Frequently Asked Questions
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The following are some questions which we are asked by our customers. If you have a question which is not answered here, please contact us.
Q: Which product is for me?
A: The answer to this question depends on your knowledge and the vehicle in question. If you wish to get an acceptable idle with mild camshaft modifications, and a mild upgrade in performance, or to switch to a manual program for a converted car, a Pre-Programmed Chip is the best solution. For those with more serious modifications, warm cams, turbo/supercharger installations or any other owners wishing to get the most out of their car with a tune customised for their vehicle, a Custom Pre-Programmed Chip is the best choice. Finally, advanced users with the knowledge and experience to DIY tune their cars should look at the Chip and Programmer or Full House Tuning Packs.
Q: How much power will a pre-programmed chip give me?
A: This is dependant on the particular vehicle and what the tune is like to begin with. Power can be made all over the curve - remember you spend the most time well below peak rpm! Chasing power through the middle of the chart will make for a much more drivable and economical vehicle. Using premium fuel adds additional benefit as the tune can be altered to suit the higher octane rating of premium fuel. There are benefits to be made with Pre-Programmed Chips, but even greater gains can be had with a Custom Pre-Programmed Chip, especially in Turbo or Supercharged vehicles, however it is difficult or impossible to guess how much additional power will be made.
Q: Can I install a chip myself? How is the chip installed?
A: Installation is a very simple process involving no special tools. Some soldering may be required for AU Series 1 only. The J3 port on the ECU needs to be cleaned very well, then the chip simply plugs in! Read the Installation Guide for more information and a step-by-step pictorial guide on how to install the chip.
Q: I have fitted an aftermarket camshaft and my car will not idle (hunting, stalling, black smoke, etc) and I have bad fuel economy. Can a chip fix this?
A: Yes, we can raise the base idle speed and alter idle fuel mixtures in one a Custom Pre-Programmed Chip to suit your vehicle. We can also increase spark advance to combat some of the 'off-cam' doughiness of larger camshafts (especially when used in an Automatic vehicle). Of course, if you provide dyno sheets this work can be done more accurately.
Q: Can you customise a chip to suit my particular engine modifications?
A: Yes; we can supply a custom pre-programmed chip to suit your modifications. Supplying a dyno printout with RPM and AFR is highly recommended as it allows us to tailor the tune to your fuel curve. Ideally, we want to see AFR and RPM, and if possible at various throttle positions - i.e. WOT, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4. There is a mode in the Dyno Dynamics software where it can do a readout in text showing the AFR at every 500rpm or so for the run. If you can get that then great, else a chart or a couple of charts showing the above at a couple of throttle positions are a great start.
Choose the Custom Pre-Programmed Chip from the buy page to purchase, or see Custom Pre-Programmed Chip for more information.
Q: How hard is it to DIY tune my car? Are there any guides that I can read?
A: See our tech docs section for more information about DIY tuning. You will need some way of monitoring the AFR; preferably a data logger of some kind, or a dyno. Alternatively, you can get a Custom Pre-Programmed chip or see one of our Tuners and Dealers to tune the car for you!
Q: Which cars do you support?
A: Our hardware will work on any Single or Dual Bank EEC computers (yes, even overseas hardware). This includes EA, EB, EF, EL, AU, XG, and XH Ford Falcons along with the N-series Fairlanes. However, for a list of the definitions and binaries we can offer advice on, please see the Application Chart. For EA-ED 6 Cyl vehicles, we recommend fitting an EL ECU for the reasons mentioned in Installing an EL ECU into EA-ED guide (this also explains how to keep the Trip Computer working). See the Tech Docs section for more info.
Q: What can I change in a custom tune?
A: There are hundreds of parameters which can be modified with the current definitions, and the list is always growing. Some common parameters include idle speeds, rev and speed limiters, fuel maps, spark maps, LHM stall speed and smartlock override - smartlock bypasses not needed!
Q: What if my car has LPG?
A: We can modify Tickford LPG bins to get the best ignition timing possible. We can also use a switch chip to run two maps. Finally, it is possible to run a single, high advance tune as a compromise to suit both fuels as long as you run Premium petrol.
Q: Can I run multiple tunes?
A: Yes. The charge for an extra Custom Tune is $100 and the Four Tune Selector Switch can be used to switch between the tunes.
Q: How long does it take to receive my order?
A: As long as we have stock, orders made with immediate payment (i.e. not eCheque) before 8PM AEST will generally be shipped within two business days.
Q: Can a chip be retuned?
A: Yes. Just order a Custom Tune. For dyno tuning with one of our Dealers and Tuners, contact the dealer directly for a price.
Q: Can you correct my speedo?
A: No. The ECU can not modify the speedo signal. If you are handy with a soldering iron, you can look into a Jaycar Speedo Corrector kit.
Q: How much boost can I run?
A: This depends on the model of ECU and the engine type. V8 ECUs use a MAF, so as long as you have enough resolution, boost is not an issue. AU 6 cyl ECUs can run up to 3 psi but need a XR6 Turbo MAP sensor to go beyond this. EA-EL 6 cyl ECUs can run up to 10psi but need a MAP bypass / FCD such as this TurboSmart unit to go beyond this. We have seen an EL ECU run well over 300rwkw in this way.
Q: Can you chip an XE / XF EFI?
A: No. With a little ingenuity, these models can be converted to run the later EFI system, removing the Vane AFM intake restriction resulting in much better power! See xfalcon.com for more information on what is required to do a conversion.
Q: Can you disable Smartlock / Smartshield for my engine conversion project?
A: Yes. We can remove Smartlock/Smartshield from all PCMs allowing simpler wiring when retrofitting engines to other vehicles..
Q: How do I fit an EL ECU to my EA-ED vehicle?
A: See the Tech Docs section for a guide on how to fit an EL ECU to your EA-ED, including instructions on how to keep the Trip Computer working.
Q: Why do I need to verify a burn? What should I do when it fails?
A: The verify function ensures the chip contains the same contents as TunerPro RT. Verification is a function of chip, programmer and bin. Some older or poorly pulled bins will not verify at all even if the chip and programmer are fine as the bin contains data in the 8k padding area, which the chips ignore to allow more space for bin switching. So a non verify can just be put down to a bad bin file in some cases. To check this extract the bin from the suspect chip and use a diff tool to compare. Or use a known good bin i.e. n4agb.
Q: What is a Binary?
A: A Binary is a Flash ROM dump. It contains the Code and Parameters the EEC uses to run the engine. This is what we modify to alter the way the EEC behaves.
Q: What is a Definition?
A: A Definition is a file which identifies the editable parameters within a binary, for example Idle speed, injector size, etc. Parameters come in many forms; from simple switches through to tables (i.e. RPM vs Load for VE).
Q: What is a Strategy?
A: A strategy is a revision of code within an EEC. Most definitions work on one or a couple of strategies, as the strategy can move parameters around within the binary. Strategy has a direct relationship to the box code of the ECU.
Q: How do I install a TechEdge 2J2 Wideband Datalogger into my car?
A: Installing the Wideband involves removing the factory sensor and replacing it with the WBO2 Sensor, along with installing the unit and running power, earth and data wiring for the logger. See the 2J Product Page on the WBo2.com site for more info, and read the Datalogger Setup thread on Fordmods.
