Hey Mike,
My dad just bought a used superduty w/ the powerstroke in it.Anyway under his backseat is a box that says TTS power system components and inside is the instructions to install a chip.Do you have any knowledge of this brand chip?It says its a three stage chip.Any help is appreciated

 

Hi LC,

Afraid I can't be of much help on that one, as I don't know what's actually in that chip. Over the past 5-6 years everybody and their brother has claimed to be a chipmaker to "cash in" on chips for powerstroke diesels. There are all kinds of "brands" that you may find, most of which should be avoided due to excessive EGT's (exhaust gas temperatures) due to poor tuning technique/skills.

Do not use *any* chip for the Powerstroke diesel that is not a Superchip until an EGT gauge is installed so you can properly monitor EGT's and know what's happening to that motor. I say that simply because most other chips for the PSD we've tested have shown too high EGT's (1450-1500 degrees, OUCH!) for safe sustained use, especially for towing the kinds of loads PSD's tend to get subjected to.

I would check the ECU to see if it actually has a chip installed, as the previous owner most likely removed it, virtually nobody gives away their chip when they sell or trade in their vehicle.

Remove the black plastic shroud that covers the ECU, it is held in place by two 7mm bolts. Pull that shroud up, and then look on the back of the ECU to see if it actually has a chip attached at all, as most likely it doesn't, but you might get lucky.

Whatever you do, make sure to get an EGT gauge installed on the vehicle if the previous owner didn't. Make sure to get an EGT gauge installed whether it has a chip or not, as any diesel motor should always have an EGT gauge on it. Then you'll be able to keep an eye on that properly, especially if it does have a chp installed.

Good luck!

 

I did a little poking around on the internet after I post this question.Here is what I came up with.That particular maufacturer mostly does chip/programmers (and headers) for the General Motors crowd and seem to have a decent reputation.Where can i find the computer?The truck has no egt gauge and it hauled around a cabover camper.Heck the previous owner left the cb radio, the airbags in the rear suspension, and all the goodies that you need to have a cabover on the truck.It will be a daily driver for my dad and during the summer its gonna pull a 27ft(?) 5th wheel on camping trips.

 

Hi LC,

Sounds like you got a few leftover "goodies" from the previous owner, he left the CB Radio in?? Good score, too bad for him though.

To find the powertrain computer (ECU) in the late model Super Duty, just look to the right of the emergency brake pedal under the dash on the driver's side. There you will see a black plastic shroud held in place by two 7mm bolts. Remove those two bolts and then push the shroud aside so you can see the back of the ECU (which will be pointing straight towards the back of the vehicle, you'll be facing the rear of the ECU as soon as you move that protective shroud aside). Then you'll instantly see if there is an external module attached, which will tell you if it has a chip installed.

 

The cb is a double score, because my dad took his out of his dodge truck before he traded it in and guess whose truck it lives in now(mine).Today we took off the cabover stuff and he is giving that to a freind of mine that just bought a used cabover.It seems like everyone is making out pretty good on my dads truck Thanks again for the help mike

 

You're very welcome, LC!