Hello all, not really a noob here (member for a long time) but to the Lightning forum a little bit. Been reading posts and have done lots of research but I have several quick questions.

1. does an 04 have a removable plate on the computer to allow for an add on chip, or is the only way to tune an 04 with a handheld? I have read conflicting stories on this. I ask because I purchased a used 04 and it had the "SCT" badge on the tailgate (since removed) and I do not know if the program is on the computer or not. bought from a dealer and the person that traded did not tell and they did not know to ask. If there is a chance that an add on chip was used I can check quickly, just have not had time since picking it up.

2. if there is a sct program on the truck and no stock program, what are the downsides to that?

3. assuming the stock program is on the computer, anyone know any good tuners in Phoenix?

4. Anyone have any luck with mail order tunes, i hesitate on that with the SC, worked fine with the NA mustang, but there was much less risk of having failure from a bad tune there.

I love the detail guys at the dealer too, its great when they put all that shiney looks good until the first dusty road crap all over the underhood area and it gets all over the SC belt and pulleys. NOT.

Anyway seems like there are always tons of readers here and not so much posting anymore, hopefully I'll still get some answers.

Thanks

 

Computer is on the passenger side, (underneath the dash, "right side")

See it hear in the picture (sliver box)


In this picture you cant see the opening, I have duct tape over it
But you see the silver wire coming out of the computer, that goes to that switch you see there. That was a multi program chip (now I use a hand held)

Chip looks something like this

yours will be a diff color and you can only see the back of it once installed.

The computer has a opening on the back side where you pop off a black plastic cover, the chip goes in there


If it has a Chip, you need to see what chip it is, and figure out how many and what program is on it. If they used a SCT Hand Held that hand held is married to your vin number, (unless they set it back to factory settings and kept the hand held for something else)

If they left a hand held tune in it and didnt give you the hand held, you have a problem

WHAT MODS ARE ON YOUR LIGHTNING ???


WELCOME AND CONGRATS

 

Rob thanks for the info. I had put a chip in the 2000 f150 I had before so i can and know where to check I just did not know if there was a opening in the computer for an add on chip on the 04's. mixed stories from different sources.

I just picked up the truck last weekend, from a dealer (non ford). So he did not know much besides it was a lightning. It was a low mile 04 (18.8k) and that was what I was looking for. To my surprise when I finally go there it had:

jlp ram air
c&l inlet plenum
jlp billitt cooler box
jlp billitt overflow tank
idler pulley
lower pulley (not sure what size yet)
magna flow mufflers and X pipe
either a shift kit or programming (not sure yet)
possibly tuned (not sure yet had badge but could have been removed)

I had a shift kit in a mustang and this truck shifts like that, not like the f150 did with the chip in it. all shifts are hard and now. even 3-4. so i assume either ftvb or something simular, no 4x4 pan though.

i am real pleased with the truck so far just need to clear up the tune issue. i am hoping that the seller just restored stock settings and i just need to get a tune to clear up all the questions.

 

More than likely it once had "chip" in there. You could take the computer out and look and see if the connections have been "scraped" as evidence that a chip was once in there. If it had a chip - and it's been removed, the computer shoudl be restored to it's "stock" settings. But as previously mentioned: there's no way to tell if it's been "flashed" and whether the tune was removed or not. With the mod's you list - I'd want to know whether a "tune" is on there or not. I'd first suggest if you can - see if the dealer will give you the previous owners name and contact him/her to find out. If you can't do that - I'd suggest not driving it too hard and take it to "tuner" and find out what's on there.

 

RF, exactally what I have been thinking. dealer will not pass my info to seller nor give me info. I am s-o-l so to speak. will check the computer this weekend and make some decisions. I have not been driving it hard either.

thanks for the help