My engine chipping experience so far

[krypto Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close krypto]

So after 2 weeks and 500km of having the chip in my car these are my thoughts.

Great power increase, very noticeable. I am very happy with the chip but it made the car too noisy. It made a rattling noise from 1700-2000rpm. At first i thought it was just a "diesel" but after removing the chip the car didnt rattle anymore. At first i thought i could put up with the rattle but in the end it just annoyed me too much. I had the chip permanantly removed. Does everyone else with the chip installed have a noiser engine aswell? Is it injector noise?

Speaking to my service manager about injector noise he said that the louder noise at startup is due to higher fuel rates. Perhaps a similar reason for noise with a chip fitted.

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Chip It 1 week install update,

Power and general driveability very much improved, technicaly this chip works well.

It is let down by the details.

1/ I have had 4 no start experiences, I press the start button and the engine turns over but won't fire, press the button again to stop starter turning over. Engine has started each time on second go.
I have disconnected the earth lead and will see how that goes. So far working well.

2/ Quote from Chip It, "We are designing a new case and water proof plug in the coming months. But again, it adds to the cost of the chip. It is in train however."

Will this be able to be retro fitted?

3/ Quote from Chip It, "PS. we think it best to add strong warning about getting it wet. Better than having customers complain that there was no warning right?"

No, personally I would rather you told me before purchase (we spoke on the phone) that there was an upgraded case coming that will be more suited to the engine bay of a 4wd.
Removing the chip before water crossings is not practical nor is it what I bought the chip for.

4/ The chip rattling inside the case, I don't think putting a piece of cardboard inside a case that has sealing issues is the best approach, cardboard will act as a water magnet. A sheet of silicone would be better, fitted by the manufacturer would be better again.
Fitting the waterproof bag does not stop the rattle, it quieten's the sound.

5/ Removing the chip for servicing is a problem I don't need, do other chip suppliers "insist" on this?

A question for Chip It, if I have engine trouble, remove the chip and take the car to a dealer and the Dealer asks "Has this car had a performance altering chip installed?" what should I say?

I ask this so that I am absolutely clear should this happen, it could be too late after the event.
I could not find this in the info I got with the chip nor on your website.

Once again, the Chip It chip works very well, I'm very happy with the performance, just a little disappointed with the quality of finish.

Greg

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

Yes Greg, every chip company will tell you that it would be advisable if the chip were removed prior to servicing ... this just stops any arguments with the dealer. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO REMOVE THE CHIP however.

The cardboard (or silicon) was not mentioned to stop water ingress. I mentioned it for the rattling chip. By all means, if you are not happy with it, send it back to us and we will do it for you. No problems.

The new chip is a ways off Greg. It is a total redesign.

Greg, we are here to please and the company was started to give customers an option of not paying $1500 for a fuel only chips sold by DP, Roo Rapid, Tune It etc etc. (Remember, ours is $999.00 and has fuel and MAP sensor connections). They, the other chip resellers are unashamed of charging the full tilt and those chips ... and every one of them are NOT water proof.

Moving forward and just to clarify, sitting the chip high in the engine bay means you would not need to remove for creek crossings. However common sense prevails, if the water is OVER the top of the bonnet and you wish to stop the vehicle in the middle of the river to take pics etc, then water will fill the engine bay and will ingress the chip. For these times, please remove the chip.

Hope this helps.

If you wish to discuss further feel free to call me direct on 0412 304030 ... as I said, I (we) are here to provide help, option and most importantly, support. It is customer like you that really have made the chip better so don't feel I am having a shot at you. On the contrary, I appreciate your comments.

Cheers
Rob

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

PS. And in the performance arena, we kick ass with power comparos between us and the opposition

[barryswanson Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barryswanson]

This was my solution to water ingress.

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...fing-your-chip

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Barry,

I missed that, great work,

You are a very patient man.

I can feel a trip to Jaycar coming on!

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Ooops double post

[bigCake Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bigCake]

drove to Stockton Beach over the weekend, definitely more power~~~

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

nice job on the jaycar box. what did the set up cost you?

[barryswanson Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barryswanson]

Thanks mate, probably about $20.

[BNEGXL Member Find all posts View Profile Close BNEGXL]

Chip install update number 2,

I had removed the earth lead as I had experienced an intermittant starting problem.

All seemed good, went for a drive to the Gold Coast yesterday, car started every time and ran well,

On the way home, cruise control on at 105 kph on Logan Motorway, car turns cruise off by itself, Check Engine Light comes on, Stability Control Light comes on and most worryingly the 4LO light starts to flash, at 100 kph.

Engine also appears to derate (limp mode I think), the section of motorway I'm on has narrow shoulders and there's a fair bit of traffic so I try to accelerate back to 100 (it slowed pretty quickly and I had a truck almost in the back door) as it wasn't really a safe place to stop.

Dash warning lights on, 4LO light flashing and engine doesn't feel right, so I do stop. I look around can't see anything wrong, no leads off, nothing obvious anyway, change into LO a couple of times that seems to operate ok just the light still flashing.

Decide to continue home as it's not far, get home ok.

I then rang Chip It and spoke with Christian he was very helpful, he said,

1/ Dis connect battery for 10 minutes to reset dash lights, that worked.
2/ Where was original earth, body or battery, I say body, he explains that sometimes that's ok sometimes it's not, reconnect earth directly to battery (if you mount the chip where the fitting instruction diagram shows, near the firewall, the earth lead needs to be extended, which gives me the impression that a body earth should be ok).
3/ If that doesn't work I will need a relay on the earth lead, give him a call if I have further starting issues and he will make up the relay and send it to me.

I feel like I'm part of the R&D Team.

Rob,

Thanks for your response in an earlier Post, I haven't felt "like you're having a go at me" and nor am I having a go at you, I am posting my factual experiences and have offered my opinion on aspects of the chip that I have found surprising and a bit disappointing.
I believe in offering feedback, good and bad.

I appreciate your support for your product by your involvement in this Forum.

I'll take up your offer and call you directly today to discuss,

Greg

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

Greg, I am overseas till next week. Please call up the office and ask them to send out the relay Sounds like your Prado needs it so we might as well get that ball rolling.

[Antiquesman Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Antiquesman]

I've been keen to fit a chip for several months. I kind of decided I would go with a chip it. The negative feedback re reliability did put me off so I thought I would leave it for a while. Just jumped back on to the forum and it seems that the reliability issues are still there with some and not with others. It seems it is a bit of a gamble as to whether it will cause starting problems.
I was quoted $1695-1895 to have one supplied an fitted including ETG by a diesel mechanic in Melbourne. The range was dependant upon where I wanted the ETG fitted and how difficult that would be.
We are off to Narooma in a few weeks towing a new caravan and I really wanted to get a chip for the trip which is quite hilly, but quite frankly, the thought of breaking down whilst on the trip is keeping me from booking the car in to have it fitted.
By the way, the diesel mechanic also said he could supply and fit the DP chip or the Steinbauer chip for $1695 also.

Has anyone had better quotes for fitting any of these chips?

Are any of the other chips eg Steinbauer completely trouble free or do they have their issues as well.

[bigCake Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close bigCake]

Does anyone know how much power can be increased by running at factory default tune 5?
20%? 30%?

Thanks

[Chip It Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chip It]

Antiquesman you can fit the chip yourself. It is a full plug and play system. If you need a reply that too comes with fitting instructions but that part (and the EGT controller should you wish to add this level of safety) can be taken to your local mechanic for fitting. Its not hard at all and we do support the local mechanic should individuals wish to use them.

The chip itself is a real no brainer. 15 mins to completely install it and with the forum discount I will throw in (10%) the price of the chips comes to $925 odd delivered to your door.