The dealer updated my computer, so I had Superchips update the software on the chip. However, now the shifts aren't as firm and the acceleration is nothing like it was the first time the chip was in the truck. Has anyone had these problems. Mike do you have any suggestions.

Thanks

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1997 Lariat 4x4, red/silver, 5.4, 4" Rancho Suspension with RS 5000's, 3" Body Lift,
Bedliner, Alpine Head Unit and EQ, Rockfor Fosgate and Precision Power Amps, 10" Bazooka, Bugdeflector,
16.5x9.75 Welds, 35x12.50x16.5, Superchip and K&N Filter

 

Relearn?

 

You will likely need to give it more time! I too suffered a little disappointment at first. It's now been two days and only last night did I give it some good WOT. I noticed improvement this afternoon for the first time. Mike told me that the computer takes longer to learn with the superchip. Again when I first put it in I (honestly) could not tell the diff...I can now!

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1999 F250 LD 5.4 4x4 Lariat Supercab. White & Silver
Supercharged, Super chip, dual exhaust, K&N, Hidden Winch, Billet grill, Color GPS, Chrome Nerf & Flaps, clear tail & turn lenses, 9007 headlights, Inyati liner.

 

Here's another question for Mike...
Here in AZ it's 110 degrees more or less right now and A/C is always on. I went out late last night to do a fair amount of WOT input and kept the A/C off (carpet still wet from sweat). My question is this..Having the A/C on make any real difference to the learning curve?

 

Doc-Ford: I too go w/the others on this, I think it's relearn. My computer is going through relearn now too. I think it's been almost two weeks and I thought it would have learned everything but I forgot to do any WOT and the other day really needed speed and hit WOT. Speed was not there!!! And it ran ruff. So I now need to keep the neighbors up late driving up and down the road teaching the beast WOT!!!

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97F150 XLT SC 4x4 Flairside 4.6 V8 5sp Dk Toreador Red, 3.55LS
ARE tonneau cover, p255/70rx16 tires (came w/235), Superchip
Pioneer CD w/4 Polk Speakers & Clarion APA5240amp, skid plates
bed liner, side window deflectors, reese hitch, K&N air filter
40s-2chamber Flowmaster, Bosch +4 spark plugs, rustproofing

 

Tina
Your truck should not require a two week relearn, it just doesn't work that way superchip or not.
If you drive only very short distances per trip it would take a little longer, but not two weeks.
Chances are that if you had your chip returned for retuning for what ever problems it was causing, when
you got it back your truck is probably making slightly less power. The common fix for chip companys is
to retard the timing to match what your engine can handle.

As for the WOT part of the relearn, it was my understanding that the computer ignores sensory input at WOT,
if so how could it impact the relearn?

 

Gears: It's been 2 weeks since I had to reset the computer. It's learned all the basics but I believe these computers are continously learning. Anyway it drives just fine except when I hit WOT the other day. Really ruff. I don't know about the computer ignoring input @ WOT but I do think it learns to give more power if you use it. This is a "Mike T" department!! Maybe he can clear up the confusion.

 

Dear Doc_Ford,

Contrary to what some may claim, there are indeed aspects of relearn that can take 2 weeks, or considerably longer, as has been mentioned by numerous people right here who have experienced it, in some of their responses to you. We've seen it many times over the years, and moreso with the newer Fords. WOT operations also are affected by Ford's adaptive strategy, and it usually takes longer for WOT operation to "settle in", it just depends on how much time you spend at WOT, as the EEC-V computer is going to continually optimize itself for it's operating conditions, and this "adaptive strategy" of Ford's is something that continues for the life of the vehicle. It's also been our experience since 1983 that even technicians at Ford dealerships know very little about relearn times as it applies to performance programing, simply because they don't have any direct experience doing anything to the computer except reflashing it with another factory calibration with dealer equipment, or replacing a failed unit. When an EEC-V computer is reflashed at the dealership, which is usually done to remedy some driveability complaint, all that's happening is they are reflashing the computer with a software revision that is almost *exactly* the same as the one you had previously, save for some very minor changes. The computer isn't seeing a substantially different programming *strategy*, as it is when installing a Superchip. With the Superchip, the vehicle is programmed to a completely different set of priorities, and consequently the relearn time when installing a Superchip is quite naturally longer than when a dealer has reflashed the computer to a later revision of the factory program. Most aspects of relearn are transparent to the driver, except for obvious things such as idle speed & quality, and sometimes that is why people think it's shorter than what it really is, or can be.

I'm assuming that you haven't picked up the phone and talked to Superchips, which is the very first thing that you should do. Nobody is going to be able to answer this except Superchips. That's why it's best to cut to the chase and ask the source.

At this point I don't know if it's relearn or whether the program needs to be adjusted, and neither does anyone else. When Superchips updates the chip due to a dealer reflasing a computer, Superchips sometimes doesn't have the benefit of having a vehicle there on the dyno to do all the normal development work to the new program, so they tend to be a bit more conservative under those circumstances, and it could well be that simple. The best thing to do is to pick up the phone, and call Superchips at 888-227-2447, and discuss it with the people who did the work, who are going to be the only people who will know. Everything else is pure speculation.

The program can very easily be adjusted, based on your feedback. What that will entail of course is calling Superchips to get a "re-do" RMA number, and sending it back to them for the changes. Instead of wasting everyone's bandwidth here with this, it's probably best to just give me a call, and I'll be happy to go over all the details. I'm sure this is something that's easily corrected, and my *guess* (and it's purely a guess!)is that it's not relearn that we're dealing with, but rather a matter of Superchips having been conservative with that replacement program your computer was reflashed to.

So please feel free to give me a call if you'd like to discuss this, otherwise just call Superchips directly and have them take care of it.

Bests,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

Dear Wynjammer,

No, having the AC on or off doesn't matter, as in most Fords the A/C compressor is automatically turned off at WOT. The fan will run, but the compressor clutch isn't engaged, so the compressor isn't turning and costing horsepower at wide-open throttle (WOT).

Before computer controls, many police vehicles used to have instructions labeled on the dash to "Turn off A/C before pursuit", to avoid exposing the compressor to sustained high-rpm use, and the wear and tear that comes with it, especially back in the 70's and earlier. Now most vehicles have this feature. Ain't computers grand?

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

Mike, I am pretty sure that's not the case. I have had many instances towing up a grade for 5 minutes or so at WOT with no degredation in A/C. I also know that the truck has always performed much better without out A/C (at WOT and lower throttle). I know that you can get kits to do this and I have had vehicles in the past that did it as well but not this truck. It does seem to me that the computer wouldn't know the diff between a bed full of dirt or the A/C on unless there was some kind of sensor. So I guess I'm still wondering...?

 

Actually, the AC compressor clutch _DOES_ disengage at a specific RPM on the F-150's. I am not sure at what specific RPM it cuts off, but even my '83 Mustang GT would do it at around 3500-4000 RPM and I experienced this the other day in my '99 F-150 while "laying the hammer down"!

------------------
MarkS
1999 F-150 XLT 4x4 ORP SC SB
5.4, 3.73, & Superchip.

 

I had read about the mustang guys doing something similiar to shutting off the A/C at WOT on their alternators. Does anyone now how to do this? It would be better if the accesories shut of at WOT instead of a predetermined rpm so they would still work in high rpm acceleration that was not WO.

 

Don't know what to say except that maybe my truck A/C cutoff is broke! First time I had the RV on the back after the supercharger went on I ran it hard up the grades to Flagstaff to see what it'd do. I was running anywhere from 3500 to 4500 RPM WOT for long periods of time to see how fast I could tow 5,000LBS up a 7% grade. It was HOT outside and not once did the A/C cut out. I didn't have the A/C on all the time mind you as I was testing all aspects of the truck but on several major grades I did and again these were period of at least 3-5 minutes. I doubt that Ford would do things that much differently on the 250 but maybe that's it. Also this does have the "hot climate" package which includes higher capacity A/C, Tranny cooler and four core radiator...

Oh well..Maybe I'm nuts!..Not trying to be argumentative..just curious!

------------------
1999 F250 LD 5.4 4x4 Lariat Supercab. White & Silver
Supercharger, Super chip, dual exhaust, K&N, Hidden Winch, Billet grill, Color GPS, Chrome Nerf & Flaps, clear tail & turn lenses, 9007 headlights, Inyati liner.

 

Dear Wynjammer,

It may just be that your particular configuration doesn't have the WOT compressor shutoff, I don't know without seeing it. And you'd feel the difference running for that long at WOT, I would think! So perhaps your vehicle doesn't use it, for whatever reason, but I can tell you that's very rare, especially among Fords. Maybe it's just part of the hot climate package, deleting that feature.

Your original questions was, would having the A/C on make any difference in the relearn process, and that answer was no.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

Wynjammer: Your really pushing the truck to the limit aren't ya? Pulling 5000lbs all the way up a 7% grade on a hot day at full throttle with the A/C on. Damn, is the Triton one strong engine or what!

What are 9007 headlights? Are they the super bright lights? If so, how do you like 'em?

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'97 F150 Lariat, Flareside, SC, ORP, 5.4, Mods: [i]305/70/16 GY ATS, AR Baja wheels, dual exhaust, Smittybilt nerf bars, fog light mod and Big Bird mirror toy.[i/]
kkirt1@hotmail.com




[This message has been edited by kkirt1 (edited 07-01-1999).]