I am trying to install a Superchip or Hypertech Tuner on my 1997 F-250 7.3 Turbo diesel and am getting errors on both tuners. It will not communicate with my ECU and save stock info. The delaer reset the system and found no error codes. What else could be the problem? I have a passenger side ECU port.

 

When I first installed mine I would get an error code 127. It told me to call SuperChips, so I did. The guy who answered said that some trucks from 94-97 had some kind of communication problem that couldnt be resolved. He told me that if my truck was one of those that all I could do is return the SCMT from where ever I bought it and bet a chip. I decided to try it one more time and it worked

From another board I learned that on some of the trucks, the port where you plug it into doesnt have a power wire because the factory started using diagnostic equipment that was self powered, then they went back to using the regular kind. So if your truck doesnt have one and you were to hook up a power wire to the port (I dont know where, you'd have to do some research to find out) it might work??????

 

I WAS USING THE SUPERCHIP TUNER WHICH IS POWERED OFF OF THE TRUCK BATTERY. I ALSO WAS GIVEN A MESSAGE TO CALL SUPERCHIP. ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS FORD HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH MODELS DURING THAT TIME. I TRIED THE HYPERTECH NEXT. IT RUNS OFF OF A 9-VOLT. IT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP RESET MY CODES AND CLEAR ANYTHING OUT. THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY ERRORS AND I STILL COULDN'T INSTALL A TUNER. ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR ME NOW?

 

If you can, return the micro tuner and get a chip. That's all that Superchips told me could be done if the tuner wouldnt communicate with the PCM.

 

I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT BY SUPERCHIP AS WELL. THE GUY I WAS PURCHASING FROM WASN'T SURE THAT WOULD WORK EITHER.

ALSO, I'VE BEEN TOLD TO REPLACE MY DOWNPIPE SINCE I HAVE THE 1996 BODY STYLE. I'VE ALSO BEEN TOLD I DON'T NEED TO. I DON'T TOW ANYTHING, SO WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST?

 

Are you getting any communication at all? Can you use the tuner in diagnostic mode and read codes from the computer?

 

I can use the diagnostic mode and check for errors. According to that, I have no error codes on the truck.

I was at the dealership this morning. I asked if reflashing the computer would make it work. The tech told me I may not have the latest version available. Unfortunately, the diesel guy who might know was out with a medical emergency.

Is there anything else I might try? Do you have any idea on the downpipe issue.

 

Replace the downpipe ! Go with at least the 3.5" makes a big difference. Ken sells them on this site.

 

I can't afford both the downpipe and tuner at this point. Will I do any damage if I do the downpipe later?

 

You can run it in the middle horsepower mode and be OK, you might not realize the full HP gains with stock pipe. You could probably run in the top HP mode if you weren't towing or drag racing it and be OK.

Ken (webmaster) is the man to talk too on this.

 

Thanks for the info.

Do you have any idea if reflashing my ECU will help the tuner problem? See above for original problem.

 

Don't know... beginning to wonder if it isn't something like a power issue like some of the others issued. It wouldn't hurt to have them reflash it and try again afterwards. I had a problem with mine not coming on but that was a because the lighter fuse was blown.

Hopefully Ken will get back around to reading this post, he may have some further insight.

Good luck.

 

The ECU code should not matter. Basically, the tuner plugs in, ids the ECU, switches over off the standard OBDII bus mode, puts the computer into a mode that protects the "boot-strap loader" and then reflashes the on-board EEPROM. Its going to go through the same routine regardless of the code.

However, having said that.... it doesn't hurt to try. It may be an issue with the bootstrap/reflash program on the ECU but I don't know for sure --- Superchips doesn't reveal the inner works of the tuner.

 

The down pipe will certainly help a stock application but the biggest benefit comes from using it in conjunction with a chip. It doesn't hurt to put it in now and add a tuner/chip later.