OK, I put my chip in last wednesday and everything was great until last night. The weather has also been warm until last night. I went to dinner with some friends last and it was a little chilly when we got there but when we left it was down to 32 degrees. I tried to start my tuck, but it wouldn't roll over. I tried about 8 times then it finally started. The drive home was fine. This morning, it was about 28 degrees, The truck started fine, however, when I started foing down the street, suddenly my rpms shot way up like the truck came out of gear. Then it stalled and the "serivice engine soon" light came on. I pulled off the road(barely becuase the wheel was almost locked). Put it in park and tried to start it....again, it took 5 or 6 tries and it finally started and I drove to work fine. I was about 1 second away from pulling the %&*! chip out when it started. Oh yeah..one more thing, on the way to work, the "Theft" light kept on blinking...what's up with that? Has anyone had this problem or know what is going on? It's still winter here and I can't have this happening every morning or I'll lose my job(being late) or I'll get into an accident if my truck stalls at the wrong time. please help.

 

I would pull the chip and computer and reclean your contacts. On my first install I swore the contacts were clean. After it wouldn't start I pulled everything again anf found goop still on the contacts. When they say clean they really mean CLEAN. Clean them until they are perfect and then clean them some more. My truck runs like a champ since I overcleaned the contacts. Just don't get down to the copper that is under the tin.

 

I would have to agree with REDSHIFT. Your contacts are likely not clean enough. I have had chip in now for four weeks with no trouble (other than antagonizing the local law). I cleaned those contacts till I thought they were very clean. Then after inspecting them with a magnifying glass I saw more of that clear coating. It is hard to explain just how long and carefully you need to clean those contacts. My experience with my truck was when you think you have the contcts clean, then clean them some more. Hope you get your truck running.

 

yeah...but my truck does start and it does run...It's just when it is freezing outside, it won't start right away and it stalled out today. I clean the connectors twice. Everything works fine when it's not really cold. But when it's cold...I'm afraid to drive it now.

 

well...I tried to go to lunch today and my truck wouldn't start. I want to remove the chip(so i can drive home) but I don't have any tools here to disconnect the battery. Is it necessary to disconnect the battery to remove the chip...please help asap. I HAVE to get home. Thanks

 

spoke with Mike...You guys were right. It looks like a connection problem. Thanks for the help and thanks Mike for the great info.

 

Hi XLT-Sport,

Thanks very much for calling, we always want to know when you're having a problem!

I agree, both from what you posted here and especially from our conversation, this sounds like a simnple connection-related issue, and it makes perfect sense that it doesn't want to start when it's cold, as that is when things contract the most.

The normal thermal expansion & contraction of all materials from driving the truck and then letting it sit overnight each day are enough to cause any remaining conformal coating, and it only takes a litttle bit, to migrate enough to interrupt the connection, and bingo, you get a no-start.

If what we covered to day over the phone doesn't take care of it, give us a call & we'll go over what to do next, but I think you'll find that will take care of it.

Good luck!

 

Well I cleaned the connectors again and used some compressed air to clean out the chip...Truck started and drove great...Hopefully it will start in the morning...we'll see.

Hey Mike...I took the cover off the computer and I unscrewed the computer from the bottom part but I couldn't get it off. It was like it was glued on. I didn't want to pull too hard, so I just cleaned extra long on the bottom part of the connection until I couldn't see or scrape any more coating. Is it normally stuck on there like that. Also, what happens it you scrape the connectors too much and expose the copper. Thanks.

 

Hi XLT-Sport,

You need to call us to go over those kinds of things properly, we can't provide Tech Support here on the boards.

How much copper you have exposed, and where, determines whether that is a problem or not. In general, you do not want to expose *any* copper at al, but if it's just a hint around the edges of a contact or two here and there, that's generally OK. If you have any significant amount of copper showing, that can be a problem, as the copper is very soft, and can wear thru. If that happens, it's easy to fix, just lay a bead of solder down over the copper to cover it back up. That of course has to be done by someone who is experienced soldering, and for anyone with experience, it's a simple job.

One thing that you *MUST* do is to remove not just the top, but also the bottom cover of the computer, otherwise you will never bew abel to have the access needed get the other side of that connector properly cleaned. You will also continue to transfer more of that coating into the slot on the Superchip like that as well.

The bottom cover is a simple pressure fit. What you see on the outside of the computer case is simply overspray of the clear conformal coating, which is sprayed on after the board is mounted in the center section. Once you have the top cover off, just reach down inside the ECU and push on the bottom cover from the inside, and it drops right off. Goes back on the same way, in reverse, a simple pressure fit.