I see chips on Ebay for 8-50 bucks for about 15-20hp gains.. Are these a joke oe do they actually work, pro's vs cons???

 

ebay chips, 8-50 dollas?

owww.. my ribs.

 

well for one, i am about 99.9999% sure that if you order it from Mike you will actually receive it and if there is a problem it will be corrected.
ebay is a buyer beware situation, i for one dont care to put an $8.00 chip in my $30k truck.

 

Hi Sandstorm,

You're not getting an $8 or $50 chip that actually reprograms the PCM properly in those deals - usually in most cases it's just a simple resistor added to trick the PCM into thinking it's colder outside than what it really is, to force the PCM to deliver more spark via the IAT spark modifier than what it's supposed to - not very smart. That also doesn't do *anything* else for the vehicle - the top speed limiter is still there, the shifting in the automatics still stinks, as the PCM programming isn't actually changed, etc., etc. That IAT spark modifier is there for a reason, so the PCM can protect the engine against detonation caused by elevated inlet air temperatures that happen many times when the vehicle is operating at lower speeds, and in many conditions in summertime, etc.

The PCM needs to see *correct and unaltered* data, and if the PCM program is going to be altered for performance, then it needs to be done via proper program changes done by an expert that do a much more thorough and safer job - not by external gimmicks tricking the PCM.

The bottom line is - if you want a proper performance tune, you aren't going to get it without paying for it - you're more than welcome to give those $8 gimmicks a try. Personally, I don't think that's the way to go, and it certainly isn't ever going to get you anywhere near the results that our tuning does.

BrotherDave put it very well - I wouldn't put an $8 gimmick on a $30$-$45K truck.

Best of luck whatever you decide,

 

You’re not talking about one of those resistors you hard wire in, are you?

 

check it out

Ford F150 HP Chip 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04

 

Maybe that is one of them.. There is sooooo many of them.. I was just curious. Doesn't mean I'll buy one.. I drive at 4500ft elevation so my power is really down for the most part.

 

One of those resistors would be a waste of money because they are not going to give you 20hp. They might give you engine damage though. Check out a flash tuner from Troyer Performance you will see a huge difference in performance.

Superchips Custom Tuning Xcalibrator for ALL OBD-II FoMoCo vehicles 1996-2005

The Xcalibrator is what I recommend

 

Yep, exactly as I said - just another of the many pieces of trickery that override the safety mechanism and prevent the PCM from getting correct data. It skews incoming IAT data so that the PCM does *not* get proper information or an unaltered data stream, in it's attempt to trick the PCM into thinking it's much colder outside than it really is - which, if it actually works, overrides the PCM's safety mechanism that protects the engine from too much timing when the IAT's are elevated - which is primarily in summer heat. This is precisely why that IAT spark modifier exists in the first place - and every modern computer controlled vehicle has them to protect the engine, as Ford (and every other automaker) knows that is required when IAT's are elevated to protect the engine.

Defeat the safety mechanism while attacking proper tuning, great marketing hype. Real genius.

This junk has been around for many years, it's nothing new - ultimately, they're simply preying on the fact that anyone who markets a "performance" part for under $100 will sell some of them to the unsuspecting - it's why we see things like throttle body spacers (which only add power on old throttle-body injected vehicles like the GM's of the 80's, and some of the late-model Mopars using antiquated technology - an old drag racer's trick from the days long before computers), Tornado spinning wheels, platinum pellets to magically increase MPG & power, etc., etc., etc.

It never ends................

 

Ebay isnt all bad. I sold my 1715 (Superchips Max Tuner) for $300. Not a bad deal for the guy that won the auction, considering I paid over $400 shipped.

Just keep your eyes open, and if it sounds too good to be true...it is.

I currently have enroute from Troyer Performance, the 1714, AF1 intake, and Denso plugs...

 

The downside of buying a used performance part such as a tuner from ebay is zero customer service. The $40 or $50 bucks you save isn’t going to be much comfort when you need customer service and have nowhere to turn. Manufactures usually only warrant products to the original owner.

If you paid over $4 beans for a 1715 you must not have bought it from Mike.

 

Not that programer. But dont worry, Troyer performance has gotten plenty of my mad mod money.

 

Hi Slickford,

Looks like a darn nice list of "toys" you have there!

Don't mean to butt in, but I just saw something in your sig line & had to mention this - I see you ordered a set of Denso IT16 plugs from us, and that you have a 2004 F-150. You probably already know this & everything is fine, but I just wanted to point out that if it's a 2004 *Heritage* model (meaning the previous body style), or if it's the 4.6 V8, then those Denso plugs are fine. But if you have a new body style 2004 F-150 with the new 300 HP 5.4 3-valve motor, those Denso plugs would NOT work.

The 3-valve V8 motors (4.6 3V in the 2005 Mustang & the 5.4 3V in the F-150) require a special type of spark plug made by Autolite that has a specially elongated tip, and the Denso's won't work in them. Just FYI.........if this applies to you, just give us a call & we'll take care of that for you.

 

Mike, sorry for the confusion. My "OLD" truck was a 2000 F150. I traded that one in for my new truck, the 2004 F250 superduty. The F250 is the vehicle I am buying all these new Performance parts for.

Now with that said, are these the correct plugs?

 

If you crack that box open, its nothing but empty space and a 33 cent resistor soldered to some wire My friend bought one against my advice and after it did nothing but turn his check engine light on, we took it apart.