OMG!! just installed a superchip in my 2001 lightning. now it will not start. just cranks and cranks.

anyone have any ideas?

i am concerned about continuously attempting to start the truck if this is damaging something. (computer?)

i thought i read somewhere that it takes a couple extra rpms to start the motor after a computer reset.

also, i have also read that simply disconnecting the negative cable on the battery does NOT fully reset the computer. does anyone know the additional steps in fully reseting the computer?

thanks all in advance!

 

Did you get your truck started by taking the chip out??

To clear program either way:


Battery disconnected, headlights on, wait 5 minutes, turn headlights off, reconnect battery. Thats my understanding.

I got a no start but problem with computer. Gotta do a good clean for first time install.

Talk to who ever you bought chip from ASAP.

Good luck OT

 

Hi Dean,

You need to clean your contacts better, most likely. If you have a no-start after initial installation, the primary cause is the contacts not being fully cleaned of the conformal coating about 98% of the time. Most people don't have any issue with this, but it can happen with a first-time installation.

Check with whoever you purchased it from, and have them go over this with you.

Just remember that the conformal coating you must remove from your contacts is clear in color, and is hard to see, and that is why you have the no-start, most likely, as it only takes a tiny bit of that stuff to stop the connection.

As long as there is no copper showing thru on your contacts, it's safe to go back over them some more. One tip is, don't use that piece of green Scoth-brite bad that comes with the Superchip, as that can easily clog and doesn't lend itself to working on one contact at a time precisely as you need to, which is why we don't use it at all. In fact, we write several pages of highly detailed information that we send out with every Superchip we ship to our customers, that covers all of this and much more.

This is going to be very easy to solve, just get those contacts properly cleaned.

To do this, use a very small straight-blade screwdriver, like from an eyeglass or jeweler's screwdriver kit, and use the front edge (not the sharp point on the corner) of the blade to carefully scrape & "shave" that conformal coating off the contacts. It will be clear in color until you cut or penetrate that coating with your screwdriver blade or similar implement, at which point it will turn opaque or white-ish when you cut or penetrate the coating, helping you to see it better. Use strong, bright light, and if you have something you can use to magnify your view of that connector, even better, like a magnyfying glass, reading glasses, etc. Blow it up and look at it in good light, and that will help you to see this much better.

Oh, and just in case you might not have done this, make sure you have taken the computer apart, separated the two tops from the case itself. This is shown in the installation instructions from the manufacturer, and is necessary to allow you to get proper access to that connector so you can clean both sides of it properly.

If doing all of that properly that doesn't get you up and running, then contact whoever you got it from immedaitely, as that is who your Tech Support should be coming from.

One last thing to remember (aside from patience) and that is, when you remove the Superchip, the vehicle will start right up, even if that connector is not clean, as the Superchip does and "override" of the factory eprom chip containing your stock program. So as soon as you remove the Superchip, it switches back on the internal eprom chip, so your vehicle starts right up and runs normally.

Good luck!

 

many thanks all !!!!

removed the chip, re-cleaned, scraped andbuff the connectors one more time........ hit it with some alcohol too.

this time, i also did the headlights on with the computer reconnected and battery disconnected to fully reset the computer.

i am not sure which one of these, or the combination of both did the trick, but either way, works now..............AND BOY DOES IT WORK!!!

this thing hits HARD now! sotp dyno says gooo things. i love it.

thanks again for the info guys!

 

Hi Dean,

OK, excellent & glad to hear it!

As I suspected, and just so you'll know, your problem was indeed some more of that conformal coating being on one or more of the contacts, and it only takes a small amount to interrupt that connection. Not doing a battery disconnect or the procedure to clear the ECU will not prevent it from starting with the Superhcip installed (that can cause other issues, but a "no-start" isn't one of them) , there's no doubt that it was just the contacts needing a bit more work.

It's so nice once you're up and running, as it's very noticeable in what it does for the Lightning, it really wakes that truck up and gives you what the factory should have!

Have fun!