mine) as much as a really short stub would.

Thread: http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f62/opel-gt-antenna-gm-shorty-version-41236/

 

[Somnambulator]

Are you SURE that cutout is before the cat? I'd love to do that setup for racing, but there's no room. There's only a few inches and a curve between the turbo and the cat.

wow you're right. i didn't know the cat was so far forward.

i've only seen the underside once and it was before i knew much about the car.

 

[Somnambulator]

One way to check to see if you have the GMPP tune is to check your Boost level. The base GXP Turbo get max about 17psi. With the GMPP Upgrade tune you should be seeing minimally 19 to 23psi. That is one way to check. The other is the sensor on the tube will only have 1 screw holding it on the base GXP sensor has 2 screws.
________________________
'09 Pontiac Solstice GXP Coupe - (man.) Mysterious / Black - (NIICE) Vin: 000116
'09 Saturn Sky Redline - (auto.) Ltd. Ed. Hydro Blue - (COOOL) 1 of 49

Which tube?

 

[The_Ghost]

Hi all, I bought an 08 GXP 6 months ago and am loving it. I've done a lot of research on the car, both pre- and post-purchase. I cherry-picked my car (as most did here) and was lucky enough to find everything i wanted about an hour away (that's FAR in the NE! I probably passed 50 new and used dealers on my way there). The price was right (but the miles a little high at 50k, and im already close to 65 hehe) and it had some minor mods done.

My problem is I've never driven or closely inspected a stock solstice, let alone a GXP, and I'm the 3rd owner of the car already. I don't really know what's stock on the vehicle and what's not.

It has an aftermarket touch-screen radio and an electronic cut-off before the CC. How do i know what sound system it came with, assuming it also hasnt been replaced? It's a component system...does it have a sub? There's a red anti-roll bar in the rear...is that aftermarket? How can I tell if the GMPP tune and sensors were installed?

And finally, I HATE the stock antenna. It's always getting in the way when we're putting crap in the trunk (you know, like my spare flip flops that won't fit in the cabin). There are plenty of shorty replacements out there, but which is the best? I live in New Castle County DE, which is sometimes on the outskirts of philly FM range and the signal already will come in and out of the few stations i listen to when it's cloudy. I don't want to lose these stations.

Thanks


btw I used to drive past the Wilmington GM plant pretty regularly without even knowing what it is. This was post-closure as I'm new the to area. SO sad to see it shuttered like it is but awesome to drive past the place my car was manufactured.

First the sound system. You don't have a stock head unit. If the car came with the Monsoon, you will have a sub behind the passenger seat.

Second the GMPP tune. Don't go by boost pressure. Many here have the stock tune and still get 18psi. You have to look at you MAP sensor on the intake side of the intercooler piping. If it has only one screw, you have GMPP. If you are getting a lot of boost (20+PSI)and still have the 2 screw MAP, you are probably (and I use that term loosely) tuned by someone else. Good luck with trying to find out who tuned your car, I've been trying for almost a year now. :huh:

Third. The red roll bar is DEFINETLY not stock. And electronic cut-off....hmmm.... I'd say maybe your car was tracked on the weekends.

Look underneath your car at the exhuast. You should have dual pipes coming out the rear. Is there a muffler?

Final question, is there a blow-off valve on your intercooler piping? If so, that is not stock either!

 

[Somnambulator]

alright I'll have to take some pics on the intercooler pipes tomorrow. Ive never had forced induction before so Ive been reading up as much as possible.

RE: electronic cut-off...ya i have a muffler. you wouldn't know it. the exhaust is loud- really loud- for a 4-banger, and has a great rumble to it. Also, the cut-off is stuck open. There are 2 switches rigged inside inside the driver's seat area but I can't figure out what either do. I do know neither toggles the electronic cut-off. Maybe the one that does isn't working anymore. the good thing is it passed state inspection, which includes emissions. Guess that means the cat is still installed, heh.

So it's got an aftermarket anti-roll bar... and it STILL KICKS OUT THIS MUCH? holy crap! i'd hate to see it without one...

I flashed the budget trifecta tune a few weeks ago...made a big difference. If the car was previously tuned, they did a crappy job. the power band is now much larger and there is significantly more low-end power. Im leaning towards it having been stock ECM as according to my Torque Android app I picked up about 30 rwhp.

 

[The_Ghost]

RE: electronic cut-off...ya i have a muffler. you wouldn't know it. the exhaust is loud- really loud- for a 4-banger, and has a great rumble to it. Also, the cut-off is stuck open.

You probably passed emissions because of this! Your car will be extremely loud if the cutoff is stuck open. It's not going through the cat to kind of quiet it, thus its letting out a lot of the exhaust.....

 

[TX08manualGXP]

I have a question, when I got my loaner GXP back in February, I could have sworn the mirror had temp and heading display and was hoping my 80 GXP had the same but all I have is onstar which is useless. was that mirror an option in 2008? maybe it was an 09. and if that available for my 08? I'll never use the onstar and would rather have the temp and compass.

 

[DaveOC]

I have a question, when I got my loaner GXP back in February, I could have sworn the mirror had temp and heading display and was hoping my 80 GXP had the same but all I have is onstar which is useless. was that mirror an option in 2008? maybe it was an 09. and if that available for my 08? I'll never use the onstar and would rather have the temp and compass.

There were never any optional mirrors on the Solstices or Skys. One of the popular mods back in the heyday of the Solstice was installing one of the other GM mirrors that had the temp and compass. Maybe your loaner was one of the modded ones.

:dunno:

 

[rob the elder]

The 08 and up cars will display ambient temperature on the DIC.

 

[TX08manualGXP]

Thanks Dave, I'll look into that.
Really Rob? I've scrolled thru the menu in the info button and see that it shows the freakin tire pressure but haven't seen a temp other than coolant. And that's what I was hoping to get. I could care less what direction I'm going I'll look some more.

 

[DaveOC]

Thanks Dave, I'll look into that.
Really Rob?

Rob may be confused since he also owns a Saturn Sky, and one of the features on the Saturn that is different from the Solstice is that the Sky has the ambient temperature displayed on the DIC as well as the coolant temp.

Back at you, Rob!

:rofl:

 

[Somnambulator]

ya I know what the electronic cut off does and what effect it has, I was still surprised at the quality of the sound of the engine. it's loud, but also sounds mean...like a mini v8.

got pics of it along with the sway bar and shocks and also of the engine compartment (trying to figure out which plug is the map sensor), but this app doesn't seem to be working right.

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[Somnambulator]

what brand are the factory shocks, and what color are they? I have the upgraded suspension package, FE0 or whatever it is, and mine are yellow. Will check for brand tomorrow. the sway bar is from kappasphere...is it any good?

is the map sensor on the side of turbo?

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