Problem with SuperChip?....no start
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 509
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From: Corona, CA
Problem with SuperChip?....no start
Mike Troyer et al,
About 3 months ago, I was cruising on the freeway at 60 mph and the engine abruptly died. I tried starting it again from the key on position, but it wouldn't start. I had to turn the ignition all the way off and then it started back up. I had posted this problem earlier and someone mentioned to check/clean the contacts on the computer and secure the chip with duct tape (I already had a couple strips of electrical tape holding it in place).
Yesterday, I started my truck up (sat overnight in the garage) and the engine immediately died. Again, turned the key off and then tried to start. It started fine. However, about 2 miles from home, it died again coming to a stop light and then again about 5 miles later.
After disconnecting the battery this morning, I pulled out the computer and removed the chip. I unscrewed the 6 screws that sandwich the computer together and looked at the contacts on the computer. They appeared clean, but decided to very lightly drag scotchbrite across both sides of the contacts and then dabbed the contacts with isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip. After the truck sat for 45 minutes disconnected, I reinstalled the chip and secured it with 3 strips of duct tape this time; then reinstalled the computer in the truck. The engine started fine (a few cranks more than normal just like when I initially installed the chip), then the engine idled up to 1400 rpm, then down to 1000 rpm, and back up and down again, then the engine died. After turning the key to the off position, I tried to restart, but it will not start. The digital readout on the odometer has dashes, no mileage numbers with the key in the on position.
Question: What do I do now? Is this is a chip 'no contact' symptom with the dashes across the odometer or ???
Thank goodness I'm stranded at home on football Sunday
Kevin
About 3 months ago, I was cruising on the freeway at 60 mph and the engine abruptly died. I tried starting it again from the key on position, but it wouldn't start. I had to turn the ignition all the way off and then it started back up. I had posted this problem earlier and someone mentioned to check/clean the contacts on the computer and secure the chip with duct tape (I already had a couple strips of electrical tape holding it in place).
Yesterday, I started my truck up (sat overnight in the garage) and the engine immediately died. Again, turned the key off and then tried to start. It started fine. However, about 2 miles from home, it died again coming to a stop light and then again about 5 miles later.
After disconnecting the battery this morning, I pulled out the computer and removed the chip. I unscrewed the 6 screws that sandwich the computer together and looked at the contacts on the computer. They appeared clean, but decided to very lightly drag scotchbrite across both sides of the contacts and then dabbed the contacts with isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip. After the truck sat for 45 minutes disconnected, I reinstalled the chip and secured it with 3 strips of duct tape this time; then reinstalled the computer in the truck. The engine started fine (a few cranks more than normal just like when I initially installed the chip), then the engine idled up to 1400 rpm, then down to 1000 rpm, and back up and down again, then the engine died. After turning the key to the off position, I tried to restart, but it will not start. The digital readout on the odometer has dashes, no mileage numbers with the key in the on position.
Question: What do I do now? Is this is a chip 'no contact' symptom with the dashes across the odometer or ???
Thank goodness I'm stranded at home on football Sunday
Kevin
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Kevin,
Sorry to hear you're having a problem! Your best bet is to give us a call so we can go over this with you in detail.
Just in case you may not know, you can always remove the Superchip and your ECU will default back to it's factory program and start right up, so you're never "stranded" (unless there is some other problem with the vehicle of course), don't forget that.
We can easily test the Superchip to determine if there is any problem with it, and if so, repair or replace it for you.
This sounds like it could easily be a connection-related issue from the symptoms, but this Superchip should be checked to make sure, I'd say, & we're always happy to check that Superchip for you, as we don't want you having problems of course. Just give us a call & we'll check this out for you Kevin!
Sorry to hear you're having a problem! Your best bet is to give us a call so we can go over this with you in detail.
Just in case you may not know, you can always remove the Superchip and your ECU will default back to it's factory program and start right up, so you're never "stranded" (unless there is some other problem with the vehicle of course), don't forget that.
We can easily test the Superchip to determine if there is any problem with it, and if so, repair or replace it for you.
This sounds like it could easily be a connection-related issue from the symptoms, but this Superchip should be checked to make sure, I'd say, & we're always happy to check that Superchip for you, as we don't want you having problems of course. Just give us a call & we'll check this out for you Kevin!
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 509
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From: Corona, CA
No start problem is fixed!
Mike,
I tried to call you but you were out to lunch.
After consulting with you earlier this morning by phone, I performed "micro-surgery" on the male connector on the computer. That is, I used a very small flat blade screwdriver (almost a jeweler's screwdriver) to scrape the spaces in between the silver contacts. There was still some residual coating in these "valleys" which may have kept the contact(s) on the SuperChip from connecting to the silver tab connections on the computer. This procedure took me a good hour as I was extremely meticulous and careful not to damaged the male terminals.
I also dragged some very fine 600 grit sandpaper across the male connector to the point where you can barely see just a bit of the copper under the silver coating. This was followed up by a compressed air blow of all parts and an alcohol wipe down of the board terminals.
With the chip out, I then placed a strip of electrical tape on both sides of the back of the computer housing (where the outboard edges of the chip would touch the computer housing) to permit a different contact area of the chip to the male end of the computer board. I installed the chip, and then used duct tape to secure the chip, making sure to cover the entire back of the chip to insulate it from the metal bracket that holds the computer in place. I resinstalled the computer, hooked the battery back up and made a sign of the cross. It started up in less than 2 cranks...like there was never a problem!
SERVICE/RESPONSE FROM MIKE TROYER:
AAA+++ EXCELLENT!!! Mike fully and clearly explained that it was definitely a connection problem with the dashes across the odometer.
A big thank-you to you Mike!
I tried to call you but you were out to lunch.
After consulting with you earlier this morning by phone, I performed "micro-surgery" on the male connector on the computer. That is, I used a very small flat blade screwdriver (almost a jeweler's screwdriver) to scrape the spaces in between the silver contacts. There was still some residual coating in these "valleys" which may have kept the contact(s) on the SuperChip from connecting to the silver tab connections on the computer. This procedure took me a good hour as I was extremely meticulous and careful not to damaged the male terminals.
I also dragged some very fine 600 grit sandpaper across the male connector to the point where you can barely see just a bit of the copper under the silver coating. This was followed up by a compressed air blow of all parts and an alcohol wipe down of the board terminals.
With the chip out, I then placed a strip of electrical tape on both sides of the back of the computer housing (where the outboard edges of the chip would touch the computer housing) to permit a different contact area of the chip to the male end of the computer board. I installed the chip, and then used duct tape to secure the chip, making sure to cover the entire back of the chip to insulate it from the metal bracket that holds the computer in place. I resinstalled the computer, hooked the battery back up and made a sign of the cross. It started up in less than 2 cranks...like there was never a problem!
SERVICE/RESPONSE FROM MIKE TROYER:
AAA+++ EXCELLENT!!! Mike fully and clearly explained that it was definitely a connection problem with the dashes across the odometer.
A big thank-you to you Mike!
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Area 52!
>>>I tried to call you but you were out to lunch.<<<
Some say that's my waking state, others feel it's a permanent condition.
All kidding aside, sorry I missed your call at lunch, but we were able to speak later on this afternoon again, & thanks once again for calling to let us know what you found when you went back for your re-check & your results, etc. Proper communications is the key when you have a problem, and once we were able to talk a bit over the phone about exactly what was happening, it was easy for us to determine that there was no problem with the Superchip itself, it was just a connection-related issue, which it is over 95% of the time.
One thing that I don't think I remembered to double-check with you on is whether you still have your original documentation from when you first ordered the Superchip. I'm referring to both the manufacturer's instructions and much more importantly, our own additional Performance Products supplemental documentation. If you don't have that additional Performance Products documentation, please shoot us a quick email to let us know, & we'll be happy to respond with another copy attached to our email back to you.
Now you can get back to enjoying your Superchip!
>>>I tried to call you but you were out to lunch.<<<
Some say that's my waking state, others feel it's a permanent condition.
All kidding aside, sorry I missed your call at lunch, but we were able to speak later on this afternoon again, & thanks once again for calling to let us know what you found when you went back for your re-check & your results, etc. Proper communications is the key when you have a problem, and once we were able to talk a bit over the phone about exactly what was happening, it was easy for us to determine that there was no problem with the Superchip itself, it was just a connection-related issue, which it is over 95% of the time.
One thing that I don't think I remembered to double-check with you on is whether you still have your original documentation from when you first ordered the Superchip. I'm referring to both the manufacturer's instructions and much more importantly, our own additional Performance Products supplemental documentation. If you don't have that additional Performance Products documentation, please shoot us a quick email to let us know, & we'll be happy to respond with another copy attached to our email back to you.
Now you can get back to enjoying your Superchip!