Here's whats been done so far. This chip was originally programmed for my 97' Ranger and it worked fine the 2 years that it was in my Ranger.

I then removed it from my Ranger and sent the chip to performance products to have it reflashed for my 97' F150. When I got it back from Performance Products I took the computer out of the F150, totally disassembled it and cleaned terminals thoroughly as instructed.

I then installed the chip and the truck would not start. After two more tries doing the same thing I called Performance Products for their help. I was told that apparently the terminals were still not clean and I was instructed to remove the computer and clean them again, which I did two more times. The truck did start but the check engine light came on and stayed on. The truck ran real rough with black smoke coming out the exhaust.

Then I called Super Chips tech support who got me in touch with my local Super Chips dealer. They reflashed the chip again and installed it in my truck with the same results of black smoke and check engine light. They hooked up the truck to a diagnostic machine and found the computer to be running in a safe mode. They removed the chip.

The local dealer ordered a brand new chip, flashed that one and installed it in my truck, again achieving the same results of black smoke and check engine light. The computer put itself into a safe mode. The local dealer called Super Chips directly and as of this time we have no idea why it's not working.

So, I've lost $150.00, not to mention loss of use of my truck for two days, and still don't have a chip that works. Is there any guidance that you can give me? Is there something else we should be doing?



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97' F150 XLT extended cab short bed w/off road pkg. 5.4 3.55ls Tow pkg.

 

Has it ever been to the dealer and maybe they reflashed the ECM for some type of update? If so, the code you think you have may be what you have. It's a long shot but a shot.......

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2000 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION 4x2

• Estate Green
• 5.4 ltr
• 3:55 LS rear
• Superchip!
• Airaid FIPK
• Gibson S/S Swept Side Cat Back Exhaust
• Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar
• Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks
• Xenon Super White Head and Driving Lights
• Clear Corners
• Tow Package
• Rear Load Leveling
• Moonroof
• Century Child Seat!
• Front Polyurethane Anti-Sway Bar Bushings recieved, wrong part number

-->Come share my Addiction<--

[This message has been edited by FamilyRide (edited 04-06-2001).]

 

hey kaoliver, being a 97, you might need to send your whole computer and chip back because it might need a jumper installed. I've read this somewhere. Just my .02

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2000 EXPEDITION 4.6 3.31 Rear, AIRAID Fipk with Poweraid Spacer, UltraFlow muffler, 82 mm Mass Air Flow Sensor housing w/ stock sensor, 6.8 inch TV with tuner/VCP, Full alarm and Auto-Start, Daytime Running Lights

New Addition:

2001 F150 SUPERCAB 5.4L 3.55 LS, Airaid FIPK, 82 mm MAF sensor billet aluminum housing w/ stock sensor, Full alarm and auto-start, 50 series 3 chamber 3inch in/out Deltaflow Flowmaster
Swept Side style, Beltech 2 inch rear shackles, SUPERCHIP, billet grille, Lariat wheels and tires (275/60/17), Billet antenna by TRENDZ.

COMING SOON:
pulleys, remove cats, 2 inch drop all around.

 

Hi kaoliver,

Yes, the first thing I would suggest is getting back in touch with *us*, so we can help you, since we did the re-programming. We have far more experience with the Superchip in these vehicles than anyone else in the country, and can usually get to the bottom very quickly when others cannot.

We haven't heard anything back from you about this since you had the problem of it not starting, which was when we suggested that you go back and re-clean those contacts again, which is why it's now starting. So we have had no idea what your situation is, until you made this post here on the message boards. Please remember that we can't help you if you don't call us.

Had you called us back and told us that after cleaning the contacts again, the vehicle started, but was spewing black smoke, we would have told you immediately that your computer has most likely been reflashed to a different code at some point in it's life, as that is a very specific & tell-tale symptom.

That is what happens when you install a Superchip with the wrong code on those rare occasions when it will start with an incorrect code; normally you get a no-start if the code is mis-matched, but if the code is close enough, it will always start once the contacts are cleaned, but you'll also get a very rich idle and the vehicle will not have enough power to even get underway most of the time, and usually a check engine light like you got as well, so you know right away that something is wrong.

In your case, it sounds like you had 2 separate problems; first, the contacts not being quite clean enough, which is why it wouldn't start at all, and then a reflashed computer, which is means the code you gave us to program the Superchip to is the wrong code and is not what is actually in the computer, though you had no way of knowing it at the time, most likely. That is also why your local dealer didn't get anywhere just by programming it again to the same code, this symptom is very obvious, and easy to recognize, as 99% of the time, it's a simple code mis-match.

The code stickers in the door frame and even those code stickers on the computer itself are never updated if a dealer reflashes a computer. The dealership service department is supposed to place what's called a "Notice of Modification" sticker in a prominent location under the hood, so that anyone will see it. It's a white sticker about 2 inches high by 3 inches wide, and they will write in by hand the new calibration code they flashed the computer to, *if* they did their job properly, and therein lies part of the problem; far too often, the service department won't put that sticker under the hood like they should, so the poor vehicle owner is stuck pulling his/her hair out, trying to figure out what in the world is wrong! Especially in your situation, where you know that Superchip worked just fine in your Ranger for years!

So we understand your frustration perfectly, and you'll be happy to know that this is easy to cure. What needs to be done is your computer needs to be "read" to determine just what software revision is really in there, and then simply reprogram the Superchip to the correct code, so you can enjoy it once again. Very simple. Your local dealer should be able to do that for you, or if you like, we can do it for you.

Just give us a call, and we'll be happy to go over this with you. The bottom line is that this is going to be OK, it's really just a simple problem of a code mis-match.

------------------
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

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 04-08-2001).]