JetspeedCamry
05-22-2005, 02:34 AM
I had my Powerchip ECU installed and the car was friggin awesome. Torque, power, response..everything increased. Great for a about 1 1/2 weeks or so and then....I stopped the car a few days ago in the garage like normal. The next time I started it and drove it, the power felt a bit down, torque was reduced considerbly and the was a bad hesitation at WOT. This was really disappointing and I was fuming. I checked the base timing at it is 10*, which is what Powerchip recommend for there chip. I did a CEL diagnostic on it and got this code:
Code 11 - ECU (+B) - Momentary interruption in power supply to ECU.
This is fairly worrying and is why I think my Powerchip seems to just have "turned off". What could be the cause of this problem? I was thinking i'd take the car to Powerchip this week and get them to double check the wiring, as i've never seen this code crop up until now.
Thanks.
JetspeedCamry
06-13-2006, 12:53 AM
The problem was my B+ wire was slightly loose. Not enough to cause a bad problem, but enough for it to lodge a code. The car felt quite different after i redid the little terminal connections. Power was restored back to what it used to be and no more hesitation at WOT.
Perhaps check the connections on your ECU and make sure the terminals are TIGHT. Those little tabs on the connectors/wires sometimes get a bit weak and the wire pushes out slightly.
TheWhiteKnight
06-13-2006, 01:11 AM
JetspeedCamry,
Could you 'pretty please' (gotta butter it) share some more info on your powerchip?
Especially the where and $$$ and how you rate the install.
Thanx Mate.
JetspeedCamry
06-13-2006, 01:55 AM
Haha...what no cherries?? :lol:
The powerchip was installed by "Powerchip Group" in Melbourne. They did a good install, directly wiring it to the ECU board. No problems with it so far. The tested and tuned the ignition maps to work optimumly. Ive tried increasing it further, but it doesn't seem to be as good (too jerky,hard to drive).
The biggest gain i noticed was low end torque and throttle response. It pulls very nicely out of corners and what not. The manual conversion obviosuly helped this too, but the gain is certainly there, as when you put the chip to +/- 0 adjustment, it feels weaker.
I don't know how this chip would work on other engines, like the 3sfe etc, but, it works well on mine..so it all good!.
There are 3 levels of the chip, each requiring more octane. Mine is the top level Gold 98 chip, and that sets you back $890. Probobly a tad high on the price, considering an Apex'i ITC could do a similar job for alot cheaper, but..i wanted to try it.
If you wanna know anything else, just holla!
TheWhiteKnight
06-13-2006, 02:30 AM
Sweeeeet.......cost isn't so bad either.
Nice info !!! :clap:
white90dx
06-13-2006, 05:07 PM
Can you snap a picture of this so-called "chip" and how they installed it in the ECU? I'm kinda curious as to what it actually is...
-Charlie
JetspeedCamry
06-13-2006, 07:07 PM
Well the chip is where my ash tray used to be..so i cant pull it out, but this is the front of it:
http://img164.imageshack.us/img164/8158/img17089ry.jpg
The LED's are indicators or Power, Program Off, Ig1 Ch1, Ig1 Ch2, Ig2 Ch1 and Ig2 Ch2.
The 4pin mini-din socket is for my program patch cable, which interfaces to my laptop, to make a timing curve.
Think of it as a programable ignition advance. Similar to that of a mechanical distributor with weights, where you could fiddle with them to advance quicker/slower etc.
white90dx
06-14-2006, 04:59 PM
Ouch, I wouldn't pay that much for a cheesy piggy-back. To each his own though! :cool: (seeing as I could ge a full standalone ECU for about 50% more...)
I assume it just wires into the harness and doesn't actually do anything inside the ECU?
-Charlie
JetspeedCamry
06-14-2006, 05:09 PM
Ouch, I wouldn't pay that much for a cheesy piggy-back. To each his own though! :cool: (seeing as I could ge a full standalone ECU for about 50% more...)
I assume it just wires into the harness and doesn't actually do anything inside the ECU?
-Charlie
Haha.
Nah the wiring is done directly to the ECU board.