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Tuning Chip Scam.

Fordum

Fordum

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Folks, my idiot cousin has struck again. He just E-Mailed me all excited about this great product.
Here is the link.

http://www.gfchips.com/

From hanging around here and some of my own work, I know that chip tuning is real and can give good results.
Plus, I suppose a "generic" chip might be useful, but to get your money's worth, it needs to be custom.

I told him that it was more than likely a scam, or at best not worth the money.
Of course, if someone here has used one or is familiar with the company and its for real, I'll revise my statement.

My problem is, that he is likely to either go ahead and buy one, which is OK, its just money out of his pocket, or whats worse ask me what to buy.

He is running a bone stock 1/2 ton 4wd somewhere in the 2003 range. I think its a 350, not sure.
I haven't had to work on it yet......

I know there are plenty of threads here about chip makers, and live tuners, and if he asks I'll start searching.

In the meantime, if anyone has any knowledge about that company, opinions about it, or handy links to threads about what he should do, let me know.
Hopefully he will forget about the whole thing and I won't have to get involved.......
 
GM 1/2 ton? Not a 350. Most common would be the 5.3 or similar "LS" engine. And there really isn't a "chip" per se. The computer gets a reflash for different parameters via a plug in "off the shelf" tuner or custom tune from more in depth software and a laptop and someone who knows how to program it.

I didn't spend time on that site to see what they have to offer.
 
I've had a customer call me about that same company. Total BS. Those 'chips' are usually nothing more than a resistor to change the values that the ECU is seeing therefore changing the fuel and ignition maps.
 
496truck said:
GM 1/2 ton? Not a 350. Most common would be the 5.3 or similar "LS" engine. And there really isn't a "chip" per se. The computer gets a reflash for different parameters via a plug in "off the shelf" tuner or custom tune from more in depth software and a laptop and someone who knows how to program it.

I didn't spend time on that site to see what they have to offer.
Click to expand...

Yep, you're right. I was distracted when I was typing that. Some people were talking to me and I just typed what came off the top of my head. I was thinking about the older systems.

And fabjunkie, that sounds about right. They give very few specs on their site, but they do mention hooking something to the intake air temp sensor. I figured it was a scam when they said the msrp is $400, but you could buy one for $70

Another interesting point, is that if you look under Chevy, go to C10, and try to select a year, it of course tops out at 1981, but it goes down to 1967.
Who knew that Chevy had computer controlled trucks in 1967?
 
I read GF Performance Chip and thought "wow, more performance out of your girl friend". That would mean getting it at least twice a day. Right?
 
Fordum said:
And fabjunkie, that sounds about right. They give very few specs on their site, but they do mention hooking something to the intake air temp sensor. I figured it was a scam when they said the msrp is $400, but you could buy one for $70

Another interesting point, is that if you look under Chevy, go to C10, and try to select a year, it of course tops out at 1981, but it goes down to 1967.
Who knew that Chevy had computer controlled trucks in 1967?
Click to expand...
I looked it up via an ACURA TL something I know a lot more about.

GF module installs into your ACURA TL's engine bay and is connected via 2 wires that plug into the IAT sensor. Diagrams are included. The unit is then able to reprogram the ECU thus improving your car's performance.

I can tell you with a lot of confidence it will NOT reprogram your ECU from the IAT sensor. I however can tell you that changing the resistance of the IAT sensor is trick used to fool the car into providing more or less fuel for supercharged setups and not drop a check engine light when the O2 sensor detects a bunch of fuel. But its usally an on/off thing which would occur under boost.

Based on that alone I would raise the BS flag.
 
If he has an '03, then this place can do it too.

http://www.wait4meperformance.com/

I have their tune in my 2001 s10, cause I didn't like the shifting, speed limiter, or power. More or less, with a little 4.3, power gains is very minimal. I bought the whole box, so my stock one is in the garage. Been happy with.
 
nsxxtreme said:
GF module installs into your ACURA TL's engine bay and is connected via 2 wires that plug into the IAT sensor. Diagrams are included. The unit is then able to reprogram the ECU thus improving your car's performance.
Click to expand...

Ha! Just make your own for $0.03 (or about $1 if you shop at Radio Shack).
 
yeah......basically just resistor that changes the reading from IAT sensor to computer. Makes you engine running a bit on rich side, that's it...some companies will encase the resistor in plastic to make it look like "chip", others will just send ya the plain resistor in tiny zip lock bag....

be aware of this "douchebaggery":waytogo:
 
Well, so far, he has not mentioned it again. He called me yesterday to see how I was doing, and it never came up.
Hopefully he has decided not to get one.
I probably won't hear about it anymore until he wants me to help him hook it up.

Its not that he never heeds my advice, its just that usually when he fails to, its bad.
Since he would only be out about $70, he will probably listen to me this time.

If it was a couple thousand, he would be on it like a chicken on a June bug..........
 
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