Browsing ebay for giggles, and found this..

[kennb]

So I'm checking out ebay for the lack of something better to do for little things I can get for my '07 LE. Now I have no intention of whipping out my credit card and getting it, but it sounds like a pretty simple way to get an extra +/- 25HP out of your engine.. What I'd like to know is, is this legit or just snake oil? (I'm mechanically challenged)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PERFO...QQcmdZViewItem

[fedupracing]

They dont do anything.

[TRD VVTi]

It's not a chip. You car doesn't even have a programmable chip. It's a piece of crap resistor that won't do anything.

[kennb]

Originally Posted by TRD VVTi

It's not a chip. You car doesn't even have a programmable chip. It's a piece of crap resistor that won't do anything.

Yeah they got me slightly interested when they said chip, until I remembered replacing any chips would kill my brand new warranty, then after reading it I realized it was more than likely a resistor. Wasn't gonna get it, but thought I'd ask anyways. Some of the ebay listings are funny, they read like infomercials.. and I hate infomercials.

[TRD VVTi]

Originally Posted by kennb

Yeah they got me slightly interested when they said chip, until I remembered replacing any chips would kill my brand new warranty, then after reading it I realized it was more than likely a resistor. Wasn't gonna get it, but thought I'd ask anyways. Some of the ebay listings are funny, they read like infomercials.. and I hate infomercials.

There are ALOT of scam products on eBay. Your better off asking if your not sure.

Also, you can read in the sellers feedback that it's just a resistor. The seller also states that it's just a resistor for the intake air temp. sensor. It may give you a VERY SLIGHT horsepower gain initially (not measureable probably) but the computer will eventually compensate by reading the oxygen sensors data.

[Epsilon]

Like TRD VVTi stated, it's not a chip but just a resistor that you put in parallel with the intake air temp sensor to 'fool' your ecu into thinking the intake air temp is colder than it really is to run a little richer/more gas. The o2 sensors output probably offsets a significantly richer mixture, making the 'mod' of limited merit, since they are not wideband.

[TRD VVTi]

It will also advance the timing slightly.

[Qslim]

I like this part:

"THIS PERFORMANCE MOD WILL CONNECT TO THE CARS INTAKE STSTEMS IAT SENSOR. ONCE THE MOD IS INSTALLED, THE SENSOR WILL READ A DIFFERENT AIR TEMPERATURE THEN WHAT IS REALLY COMING IN. ONCE THIS GETS RELAYED BACK TO THE ECU IT WILL ADD MORE AIR AND FUEL TO THE CAR, GIVING IT THAT EXTRA HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR."

Apparently when the ECU thinks it is cold outside, it adds more air to the engine. Who knew.


It amazes me that things like this actually sell. Like the armies of PhD labcoat wearing engineers that Toyota employs would overlook a $7.00 power increase on the order of 25hp.

[kennb]

Originally Posted by Qslim

I like this part:

"THIS PERFORMANCE MOD WILL CONNECT TO THE CARS INTAKE STSTEMS IAT SENSOR. ONCE THE MOD IS INSTALLED, THE SENSOR WILL READ A DIFFERENT AIR TEMPERATURE THEN WHAT IS REALLY COMING IN. ONCE THIS GETS RELAYED BACK TO THE ECU IT WILL ADD MORE AIR AND FUEL TO THE CAR, GIVING IT THAT EXTRA HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR."

Apparently when the ECU thinks it is cold outside, it adds more air to the engine. Who knew.


It amazes me that things like this actually sell. Like the armies of PhD labcoat wearing engineers that Toyota employs would overlook a $7.00 power increase on the order of 25hp.

Or just a minor tweaking of the ECU..

I bet that person is making a small fortune off the idiots who go "OH YEAH COOL!!!" and buy it..

[Epsilon]

I actually know a few people online that have bought a 'chip' and claims it gives an increase in performance.

[lammydi]

Originally Posted by Epsilon

I actually know a few people online that have bought a 'chip' and claims it gives an increase in performance.

Oh, they will swear that they "FEEL" the extra power.

[kennb]

Yeah, and I bought the TRD decal for my car, and got an instant 10HP boost! Next is the Type-R sticker, for an extra 5HP! I'll be blowing people away at the stop lights in no time with these babies!

[Epsilon]

Originally Posted by lammydi

Oh, they will swear that they "FEEL" the extra power.

Them and their butt dynos.