Hey Mike

Thank you for your help!

Greg.......HogWild

 

Hey Mike,
Thanks for explaining it for me.... The ten days in the shop did result in a small dent and deep scratch in my tailgate though...just can't win I guess. Could have been done by the tow truck driver...who knows? I of course noticed it "after" I got it home.
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Gene

 

I have a HD-150 And i am wondering if installing a superchip will void the factory waranty?

 

Mike: thanks for the info; is there a Canadian distributor for the Superchip? When you mention the horsepower and torque increase with the chip at the flywheel, any idea what that actually translates to the wheels--dyno run results? I have an SVT Contour and have considered installing but with the chip installed, those who have posted to Contour.org, can't agree on any real benefit. Would I feel it on the HD150 with the chip? Interested in any real life experiences since I would consider it in the Spring after I get through the winter up here . Only road test I've seen in one of our national papers up here at the end of June, I believe, claimed a 0-60 time of about 8.9 sec. Appreciate all your info ck

 

Hi Hog Wild,

If you don't mind an answer from me, since we helped him to resolve it, I can tell you what seems to have happened.

He hit a bump, and that apparently caused the Superchip to temporarily lose communications with his computer, and he stalled. Once the Superchip was removed, the vehicles started right up, and once the Superchip was re-seated, it's running fine. On vehicles like pickup trucks, we will tape them in place after installation just so this does not happen in case of an impact.

Installing the Superchip engages the external override data path designed into the Ford computer. This tells the computer to turn off it's internal EPROM chip, and to seek it's instructions externally. Removing the Superchip causes the computers internal EPROM chip to turn back on, and you're running off the factory program once again. Very simple override circuit, basically.

In his case, he was not aware of what had happened, so his truck was taken into his dealership for service. The service technician had no knowledge of how that circuit in the Ford computer operates, and so thought the computer itself had failed, when there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. You see, with the Superchip installed, if they connect your vehicle to the Ford SBDS diagnostic system, they will get a "false" error code (P0605) telling the technician that the computers internal EPROM chip is not functioning. And of course it's not supposed to be functioning with the Superchip installed, but they didn't know anything about this, so they thought the computer itself had failed, and needed replacement.

The bottom line is that nothing failed, he simply had an impact that caused the Superchip to temporarily lose communciation with the computer, so this was easy to solve.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Hi Casey,

The Superchip is going to add a maximum of 28 horsepower and 46 lbs./ft. of torque at the flywheel to the 260 hp. version of the 5.4 motor.

The 5.4 motor itself in the HD model is no different than in the non-HD F-150 models, just so you'll know. There is an exhaust system change, but the motor itself is no different.

Please feel free to give us a shout for all the details, etc., our contact info is just below and we're happy to go over everything in detail with you, so you can give it some thought and decide if the Superchip is something you would like to use.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Hi lewdog,

No, the Superchip will not void your warranty, and in fact, there are specific laws that protect your rights when using aftermarket parts!

It's called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and it basically states that it is *illegal* to void a warranty or even deny a warranty claim just because aftermarket parts are installed on your vehicle. The law requries that the automaker must first prove that the aftermarket part in question was the sole cause of a related parts failure, and they must further prove that had the aftermarket part not been installed, the related part(s) would not have failed, and that is very strong legal protection. What is all boils down to is this: if you install something that can be proven to cause actual damage to your vehicle, then that warranty claim could be fairly denied. But as long as whatever you do to your vehicle doesn't actually cause *damage*, your warranty coverage remains intact, by law.

So the Superchip will not void your warranty, as it does not damage your vehicle.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Hi Casey,

Yes, there are some smaller dealers in Canada, though most Canadians tend to order them thru us here at Performance due to the exchange rate between the 2 countries skewing prices. You might want to give us a shout by phone or email so we can go over that in detail.

Those numbers come straight off the chassis dyno, which gives us rear wheel, driveline losses from doing the dragdown test of course, and then the flywheel figure. They are expressed in terms of flywheel output so that the vehicle owner can have a number they can compare directly to the way these vehicles have their power rated from the factory, which is SAE Net as installed at the flywheel. The rear wheel numbers will generally run about 20%-25% less in automatics, and 10%-15% lower on manual transmission vehicles, just to give you a rough idea.

We have a number of customers who own Contours, both SVT and regular models with either engine, that love what the Superchip has done for them, as it adds a solid power gain to those motors. Even though the SVT Contour has the nice Extrude-honed components, it is still tuned very conservately, and we're getting solid 18-20 hp gains at the flywheel in that application. I personally like the Contour SVT very much, it's a great little pocket rocket (surprisingly roomy inside for it's size) that moves out very nicely, especially when the rpms are up.

Please feel free to give us a call if you'd like to discuss this in detail, we're happy to go over all of this with you so you can give it some thought.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 10-13-2000).]

 

HI Gene,

I wouldn't let that slide, especially with an un-knowledgeable as they were in your case. It's perfectly normal to not notice that until you get home, as you can't se teh tailgate while driving, and you didn't have any repair work done back there, so you cannot be expected to inspect that vehicle from head to toe for damage before leaving the dealership. I would take this up with them, and press for a resolution, if you can determine whether it was the tow truck driver (rarely, in my experience) or something that happened on the lot for the 10 days it sat there.

Sorry to hear of the damage, & good luck!

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Hi Mike (Super_Chip Distributor).

I've been following your commentary on chips for a little while. I appreciate your input. I have one more question on how it affects the HD-F150. Assuming I'm not a lead foot, what can I expect in changes in my gas mileage using that chip.
Thnks
Bob M

 

Hi GraBeard,

The HD models respond the same as all the other non-Lightning 5.4 F-150's. The owners are reporting back gains of 1.5 to as much as 2.0 more mpg overall, when not using a lot of heavy throttle.

I do have to point out in all fairness that this is not something we can absolutely guarantee, or that was even deliberately designed into the program for the purpose of improved fuel mileage. It's merely a by-product of the performance tuning that gives us a bit more efficiency, basically. The exact mechanism is the increased spark advance used on part-throttle in the Superchip, where we tune specifically for premium gas. A very nice by-product to be sure.

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Mike: thanks for the Superchip info and as stated will contact you in Spring for both chips and pricing. In meantime, on reply above for the HD150, are you suggesting that max chip performance is best achieved by using premium gas? Would I experience similar sticking with regular? Notice on Lighting board with R9 chip some abrupt shifts. Would same apply to HD? Obviously some user input would help. Really like how the HD can move as is when the pedal gets pushed harder. Thanks also for the kind SVT Contour words. This car is a real sleeper and a real joy to drive hard or soft when need be--a little off line torque never hurts with either tho. Will be in touch.