Hey guys, There seems to be some sort of chip that was attached to my Lightning MAF by a previous owner. Is this something that I can take off? My truck is a 5.4 vortech supercharged, and I am getting ready to have a custom tuner setup done... so I dont think i need some sort of cheap performance chip stuck on there. I dont know who makes it, it's just a little black box, wired in to the MAF wires. Any ideas?

 

There is no chip that attatches to the MAF...

 

you might post a pic to get better idea of what ur talkin bout. Im with Marc that there is no chip for the maf just an maf extendor if u run outta maf voltage or the mafia from diablosport that does same thing.

 

you can see the box and wires in the lower righthand corner of this picture...
engine pic

 

not sayign it doesnt work, just soemthing I have found many of times on ebay. its basically a resistor thats 3.1K ohms, makign your ecu believe that colder air is comign into your maf, causing the engine to run a little richer, thus adding hp. I have not done this mod, but i believe it is similar to this... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...19653290QQrdZ1



i hope some others jump in to advise you what to do, and good luck

 

This is something that you definatly would want to talk over in detail with the person that was going to do you're tune. I would look it over closely for any name or markings that may help you're tuner identify what it may be.

 

From everything I have heard from various Tuners ( person writting tunes into tuning devices), and especially the Tuner I use, if it is the device that joschmo86 mentioned, it would be best to remove it and call a tuner. May I suggest you call Mike at Troyer Performance as he is quite familiar with this device and strongly warns against it. He is also the premier Tuner for these motors...540-862-9515 9:00 AM-6:00 PM Monday through Friday.

 

Is that thing wired to your MAF? If it is, I don't think it is one of those"ebay cheapchips" They wire into the IAT circuit to fool the PCM into thinking the temp is a lot lower than it really is. If you have one of those on a non-intercooled supercharged engine (looks like from the pics) than you are really asking for big trouble. If on the other hand, it is some other sort of device, I would find out what it is, and what it does.
Everybody have a

 

That sure looks like the resistor mod. Like others have said it makes the intake temps look lower to your computer which will advance the timing to take advantage. As I understand, the Lightning doesn't have knock sensors so you're taking a hell of a risk with that thing.

 

take it off take it off take it off..... ITS COMING OFF AS SOON AS I GET HOME!

 

I would figure out what it is before you go ripping things out...

 

Well, I DO know that it is NOT a component of the Vortech Supercharger kit, as there are no electronic components included or described in the installation manual. It is not a component of the Lightning MAF sensor, so why would it be wired into that? I am still waiting for my parts to upgrade the fuel system from the Vortech FMU to 42lb injectors and bigger pumps. It is not a component of the K@N intake, because it's just a cone filter. The truck was superchips tuned, but has since been reset, and I am going to get a custom tune by MT, after I upgrade the fuel system... and there is no chip hardwired to the truck, included with the superchips tuner. It is probably some cheap EBAY chip, taped on there for extra horses... and it is just that, connected on there with stick-on velcro tape and some black electric tape. If for some reason my truck does not run properly when I remove it, I will diagram the wires before disconnect them and put it back in place, and have the local dyno shop take a stab at what it is. So, anyone have any more ideas, or reasons why I should NOT take the little black box off? There are no markings on or inside the box, as to determine who made it, or why it is there. Mike troyer, do you have any ideas???

 

Mr. Carpenter, are you not familiar with the MAF.ia chip, produced by Diablosport? And there are a bunch of $10 chips on ebay that wire directly into the MAF wire assy.

 

I "am" aware of the little devices that are sold to trick your ECU in relationship to intake air temperatures. I would NOT consider using one though.

 

I would have someone do a carfax and try to ask the former owner what it is...