Question about Superchip
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 126
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From: Austin TX
Question about Superchip
I notice a huge improvement in my 1998 4.2 V6 Auto trans when I installed the superchip. But after awhile I noticed that the shifts were not as crisp as they used to be. I understand that I may be just getting used to the chip but in the first month or so I distinctly remember the shift from first to second having more force to it. Now it seems to lag(half second) a bit before it goes into second. This happens evertime I stomp on the gas from a dead stop.
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Joined: Aug 2000
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From: broomfield co.
I think mine is the same way. I have not timed it but under full throttle it appears as though the shift takes about 3/4 of a second. I put a jet shift improver on but I don't think it did squat.
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97' F150 XLT, 4 X 4, Auto,4.6L, Vortech Supercharger, jet-chip, Gibson Cat-back Duals, rear Posi, 4.10's, jet shift improver, Tonneau cover, Rancho RS5000's, 33's on American racing rims, Rhino brushgards and pushbumper, Dual Fosgate 800's w/Alpine head,
and musty smelling A/C system. Lookin for Chevy's to eat!!
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97' F150 XLT, 4 X 4, Auto,4.6L, Vortech Supercharger, jet-chip, Gibson Cat-back Duals, rear Posi, 4.10's, jet shift improver, Tonneau cover, Rancho RS5000's, 33's on American racing rims, Rhino brushgards and pushbumper, Dual Fosgate 800's w/Alpine head,
and musty smelling A/C system. Lookin for Chevy's to eat!!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Dear InfiniteMhz,
Hmmm, it is somwhat normal to get used to the Superchip, as you mentioned, but you seem very specific about the 1-2 WOT upshift. The program itself cannot change inside, but what could also be happening is you may be dealing with Ford's "adaptive strategy". This is where the ECU constantly optimizes itself to the manner in which the vehicle is being operated. For example, if you generally drive fairly conservatively, it's going to adjust for that, and that can cause the WOT upshifts to not be quite as firm. I have noticed this in my own vehicle, whereby unless I get on it say, 2 or 3 times, it won't chirp on the 1-2 upshift.
You might want to try doing a disconnect of the battery for a while, maybe 20 minutes or so at most, to force the computer to go thru it's relearn process again, and then go out and get on it a bit, and see what happens, see if the upshifts firm up any. Another thing you might want to try is to just remove the Superchip for a week at least, and then reinstall it. If neither of these things makes any difference, and I'm betting that it will, then the problem could be elsewhere, as the shift solonoids can sometimes exhibit signs of wear like this.
I would give these 2 things a try, and take it from there. I may well be telling you something you already know, and if that's the case, please pardon my redundant information.
Good luck, and please let us know of any more developments on this!
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Hmmm, it is somwhat normal to get used to the Superchip, as you mentioned, but you seem very specific about the 1-2 WOT upshift. The program itself cannot change inside, but what could also be happening is you may be dealing with Ford's "adaptive strategy". This is where the ECU constantly optimizes itself to the manner in which the vehicle is being operated. For example, if you generally drive fairly conservatively, it's going to adjust for that, and that can cause the WOT upshifts to not be quite as firm. I have noticed this in my own vehicle, whereby unless I get on it say, 2 or 3 times, it won't chirp on the 1-2 upshift.
You might want to try doing a disconnect of the battery for a while, maybe 20 minutes or so at most, to force the computer to go thru it's relearn process again, and then go out and get on it a bit, and see what happens, see if the upshifts firm up any. Another thing you might want to try is to just remove the Superchip for a week at least, and then reinstall it. If neither of these things makes any difference, and I'm betting that it will, then the problem could be elsewhere, as the shift solonoids can sometimes exhibit signs of wear like this.
I would give these 2 things a try, and take it from there. I may well be telling you something you already know, and if that's the case, please pardon my redundant information.
Good luck, and please let us know of any more developments on this!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
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Senior Member
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 126
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From: Austin TX
Thanks for the help Mike. Since getting the chip I rode my truck pretty hard. But after the first month or so I went back to my normal driving habits and would only go WOT every now and then so that is probably it. Is it neccesary to take the chip out or could I just disconnect the battery cable for and hour or so.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
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From: Virginia
Dear InfiniteMhZ,
No, you don't have to remove the Superchip at all, I would just do a disconnect of the negative cable for 20-30 minutes maybe, and then go out and let 'er rip!
This is the exact same thing (or so it sounds) that I have in the Lincoln Mark 8, it gets driven conservatively the vast majority of the time. If I do 2 or 3 WOT 1-2 upshifts in a row, it will start barking the tires on the upshift, and that is just the adaptive strategy at work in my case. I was scratching my head about it some time back, and spoke to Superchips about it, and that was what it turned out to be. I used to drive pretty fast all the time, and in my old age I've slowed down quite a bit. Is this what happens when you get old?!?
Disconnecting the battery is "tuner's trick" for getting better *immediate* results with the Superchip, but it won't change what happens long-term, of course. So sometimes when people take their trucks to the drag strip, they will do a disconnect and then a few runs, and they can sometimes pick up another tenth or so if the vehicle has been driven conservatively. It is not, however, for anyone who may be wondering, something that you can keep doing over and over to gain another tenth, and another tenth, etc., it doesn't work that way.
Do let us know what happens, InfiniteMhz!
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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
No, you don't have to remove the Superchip at all, I would just do a disconnect of the negative cable for 20-30 minutes maybe, and then go out and let 'er rip!
This is the exact same thing (or so it sounds) that I have in the Lincoln Mark 8, it gets driven conservatively the vast majority of the time. If I do 2 or 3 WOT 1-2 upshifts in a row, it will start barking the tires on the upshift, and that is just the adaptive strategy at work in my case. I was scratching my head about it some time back, and spoke to Superchips about it, and that was what it turned out to be. I used to drive pretty fast all the time, and in my old age I've slowed down quite a bit. Is this what happens when you get old?!?
Disconnecting the battery is "tuner's trick" for getting better *immediate* results with the Superchip, but it won't change what happens long-term, of course. So sometimes when people take their trucks to the drag strip, they will do a disconnect and then a few runs, and they can sometimes pick up another tenth or so if the vehicle has been driven conservatively. It is not, however, for anyone who may be wondering, something that you can keep doing over and over to gain another tenth, and another tenth, etc., it doesn't work that way.
Do let us know what happens, InfiniteMhz!
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com