I haven't had my chip in for a few months. Probabley atleast 6 months. My truck would just kick out at random times. I went on here before and everyone said it was probabley just oxidation and I should just scrub the connectors with a toothbrush. That didn't work and I said to hell with it.

Well I had free time today, opened up the computer and used a dremel to polish off the connectors and scrubbed the connectors on the chip to. Got about 10 minutes and it kicked out. Went to radio shack and got some electrical connector cleaner. Opened up everything again and have it a good scrubbing. Got another 10 minutes and it kicked out. Got home again and I opened the computer again, used a more abrasive wheel to clean the connectors and the computer, then went at the computer and the chip with the electrical contact cleaner. Got another 10 minutes and it cut out.

I really want my superchips in, it's definatley one hell of a blast with it in, but I'm tired and hitting my hazard lights and pulling out the damned thing.

Anyone else have that same problem with an answer? I've got a 99 with the 5.4

 

Hi sporkdevil,

Assuming a proper installation, consistently dying after it's been running for 10 minutes with the chip installed sounds like you just might have a failed Superchip module - that's pretty rare, but it is possible.

The Superchip module, like any electronic device, will take on heat when it's in use - so it takes a few minutes of running in summertime for the module to reach it's "normal" operating temperature - 5 to 15 minutes of driving in summer, longer in winter. If it consistently causes the engine to stall with the chip installed & the connector properly cleaned, then it just might be a bad Superchip module - it was fine at first, but perhaps just failed over time. That kind of symptom can be a sign of a possible failed cold solder joint, for example. Once it heats up enough, the joint expands and the connection is broken - thus the engine stalls.

Contact whoever you originally purchased that Superchip from new, and have them service it for you - the original owner of the Superchip has a limited Lifetime warranty on the Superchip module for as long as they own the vehicle it was purchased for. So give them a call & see if that is the problem!

Good luck!

 

thats some good info thanks mike im not having a problem with my 6600 but it nice to know ho has my back on service72 mustang

 

Oh, I would bet it's because my cpu is actually in my engine compartment. Long story, brought it into an auto place, and they overtightened and snapped the bolt connecting the harness and the ecu. Was on a trip, and the place is too far away for me to want to mess with. Zip ties are actually keeping to all together. I guess I'll try to fit it back in the grommet it should be in. I'll try it tomorrow. And I always love that 10 minutes before it cuts out.

And Mike, your shipment was quick as hell, I managed to use your filter cleaner today.

 

Ahh, I see - so there's something else going on here - the PCM isn't even installed where & how it's supposed to be.

Well, that could very well be the problem - at a minimum, that is potentially a serious problem and must be corrected.

You know how the PCM is supposed to go, with only the first half-inch or so actually protruding from the cabin thru the opening thru the firewall and into the engine compartment - just enough so that the wiring harness connector can be attached to the front of the PCM - then rest of the PCM (the vast majority of it) should be in the cabin just above the passenger's kick panel - not in the engine compartment.

The PCM can not take the conditions under the hood laying our in the open, it must be shielded & protected from the elements, and must not be allowed to move, etc.

Obviously you already know that you need to get that harness connector properly fixed & then the PCM reinstalled where it's supposed to be.

That 10mm bolt that you have to loosen to remove the harness from the front of the PCM remains an integral part of the wiring harness - it's not ever supposed to not come out of the harness when the harness is disconnected from the PCM. So it sounds like you have some repair work to do to that harness connector, & then getting the PCM reinstalled properly, and you'll want to do that right now.

Just a suggestion, but if some shop somewhere did that poor a job, they should be fixing it at their expense - it takes a pretty dumb ape of a mechanic to put so much force on that bolt that they break the bolt or any part of the wiring harness connector. In all the years we've been doing this, I can't remember one such incident, so whoever did that really had no business touching it, is what it sounds like to me. I can't imagine breaking that bolt trying to tighten it, good grief! It's a steel bolt, and a PLASTIC connector - so it's amazing to me that the bolt broke rather than the treads being stripped inside the capture nut in the front of the PCM - you should thoroughly check out that harness connector as well as the capture threads in the front of the PCM where that 10mm bolt goes into, as you may have more or different damage from what you already know about - just FYI...........

I guess all I can really say is good luck with that, & let us know if you need the Superchip itself checked, etc.