A chip for your car...

I noticed Wart said he got his car chipped.. anyone else.
It's something I've thought of, but what exactly does it do?
How does it make your car faster?

[SpookyEddy]

I believe (but am no expert) that they are used to re-program the engine managment system in a car based on a stack of parameters such as fuel/air mix etc. The general idea being that you can optimise & customise it to the way you want the car to perform.

....however I could be horribly wrong

http://www.bmwz1.co.uk/z1chip.htm

[thekingofpain]

It remaps the fuel injection and timing and possibly the (auto) tranny via a modified chip in the cars main computer---it can make dramatic differences in how it runs but is illegal in some states as it can make the car unsmoggable...

Check here: http://www.hypertech-inc.com/

[Warthog]

I believe TKOP and edwin have it right.

The sacrifice is using Premium fuel which in my town is $1.50/gallon (just cost $18 to fill up my small car from empty yesterday). To me, that's not bad, but if $$$ is tight already, it's not gonna help

AFAIK for my car, if you had an auto trans (I have manual), it didn't produce as much perf. gain because - if you noticed in the other thread - you have to access the high rpms to get that power. That's easy with a manual, just downshift when you go to pass. But auto would shift, etc.etc. (grr)

My chip retails for $250 brand new.....I got it for $150 used. AFAIK, not all chips are created equal....it would be good to check out a bbs for your car and get some info.

My chip - and probably most (dunno) - eliminated the top speed gov'ner which used to be at approx. 112mph and now is 125mph or so. It also increased the redline by a few hundred rpm.

Here is the descrip of mine:

These engine chips adjust the ignition timing and fuel curves which results in increased performance.

Link to my chip:
http://www.bmwtoys.com/Merchant2/mer...ory_Code=Chips

Here are performance stats for BMWs - note, some have greater/less gains depending on the car:
http://www.bmwtoys.com/Merchant2/gra...ips/mods.shtml

Warthog

Premium gas is no issue for me I have to use it anyway. Mine came from the factory with the words Premium Only right on the gas gauge..

Top end speed isn't really an issue for me either since the book sez the govner cuts it at 7k (yes it works) but that's at about 140.
I've only had it to about 135. What value is 150mph to me? If I got caught doing 135 I'd be in jail!

But now for more performance and to blow the doors off a little rice burner at a light! heehee Glad I asked, I thought it could deliver more overall power..Oh look aren't these cute?

[Sweeper]

I had a Diablo Chip in my 2000 Mustang 3.8 V6. Worked out great.
It removed the Rev. Limiter for higher RPM shifts. My top end went from 107 to 140, though 125 was as far as I was afraid to go....... . It also bumped the timing up (which is why I had to run Premium gas 93 octaine or higher.) My trans. fluid pressure was bumped as well for harder shifts. And it also allowed for more Fuel delivery. BUT, I also had a Densecharger CAI installed as well as GT duel exhaust with Flowmaster mufflers which helped out also. Plus a few other small changes here and there. All in all, I could hang with the stock GT's.

[Toadman]

I'm using an HKS PFC FCON with fuel cut defenser on my RX-7. It modifies the fuel map(injector duty cycles) to richen the mixture and ward off detonation under high rpm/boost levels. I consider it motor insurance, but the extra 15 hp is a bonus. Wish I could afford a stand-alone ECU like an Apexi PowerFC($1100).

Who says computers only come in desktop/laptop configuration?

[Warthog]

I thought it could deliver more overall power..

It does....for me it was about 20hp and 20ft. lbs of torque....definately more get up and go when passing cars.

[justy]

I talked to an old traffic cop a while back and he said " the only way to make em go faster, give em more juice ".

I think this is what overclocking cars is about, lol!

Changing the chip is the equivalent of changing jets, or needles in old cars. It works if you know what your doing ( or get someone who does ).

As in overclocking PC's there are hampsters. The hampsters must be at least 8 feet tall, with a swishy tall, and a long nose! We call these horses, and the more you can fit in, the better!

[skuz]

I suppose I can't do this for my carbureted engine.