No Start Question
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Member
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Clarkston, MI USA
No Start Question
I am getting ready to install SuperChip tommorrow, if I can ever run this tank of gas out (This tank has got to have set a record for mileage, just because I want it gone). I've read alot about the no start problem and it appears that it is affecting primarily 99's. Has this been a problem for 97's as well? I am a little skittish about screwing w/ the computer if it is going to damage it. Also what's all the talk about resetting the computer after installation?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,246
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From: Wilmington, NC
Reseting the computer is just a faster way for it to start learning the new stuff from the chip. The computer will learn regardless if you reset or not. It just depends on how fast you want it to. To reset all you have to do is disconnect the battery and then turn on your lights. By turning on the lights, it makes sure that all residual power is drained off and you get a true reset. This is also faster than letting your truck sit for a half hour making sure all power is drained off. Then just reconnect battery and start her up. Oh, scraping the computer terminals & adding a chip does NOT damage the computer. If you end up w/the no start problem, it's because FORD didn't add all the jumpers to the computer. Superchip offers to fix this for free. Lets hope yours starts just fine 
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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
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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
Member
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 74
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From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Just to clarify..If your truck won't start just remove the chip (takes two seconds as you don't have to pull the computer back ou to do it) and it'll fire right up!
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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.
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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.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Dear fsunman,
The "No Start" that you see mentioned here only affects a tiny number of 1999 Ford vehicles, no other model years are affected. Ford used multiple suppliers for the circuit boad in the Ford ECU, and one of them just didn't close the jumper(s)that enable communications to the edge connector, that's all.
If you get a "no start" on your vehicle, it will be because the connection is not good, which is usually from not scraping the contacts enough. The vehicle will crank but not start if you don't have good electrical conductivity between the edge connector and the contacts in the slot of the Superchip. You don't have to scrape hard, mind you, just 3-4 strokes back and forth over each contact with a small straight-blade screwdriver is how I do it. The coating is practically invisible to the naked eye until you start scraping, and then it usually rolls up in shavings, or little *****. Cleaning the edge connector shouldn't take any more than 5 minutes, tops. And don't worry, you're not going to damage anything unless you get carried away, and scrape the metal off the contacts, which would be very obvious.
Good luck,
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
The "No Start" that you see mentioned here only affects a tiny number of 1999 Ford vehicles, no other model years are affected. Ford used multiple suppliers for the circuit boad in the Ford ECU, and one of them just didn't close the jumper(s)that enable communications to the edge connector, that's all.
If you get a "no start" on your vehicle, it will be because the connection is not good, which is usually from not scraping the contacts enough. The vehicle will crank but not start if you don't have good electrical conductivity between the edge connector and the contacts in the slot of the Superchip. You don't have to scrape hard, mind you, just 3-4 strokes back and forth over each contact with a small straight-blade screwdriver is how I do it. The coating is practically invisible to the naked eye until you start scraping, and then it usually rolls up in shavings, or little *****. Cleaning the edge connector shouldn't take any more than 5 minutes, tops. And don't worry, you're not going to damage anything unless you get carried away, and scrape the metal off the contacts, which would be very obvious.
Good luck,
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 240
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From: Miami, Fl
fsunman,
When you pull the computer to clean the edge connector, that'll reset it. Don't worry about "no-start", it's no big deal to correct. When in doubt....call Mike!
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'99 WHITE F150 XLT FlareSide SC 4.2 Auto 3.55, Superchip,
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, White Vtech Sidewinders,
LOTTA SHOW and SOME GO
When you pull the computer to clean the edge connector, that'll reset it. Don't worry about "no-start", it's no big deal to correct. When in doubt....call Mike!
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'99 WHITE F150 XLT FlareSide SC 4.2 Auto 3.55, Superchip,
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, White Vtech Sidewinders,
LOTTA SHOW and SOME GO
Member
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 47
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From: Windsor Ont Canada
Mike T
I realize that it is a small # of 99's that have the "no start" problem. Do you think there is a way of pressuring Ford to commonize the computers. You know that I had the problem, and I got the feeling that I got a 2nd rate or low end computer. It's the same as the loyal Ford people who got the
sh%tty front cover gaskets. With close to 2000 F-150 onliners, we could put some real pressure on them. ( AND I WORK THERE)
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Black 99,flareside,SC 4.6,chrome Westin step bars, Extang tonneau, Magnum Deflector, SUPERCHIPPED
I realize that it is a small # of 99's that have the "no start" problem. Do you think there is a way of pressuring Ford to commonize the computers. You know that I had the problem, and I got the feeling that I got a 2nd rate or low end computer. It's the same as the loyal Ford people who got the
sh%tty front cover gaskets. With close to 2000 F-150 onliners, we could put some real pressure on them. ( AND I WORK THERE)
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Black 99,flareside,SC 4.6,chrome Westin step bars, Extang tonneau, Magnum Deflector, SUPERCHIPPED
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 240
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From: Miami, Fl
patdon,
If we could get our act together, there are many problems to be solved, gaskets, computer board, leaky rear windows, cracked doors, piston slap (that one they're working on),etc. It would be great to be "A Force to be Reckoned With".
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'99 WHITE F150 XLT FlareSide SC 4.2 Auto 3.55, Superchip,
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, White Vtech Sidewinders,
LOTTA SHOW and SOME GO
If we could get our act together, there are many problems to be solved, gaskets, computer board, leaky rear windows, cracked doors, piston slap (that one they're working on),etc. It would be great to be "A Force to be Reckoned With".
------------------
'99 WHITE F150 XLT FlareSide SC 4.2 Auto 3.55, Superchip,
Black Westin Nerfs, White Prime Design BugShield,
White Vtech Taillight Covers, White Vtech Sidewinders,
LOTTA SHOW and SOME GO
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Clarkston, MI USA
Well, I installed the Superchip today and I have to say that I am very pleased w/ the results. I was most suprised with the mid-range response and how quickly I was up to 85mph when merging on the x-way (I hope my radar detector doesn't malfunction). I am experiencing a lot of spark knock at WOT, but at the moment I'm attributing that to my impatience as I still had about an 7 gals. of regular when I filled up w/94 Octane. It took me about an hour to install, mostly due to my extreme paranoia w/ regards to handling and scraping the connector posts(I also removed the battery for easier accesibility). Thanks for all the help everyone provided. UPS just delivered my Airaid system, its back to the garage.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Dear Patdon,
It's a mute point. Those boards were only used for a few months, and then no more. For example, though you can't predict it by code, early ZZT3 codes wereaffected, but so far no ZZT4's, and that's held true for each code. Meaning, every code affected with a "3" version, were no longer affected in the next revision, "4", whether it's the AAT3's and AAT4's, or the FCR3's and FCR4's. So it seems to be strictly a limited time period. That aside, realistically Ford isn't about to listen to anything like that, they absolutely *HATE* us chipmakers! Which is why Ford has from Day 1 had the most tamper-proof computer design, it's never had a replaceable eprom, unlike almost all other pre-OBD-II vehicles.
What's going to be interesting to see is whether or not Ford continues to have the edge connector in coming model years. I can't wait for the 2000's to come out, to see what happens with them. Whenever they eliminate the edge connector, we'll be ready with the Ford Micro Tuner.
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 07-05-1999).]
It's a mute point. Those boards were only used for a few months, and then no more. For example, though you can't predict it by code, early ZZT3 codes wereaffected, but so far no ZZT4's, and that's held true for each code. Meaning, every code affected with a "3" version, were no longer affected in the next revision, "4", whether it's the AAT3's and AAT4's, or the FCR3's and FCR4's. So it seems to be strictly a limited time period. That aside, realistically Ford isn't about to listen to anything like that, they absolutely *HATE* us chipmakers! Which is why Ford has from Day 1 had the most tamper-proof computer design, it's never had a replaceable eprom, unlike almost all other pre-OBD-II vehicles.
What's going to be interesting to see is whether or not Ford continues to have the edge connector in coming model years. I can't wait for the 2000's to come out, to see what happens with them. Whenever they eliminate the edge connector, we'll be ready with the Ford Micro Tuner.
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 07-05-1999).]