Hey, I'm installing my chip as we speak. This is the second time I've put the chip in and reinstalled everything! I've cleaned it really good I swear. Do you have to pull the red tab out of the chip after the install for it to start?

The problem is that my truck will not start for nothing. I'm going to take the chip out one more time to scub the back side and see what happens.

1. Do you have to pull the red tag on the chip out for it to work?
2. How long are you supposed to scrub?
3. Does every single little connecter have to be spotless for the chip to work?
4. Did anyone else have problems like this?


Please help guys because I need to get this done by noon today!


true4.2

 

I don't know what the instructions that came with it said, but scrubing a chip is generally a bad idea. It takes very little static to take the chip out.. Also make sure your grounded to the vehicle while handling it; however, the damage may already be done.

 

If it's a diablo chip like mine... I hope your not cleaning the contacts on the actual chip your installing! You need to clean the contacts that your plugging the chip into. They have a coating on them from the factory that has to be cleaned off for a good connection. The red plastic strip is to aid you in removing the chip without damaging it.

 

Clean the connector on the computer, both sides. If you see a subtle amount of copper on a pin, stop scrubbing that pin and scrub the next pin. Yes, you have to clean all the pins (how else would all of them make an electrical connection). Go to the autoparts store and pick up some actetone or get some nail polish remover. Use this to clean the coating off the connector.

95% of no starts are due to improper connector cleaning and 95% of the people this happens too insist they cleaned it properly! There are two clear coatings. A clear rubbery coating and a clear hard coating underneath.

Also, you did disconnect the battery and leave the keys out while taking out the computer, didn't you? And leave it disconnected and the keys out whenever putting it back it?

The red tab is for helping you to pull the chip out of the computer box once its been installed.

 

No, I did not clean the actual chip itself. I cleaned the computer out of the truck.

Yes, I disconnected the battery, wiring harness, and everything else everytime I took the computer out and reversed the procedure when I put it back in. I think I realized my mistake by the third time I did it.

I had an incredible thought. I plugged the switch that it came with in and viola! Started right up.

My Report:

I'm hoping I am missing something here guys. The chip did nothing from 1st all the way through 3rd gear. When I hit 4th gear I notice a little more power. Also, the govenor was raised/taken off. That's all I got. I've driven it now for 85 miles upon installation. I've been running 93 octane for months before I even got the chip and have used nothing else. There is no other gas in my tank, I gaurantee it.

Ken:

Is this what I'm supposed to get? All I really feel is that it is a little smoother between shifts, but definately not faster until I hit 4th gear flooring it through 100 mph which I really almost never do. I have about 15 to 20 more miles before I reach the 100 mile mark with the chip installed. Was I expecting too much out of this thing or what? Is that all that was supposed to happen?



This is what I've done so far with it. I've ran it with the switch off multiple times, and I've ran it with the switch on multiple times. The only difference is at the very end of 3rd (83-85) and 4th is a little stronger. I'm trying to look at it at every angle and be patient with it because I think maybe I'm missing something.

I cleaned the computer on both sides, and the contacts are as shiny silver as they can be. I've routed my switch from the chip to the lower black plastic panel behing my stick shift. I know it's plugged in well because the govenor is gone now with the switch on the performance setting. (center)

I am going to drive it about 30 more miles today. I also filled up with premium octane the day I did the install. Is this what everyone else experienced, or just me?

Any thoughts or recommendations?

 

Also a sidenote:

When I took the computer out of the truck and located the access cover to the computer, there were not screws to take off and the cover wasn't plastic. It was made of metal, and I had to actually cut at two different points (A and B) with some small wire cutters for access. Then I just had to pry the panel back to gain access. Just to let you know that wasn't in the directions.




ON EDIT: a couple of questions...


1. Did you program it for 93 octane?

2. Did you get the right tire size? 16" tires is what I have.

3. I noticed the code was programmed for VLW1, and I'm VLW2...would that make a difference? (actually I think you already answered that, but I can't remember.)

4. If I've had 93 octane running in the truck for months now, would the computer still need to make a couple of 'key cycles' for it to kick in seeing as how the govenor is all ready gone? In other words, could it get better with time? ('cause I only got 28 days left)

5. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

 

It sounds like you did not install the chip correct (ie, connector). Why do I think that? Because a properly installed chip will start with or without the cable (removing the cable puts the chip in the center "on" position).

Give me a call on Monday, trouble-shooting is best handled via phone.

It doesn't matter if its VLW1, that's what 4 bank programming is all about.

 

Question.... isn't your truck a manual tranny? The chip can't do anything for the shifting on it.

 

Ken,

Here is something that is new to my attention. On the chip itself I noticed that it has 15 numbers (1 through 15) when you are looking at the back side of the plastic part that plugs into the computer. The slot with 14 has absolutley no connector or metal bar on it. Is this normal?

In other words, where the chip connects onto the computer, one of the bronze looking connections is gone. I was wondering if that might be a problem.


So far I have disconnected the computer and used some polish remover on the computer connections, and I scrubbed a little more. I totally took out the switch for this one. I put the chip in and started it (without switch) and it started right up just like you said. Then, I ran it a couple times. Then I took the computer back out when I got home and took the chip completely out of the computer and went and ran it again. When I did it this time I noticed a little bit of difference.

One thing I noticed was my 1-2 shift cuts a huge scratch with the chip out. When the chip is back in, it cuts no scratch at all. <-- I really have no idea if that has to do with anything.

There is one thing that I haven't tried. Are you supposed to leave your battery unhooked for 20 minutes after you install the chip to reset the computer? Here's my procedure. (I have it down to an art now )


1st -- I turn the truck off and I actually do put the keys in my pocket!

2nd -- I use the ratchet and an 8mm socket to unhook the negative lead on the battery.

3rd -- I use the 10mm socket to unhook the wiring harness.

4th -- With the harness pulled, I take the black clip off and ease the computer out.

5th -- I install the chip, switch, etc. into the back of the computer.

6th -- I re-install the computer, put the black clip back on, re-install the harness, and immediately I hooked the battery back up. I didn't wait at all for the computer to do anything. Could this be something I did wrong? At any rate I am going to wait 20 mintues after I re-install the chip this time.



Also, is the chip supposed to snap into place or just slide on untill it stops? My chip just slides on, and I gotta use that square Diablo sticker for support. I think I am going to use duc-tape on top of the sticker this time.

And 1 more thing! The chip sticks out from the computer a little bit. Is it supposed to go all the way in and be even with the back side of the computer?

Anyways, I'll shoot an e-mail to ya!


ON EDIT: I need to start typing slower...too many mistakes!

 

True4.2 - My chip also has a missing contact on the chip itself. I presume it's normal and you don't need to worry about it.

Also, the chip does extend slightly out the backside of the computer and it slides onto the board. After I installed the chip I used electrical tape to cover the opening and secure the chip in place. Seems to work for me.

Last, I also used polish remover to clean the contacts. I noticed that the protective layer became sticky and I was having difficulty cleaning it off with the pad. I found a very small flat head screwdriver and lightly scraped off each contact, top and bottom. This also seemed to work very well. I could definitely tell when the contacts were clean and no longer had the protective film on them.

Hope this helps.

 

Colorado:

Thanks for the reply. That does help a lot. That's good news about the connector and chip and all that stuff. It eases my worries. Thanks again.

 

If you look at the Diablo pictures in the glossy install instructions (their instructions, not the one I add) you'll see the pins missing as well. Perfectly normal.

Joseph, I'll have an email for you this afternoon. I'm stepping out of the office for a couple of hours.

 

cool man, take your time

 

As for now I am satisfied with the chip. You said something about making the chip more aggresive a couple days ago...what did you mean by that? Can you make it stronger?

 

if you have 93 octane premium where you live make sure ken has it burnt for that ,not 91- also he can add more line pressure- it goes off your base programming ken will take care of you= he's top notch!