superchip?
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7
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From: Manchester TN
superchip?
I just got an 03 f-150 and it has a superchips sticker on the back door glass. Ive checked the computer and it doesnt have a chip, is there any way to know for sure if it has been modified with a programer. If it has, will running it with 93 hurt it if it has been tuned for a different octane. Also any other help regarding the superchip programing is more than welcome.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 117
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From: Arizona
more then likely they removed the program and returned to stock these programmers are not cheap. why dont u call where u bought truck from and ask if they dont know pay ford to reflash pcm probably only cost about 85 dollars
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Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
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From: Virginia
Hi nenley,
Exactly - it obviously does not have any kind of chip on it, as if it did, you would see the chip physically attached on the J3 connector on the back of the PCM.
And the chances that the previous owner left their tuner program in the PCM (which flashes the PCM's EEPROM so you can't see any change physically, it's like flashing the BIOS on your PC) are virtually nil. When people trade in their vehicles, they keep their tuners & chips 99.99% of the time, as they will either use them on the next vehicle, or sell them and use that money to offset the cost of a new chip or tuner for their next vehicle - if they don't return the vehicle back to ti's stock program, then the tuner is VIN-locked and cannot be used on *any* vehicle, so it's a doorstop at that point. So you can safely assume that you're running on the stock factory program.
If it had a Superchips performance tune in it, it would need premium gas (their 87 octane tunes in the 1715 Micro Tuners aren't considered a "performance" tune) in the 1997-2003 F-150 and you're running it in 87 octane, chances are it would detonate, especially under heavy throttle or under a load - such as going up a long grade, etc.
Bottom line - you're running on the stock factory program.
PS - I forget to respond to your other question - regarding performance tuning "affecting" any other modifications or enhancing them, it really depends on just exactly what specific modifications - for example, things like a good intake kit, cat-back exhaust system, underdrive pulleys, electric fans, or a larger throttle body, do not require custom tuning, so a "standard" performance tune would basically enhance the results of those types of modifications. Now if you had changed the MAF meter or installed larger fuel injectors, then you would *have* to have a custom tune done for the vehicle to run correctly & safely. Do you know if the vehicle actually has *any* other modifications on it? (Chances are it doesn't, as once again, virtually all owners remove them to reuse or sell them to finance similar mods on their next vehicle.)
Where do you go from here is perhaps the most important consideration - with regard to the best bang for the buck, hands down that is tuning, as nothing else for the same or less cost will provide as much raw power & performance gain. What will get you the best actual results in that regard is our custom tuning, rather than *any* "standard" tuning product.
If you'd like to get some advice on this in general, please feel free to give us a call, we'll be happy to give you an overview of all of that, the order of best bang for the buck for all the various popular performance modifications for these vehicles, etc., so you can give that some thought, if you like.
Congrats on your new 2003 F-150 by the way, hope you enjoy your new truck & best of luck with your mods!
Exactly - it obviously does not have any kind of chip on it, as if it did, you would see the chip physically attached on the J3 connector on the back of the PCM.
And the chances that the previous owner left their tuner program in the PCM (which flashes the PCM's EEPROM so you can't see any change physically, it's like flashing the BIOS on your PC) are virtually nil. When people trade in their vehicles, they keep their tuners & chips 99.99% of the time, as they will either use them on the next vehicle, or sell them and use that money to offset the cost of a new chip or tuner for their next vehicle - if they don't return the vehicle back to ti's stock program, then the tuner is VIN-locked and cannot be used on *any* vehicle, so it's a doorstop at that point. So you can safely assume that you're running on the stock factory program.
If it had a Superchips performance tune in it, it would need premium gas (their 87 octane tunes in the 1715 Micro Tuners aren't considered a "performance" tune) in the 1997-2003 F-150 and you're running it in 87 octane, chances are it would detonate, especially under heavy throttle or under a load - such as going up a long grade, etc.
Bottom line - you're running on the stock factory program.
PS - I forget to respond to your other question - regarding performance tuning "affecting" any other modifications or enhancing them, it really depends on just exactly what specific modifications - for example, things like a good intake kit, cat-back exhaust system, underdrive pulleys, electric fans, or a larger throttle body, do not require custom tuning, so a "standard" performance tune would basically enhance the results of those types of modifications. Now if you had changed the MAF meter or installed larger fuel injectors, then you would *have* to have a custom tune done for the vehicle to run correctly & safely. Do you know if the vehicle actually has *any* other modifications on it? (Chances are it doesn't, as once again, virtually all owners remove them to reuse or sell them to finance similar mods on their next vehicle.)
Where do you go from here is perhaps the most important consideration - with regard to the best bang for the buck, hands down that is tuning, as nothing else for the same or less cost will provide as much raw power & performance gain. What will get you the best actual results in that regard is our custom tuning, rather than *any* "standard" tuning product.
If you'd like to get some advice on this in general, please feel free to give us a call, we'll be happy to give you an overview of all of that, the order of best bang for the buck for all the various popular performance modifications for these vehicles, etc., so you can give that some thought, if you like.
Congrats on your new 2003 F-150 by the way, hope you enjoy your new truck & best of luck with your mods!
Last edited by Superchips_Distributor; Jan 14, 2005 at 12:01 PM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7
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From: Manchester TN
Thanks very much for all the info. However, as far as the previous owner, when i bought the truck it was wrecked and i bought it through an insurance salvage auction so it is somewhat likely they cut there losses and left the program in the factory pcm. I have driven other 150's both bone stock and with a superchip. This one drives like none other. It shifts way better, firm but not too harsh, than stock but seems to have more power than the one i drove that did have a superchip. Does that matter at all or is it still up in the air. ??
As far as the gas octane ive been running 93 and as far as "upgrades" CAI, exhaust (done), throttlebody, etc. is probably as far as i will go.... for now.
As far as the gas octane ive been running 93 and as far as "upgrades" CAI, exhaust (done), throttlebody, etc. is probably as far as i will go.... for now.