Superchip Question
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Plano, Texas, USA
Superchip Question
Mike, I hope to talk to you via voice tomorrow, but I'm wondering if anyone else here has had the problem I've encountered with my Superchip installation.
Got the chip tonight. Took out the computer, read the instructions carefully, cleaned off the grease from the contacts, and carefully scraped off the laquer on the contacts.
Put in Superchip, reinstalled computer. Reconnected battery (I wanted to play it safe). Truck started and ran fine ('98..I seem to have ducked the "no start" problem at least!
) Took truck (with Superchip installed) out for a spin...shifted okay on first take off, but afterward would not downshift to first gear, nor ever shift out of second into third and then on into overdrive.
Took computer out and attempted further contact cleaning, as the instructions say to check. Reinstalled. No difference. Removed chip, truck shifts fine. That leads me to think I haven't done anything horrible to the computer, at least. At no time did the engine ever run rough or odd, it merely idled a tad lower than normal.
I read some more about contact cleaning...I admit this was the hairiest part of the process. I was afraid to get too rough, as it's easy to start seeing copper if one isn't careful. But can the silicone/laquer/whatever that damn coating is really be the culprit in this case?
I am understandably let down, but I'm not bummed about my Superchip purchase. It seems others have had problems and Mike worked them through them all, so I'm not on the verge of dissing the product or its distributor. I'm either the victim of something I'm not quite getting lined up right(and I don't consider myself mechanically non-inclined nor a technophobe) or I got a bad chip....stuff happens.
Has anyone else had this particular scenario, and if so, what was your resolution?
Thanks!
[This message has been edited by Crazy C (edited 08-24-1999).]
Got the chip tonight. Took out the computer, read the instructions carefully, cleaned off the grease from the contacts, and carefully scraped off the laquer on the contacts.
Put in Superchip, reinstalled computer. Reconnected battery (I wanted to play it safe). Truck started and ran fine ('98..I seem to have ducked the "no start" problem at least!
) Took truck (with Superchip installed) out for a spin...shifted okay on first take off, but afterward would not downshift to first gear, nor ever shift out of second into third and then on into overdrive.Took computer out and attempted further contact cleaning, as the instructions say to check. Reinstalled. No difference. Removed chip, truck shifts fine. That leads me to think I haven't done anything horrible to the computer, at least. At no time did the engine ever run rough or odd, it merely idled a tad lower than normal.
I read some more about contact cleaning...I admit this was the hairiest part of the process. I was afraid to get too rough, as it's easy to start seeing copper if one isn't careful. But can the silicone/laquer/whatever that damn coating is really be the culprit in this case?
I am understandably let down, but I'm not bummed about my Superchip purchase. It seems others have had problems and Mike worked them through them all, so I'm not on the verge of dissing the product or its distributor. I'm either the victim of something I'm not quite getting lined up right(and I don't consider myself mechanically non-inclined nor a technophobe) or I got a bad chip....stuff happens.
Has anyone else had this particular scenario, and if so, what was your resolution?
Thanks!
[This message has been edited by Crazy C (edited 08-24-1999).]
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
CrazyC: are you saying that when you completely stopped that the transmission didn't go into first? And when you were up to cruising speed, that it didn't go into OD? That it ran all the time in second gear only? (just trying to clairify)
------------------
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
------------------
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
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Cameron!
Yeah, something is not right, and it sounds to me like you cleaned the contacts just fine. After we spoke on the phone, it seemed to me that it's somthing going on in the program perhaps, rather than anything you might have done in the installation, so I got you the RMA for Superchips to check it out. That is a rather odd-ball code, you're the only truck I have running with that code (EGE1), as a matter of fact.
I once had this same problem with a gentleman in California a few years ago, his vehicle had a 460 cu. in gas engine in an F-350. Turned out that he had a real odd-ball code too, meaning a code that was used only for a extremely brief period of time and thus not found on many vehicles, and it took more work on his program; it looked the same, but it turned out not to operate the same in the real world. Extremely rare, but it happens. Stay in this business long enough, and you'll see just about anything, I suppose!
So I've seen this type of thing happen once or twice before in the past 8 yers or so, it is extremely rare, but in the past it was something inside the program itself. It won't cause any harm to your automatic transmission, but it sure will act funny!
When we spoke today, we asked that you send it back under the RMA we gave you, and to send it to the attention of Mike Short, who is the General Manager of Superchips US operations. He'll get to the bottom of it, don't worry!
You called me at 11:28 pm last night, so you must have posted this right after you called me!
All the best,
------------------
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 08-24-1999).]
Yeah, something is not right, and it sounds to me like you cleaned the contacts just fine. After we spoke on the phone, it seemed to me that it's somthing going on in the program perhaps, rather than anything you might have done in the installation, so I got you the RMA for Superchips to check it out. That is a rather odd-ball code, you're the only truck I have running with that code (EGE1), as a matter of fact.
I once had this same problem with a gentleman in California a few years ago, his vehicle had a 460 cu. in gas engine in an F-350. Turned out that he had a real odd-ball code too, meaning a code that was used only for a extremely brief period of time and thus not found on many vehicles, and it took more work on his program; it looked the same, but it turned out not to operate the same in the real world. Extremely rare, but it happens. Stay in this business long enough, and you'll see just about anything, I suppose!
So I've seen this type of thing happen once or twice before in the past 8 yers or so, it is extremely rare, but in the past it was something inside the program itself. It won't cause any harm to your automatic transmission, but it sure will act funny!
When we spoke today, we asked that you send it back under the RMA we gave you, and to send it to the attention of Mike Short, who is the General Manager of Superchips US operations. He'll get to the bottom of it, don't worry!
You called me at 11:28 pm last night, so you must have posted this right after you called me!
All the best,
------------------
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 08-24-1999).]
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Plano, Texas, USA
Mike,
You're an absolute pleasure to do business with, and I appreciate how you stand behind your product, as does Superchips, apparently. I should get that puppy in the mail tonight and Mr. Short should have it..uh..shortly. <groan>
It's interesting you mention my computer having an oddball code...the truck itself is kind of an oddball...but in a good way. Others here have complained they can't get their 4.6 Supercabs to chirp the tires...mine did it stock. Adding the Airaid and exhaust mod really woke that engine up. And I'd like to think it "learned" something from the brief Superchip install...it felt quicker this morning during the drive into work. But whatever.
Thanks again for being available as you are, and for being liberal with the information you have. I'm sure many as well as I appreciate it!
You're an absolute pleasure to do business with, and I appreciate how you stand behind your product, as does Superchips, apparently. I should get that puppy in the mail tonight and Mr. Short should have it..uh..shortly. <groan>
It's interesting you mention my computer having an oddball code...the truck itself is kind of an oddball...but in a good way. Others here have complained they can't get their 4.6 Supercabs to chirp the tires...mine did it stock. Adding the Airaid and exhaust mod really woke that engine up. And I'd like to think it "learned" something from the brief Superchip install...it felt quicker this morning during the drive into work. But whatever.
Thanks again for being available as you are, and for being liberal with the information you have. I'm sure many as well as I appreciate it!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
HI Cameron,
You're right, a 4X4 F-150 chirping the tires on the 1-2 upshift is unusual! That's good of course, and it could be just from the different software, as the program controls how much line pressure the transmission uses during upshifts.
It's funny what automatics can be made to do sometimes. In the early 70's, I drove a ladies tiny little Toyota something to take it to her as a favor, it was a tiny little car, 4 cyl. automatic that had about 20 hp (or so it felt!), but when it upshifted 1-2, it chirped the right rear tire! You can imagine the surprise on my face, when the car that was so slow it couldn't *fall* out of a tree, chirped the tires on the upshift. Go figure!
And thanks for your support, Cameron, that's very kind of you.
------------------
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 08-25-1999).]
You're right, a 4X4 F-150 chirping the tires on the 1-2 upshift is unusual! That's good of course, and it could be just from the different software, as the program controls how much line pressure the transmission uses during upshifts.
It's funny what automatics can be made to do sometimes. In the early 70's, I drove a ladies tiny little Toyota something to take it to her as a favor, it was a tiny little car, 4 cyl. automatic that had about 20 hp (or so it felt!), but when it upshifted 1-2, it chirped the right rear tire! You can imagine the surprise on my face, when the car that was so slow it couldn't *fall* out of a tree, chirped the tires on the upshift. Go figure!
And thanks for your support, Cameron, that's very kind of you.
------------------
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 08-25-1999).]
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Plano, Texas, USA
Mike,
Well, my truck is a 4 x 2, and it would lay a scratch off the line stock from a dead stop. Never tried to get it to chirp from a 1-2 upshift, though.
FedEx got my Superchip to Florida yesterday morning. Hopefully they'll figure it out soon, but the truck's in the shop anyway for the dead odometer question. And my Edelbrock shocks arrived yesterday....I can't chip or shock the truck until it gets back.....waah!!
(boys and their toys....)
------------------
Cam
'98 F-150 SC XLT, 4.6L, Bright Red, Red Spray-in Liner, Extang Soft Tonneau, Ford Bug Guard, Airaid FIPK, Vortex "Cherry Bomb" Muffler, Chrome Exhaust Tip
Future Mods:
a)Superchip
b)Bilstein or Edelbrock shocks
c)Running Boards
"The Big Red Truck with the Huge Grin Factor"
Well, my truck is a 4 x 2, and it would lay a scratch off the line stock from a dead stop. Never tried to get it to chirp from a 1-2 upshift, though.
FedEx got my Superchip to Florida yesterday morning. Hopefully they'll figure it out soon, but the truck's in the shop anyway for the dead odometer question. And my Edelbrock shocks arrived yesterday....I can't chip or shock the truck until it gets back.....waah!!
(boys and their toys....)
------------------
Cam
'98 F-150 SC XLT, 4.6L, Bright Red, Red Spray-in Liner, Extang Soft Tonneau, Ford Bug Guard, Airaid FIPK, Vortex "Cherry Bomb" Muffler, Chrome Exhaust Tip
Future Mods:
a)Superchip
b)Bilstein or Edelbrock shocks
c)Running Boards
"The Big Red Truck with the Huge Grin Factor"
Trending Topics
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Those Edelbrock IAS shocks are great! We had a huge discussion about them on CompuServe when I was a Sysop, and everyone who has tried them loves them. The IAS system does a great job of smoothing out the ride, and improving handling quite a bit. Cornering much improved.
Good luck!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Good luck!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
HI Crazy C,
Several Forums, the last one was the Trucks Forum (CIS: Go TRUCKS). Great bunch of people, we tended to get a very nice cross-section of peopole from all walks of life, and it was a great Forum, no hateful posts allowed, etc. Actually, it was a *lot* like this site, which is perhaps one of the reasons we like it here so much! You don't have all the hateful and spiteful types of behaviour that unfortunately plagues far too many Internet mailing lists. It was and is a great Forum, I just don't have the time to devote to it anymore, unfortunately.
Cheers,
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Several Forums, the last one was the Trucks Forum (CIS: Go TRUCKS). Great bunch of people, we tended to get a very nice cross-section of peopole from all walks of life, and it was a great Forum, no hateful posts allowed, etc. Actually, it was a *lot* like this site, which is perhaps one of the reasons we like it here so much! You don't have all the hateful and spiteful types of behaviour that unfortunately plagues far too many Internet mailing lists. It was and is a great Forum, I just don't have the time to devote to it anymore, unfortunately.
Cheers,
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: Plano, Texas, USA
Mike,
What forum were you a Sysop on? I participate in a few Compuserve forums...they're the only thing that keeps me tied to that service, plus I've made a few friends from one of the forums I frequent.
I'm looking forward to getting the IAS shocks on. Hearing you and others praise them makes this waiting for my truck to get back that much harder!
Also, do you have an idea how long I should expect Superchips to have my module? And will they notify me when it is on the way back to me? I'll need to make arrangements for someone to receive the package if I'm not home.
I don't know if I mentioned it earlier, but it is comforting to know someone else had the same odd problem with their chip/computer as I. And that there's a remedy!
"Patience, my son!" says the god of performance mods...
------------------
Cam
'98 F-150 SC XLT, 4.6L, Bright Red, Red Spray-in Liner, Extang Soft Tonneau, Ford Bug Guard, Airaid FIPK, Vortex "Cherry Bomb" Muffler, Chrome Exhaust Tip, *Almost* Superchipped (rats!), *Almost* Edelbrock shocked (waiting for truck to return from shop)
Future Mods:
a)Superchip
b)Bilstein or Edelbrock shocks
c)Running Boards
"The Big Red Truck with the Huge Grin Factor"
What forum were you a Sysop on? I participate in a few Compuserve forums...they're the only thing that keeps me tied to that service, plus I've made a few friends from one of the forums I frequent.
I'm looking forward to getting the IAS shocks on. Hearing you and others praise them makes this waiting for my truck to get back that much harder!
Also, do you have an idea how long I should expect Superchips to have my module? And will they notify me when it is on the way back to me? I'll need to make arrangements for someone to receive the package if I'm not home.
I don't know if I mentioned it earlier, but it is comforting to know someone else had the same odd problem with their chip/computer as I. And that there's a remedy!
"Patience, my son!" says the god of performance mods...
------------------
Cam
'98 F-150 SC XLT, 4.6L, Bright Red, Red Spray-in Liner, Extang Soft Tonneau, Ford Bug Guard, Airaid FIPK, Vortex "Cherry Bomb" Muffler, Chrome Exhaust Tip, *Almost* Superchipped (rats!), *Almost* Edelbrock shocked (waiting for truck to return from shop)
Future Mods:
a)Superchip
b)Bilstein or Edelbrock shocks
c)Running Boards
"The Big Red Truck with the Huge Grin Factor"