eBay 'Chip" scam (aka: save $13 bucks)

[Elmojo]

Hi all,I kept seeing these Versa "Power Chips" on eBay.I figured they were the same thing as the 'chips' offered for the Honda Civic that I had previously, namely, a resistor of a specific impedance that tricks the ECU into thinking that the car is operating at a different temperature than actual, which modifies the air/fuel mapping to make the car seem more 'punchy'.

I decided to take one for the team and check into it.I received my 'chip' today and it is indeed nothing more than a resistor with a small piece of heat shrink tubing over it to cover up the bands.

I put in on my DMM and found that it is a 13.5K-ohm resistor. You know, like you can buy from Radio Shack for about 30c?!

-EDIT-I did a quick search and can't seem to find a 13.5K-ohm resistor. Can anyone tell me a reliable way to discover the specs on this thing without cutting off the heat shrink? I plan to return this piece of garbage, and don't want any lip from the seller.

-END EDIT-

Jeez, $13 bucks for THIS?

Anyway, I will install this marvel of automotive engineering soon and report back on what, if any, effect is seems to have on power, throttle response, and fuel economy, all of which the seller claims this thing will improve.

Cheers!
Modified by Elmojo at 4:34 PM 7/1/2007

[CodeRed]

Owned. I cant beleave you bought this. lol There was a thread i remember about this and not to buy it. Oh well its only $13 not $300

[Ever Victorious]

Hey, cut him some slack, he acknowledged going into it that he knew it was bogus... he just did it to end all debate.

[BBISHOPPCM]

They also sell performance ECU mods for a 1947 Willys Jeep, Ford Model As, and even a 1983 Chevette. These are the same eBay sellers that offer billet aluminum radiator caps for a 1973 VW Beetle and a Hello Kitty shift knob that will fit an Edsel with Teletouch drive. What's next in their infinite catalog of imaginary parts? replacement throttle cable for a Nissan Versa? I find most of these items while Googling for parts/info on any particular vehicle. Check it out, you never know what you might find!

[reyes1212]

Whats your point?lol

[marleyfan]

You know...I could NEVER find the radiator cap on my '73 Beetle. I looked everywhere too. Wish I had bought one from ebay to end my search.

[Elmojo]

I love the replies!Yes, I do know this thing is VERY likely to be useless.I just wanted to be able to document it.

I'll post findings ASAP.

BTW, does anyone know where to look for the Intake Air Temperature sensor? This is where the instructions say to plug in the 'chip'.

Also, does anyone know about the 13.5K-ohm resistor? I can't find one listed, so I'm assuming I'm testing or reading it wrong. Any help?

[reyes1212]

Have you tried Radio Shack?I went there yesterday for a resistor for my friends car.DANG I'm crossing my fingers for something good to happen.

[blackversaatl]

Have you tried Radio Shack?I went there yesterday for a resistor for my friends car.DANG I'm crossing my fingers for something good to happen.

[rwanttaja]

Also, does anyone know about the 13.5K-ohm resistor? I can't find one listed, so I'm assuming I'm testing or reading it wrong. Any help?

Use two 6.75K-ohm resistors in series. :-)

Ron

[Elmojo]

I like Ron's idea about attaching in series, but I'd like to confirm that I'm reading it right first. All I did was set my DMM to 20K Ohm and touch either side of the 'chip'. I got a reading of 32.5. Am I converting that correctly to 32,500 ohms?

I may end up having to cut off the heat shrink, but I'd rather not.

I'm also having trouble figuring out where to plug this thing in.I checked the Service Manual and it says the IAT is part of the Mass Airflow Sensor. I'm thinking I might have to remove the plastic shroud covering the intake and head to see the plug.

Any thoughts?

[CodeRed]

I like Ron's idea about attaching in series, but I'd like to confirm that I'm reading it right first. All I did was set my DMM to 20K Ohm and touch either side of the 'chip'. I got a reading of 32.5. Am I converting that correctly to 32,500 ohms?

I may end up having to cut off the heat shrink, but I'd rather not.

I'm also having trouble figuring out where to plug this thing in.I checked the Service Manual and it says the IAT is part of the Mass Airflow Sensor. I'm thinking I might have to remove the plastic shroud covering the intake and head to see the plug.

Any thoughts?

The MAF sensor is the plug going into your intake here is a picture of it going into my CAI



It is the plug going into the top. Be careful the MAF could throw EVERYTHING off.

[rwanttaja]

I like Ron's idea about attaching in series, but I'd like to confirm that I'm reading it right first. All I did was set my DMM to 20K Ohm and touch either side of the 'chip'. I got a reading of 32.5. Am I converting that correctly to 32,500 ohms?

Hmmmm....my digital multimeter doesn't have a range setting for resistance; it just reads out ohms, Kohms, or Mohms. Unless there's a screen symbol stating it's kiloohms, I'd normally assume it's just ohms. But how thick is the package? A 32.5 ohm resistor hooked to a 12 volt supply would draw about four watts; a four-watt resistor is pretty big. Though it may not be connected directly to 12V, of course.

My guess is that it is 32,500 ohms, though.

Keep in mind that resistors have tolerances. If you buy a "30k ohm" resistor, the actual resistance will be from 27k to 33k ohms (with a typical 10% tolerance resistor). I'd guess your mysteresistor is a dirt-common 33K item (orange-orange-orange on the stripes) and your measurement of 32.5k is well within tolerance.

Two things to try. Go to Rat Shack and buy a pack of 33 kiloohm resistors, measure one, and compare the DMM reading to The Unknown Object.

Second, measure the resistance with the DMM probes reversed. Resistance is measured by feeding a low voltage through the part; if there are semiconductors (such as diodes or transistors) within, the measurement will read differently since it responds differently with a changed polarity.

I may end up having to cut off the heat shrink, but I'd rather not.

Ummmm....it IS just thirteen bucks. Cut the heat shrink, take some good pictures, and publish an expose on the web....

Ron

[Elmojo]

I agree, it's most likely a 33K-ohm resistor.It's way too small to be anything but a resistor with heat shrink on it.I'll cut the sleeve today and maybe post some pics.

I'm having serious reservations about plugging this thing into my car, especially since the 'installation instructions' say the Check Engine light may come on after installing the 'chip' and that I should take it to an auto parts store to have them check/reset the light.

This thing sounds shadier by the minute.

[BBISHOPPCM]

I can see how the CEL will come on, since you're basically altering the sensor input to "trick" the ECU into running differently. This is not a chip mod either, a real chip modification will replace the EEPROM on the ECU (my dads' Corvette has a real chip mod, which alters timing and fuel/air mixture). I believe this "chip mod" just fools the car into thinking it's 40 degrees below, causing the engine to run rich.

[Elmojo]

I believe this "chip mod" just fools the car into thinking it's 40 degrees below, causing the engine to run rich.

Yep, that's basically the long and short of it.I can see how they'd claim this would result in increased power, but how could this help fuel economy?

I'm still flip-flopping on whether I'm comfortable sticking this thing in my car or not.

[CodeRed]

Yep, that's basically the long and short of it.I can see how they'd claim this would result in increased power, but how could this help fuel economy?

I'm still flip-flopping on whether I'm comfortable sticking this thing in my car or not.

If something goes wrong in the future you will most certainly run into warranty issues. If I were you I would cut the dang thing open to see what it really is, then leave them negative feedback and claim its a scam and it is only a resistor, and it is.

[masterteque]

Hmmmm....my digital multimeter doesn't have a range setting for resistance; it just reads out ohms, Kohms, or Mohms. Unless there's a screen symbol stating it's kiloohms, I'd normally assume it's just ohms. But how thick is the package? A 32.5 ohm resistor hooked to a 12 volt supply would draw about four watts; a four-watt resistor is pretty big. Though it may not be connected directly to 12V, of course.

My guess is that it is 32,500 ohms, though.

Keep in mind that resistors have tolerances. If you buy a "30k ohm" resistor, the actual resistance will be from 27k to 33k ohms (with a typical 10% tolerance resistor). I'd guess your mysteresistor is a dirt-common 33K item (orange-orange-orange on the stripes) and your measurement of 32.5k is well within tolerance.

Two things to try. Go to Rat Shack and buy a pack of 33 kiloohm resistors, measure one, and compare the DMM reading to The Unknown Object.

Second, measure the resistance with the DMM probes reversed. Resistance is measured by feeding a low voltage through the part; if there are semiconductors (such as diodes or transistors) within, the measurement will read differently since it responds differently with a changed polarity.

Ummmm....it IS just thirteen bucks. Cut the heat shrink, take some good pictures, and publish an expose on the web....

Ron

This should be working off of a 5 volt reference not a 12 volt reference...