Mike : Iv'e had this question to ask you for a while now, and SCrewLoose reminded of it. Can a short card-edge pigtail be used to jumper the chip to a more user friendly location ? Now i'm not talking about a 6' extension cord, only say 6 to 12" patch cord. From what Iv'e read, (and experenced first hand) the most common issue is CHIP FALLOUT, two words that'll bring a f-150 pilot to his knees !!! The computer cases really do restrict the chip from seating properly by only a 1/8 of an inch, if the plug was 1/4" longer we'd all be in SUPERCHIP NERVANA, no tape to peel off before visiting the dealership. Don't get me wrong, It's a great product, I just question the logic of "superchip" setteling for a bandaid fix when there so close to reaching perfection.......... I think I just answered my own question.................

 

HP,

I bent the lip on the bracket that mounts the PCM and I have to yet experience chip fallout. I do not tape the chip and it reamins in place in spite of some bone jarring rides. I now always remove the chip before dealer visits. I can now remove and install it in a matter of seconds.

regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

I plan on getting a flip chip in the early spring. Wondering why it is necessary to remove the chip prior to a visit to the dealership? The chip doesn't void the warranty does it?
J.J.

 

JMC : I use the term FALL OUT regarding a connection failure' I don't actually find it on the floor, YET. If you could see my poor little chip hanging on w/ it's toe nails, you would understand. suvdrvr : I really can't answer that question, but it seems that some dealership are, shall we say, unsympathetic, to there use. So the school-of-thought is , what they don't know, wont hurt YOU !

 

suvdrvr,

here is a basically word for word answere to your question. this comes from the packet that comes with the superchip when you purchase it.

"Failure to do this(remove chip and reset ecu) before a diagnostic scan of your computer can result in false error codes indicating failures which have not actually occured, so please make sure to remove your chip and reset ECU before service"

that is pretty much word for word. hope that helps.

A

 

Hi HP,

I think your basic issue is needing to tape the Superchip in place in these types of vheicles, but I will address this in more detail, so please bear with me......................

I respectfully disagree with you with regard to the Superchip using a "bandaid" approach, it's actually proven to be a very reliable method of attachment that most other chipmakers use as well. Literally hundreds of thousands of these vehicles are running with that type of product attached to that connector with no such problems. All it requires is proper installation, and you don't have any problems with losing the connection.

However, you're right in that "proper installation" does include taping them in place in any pickup truck, SUV or 4WD vehicle. It's easy and quick to do, and you don't have to remove the ECU from the vehicle to do that, except for the very first installation to get access to clean the connector. You can simply remove the black plastic pressure clip and that will alo you to move the back of the ECU enough to tape it in place and to easily remove it as well. If you do it as we suggest in our installation instructions, it doesn't take much time.

As JMC mentioned, and as our documentation also points out, there can be a lip, or a tab on the mounting bracket or plate that the ECU is held against that can prevent the Superchip from fully seating, and about 1 in 4 or 5 of these vehicles will have that, and if so, must be dealt with as we desctribe in our docs.

That aside, there is nothing in any of these ECU's that prevents the Superchip from fitting onto the edge connector and having proper connection. Yes, there are some production variances in the placement of the board inside the ECU, but it's relatively small, and never prevents the Superchip from being able to be attached properly to the J3 connector for reliable operations.

While some people have had the kind of experience that JMC has, never having a problem in rough offroad use even with the Superchip *not* taped in place, we do recommend properly taping the Superchip squarely onto the connector in any pickup truck, SUV, or 4WD vehicle. They have rougher suspensions & transmit far more vibration & harshness into the cabin & throughout the vehicle, and that can cause the Superchip to slowly back off the connector over time, or if you hit something, go over rough railroad tracks, washboard roads, etc.

I do understand your question of course, and the answer is there is nothing preventing someone who is technically proficient from making such a harness/connection, sure, that could be done. I sure wouldn't do that myself, though I could easily build it, I've run the Superchip in every one of our vehicles and *never* had a problem losing the connection.

Best of luck whatever you decide, & Happy New Year!

 

Mike : Thanks for your reply on my patch cord question, as you know, some devices lose signal resolution, or suffer I/O degradation when remotely mounted. I must also say that my ECU is an exception to the rule, the card is quite deep. I removed the bracket, ground off the lip and flat filed the alum case casting. The tape (in my case) is a very necessary component, not redundent insurance. The ECU must be removed to stretch the tape tightly over the chip.......In my case anyway, and that's all I have to go on. I can only assume the fitment was typical, and believe me, if it were, it would have been addressed. Which begs the question, Would you rather be LUCKY or GOOD ? Thanks again, Dan.......

 

Just from my experiance offroading, taping the chip on is a lot more reassuring than not. You don't see it so theres no astetics to worry about.

The 4 cents worth of tape, I used electrical wraped almost all around the computer box, is a no brainer. If the chip gets lose offroading and your engin dies in the middle of a mud bog, your going to hate yourself for not taking that extra step and putting the tape on.

 

Hi Dan,

There are certainly all kinds of variances in manufacturing, and we do see variances in that specific area, as we mention in our documentation. It's +/- 1/8th inch at it's max ranges, none of the thousands of ECU's we've handled over the years has ever been outside that range, and none of them has caused a need for the tape for anything other than a preventive measure. So far, knock on wood.

I'd love to see the unit myself, but what I'd like to see even more is your Superchip module. In that regard, since I don't know who you are (we have too many Dan's for me to remember your full name & thus be able to look you up in our customer database, sorry!) at the moment, I would suggest shooting us a quick email and perhaps doing a cut & paste of this into your email to jog my memory, etc., along with your full name, etc. That way I can look you up in our records and give you a call so I can ask you a few specific things over the phone. I'd like to determine if we might be able to help with this, is why I ask, so if you wouldn't mind emailing us or giving us a quick call, whatever you prefer, I'd like to go over something specific with you about this.

Talk to you soon,

 

(snipped to save space)

Hope you don't mind my showing up late to the dance and uninvited, but, here's .02 from someone considering, but leary of doing the "chip" (any chip).

IMO, if you're asking or even recommending that people use tape to secure the mod, then the method of mounting is not what is should be. If, as you state, most other chipmakers use this method as well, then there is a real opportunity to further differentiate your product and set it a level above the rest. Additionally, by the very nature of what you do, you are obviously a very technically proficient individual and by your own admission, could easily build a better harness or mount. If you could easily do it, I have to ask, then why don't you? Why not make your product the only one with a sure-fire method of attachment that can withstand the rigors of a 4x4 suspension without any tape?

Would you buy a Billet grill from a company that "recommends" you use a strip of tape at each corner just to ensure it doesn't fall off while 4 wheeling? I wouldn't, and a grill is not nearly as important a piece as your chip is.

I hope you don't misconstrue my intent here. I am not bashing you or your product. In fact, it is beacause I've read so many good things about it that I'm even considering it. I want to merely point out that as a consumer, this is something that could have a negative effect on my decision to purchase your product, or anyone that uses such a mount. If I did buy the chip and did have it fall out, you could imagine that it would certainly have a negative impact on my experience with the product.

With all the strong benefits that your product offers, I just think that going the exta step would make it the cream of the crop.

My .02.

Natty

 

Natty,

A rubber band will hold it in place. Velcro could be adapted. Have you ever installed headers? The custom fit, guaranteed to be easy to install, most times have a problem. The chip is a peice of cake compaired to that.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier