Removing Superchip
Removing Superchip
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi cruzer,
As Don C. correctly mentioned, as long as the ignition was not on when you were removing the Superchip, then you most likely didn't hurt anything. However, as you probalby already know by now, that isn't the way we recommend doing it. We suggest that everyone get into the habit of disconnecting that bettery any time you are going to remove or replace the Superchip, that way, you'll be absolutely certain that nothing can go wrong.
However, there is one more thing you need to do to prepare that vehicle for service, and that is, you need to clear the ECU. Do that by disconnecting that battery, then turn on the headlights for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes turn the headlights back off, and then re-connect your battery. Your headlights won't come on of course, we're just doing that to drain all residual current from the IC's & capacitors in the system.
What that procedure will do is to clear all of the previous program (in this case, the Superchip's program) from the microcontroller in the ECU, so that there aren't 2 different progtrams sitting in the microcontroller during a code scan, as that can result in numerous false error codes being returned. You can do pretty much the same thing by just driving it for 50 miles or more after removing the Superchip, before you take it in for service.
I mention this simply so that you prevent a rash of "false" error codes that can be generated when scanning the computer for error codes right after removing the Superchip, if you haven't either cleared the ECU or driven at least 50 miles after removing the Superchip, before taking it in for service.
If you have the 2 programs (parts of both the factory and the Superchip program) sitting there in the microcontroller at the same time, the vehicle will usually run fine from an operational standpoint, but if you scan it for error codes before clearing the ECU, or before driving 50 miles after removing the Superchip, there will be parts of both programs in the microcontroller, and that will usually result in a number of false error codes if it's scanned at that time, when there is nothing actually wrong.
We go over this specifically in our additional Performance Products documentation that we send out with every Superchip we ship for these vehicles, so that every vehicle owner will know exactly how to prepare their vehicle for a service visit.
If you have any questions about this Cruzer, please don't hiesitate to give us a call, ok?
Good luck!
As Don C. correctly mentioned, as long as the ignition was not on when you were removing the Superchip, then you most likely didn't hurt anything. However, as you probalby already know by now, that isn't the way we recommend doing it. We suggest that everyone get into the habit of disconnecting that bettery any time you are going to remove or replace the Superchip, that way, you'll be absolutely certain that nothing can go wrong.
However, there is one more thing you need to do to prepare that vehicle for service, and that is, you need to clear the ECU. Do that by disconnecting that battery, then turn on the headlights for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes turn the headlights back off, and then re-connect your battery. Your headlights won't come on of course, we're just doing that to drain all residual current from the IC's & capacitors in the system.
What that procedure will do is to clear all of the previous program (in this case, the Superchip's program) from the microcontroller in the ECU, so that there aren't 2 different progtrams sitting in the microcontroller during a code scan, as that can result in numerous false error codes being returned. You can do pretty much the same thing by just driving it for 50 miles or more after removing the Superchip, before you take it in for service.
I mention this simply so that you prevent a rash of "false" error codes that can be generated when scanning the computer for error codes right after removing the Superchip, if you haven't either cleared the ECU or driven at least 50 miles after removing the Superchip, before taking it in for service.
If you have the 2 programs (parts of both the factory and the Superchip program) sitting there in the microcontroller at the same time, the vehicle will usually run fine from an operational standpoint, but if you scan it for error codes before clearing the ECU, or before driving 50 miles after removing the Superchip, there will be parts of both programs in the microcontroller, and that will usually result in a number of false error codes if it's scanned at that time, when there is nothing actually wrong.
We go over this specifically in our additional Performance Products documentation that we send out with every Superchip we ship for these vehicles, so that every vehicle owner will know exactly how to prepare their vehicle for a service visit.
If you have any questions about this Cruzer, please don't hiesitate to give us a call, ok?
Good luck!
Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Thanks Mike for the help. It's too late though, I already brought my truck into the dealer. Should I call them and tell the guys to clear the computer before running diagnostics? By the way I looked in the original package and didn't find the additional documentation that explains the removal procedure. Oh well at least I didn't have the key in the ignition when I pulled the chip out.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas, USA
Cruzer,
I also had to take my chip out to get my truck serviced. I took it out right before I took it to the For dealer. I did not do it the way Mike described and it took the Ford dealer about two extra days to figure out what was wrong with my truck. I would call them and they keep telling me that they could not get a correct reading from the computer. They acctually asked me if I had reset the comp., via unplugging the battery and I said yes. They then proceded to tell me this is what caused the problem but im sure it was what Mike had said.
I also had to take my chip out to get my truck serviced. I took it out right before I took it to the For dealer. I did not do it the way Mike described and it took the Ford dealer about two extra days to figure out what was wrong with my truck. I would call them and they keep telling me that they could not get a correct reading from the computer. They acctually asked me if I had reset the comp., via unplugging the battery and I said yes. They then proceded to tell me this is what caused the problem but im sure it was what Mike had said.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Cruzer,
OK, there are a couple of points here...... first, with regards to your documentation, just so you'll know, that procedure is not described in the manufacturer's installation instructions. It's in our additional Performance Products documentation, which you'll get only if the Superchip was purchased directly from us here at Performance Products. Our additional documentation goes out with every Superchip we ship directly for these vehicles, and includes a lot of tips, hints, etc. designed to take a first-time installer thru this with no surprises, and gives troubleshooting info and also tells you what to do to prepare your vehicle for service. It is together with the manufacturers installation instructions inside with the Superchip and all the rest of the documentation. If the Superchip was purchased elsewhere, not from us, then you won't have that additional documentation.
I mention that just because we all use screen names here, so I can't look you up by name at the moment to determine if you are our customer or not. If you got it from us, then we can always provide you with a replacement copy. To have us do that, just shoot us a quick email with your full name & brief vehicle info so we can look you up in our customer database, ok? Our contact info is just below for email & phone, etc. We can email it back to you as an attachment.
Next, with regards to what you should do right now, you could try telling them that over the phone if you like, but I would suggest just going down there personally, and touching base with the technician actually doing the work. If they need to scan your computer for any error codes (diagnostics), you'll need to do that procedure to prevent a number of false error codes from potentially being reported. If you like, you can just drop by and do it yourself very quickly, do a disconnect of the battery, turn the headlights on for 5 minutes, then shut them back off, and then re-connect the battery. But I think it would be a good idea to drop by and talk with the tech working on your vehicle, to make sure there are no such problems, and to either let them know to do that procudure, or just do it yourself while you're there. They may look at your funny when you try to explain that to them, as they may not realize why you're doing that.
Of course, if you drove the vehicle at least 50 miles after removing the Superchip, before turing it in for service, then you won't have this potential issue anyway, as after 50 or more miles of driving, you'll only have the factory program at work there in the microcontroller.
If you have any questions about this, please just give us a quick call if you like, our number is just below.
Good luck!
OK, there are a couple of points here...... first, with regards to your documentation, just so you'll know, that procedure is not described in the manufacturer's installation instructions. It's in our additional Performance Products documentation, which you'll get only if the Superchip was purchased directly from us here at Performance Products. Our additional documentation goes out with every Superchip we ship directly for these vehicles, and includes a lot of tips, hints, etc. designed to take a first-time installer thru this with no surprises, and gives troubleshooting info and also tells you what to do to prepare your vehicle for service. It is together with the manufacturers installation instructions inside with the Superchip and all the rest of the documentation. If the Superchip was purchased elsewhere, not from us, then you won't have that additional documentation.
I mention that just because we all use screen names here, so I can't look you up by name at the moment to determine if you are our customer or not. If you got it from us, then we can always provide you with a replacement copy. To have us do that, just shoot us a quick email with your full name & brief vehicle info so we can look you up in our customer database, ok? Our contact info is just below for email & phone, etc. We can email it back to you as an attachment.
Next, with regards to what you should do right now, you could try telling them that over the phone if you like, but I would suggest just going down there personally, and touching base with the technician actually doing the work. If they need to scan your computer for any error codes (diagnostics), you'll need to do that procedure to prevent a number of false error codes from potentially being reported. If you like, you can just drop by and do it yourself very quickly, do a disconnect of the battery, turn the headlights on for 5 minutes, then shut them back off, and then re-connect the battery. But I think it would be a good idea to drop by and talk with the tech working on your vehicle, to make sure there are no such problems, and to either let them know to do that procudure, or just do it yourself while you're there. They may look at your funny when you try to explain that to them, as they may not realize why you're doing that.
Of course, if you drove the vehicle at least 50 miles after removing the Superchip, before turing it in for service, then you won't have this potential issue anyway, as after 50 or more miles of driving, you'll only have the factory program at work there in the microcontroller.
If you have any questions about this, please just give us a quick call if you like, our number is just below.
Good luck!
Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
From: Port Lavaca,Texas
Does the superchip have to be removed to get the diagnostic codes to read right or are we afraid of the dealer pulling the "chip is the problem" on us?
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Thread Starter
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Member
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Santa Cruz, CA
RedExpy,
My worry is that the engine diagnostics would give false error codes. Anyways in my case, everything turned out ok. I just called the dealer and they said my truck service is done and they didn't have any problems. I'll see when I pick it up and put the chip back in.
My worry is that the engine diagnostics would give false error codes. Anyways in my case, everything turned out ok. I just called the dealer and they said my truck service is done and they didn't have any problems. I'll see when I pick it up and put the chip back in.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Red Expy,
Your computer can still be scanned for any error codes with the Superchip present, however, we recommend removing the Superchip so the computer can be in stock trim for error code scanning, that is always preferred.
For example, because the Ford computer's internal eprom chip containing the factory program is automatically turned off anytime any performance chip is installed, you'll get a P0605 code, indicating that the internal chip is not functioning, and it's *supposed* to do that with a performance chip present. Now, if the tech doing the work doesn't know about performance chips, then he or she may think that the computer has actually failed, when in fact nothing is wrong at all! That P0605 code immediately disappears when you remove the performance chip, and it will come back just as soon as you install it again, that's how it's *supposed* to work, but sometimes the individual technician may not know that.
So for *that* reason, we suggest removing any performance chips prior to service, whether you're under warranty or not.
Now in Cruzer's particular case, what we were talking about is a situation where he took his vehicle in for service right after removing the Superchip, but he didn't clear the ECU with a battery disconnect procedure or drive it for 50 miles before dropping it off. In *that* specific situation only, it is possible to get a number of false error codes just because you have parts of 2 different programs in the microcontroller, and that can drive a poor technician nuts, which we don't ever want to do. So when you pull the Superchip for service, just make sure to disconnect the battery, turn on the headlights for 5 minutes, then turn them back off and last, re-connect the battery, and then you're ready for service work. Or, you can just drive for at least 50 miles after removing a performance chip, and then you won't have that issue either, as by then you have only the current program at work. However, we like clearing the ECU much better, and that is what we recommend doing.
So in Cruzer's case, this was a specific situation, one that most people won't run into, and he just wanted to check and confirm what he needed to do. In his case, there was no problem anyway, and many times it will be fine. However, we always like to make *certain* there aren't going to be any problems with false error codes, so we recommend doing that procedure to clear the ECU after removing the performance chip, before taking it in for service.
Your computer can still be scanned for any error codes with the Superchip present, however, we recommend removing the Superchip so the computer can be in stock trim for error code scanning, that is always preferred.
For example, because the Ford computer's internal eprom chip containing the factory program is automatically turned off anytime any performance chip is installed, you'll get a P0605 code, indicating that the internal chip is not functioning, and it's *supposed* to do that with a performance chip present. Now, if the tech doing the work doesn't know about performance chips, then he or she may think that the computer has actually failed, when in fact nothing is wrong at all! That P0605 code immediately disappears when you remove the performance chip, and it will come back just as soon as you install it again, that's how it's *supposed* to work, but sometimes the individual technician may not know that.
So for *that* reason, we suggest removing any performance chips prior to service, whether you're under warranty or not.
Now in Cruzer's particular case, what we were talking about is a situation where he took his vehicle in for service right after removing the Superchip, but he didn't clear the ECU with a battery disconnect procedure or drive it for 50 miles before dropping it off. In *that* specific situation only, it is possible to get a number of false error codes just because you have parts of 2 different programs in the microcontroller, and that can drive a poor technician nuts, which we don't ever want to do. So when you pull the Superchip for service, just make sure to disconnect the battery, turn on the headlights for 5 minutes, then turn them back off and last, re-connect the battery, and then you're ready for service work. Or, you can just drive for at least 50 miles after removing a performance chip, and then you won't have that issue either, as by then you have only the current program at work. However, we like clearing the ECU much better, and that is what we recommend doing.
So in Cruzer's case, this was a specific situation, one that most people won't run into, and he just wanted to check and confirm what he needed to do. In his case, there was no problem anyway, and many times it will be fine. However, we always like to make *certain* there aren't going to be any problems with false error codes, so we recommend doing that procedure to clear the ECU after removing the performance chip, before taking it in for service.