Hey Guys,

I know this sounds a little lame but I just bought an '03 FX4 with a 5.4. My last truck had a 4.6. This truck has a lot more power than my 4.6 and I'm wondering if maybe the previous owner installed a performance chip. Where would I look to find the chip?

Ricosan

 

the 5.4 is a bigger motor so it will have more power then the 4.6 my old trail blazer had a 4.0 in it and had more power then my 4.6 f150

 

If your new vehicle has a single program "chip" it would be installed in the ECU, or computer which is mounted under the side kick panel on the passengers side. You have to remove the plastic cover just in front of the door jamb and the ECU is mounted to the sheetmetal underneath. There is a plastic plug in the end of the ECU that covers the contact strip that engages the "chip". If there is a chip in it, the plug will be gone and the chip will be plugged into the end of the ECU. Most are secured with tape if installed properly.
If your vehicle has been tuned through the OBD2 port with a flash tuner such as an X-Cal 2 or 3 there is really no generic way of testing for this.
I would assume that the power produced by the 5.4 verses your old 4.6 is what you are experiencing.

 

or maybe it has been regeared to have more acceleration.

 

Thanks Guys,

I'm going to check it out today. I'll let you know what I find.

ricosan

 

so what did u find out?

 

It is an engine, not a motor.

 

^Agreed!

If you are concerned about what tune might be on it through the OBD2 port, you can have the dealership reflash the computer to stock tuning.

 

if you are going, and give it gas to make it downshift, does it go right in, or does it have hesitation? if it goes right into gear, your tuned...

 

Well I finally got the kick plate off but I'm not sure what I'm looking at. I see 3 plugs with a number of wires. There is on BIG bundle of wires that goes up the side toward the windshield. I ran my hand up this wire and came to a large mass but couldn't see it. It felt like it had a lot of electrical tape where the wire enters the mass. Is this what I'm looking for?

ricosan