Forums Forums Enthusiast Forums A - Z Autowirral JTuner Magazine on eBays 'Power Chips'

Well, made me snigger....

Taken From Issue 12, April 2006s JTuner Magazine:

"Grrrrrr! Yet again Ive gone on eBay to look for some chrome dial surrounds for my MR2 only to be bombarded with auctions for ‘Performace powerchip, 20+bhp for Toyota MR2/Celica’. Now then, these have been around for ages on eBay, and anyone with an ounce of sence knows to steer clear of them as they are only 2p resistors that, when fitted after the intake sensor, fool the ECU into advancing the timing.
Ive been able to live with the odd one, but now it would seem every two-bit-cowboy is starting to produce these ‘chips’. This is bad for us casual eBay browsers, but good for those after one of these ‘chips’ as the prices of these 2p resistors have come down from and average of £15 six months ago, to around £3.
The best bit is when they start having pops at each other. One seller proudly says of his product, and I quote: “You will find many sellers claiming to be able to sell you and extra-bhp mod. These people don’t have a clue. All they will send you is a 2p resistor stuck to a piece of paper. Why waste your time and money with them, do it the proper way.” This seller then describes how his ‘racing chip module’ is fitted in-between the air intake sensor and the ECU. So it’s a f****** resistor then you numpty? He then sells it for not 99p, but for £35. Unbelivable!
So, can you many ‘Performance Chip Manufactures’ on eBay stop describing them as ‘chips’, because theryre not. Youre not selling ‘Racing Chips’, ‘Super-power modules’ or ‘Universal power chips’, your selling 2p resistors, for anything from 99p to £35. And you know where you can stick them… SC"

I concur,what sort of thick **** would stab resistor legs into their MAF and think that was the "correct" way to get more power out of your car

this may sound a stupid question, but i know nutin at all about these. Do thsese chips actualy increase your bhp at all? Do they damage ya car? my mate baught one for his honda civic the new 1 but not brand new shape, was wondering if i shud tell him 2 take it off.

By advancing the timing I would imagine it will give you extra bhp, though the way its done is very rough.

When you fit a proper ECU chip, the entire fuel / ignition map is altered, and runs according to revs, throttle, conditions under which the car is being driven etc, these resistors just give one basic map through the whole rev range.

This will make the car prone to detonation, use more fuel, run hotter and put a greater load on it through the whole rev range.

I guess its a bit like running a 2 stroke engine on 100% petrol. It'll make it quicker, but its not good for the engine....

They advance timing by up to 2 degrees and supply additional fuelling, so resulting in more power. There's a bit of a difference in price between a 'chip' and a 'resistor' and on a n/a car a chip wouldn't really make a noticeable difference anyway through the seat of your pants after spending hundreds on one.

I know on a 2.2i VTEC Prelude Superchips supply and fit a chip for £225 and it only alters the timing and nothing else, which is which a resistor does only alot cheaper and also increases the fuelling! It's to do with the P13 JDM ECU that's fitted so paying £225 for a Superchip would be a waste on money in my opinion.

The thing witha Super chip though is that will will have been tested on a lot of cars, I would also imagine there will be map which will run it along with the VTEC system for the best results.

The resistors offer a flat ignition advance and flat fueling, with no map, Im also pretty sure you wont get any gaurantee that a resistor wont screw your motor

Its rough, and its primative, and if your car has any form of mechanical timing the same result can be gained from adjusting that.

However, I think their main grumble was how the sellers can get the resistors for 2p, and sell them for £35

Yeah I see your point.

I suppose you'd also have to be careful that you got the resistor from a reputable seller incase it was of the wrong resistance, therefore screwing your motor as soon as it's fitted

There are so many different tolerance resistors going around Ebay it would also be hard to work out which ones would work the best. I've never seen them being sold for £35 on Ebay though.

The voltage thru the MAF is dropped across the resistor fooling the engine into thinking it is getting more air than it really is,so it ups the fuel/advances the timing (depending on what the ECU does when it gets extra air

Now the problem with this is,it tells the ECU is getting x amount of air ALL the time So what if ur actually getting MORE air than the resistor is fooling the ECU into thinking, its possible and if this is the case u will run lean,which is very bad for the engine.

Good use of a few pence if u buy one and fit one yourself and its on a worthless car,and u really think that 2BHP will make a noticable gain in performance and u dont care that it MAY damage ur engine

There's rolling road proof that some of these mods can increase the bhp by 11-13bhp on a turbo engine, providing that you buy the correct item from a reputable Ebay seller of course.

Fair enough, some gains may have been seen at the point of peak power, but what about low down as the resistor will only give one basic map?!?!?

It is just fooling the ECU, and if its so good why didnt the manufactures just add one to the ECU when the car was made.

Upping boost in a turbo car gives it power, go to much though and the motor will go pop through detonation.

Ive heard these discussed before, and while some people claim to get more power from them, I think you'll see more eBay feedback saying what a waste of time they are, than a worthy mod :rolleyes: