Anyone tried a performance mod chip?
Senior Member
Joined: 01-13-2006
Posts: 3,000
From: Superior, WI - Over the Hill Warranty Club member
See this thread. I am sure if you Call Vince he will explain the tune information with you.
You can find His link in mt Tune Center Page.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/2-2l-performance-tech-5/more-power-your-2-2-tune-19636/
You can find His link in mt Tune Center Page.
https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/2-2l-performance-tech-5/more-power-your-2-2-tune-19636/
New Member
Joined: 06-29-2008
Posts: 15
From: Seattle, WA
That link shows a dyno sheet for a 2.2 - although we've done a bunch of tuning on 2.4s, also, and we see similar results. I'll see if I can find a dyno sheet.
The plug-in chips are basically microprocessors that "lie" to the ECM in order to exact tuning changes to improve performance. They'll do things like misrepresent the incoming air temperature to increase the amount of ignition advance, mispresent throttle position to change shifting strategy, etc. Most recently, a 2.4L Cobalt customer complained he was getting sporadic glitches from his chip and purchased a mail order tune from us. He's decided to remove the modules and run our tune instead.
I have no idea about their effectiveness on the LE5 engine, but I suspect they may cause more problems than benefit - this is because the single biggest benefit such modules can provide is the ability to influence the air/fuel mixture by misrepresenting the amount of air going through the MAF. This works on LS1s and other V8s but not on the 4 cylinders, because, for some reason, GM decided to configure the stock ECM tune to use speed density calculations only for fueling, so you can't change the fueling by changing the MAF signal. This also means aftermarket MAFs have absolutely no impact on fueling on these vehicles.
I'd really like to see a dyno chart from one of these modules/MAFs, I very much doubt they can actually affect fueling to improve power. I debated whether to make this post, though, I figured it might be seen as unbiased since we offer a competing product. ;-)
The plug-in chips are basically microprocessors that "lie" to the ECM in order to exact tuning changes to improve performance. They'll do things like misrepresent the incoming air temperature to increase the amount of ignition advance, mispresent throttle position to change shifting strategy, etc. Most recently, a 2.4L Cobalt customer complained he was getting sporadic glitches from his chip and purchased a mail order tune from us. He's decided to remove the modules and run our tune instead.
I have no idea about their effectiveness on the LE5 engine, but I suspect they may cause more problems than benefit - this is because the single biggest benefit such modules can provide is the ability to influence the air/fuel mixture by misrepresenting the amount of air going through the MAF. This works on LS1s and other V8s but not on the 4 cylinders, because, for some reason, GM decided to configure the stock ECM tune to use speed density calculations only for fueling, so you can't change the fueling by changing the MAF signal. This also means aftermarket MAFs have absolutely no impact on fueling on these vehicles.
I'd really like to see a dyno chart from one of these modules/MAFs, I very much doubt they can actually affect fueling to improve power. I debated whether to make this post, though, I figured it might be seen as unbiased since we offer a competing product. ;-)
Member
Joined: 10-18-2008
Posts: 14
From: Lakewood, CA
That link shows a dyno sheet for a 2.2 - although we've done a bunch of tuning on 2.4s, also, and we see similar results. I'll see if I can find a dyno sheet.
The plug-in chips are basically microprocessors that "lie" to the ECM in order to exact tuning changes to improve performance. They'll do things like misrepresent the incoming air temperature to increase the amount of ignition advance, mispresent throttle position to change shifting strategy, etc. Most recently, a 2.4L Cobalt customer complained he was getting sporadic glitches from his chip and purchased a mail order tune from us. He's decided to remove the modules and run our tune instead.
I have no idea about their effectiveness on the LE5 engine, but I suspect they may cause more problems than benefit - this is because the single biggest benefit such modules can provide is the ability to influence the air/fuel mixture by misrepresenting the amount of air going through the MAF. This works on LS1s and other V8s but not on the 4 cylinders, because, for some reason, GM decided to configure the stock ECM tune to use speed density calculations only for fueling, so you can't change the fueling by changing the MAF signal. This also means aftermarket MAFs have absolutely no impact on fueling on these vehicles.
I'd really like to see a dyno chart from one of these modules/MAFs, I very much doubt they can actually affect fueling to improve power. I debated whether to make this post, though, I figured it might be seen as unbiased since we offer a competing product. ;-)
The plug-in chips are basically microprocessors that "lie" to the ECM in order to exact tuning changes to improve performance. They'll do things like misrepresent the incoming air temperature to increase the amount of ignition advance, mispresent throttle position to change shifting strategy, etc. Most recently, a 2.4L Cobalt customer complained he was getting sporadic glitches from his chip and purchased a mail order tune from us. He's decided to remove the modules and run our tune instead.
I have no idea about their effectiveness on the LE5 engine, but I suspect they may cause more problems than benefit - this is because the single biggest benefit such modules can provide is the ability to influence the air/fuel mixture by misrepresenting the amount of air going through the MAF. This works on LS1s and other V8s but not on the 4 cylinders, because, for some reason, GM decided to configure the stock ECM tune to use speed density calculations only for fueling, so you can't change the fueling by changing the MAF signal. This also means aftermarket MAFs have absolutely no impact on fueling on these vehicles.
I'd really like to see a dyno chart from one of these modules/MAFs, I very much doubt they can actually affect fueling to improve power. I debated whether to make this post, though, I figured it might be seen as unbiased since we offer a competing product. ;-)
If you can dig up that 2.4 dyno sheet that would be great.
If they are using speed density for fueling, what are they using the MAF for?
New Member
Joined: 06-29-2008
Posts: 15
From: Seattle, WA
The MAF is used for airflow sanity checking to make sure the electronic throttle isn't malfunctioning. It may be used for other checks, too, but this is the main one I'm aware of. For example, it is this check that causes the ECM to go into REDUCED POWER MODE when the 2.4L throttle body is installed on a 2.2L engine without a proper tune.
One of the mods our tune makes is it enables the MAF for fuel calculations - this allows us to achieve precise fueling and also allows us to build forced induction tunes with the stock 1 bar MAP sensor.
One of the mods our tune makes is it enables the MAF for fuel calculations - this allows us to achieve precise fueling and also allows us to build forced induction tunes with the stock 1 bar MAP sensor.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-19-2008
Posts: 178
From: Outside the Capitol Beltway
Tuning
Guys and Girls,
Do know that this could affect your warranty. I'm not saying that it will, but just be aware of the implications of what you do.
I am a member of another GM forum and this topic ran the gammut for quite some time. It would be neat if someone here, who works at a dealer chimes in about the GM feedback that they receive in warranty cases. At the time I was going to tune my car using software from an intake mfg. company. It was worth an additional 12 hp when used with my new intake system but I decided against the risk.
Times are tough, and GM's sense of humor may be at an all time low if you follow.
I do think that another used computer used on your car modded was a way around this potential trap.
QuickRick
Do know that this could affect your warranty. I'm not saying that it will, but just be aware of the implications of what you do.
I am a member of another GM forum and this topic ran the gammut for quite some time. It would be neat if someone here, who works at a dealer chimes in about the GM feedback that they receive in warranty cases. At the time I was going to tune my car using software from an intake mfg. company. It was worth an additional 12 hp when used with my new intake system but I decided against the risk.
Times are tough, and GM's sense of humor may be at an all time low if you follow.
I do think that another used computer used on your car modded was a way around this potential trap.
QuickRick
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