This sounds like a stupid question, but I am really starting to wonder. Like many other folks here, I have an issue with my engine knocking/pinging, mostly when under load like going up a hill or at the beginning of abrupt acceleration. Every now and then I run mid-grade fuel and it runs a little better. Not perfect, but noticeably better. Recently, though, I put in some 93-octane and I am floored at the difference. There is power and stability there that I did not know my truck had. That got me to thinking about the fact that chipped engines require 93-octance fuel.

I am the 3rd owner of the truck, so I am wondering if one of the previous owners installed a performance chip. I read in an earlier post where to look for the computer, but I'll be danged if I can find it.

I looked behind the plastic molding on the right hand side of the passenger foot area. I just pulled the plastic back a little to see behind it, I did not completely remove it because it didn't seem to want to come out and I was not keen on manhandling it out. Anyway, I didn't see anything back there that looked like a computer. I saw a few electrical connections. That's about it.

Now I did see something directly under my glovebox that might be a computer housing. It was black with a few letters and numbers stamped on it that seem to be in a similar format to a code mentioned in the earlier post ("Pinging and Going Crazy" initiated 10/24/01).

For what it's worth, I have a manual transmission. I don't know if that would affect placement of the computer.

Thoughts?

 

If the computer was flashed by a SuperTuner (or similiar), you wouldn't see a chip installed on the factory computer.

That piece of molding will come out. Just work with it a bit and it will pull right out and you will be able to see if there is a chip or not. The computer is up and out of the way and would be hard to see from just pulling a little bit back.

 

Well, I got the molding off and was able to get a better view of the guts under there. I am still not sure what I was looking at, though.

I saw several electrical connections. Up behind the vent duct I saw a bright blue plastic enclosure that I am guessing is the computer, but I sure didn't see anywhere on it that one would put a chip even if you wanted to. It has places for electrical connection on the lower end, but other than that, I did not see anything but solid, molded plastic.

Is the computer? If so, I am a little confused at how to tell if there is a chip in/on it. I read in a previous post that if there is a chip, it will be an obvious addition about the size of a salad cracker. I definitely did not see that, but I am not sure I am looking in the right place.

Any more thoughts on what I might look for?

 

If you see a salad cracker sized device attached to the computer, it's been chipped. Doesn't sound like yours is chipped.