I do not tape my Superchip to the computer. Perhaps its coming loose? However, I experience a problem about every 500 miles or so. The truck will all of the sudden BUCK, like a trans shift or something, followed by the engine light, followed instantly by black smoke, and the engine stalls if I give it gas... Its running on about 5 or 6 cylinders. I pull over and pull the chip... Yes it feels tight! Re-start and VIOLA she runs again... Then I have to disconnect the battery again and re-install the chip... Works fine for about another 50 miles or so....
Could this REALLY be the chip vibrating loose over time? Do I REALLY need to tape it in place?

Anyone?

------------------
Rand

98 Ford Expedition 4X4 XLT
5.4, 3.73s, 17" wheels,
Homemade 3" "COLD" Air-Box
mod, SuperChip, Amsoil
everywhere but tranny, Perma-
Cool combo 6 pass trans/oil
cooler (FQR 5.4 @ 50K)

 

yes, twice now, no tape. Just a momentary loss of the program it appears.

------------------
1999 F250 SD CC, LWB, 5.4L, Auto, 3.73, 4x4, Power TT mirrors w/ marker lights, White, Full Tint, PendaPro SR, Flowmaster Delta 40 series, K&N filtercharger, Superchip(MER3 for sale!!), Superlift leveling kit, Rancho RSX shocks, Lund Elite soft tonneau

www.angelfire.com/pa3/spaceace/index.html

 

Rand,

No you do not have to tape the chip in place. You will however be required to stop every 500 miles or so and re-install the chip. Did you bend back the lip on the PCM mounting bracket? I did on mine and I don't have my chip taped and it stays in place. My 97 used to do that till I bent the lip.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

------------------
00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks,
Borla Cat Back, Headman Headers,
Modified Air Cleaner Outlet Tube
and air box, Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips

 

Hi Rand,

Remember when you had the impact with the curb, which knocked the Superchip loose and you thought the Superchip was bad? We went over this in detail at that time over the phone, and I told you at that time that you should tape it in place because you have an SUV, and may tend to hit curbs, etc. (Don't take offense, I'm ribbing you a bit here, obviously, since we've been over this several times before over the phone, and in email, etc.)

Anytime we install the Superchip in a vehicle that is an SUV, has 4WD, or is a pickup truck, we will always place 2 pieces of plain desktop clear Scotch tape over the module (one on each "end", running from the top of the ECU over the module, and to the bottom of the ECU)to hold it to the computer in rough use, such as offroading, etc.

It also depends on how the computer is mounted in the vehicle for example, as late-model Ranges & Explorers, just to cite a couple of other Ford "trucks", have their computers mounted so that this cannot be an issue.

Another factor is that starting in mid-1999 model year, the actual thickness of the connector on the back of the computers started to vary from specification (thinner), and so we made a change to the design of the contacts inside the slot of the Superchip module, so that it would grab even those few connectors that are thinner than spec. Even so, we still tape them in place on those vehicle types I listed above, and you should as well, is my suggestion.

You might want to give me a call, and let's check to see which module type you have, to see if you have the newer design, if your vehicle is a 1999 or newer, and I don't remember off the top of my head.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Ok, we need to start a tape fund for Rand!

(Don't take offense, I'm ribbing you a bit here, like Mike!)

It sounds like the chip is ever so slightly working its way loose..and this sounds like your problem. I have always taped my Superchips and have never had a problem like yours.

------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil and filter

 

Also i would double check the bracket holding the chip in, i can't imagine these computers being that much different from 1 to another & i had to remove the bracket & totally flatten out the upper section where the chip is, anything else & it was between the computer & chip causing it to push the chip out or in my case cut the tape everytime i put it up in place.
Also an update on my 1st tank of gas since chip, 15.4 mpg in a mix of town & freeway drivin...not to shabby considering my foot was rather heavy this tank full. Blown 2 Dodge trucks away so far...just wish speedo went farther that 100 mph, buried it big time without any problem.
Gonna go check out priceline.com for some cheap gas, haven way to much fun to let up now....think i'm in my 2nd childhood here. :-)

------------------[list=a][*]All Black 2K F-150 XLT[*]5.4 Auto, 3.55[*]Super Cab, BedLiner[*]Class III Tow Package, Rear Slider[*]Keyless Remote, Cruise, A/C, CD Player[*]Tinted Windows[*]Bug Guard[*]Black Step bars[*]Billet Custom Grill[*]K&N Filter,Air Box Modified & inlet increased to 3" from Fender[*]Flow Master Force II Exaust with Single in, Dual out Behind rear Wheels[*]Stainless Hide-a-Hook Tie downs[*]HellWig LP 25 Overloads[*]Front & Rear Color Matched Light covers[*]Dash Cover[*]SuperChip[*]Still on to do list: Electric Fan(s) Rancho 9000's,American Racing 16 X 8 Baja's,Snug Top or Tonneau,B&M Shift Kit[/list=a]

 

My money's on a contact or two that are not entirely clean. I say this after experience with my chip. I would have sworn up and down that I had done a good job installing the chip until the truck stalled after running awhile. This was repeated over and over. After talking to Mike and him calming me down and politely telling me to do the job right, I redid the contacts and since then everything works fine.BTW. I use duct tape on mine as an extra precaution.

 

I posted this link in the Lightning section for this reason. Damaging contacts and contacts not properly cleaned. It's a how to on my website. This is a link to the thread on this site. https://www.f150online.com/f150board...ML/006289.html

I agree with Tecate Virgin. They are probably not clean enough.

------------------
Later,

Chuck
Black 00




[This message has been edited by LTNBOLT (edited 09-30-2000).]

 

I removed the bracket and flattened the rub area, cleaned the terminals slowly and thoroughly at a desk under a light with a magnifying glass, taped chip in with torn 1" strip of duct tape, and no problems. The back of my computer housing was also uneven. Just my opinion. Good luck !

------------------
2000 F-150 XL,RC,LB,5.4,4R70W,3.55LS,
Class III tow/Payload #3/Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS,Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner & gas/wheel/spare locks,
3" cold air box modification, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back,
3" exit Y-pipe, Hellwig rear anti-sway bar.

 

Some good comments in this thread.

One thing I did want to add is that there are a certain number of these vehicles (97 & newer F-1450's F-250 LD's, & Expeditions) that will have that "lip" or "tab" on either the black pressure clip that holds the computer to it's mounting bracket, or on the mounting bracket itself. We guess that it's maybe 1 in 5 or so. So about 8-10 months ago, we re-wrote our additional Performance Products documentation that we send out with each chip in addition to the manufacturer's instructions to let people know about it, and to check for this, so it won't slowly push on the Superchip and interrupt it's connection.

Good comments on that "tab", guys.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Where can I find this link,I have not changed my super chip in over five year's and need to no how to remove and clean it properly.
Truck is cutting out at high speeds,I have to pull over and let sit for three or four minutes and then it will start.

Thank You

 

Hi hammer,

Simple - click on the SEARCH button.

Anything anyone could ever want to know about installation of a Superchip in these vehicles has been asked & answered here literally thousands of times over the years, so you can easily find anything you want to know about it by using the F-150 Online message board SEARCH feature.

Sounds like you simply need to redo your installation - remove the Superchip, properly reclean both the PCM's J3 connector and the slot on the Superchip, then reinstall it making sure to tape it in place so it can't back off over the years from railroad tracks, speed bumps, etc. Done properly, it never has to be redone - but leave just a tiny amount of conformal coating behind, and it can cause you problems *years* later.

So just use the SEARCH feature to retrieve the info you want & you should be in good shape - if you haven't used it before, it's easy, fast & has excellent search filters, so you can get the info you want & need.

Good luck!