Mike,
Maybe you have heard of this or not. this past week I went on a very long road trip (apprx. 3,000 miles total). The truck ran strong and fast all the way to CAL. On the way back we were taking a long bouncy 2 lane highway for about 60+ miles, when I ran across a pair of railroad tracks and a few other bumps (doing about 60-70mph, all of a sudden the truck died. I coasted over to the shoulder of the road, turned the key off and thought! I read through the owners manualk to find the fuel shut switch location, (hum), maybe? Well it wasn't that, then I turned the key and it started, no problems for the rest of the trip. Today I thought about it, and realized I just don't have that attack off the start (races tomorrow ya know), so I pushed on the chip and the computer to make certain everything is together and tight. Well low and behold it was every so loose. I even used duct tape. As I left the house I had back the "Zeal" it used to have. Could the connection have lost contact, in turn causing the truck to die suddenly? Hope it doesnt happen again, would hate to mess up the computer, I dont think this PC is fast enough.
Thanks, as always Mike.
ED




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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html

 

If the chip came loose while running it may have stopped the engine. Maybve Mike Troyer will read this and know. I have duct tape on mine too, so I think I will check it out to make sure it is still holding tight.

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97 F-150, 2WD, Reg Cab,Flareside,Dk Toreador Red, 4.6, 3.55 LS, EGR Bug Deflector, ******* Bed Cover, Bed Liner, XL Full Length Running Boards, Air Aid Kit, Gibson Single Out Cat Back, Superchips, TransGo Shift Kit, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Hellwig 2500# Overload Springs

 

Since you checked your chip and you say it was a bit loose, then that most likly was your problem. If you can, I would suggest removing the old tape and adding new. My truck is a 4x4 and I've got it taped as tight as I could get it.

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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
Better Built Stainless nerf bars

 

Cable guy,
What I did was use a long strip of velco with two smaller pieces on the computer sides. This way if you want to remove the chip you don't have to re-tape it.
Mike,
I was wondering if the chip comes loose while the truck is on, does that have any affect on the computer?

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99 F150XLT Black Sport,Ext cab 4.6,3:55,K&N,Ford seat covers,Vent visors(front only),Draw tight hitch,Superchip,custom cat back with 70 series and stainless tips




[This message has been edited by DBoyz (edited 07-24-1999).]

 

CableGUY: That's a way cool site you have!! Those pictures of MtStHelens bring back memories (12years since I was there). Which of you does the talking here on this board, Jen or Ed?? It would be nice to have more females here especially with their own truck!!

 

Funny you should ask that, I am the obsessed one. Jennifer gets to drive the truck all week for work (I have a 1999 F-150 4.6L 4x2 "company truck"). So I am the one leaving all the messages, chats, and web page design. She just enjoys the power. One time though she checked out the site and was in the chat room when you were, she really enjoyed seeing a female amongst this male dominated site. I'll try and get her back on more often though, maybe we all can really find out what she thinks about the truck.

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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html

 

Thanks all!
Tina - I knew you would suggest something good! thanks, check out CAF150 and myself. I met up with him on my trip.


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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html

 

Dear Cableguy,

It's possible for this to happen, when you hit a series of hard bumps, but I haven't heard of this happening if the Superchip was taped. The background on this is as follows: There is about a sixteenth of an inch variance in the actual *thickness* of the edge connector itself, which is why we can't make the slot on the back of the module tight enough to automatically "nick" thru the conformal coating for you when you push it on, and that's why you have to clean the contacts during initial installation. This is taken care of by running a piece of tape from the top of the computer, over the module, then around to the bottom of the computer. I must confess that I have deliberately only taped one of my vehicle's Superchips, to see if I would ever have a problem, and I haven't, but that really doesn't mean much.

Just make sure you have it taped well, and you shouldn't ever have this problem again. It sounds to me like your edge connector is obviously on the thinner side of the tolerance, so it should be well taped prior to taking any hard bumps. In those cases, I suggest using duct tape, or "Racer's tape", or "200 mph tape", as it's commonly called, as it's more tolerant of temperature variance over the seasons in these trucks.

When the connection is interrupted for whatever reason, the vehicle will either stall, or the computer will go into "limp home" mode, which is characterized by low power and a constantly cycling idle, up and down by hundreds of rpm in a constant rythmic cycle.

Just make sure that the bottom of the module, where the slot is, is pushed firmly on to the edge connector. I don't mean trying to bend the *top* of the module to be flush with the back of the computer, that depends on the *depth* of the edge connector, which can also vary, by + or - 1/8", which can yield a 1/4" gap between the top of the back of the module, and the back of the computer, and that's normal. When you have a gap, it's best to tape the unit.

Sorry you had a problem, but this should take care of it for you.

Bests,

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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 07-26-1999).]

 

Thanks Mike and all,
I knew everyone would come to my rescue here at F150 online. This is the best website ever. I have used what we call in our business 2 YEAR tape (duct tape), hope I never have it happen again, a little scary, brand new truck and all.
Again thanks all!
Don't forget to keep an Eye on my website, have new pics. from the drags and show this past weekend, will be gettin the photos on disk tomorrow and be creating a new link in the next day or two.


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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html

 

Mike, Cableguy,

Have been following thos thread with interest as I have had the same problem.

Since I sent my computer to SuperChips for the "No Start" problem many months ago, they installed and taped the SuperChip firmly and I never thought anymore about it.

My circumstances for the engine dying were mostly at low speed so I coasted to the curb and restarted. One restart took several tries while all the others were immediate restarts. I'll check my chip this weekend.

I do feel the problem has been electrical and it may not be the SuperChip installation at all.

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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK. Man, I got it all!

 

Phew!!! Am I glad that it was the truck that died and not the driver!! Had me worried!

Neal

 

Neal,

Another driver almost died laughing on me when he looked over at me while I had my Clinton mask on.

Checked the "bed" for female undergarments.....

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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK. Man, I got it all!

 

Sorry folks fopr the title of this topic. Believe it or not when I titled this I didn't even think about it till I saw a couple postings in regards to it. Didn't mean to scare anyone. OOOPPPSSS!

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1999 F-150 XLT, Ext.Cab, 5.4L, 3:55 limited slip, 4x2, Bright Torch Red(all color matched-bumpers, mirrors) "Sport" pkg., Tonneau,285/50/17, 3" custom catback, Superchips, Airaid, Lowered 4" rear & 3" front, Herculiner bed lining(self install) AWESOME! Newest E/T at the drags 6/26/99: 14.9sec at 90.4 mph. Billet Badges, Billet Antenna, Removal of "Sport" sticker and door guards. For photos e-mail me at: whtstuff@aol.com OR my web page at Http://members.aol.com/whtstuff/myweb.html

 

Went away on vacation and thought I missed something big.
Gotta be careful how we name these topics!

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Don in Nashville
'99 F-250 SuperDuty SuperCab w/ 8' box, Woodland Green, V10, auto, 4WD ORP,
Towing Pkg. & Mirrors
Additions: Chrome Nerf Bars, LINE-X bedliner, Ventvisor Window deflectors, Bugflector II
Coming Additions: Toolbox, K&N filters, Superchip, ...

 

Nobody passed away......that's a riot, it never hit me that way until you guys said something.

What's in a title anyway?

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