Chips and Warranty Concerns
#18
04-24-2001 | 07:04 PM
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<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by 351stang:
The turning on the lights thing is crazy. You might as well run around the truck naked 13 times while shaking frozen vegetables above your head. Neither of them will do anything.
By removing the negative battery cable all circuits in the truck are broken. To test this go switch the breaker off in the house and flip the light switch repeatedly. If the lights don't come on, try the naked veggy thing.
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The turning on the lights thing is crazy. You might as well run around the truck naked 13 times while shaking frozen vegetables above your head. Neither of them will do anything.
By removing the negative battery cable all circuits in the truck are broken. To test this go switch the breaker off in the house and flip the light switch repeatedly. If the lights don't come on, try the naked veggy thing.
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By turning the lights on and off while the negative battery terminal is removed, should help clear the memory codes in the CUX left from the memory chip.
You apply a load on the electrical system (lights on) to remove any residual current left in any vehicle circuits thus ensuring that the chip codes are removed.
If you remember this CUX is a learning module, so in theory you can turn your vehicle off pull the chip and nothing changes.
I’ve done it and you can to. Do you remember how poor your transmission shifted without a chip, turn your truck off pull the chip start it up and drive it around. It will feel just like it has the chip still in. Now pull the battery terminal and try it again, totally different truck. You've cleared the codes, this doesn't always work like this but if you pull the chip enought you'll run across it.
I only do this when I turn the truck in, if I switch chips it seems to over write the old code.
[This message has been edited by Eric_red (edited 04-24-2001).]
#19
04-24-2001 | 08:10 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Western Massachusetts
I would guess you all have been to the "computer chips" section of the boards. I have seen this question come up many times. I have asked it myself. Mike Troyer Has done a great job of answering this question. Without going through all the threads in "computer chips" the best thing to do would be to go to the SEMA site.
Mike commented in one of the threads that when dealing with the dealerships the best thing we can use to defend ourselves with is knowedge.
I have a Superchip in my F150 with the 4.6. After driving it with the chip I cant even imagine driving without it. Well mabey I wouldn't mind so much if my F150 were a Lightning.
Tom.
Mike commented in one of the threads that when dealing with the dealerships the best thing we can use to defend ourselves with is knowedge.
I have a Superchip in my F150 with the 4.6. After driving it with the chip I cant even imagine driving without it. Well mabey I wouldn't mind so much if my F150 were a Lightning.
Tom.
#20
04-25-2001 | 03:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 459
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From: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
I read many discussions on this Board concerning after-market chips. Perhaps I missed it, but one thing that does not seem to get much notice is the quality of the after-market chip and warranty.
I am thinking that why would a Dealer or FoMoCo honor drivetrain portions of the warranty if there is an after-market chip of unknown quality?
Why should they be responsible for damage potentiallly caused by a poor quality chip? I am being the devil's advocate here.
I am thinking that why would a Dealer or FoMoCo honor drivetrain portions of the warranty if there is an after-market chip of unknown quality?
Why should they be responsible for damage potentiallly caused by a poor quality chip? I am being the devil's advocate here.
#21
04-25-2001 | 04:26 PM
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From: Over yonder somewhere
351Stang,
Actually most EEC have a ground strap/wire attached to them. When you remove the grond strap from the battery, you have removed a power source that is in parellel with the EEC which happens to have small capacitors in it which hold a charge, just like very small batteries. By switching a light switch on, same as opening the door, you are essentially trying to power the circuit with the charge on the capacitors. This charge is bled off. This charge is the same that is used help the EEC remember the binary information.
The question is, does this help "erase" the memory? I unplug my computer and all my files are still there BUT I still have to set the clock. The clock is information that the computer doesn't care about and "forgets" when power is removed.
Actually most EEC have a ground strap/wire attached to them. When you remove the grond strap from the battery, you have removed a power source that is in parellel with the EEC which happens to have small capacitors in it which hold a charge, just like very small batteries. By switching a light switch on, same as opening the door, you are essentially trying to power the circuit with the charge on the capacitors. This charge is bled off. This charge is the same that is used help the EEC remember the binary information.
The question is, does this help "erase" the memory? I unplug my computer and all my files are still there BUT I still have to set the clock. The clock is information that the computer doesn't care about and "forgets" when power is removed.
#22
04-25-2001 | 05:35 PM
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From: The Natural State
#23
04-25-2001 | 06:16 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 517
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From: Rutledge Md. (west of Fallston Md.)
I have posted before, that had I been told by the chip seller that that would happen,I NEVER would have bought a chip. I got all kind of good advice as to what would work best for me, BUT never a mention of this code
being set permanently in my PCM..
I feel thats sad..Like I stated there were no *** THIS MAY VOID YOUR WARRANTY *** comments on my install sheet or thier web site or out of thier mounths..
I had a 99 Dakota modded beyond warranty and sold that to get the "L",Believing I could not warn the warranty by putting a chip in it !
Sorry for the long post..
being set permanently in my PCM..
I feel thats sad..Like I stated there were no *** THIS MAY VOID YOUR WARRANTY *** comments on my install sheet or thier web site or out of thier mounths..
I had a 99 Dakota modded beyond warranty and sold that to get the "L",Believing I could not warn the warranty by putting a chip in it !
Sorry for the long post..
#25
04-27-2001 | 07:57 AM
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Rutledge Md. (west of Fallston Md.)
#26
04-27-2001 | 08:24 AM
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Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Over yonder somewhere
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Hi guys,
By the way, that's a P0605 code, not a P0506.
That is a code that will be present anytime any performance chip is installed on any Ford computer, and it's *supposed* to be there. When you remove the chip, that code goes away, and is *not* retained by the ECU. We recommend that after removing the Superchip, do the procedure to clear the computer's memory as explained in your Performance Products documentation that came with the Superchip to anyone who ordered from us in the last year and a half. (It was about at that time that we started writing all of our additional Performance Products documentation that comes with every Superchip we ship.) If you do *not* do that, but instead just pull the Superchip off and drive straight to your service department without clearing the computer, when they do a diagnostic scan they can get all kinds of oddball codes & reports (none of which will be P0605, that disappears as soon as any chip is removed, as the computer's internal EPROM chip instantly switches back on), as the programs are conflicting inside the ECU, and thus scanning it in that configuration can give very odd results, though nothing is actually wrong with the computer, it's just from not clearing the computer's memory.
This P0605 error code is exactly what is *supposed* to happen anytime you connect to that circuit on a Ford computer, and all it means is simply that the computer's internal eprom chip has been turned off and is not currently functioning, which is exactly how that is supposed to work. It acts like an on/off switch for the internal EPROM chip, basically. So the P0605 code appears as soon as you install any performance chip on any Ford computer, and disappears when you remove it, very simple, just as it was designed to work. Just so we're clear, that code is *not* retained by the ECU as long as you do the procedure to clear the computer as we recommend in our documentation, either upon installation or upon removal of the Superchip.
That procedure to remove the Superchip & clear the computer is quite simply this: disconnect the battery and remove your Superchip. With the Superchip removed and the battery disconnected, turn the headlights on for 5 minutes, to drain all residual voltage & fully clear the ECU's memory. Then turn the headlights back off, re-connect the barttery, and away you go, you're back on the factory program with no codes retained by the ECU.
Now, just to explain correctly what this P0605 code actually tells a technician, first of all, keep in mind that the only time that P0605 code will ever be present when a performance chip its currently installed, this code will not appear at any other time, such as when the performance chip is removed! Second, the code is *not* telling the technician that an aftermarket chip was used; it simply tells the technician that the computer's internal EPROM chip is not functioning, and that makes them think that the computer has actually *failed* and needs replacement, because that internal EPROM chip is not replaceable, it's a surface-mount and cannot be repaired, so the only way to "fix" a failed internal EPROM is to replace the entire computer. And *that* is exactly why we recommend removing the Superchip prior to service, just so you aren't in a situation where you have to basically tell the technian their job, by telling them to ignore that P0605 code and why, as the computer is actually fine.
Here at Performance Products, we always leave our Superchips in place when we go in for service, but only because of who we are, and because we have the detailed knowledge of the operation of that circuit, so we can go in with credibility and train the technician about this, and to basically ignore that code. Most people do not have that knowledge, and so most people are simply not in a position to credibly go in and tell the techncian what to do, and more importantly, *why*. So for that reason, we suggest simply removing the Superchip prior to service as per your documentation.
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
</font>
By the way, that's a P0605 code, not a P0506.
That is a code that will be present anytime any performance chip is installed on any Ford computer, and it's *supposed* to be there. When you remove the chip, that code goes away, and is *not* retained by the ECU. We recommend that after removing the Superchip, do the procedure to clear the computer's memory as explained in your Performance Products documentation that came with the Superchip to anyone who ordered from us in the last year and a half. (It was about at that time that we started writing all of our additional Performance Products documentation that comes with every Superchip we ship.) If you do *not* do that, but instead just pull the Superchip off and drive straight to your service department without clearing the computer, when they do a diagnostic scan they can get all kinds of oddball codes & reports (none of which will be P0605, that disappears as soon as any chip is removed, as the computer's internal EPROM chip instantly switches back on), as the programs are conflicting inside the ECU, and thus scanning it in that configuration can give very odd results, though nothing is actually wrong with the computer, it's just from not clearing the computer's memory.
This P0605 error code is exactly what is *supposed* to happen anytime you connect to that circuit on a Ford computer, and all it means is simply that the computer's internal eprom chip has been turned off and is not currently functioning, which is exactly how that is supposed to work. It acts like an on/off switch for the internal EPROM chip, basically. So the P0605 code appears as soon as you install any performance chip on any Ford computer, and disappears when you remove it, very simple, just as it was designed to work. Just so we're clear, that code is *not* retained by the ECU as long as you do the procedure to clear the computer as we recommend in our documentation, either upon installation or upon removal of the Superchip.
That procedure to remove the Superchip & clear the computer is quite simply this: disconnect the battery and remove your Superchip. With the Superchip removed and the battery disconnected, turn the headlights on for 5 minutes, to drain all residual voltage & fully clear the ECU's memory. Then turn the headlights back off, re-connect the barttery, and away you go, you're back on the factory program with no codes retained by the ECU.
Now, just to explain correctly what this P0605 code actually tells a technician, first of all, keep in mind that the only time that P0605 code will ever be present when a performance chip its currently installed, this code will not appear at any other time, such as when the performance chip is removed! Second, the code is *not* telling the technician that an aftermarket chip was used; it simply tells the technician that the computer's internal EPROM chip is not functioning, and that makes them think that the computer has actually *failed* and needs replacement, because that internal EPROM chip is not replaceable, it's a surface-mount and cannot be repaired, so the only way to "fix" a failed internal EPROM is to replace the entire computer. And *that* is exactly why we recommend removing the Superchip prior to service, just so you aren't in a situation where you have to basically tell the technian their job, by telling them to ignore that P0605 code and why, as the computer is actually fine.
Here at Performance Products, we always leave our Superchips in place when we go in for service, but only because of who we are, and because we have the detailed knowledge of the operation of that circuit, so we can go in with credibility and train the technician about this, and to basically ignore that code. Most people do not have that knowledge, and so most people are simply not in a position to credibly go in and tell the techncian what to do, and more importantly, *why*. So for that reason, we suggest simply removing the Superchip prior to service as per your documentation.
------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
</font>
------------------
Paul
'01 Silver L
