Notices
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: DP Tuner

WTF over?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 11, 2014 | 11:45 PM
  #1  
bleeds blue's Avatar
bleeds blue
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 46
From: Utah
WTF over?

So I bought the PHP hydra. I put a PHP chip on my 96 and it was damn near plug and play. I can not get this POS to work. I polished the terminals on the PCM to the point where I paid $130 to get it "re-tinned". Still nothing. I have an Edge CTS Insight. When I have the chip plugged in it wont start and the Insight doesn't power up. When I remove it, everything is fine. I'm to the point where I am wondering if I can have the CTS programmed. I have the correct PCM code. I've checked it a thousand time. PHP told me I had to turn the key on, put the bright *** display on 3 and then turn the key off and on several times and dance on my head. Still nothing. When the chip is in it flashes the PHP display, then the number it is set on.

Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm sick of this thing running like a dog. I need a chip that works.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2014 | 03:09 AM
  #2  
KegerChris's Avatar
KegerChris
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by bleeds blue
So I bought the PHP hydra. I put a PHP chip on my 96 and it was damn near plug and play. I can not get this POS to work. I polished the terminals on the PCM to the point where I paid $130 to get it "re-tinned". Still nothing. I have an Edge CTS Insight. When I have the chip plugged in it wont start and the Insight doesn't power up. When I remove it, everything is fine. I'm to the point where I am wondering if I can have the CTS programmed. I have the correct PCM code. I've checked it a thousand time. PHP told me I had to turn the key on, put the bright *** display on 3 and then turn the key off and on several times and dance on my head. Still nothing. When the chip is in it flashes the PHP display, then the number it is set on.

Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm sick of this thing running like a dog. I need a chip that works.

1st, you posted this in the 1999+ section, so prob not going to be a lot of exp in this section for you, with regards to a 1996.

2, you military? We used to say "WTF, over" all the time... fond memories. I've never heard a civilian say it.

Anyways, I went Diablosport. They were the only ones that just pluged into the OBD2 port and reprogrammed the computer instead of plugging a chip in. Good luck.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2014 | 05:45 AM
  #3  
Tugly's Avatar
Tugly
Hotshot
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 18,849
Likes: 179
From: Puget Sound
While not all of us do the OBS trucks, many of us do Hydras on a PCM... and that's the problem here.

Do you have a laptop designated for your truck? I can suggest you have the Hydra plugged into the PCM, laptop ready to go and linked to the Hydra, and call PHP. They can walk you through a few things on the phone, and they can link into your laptop to see for themselves what is going on.

For those that worry about crap on your computer, they use an extremely safe and non-invasive method to remote in... I am very familiar with the software they use.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2014 | 08:54 AM
  #4  
bleeds blue's Avatar
bleeds blue
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 46
From: Utah
Sorry, I haven't changed my photo since I got home. I sold my 96 and picked up a 99. Keger, I just got home from Afghanistan and picked this truck up as soon as I got home.
Tugly, I will give them another call and see what they say. I'm not too worried about someone remoting into my computer, especially if they can help get this thing going.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2014 | 12:49 PM
  #5  
KegerChris's Avatar
KegerChris
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by bleeds blue
Sorry, I haven't changed my photo since I got home. I sold my 96 and picked up a 99. Keger, I just got home from Afghanistan and picked this truck up as soon as I got home.
Tugly, I will give them another call and see what they say. I'm not too worried about someone remoting into my computer, especially if they can help get this thing going.
Very nice. I love my 99. Hated Afganistan. If your plug in tuner doesn't work out, the Diablosport is amazing. I have one on my turbo PT Cruiser as well. The improvement is amazing. Good luck, sir and welcome home. Thanks for your service.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2014 | 01:08 PM
  #6  
duck fan's Avatar
duck fan
Because racetruck
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,786
Likes: 104
From: Monterey Bay, CA
Club FTE Silver Member

Originally Posted by KegerChris

Anyways, I went Diablosport. They were the only ones that just pluged into the OBD2 port and reprogrammed the computer instead of plugging a chip in. Good luck.
This is absolutely not true. Superchips works this way as does Bully Dog. However, you will not get anywhere near the same performance you can get from a custom tuner and a chip.
 
Reply
Old Mar 12, 2014 | 01:58 PM
  #7  
montanasteve's Avatar
montanasteve
Senior User
15 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 337
Likes: 1
To the OP - when my Hydra is pushed all the way onto the PCM until it bottoms out, it doesn't work. I bottom it out, then wiggle it ever so slightly out, and it works perfectly. Give that a shot.
 
Reply
Old Mar 13, 2014 | 09:23 AM
  #8  
bleeds blue's Avatar
bleeds blue
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 46
From: Utah
I read your post a little late Steve. I called PHP yesterday and told them what was going on. They had me ship it back to them to see if there was any other problem. Hopefully that is the case. I will keep you tip in mind when I get it back.

If you are backing it off ever so slightly, how are you securing it?
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Mar 28, 2014 | 11:11 AM
  #9  
bleeds blue's Avatar
bleeds blue
Thread Starter
|
More Turbo
Veteran: Army
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 583
Likes: 46
From: Utah
Thought I would update this post. First I want to go against the grain and comment on PHP's customer service. While I have read a thousand times they are impossible to contact, that was not my experience. I did not get any response from them on the forums but someone answered the phone call promptly every time I called.

I got the chip back yesterday and installed it when I got home from work. It was late so I did not take it for a ride. But I did this morning! It runs a lot more like I think it should. It still doesn't have the pull my 96 PSD did though. The 96 had 4.10's while I have 3.73's now, but the 96 had bigger tires on it.

It made a clear difference, I don't feel like I have to push the pedal to the floor to get it to move anymore. Getting a little more black smoke from the exhaust as well. Honestly I was hoping for more. Don't get me wrong, I think it is a big improvement, I was just expecting more. I think I will start saving for bigger injectors now.

Thanks for the help.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bbeck45
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
17
Jul 8, 2012 09:33 PM
jsmitty80
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
9
Jul 17, 2011 06:22 PM
Jesse Zimmerman
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
5
May 19, 2010 10:35 PM
StampedePSD
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
14
Jan 30, 2009 08:12 PM
smcdonn
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
2
Mar 31, 2003 09:26 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:20 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE