Just installed my Superchip. It was quite easy and the instructions were very helpful & detailed. The truck sure does shift faster & firmer! It does seem to have a little more power; I'm looking forward to see if the gas milage increases. My question is: does the quicker and harder shifts do any long term damage to the transmission/drivetrain?

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'97 Supercab,2WD,4.6,4sp auto,3:55 LS.
Current mods: K&N filter & Flowmaster.

 

Hi cjm,

No, you don't have to worry about that, in fact your bands & clutches will last longer than they will without the Superchip, thanks to the reduction in slippage. Remember that this is just a calibration, we're not pushing any components beyond their design limitations, we're simply reducing slippage and improving the powertrain's response.

The reason these automatics shift so slow & sloppy from the factory is simply part of their soft-shift strategy to appeal to the female buyer, literally, it's not anything that is done to increase their longevity. They deliberately calibrate it so you can hardly feel it shift, unlike how truck transmissions have traditionally shifted, as part of the automakers desire to widen the appeal of this vehicle as much as possible, rather than limit it's appeal to the "traditional" truck buyer. The reduced slippage thanks to the Superchip is to the transmission's *benefit*, not to it's detriment.

Have fun,

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

 

I just installed mine too, in my 2000 F-150 and...

I can't feel the same firm shift, response and power that I felt when I installed a Superchip in my old '98 F-150; It feels totally "stock" to me.

<rolls @@ eyes>


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


2000 F-150 Lariat

4.6 Liter

3.55 Limited Slip

Dynomax UltraFlow cat-back w/ single 3"

K&N Gen II FIPK

 

BuffaloZone,

I hope you've called Mike directly, that is if you bought the Superchip from him. If indeed there is a problem he'll take care of it.

I've already seen another post that was more negative from you about this issue. Negative posts won't get the problem solved, calling Mike will.

Good luck.

------------------
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
• Energy Suspension Polyurethane Front Anti-Sway Bar Bushings
• Edelbrock Performer IAS Shocks
• Mobil 1
• Xenon Super White Head and Driving Lights
• Tow Package
• Rear Load Leveling
• Moonroof
• Century Child Seat!

-->Follow Me...<--

 

Thanks for that advice...my friend's advice was quite different; he advised me to try Hypertech's new-for-the-2000-4.6 Power Programmer III



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


2000 F-150 Lariat

4.6 Liter

3.55 Limited Slip

Dynomax UltraFlow cat-back w/ single 3"

K&N Gen II FIPK

 

Hi Buffalo Zone,

Sounds like you should give us a call.

It also sounds like whoever recommended you try the Hypertech doesn't know anything about Hypertech or Superchips, or the difference between them. With Hypertech, Jet, etc. they only change engine tuning on WOT (wide-open throttle), everywhere else it's unchanged, and that yields very poor results.

Just to go over some basics so you'll know (and some of this of course you'll already be aware of since you've used a Superchip on an F-150 before, so forgive me for any redundancy), all you have to do with the Superchip to get it's results once you've correctly installed it is to feed it the proper high-quality premium gas. There is no inherent difference in the tuning changes made to your engine between your 1998 F-150 and this one, we're doing the same things to the engine tuning, and it yields the same basic results, as the laws of physics haven't changed.

The only real variables are the exact weight of this newer F-150 compared to the weight of your 1998 model, and then of course, fuel quality. As long as the vehicle starts & runs normally, the Superchip is working and doing everything it's supposed to do, as it's all or nothing, there is no "in-between", it can't ever do just part of it's job, or work on only some vehicles. All of these F-150's are programmed to the same end result, and all the 4.6's, for example, gain the same basic amount of power, again, dependant upon fuel quality & altitude.

As long as you're feeding it a good premium gas, like Texaco, Amoco etc. in a 92 or higher octane, that is all you need to do to get it's performance. Steer clear of Exxon, BP, Hess, Sheetz, Coastal, Racetrack, and and other off-brands, etc. as they're all generally very low in actual energy content, and you won't get the performance you could.

I would say to check to see if the ECU has been reflashed to another code, but when that happens the vehicle usually won't even start, or if it does, it will be very obvious something is wrong, very rich idle, etc., so I don't think that is a potential issue here. Which means that it can only be things like vehicle weight (there is over 3000 lbs. of potential weight difference in these F-150's, depending on their configuration), fuel quality, or an installation issue, such as not fully clearing the computer *after* installing the Superchip perhaps, that can make the program changes come in very gradually over 350-500 miles or so, making it hard to feel an immediate difference because it comes in gradually if the ECU is nor fully cleared after installing the Superchip.

What I would suggest is to leave it in there for 3 weeks, using only the required high quality premium gas. And then after 3 weeks, take it out, once again clearing the ECU properly after removing the Superchip. It will be obvious what it's been doing the entire time when you remove it.

All in all, I'd say to give us a call, as this is most likely a matter of procedure, fuel quality or perception. As long as the Superchip allows that vehicle to start and run, then it's working, and it's doing everything it's supposed to do.

------------------
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 06-11-2001).]

 

Thanks 'chips, for the reply, but I can assure you that it isn't the fuel (93 octane Texaco), or 3,000 pounds extra weight (more like 700 or 800...for the extended cab) and I did clear the computer, by draining the "hidden" voltage, as the instructions instructed me to do. Only thing I'm comparing, for now, is the shift quality...it feels really "stock" soft. Don't want to sound too turdish, but comparing *this* chip to my last Superchip...this chip feels as close to my old JET chip as you could get. I'm making myself believe that it's just going to take a few hundred miles before all of the Superchip and fuel adjustments are made. Thanks again for your concern. I'll let you know, in a couple of weeks, how it's doing.


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


2000 F-150 Lariat

4.6 Liter

3.55 Limited Slip

Dynomax UltraFlow cat-back w/ single 3"

K&N Gen II FIPK

 

Hi Buffalo Zone,

Thanks for your response.

OK, so you're using what is normally an excellent fuel, Texaco is my all-around favorite. No problem there, unless perhaps overall fuel quality in your area is down across the board, and that can happen, they're changing formulations very frequently these days based on air quality. At any rate, Texaco is usually about the best fuel in most parts of the country, so you're already using what is arguably the best available fuel.

There can be variances in just how firm these transmissions shift, as they're not all exactly identical, there is unfortunately a significant amount of variance in the quality of materials going into these trannys, as well as some assembly issues. In fact, F-150 Online's own "Neal the HP Freak" has some great input on this from his transmission builder, he & I just spoke last night about some of the things they're finding from the factory, as they rebuild many of these trannys.

The bottom line is, after you've accumulated some miles or time, etc., please do give us a call if you still feel at that time that the tranny is shifting significantly softer than your 1998 model did, and we'll take a look at everything to see just what's up.

In your previous post, you weren't talking only about the shifts as you're now saying, your original statement was, and I quote, "I can't feel the same firm shift, response and power that I felt when I installed a Superchip in my old '98 F-150; It feels totally "stock" to me."

Whenever you decide just what it is that seems to not be "right", give us a call and we'll be happy to go over everything with you. There hasn't been any Jet or Hypertech chip ever made for these vehicles that can compare to the Superchip, and anytime the Superchip itself is actually failing to do something it's supposed to do correctly, there is always a reason, and a cure, so if there is any problem there, we'll get to the bottom of it.

------------------
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 06-12-2001).]

 

You mentioned, and I quote, "With Superchip, it's all or nothing."

I'm going to convince myself that the "all" is just around the corner.


[Update]

Just to let you know, Mike, after a few hundred miles, my Superchip is starting to roo-L.

Now it feels just as good as my last Superchip did. Thanks, and I hope I wasn't too much of a turd.

[This message has been edited by BuffaloZone (edited 06-24-2001).]

[This message has been edited by BuffaloZone (edited 06-24-2001).]