I ordered a custom chip made based on my modifications as requested by PCM For Less NC. I was so excited to get this thing installed in the car and could not wait for it to arrive UPS. I get it and a week or 2 goes before I can get out in the garage and try to install it. Not having ever accessed the ECM I didn't realize where it was located up under the passenger side ? I tried going way back by the firewall rather than directly under the dash pad area. Having my 245lb frame in that tight space made it a real difficlut fit. So I initially gave up until I went to a salvage yard and looked for myself where this thing is located. Now here is a odd addition to the thread. The guy who owns 20th Street Auto in Phoenix AZ told me those after market chips are garbage you wasted your money more or less. I was a bit taken back by this opinion. Who does this guy think he is ? Stick to pulling old parts off cars is what I was thinking. So now that I saw how easy it was and what to look for I got the ECM out in 10 minutes or less. I had to look at a C4 all ripped apart and see exactly where to go. I took the ECM in the house and plugged it in. Back to the garage I went and plugged it in and turned the key. It fired right up and had a lame idle. I got out and walked around back and listened to it but figured it would adjust on its own. When I first started the car after putting the rebuilt motor in it the engine sounded pretty much the same but over a little bit of time it smoothed out to where it is today. I shut it off after 5 minutes and came back inside to change my soaked t-shirt to go for a test drive. I get back in and it would not start. I tried again and again. Cranked but would not start. So I put my foot on the gas and it turned over and the SES light came on and stayed on. I took my foot off the gas and it stalled. I turned it over again and it would not start unless I kept my foot on the gas and kept it there or it would stall out. I was shocked. I went back inside and grabbed the stock chip and put it in the ECM as it was hanging down and it fired right up and ran fine. WOW. I repeated this thinking I was nuts. Sure enough the chip is junk. So I am sending it back this morning and I pray that PCM For Less NC refunds my $217.95. I have Paypal to back me up on the refund IF THEY refuse. I don't think they will but we shall see ? I have heard of chips not showing any sign at all of improved performance but to not even allow the engine to run is a real odd deal. I wish I had an answer for this strange situation. If all I got was a few miles better to the gallon I would be happy. What has me stumped is why the engine fired right up initially and then the second time I start it it would not turn over unless the gas pedal was pressed and would stall if the gas pedal let up. All the anticipation and excitement for a better running car and to be let down like this I just want a refund. The engine and transmission perform great as is zero tune. 2 other members have been in the car with me and know it runs great zero tune.

 

I bought a VATS bypass module from them earlier this year when the injectors quit firing. Fired right up and every time since. This was an add on module using my eprom. Sounds like you bought a complete eprom? Pull the eprom again and see if any of the connector pins are bent as well as the 4 connectors on the ecm. I'm sure PCM will make it right.

 

Most likely something else PCM for less has a real good reputation and are pretty much on the mark with their tunes.

 

An few months ago i bougth a 93 with manual transmition and brought it to my country in South America.
Here, the car began to have problems with the fuel as only a few gas stations offer 91 octane (RON+MON/2), so, depending on the fuel I filled, the timing was retarded and very often the car wasn´t running as it should.
Based on the reviews I read on this forum, I ordered from PCMofNC a new chip, and a week later I had it here in my country.
I asked them to program the chip to 90 octane gas, to eliminate CAGS and to low the temperature the fans turn on (212 the primary and 221 the secondary), for the rest, the car is 100% standard.
Since I put the chip, it is running very, very, very good, with any kind of problems and despite lower fuel, with no noticeable loss of power.
I would recommend PCMofNC to anyone.
Maybe your case is an exception, surely if you talk to them they will fix the problem.
Regards
PS: sorry for my english…..

 

You can put the chip on the adapter backwards as well as plug the orig. chip on the adapter backwards. Make sure you have them right. As others have said, Alvin does very good work.

 

They have had a good rep on the Forum. Chips that you buy off the shelf are the ones that don't do anything, but turn on the fans sooner.

Are you sure you put the chip in correctly. From memory, there is a small indent at one end of the chip and that goes a certain direction.

 

Like others have said are you sure you have it in right? I ordered from pcm when I did a head and cam swap the car ran so much better after geting the chip done. Before I got the chip I was thinking you unplug the old one then just plug the new one in. The chip from pcm plugs in the stock location then i had to plug the stock chip into the pcm chip. I think I had to remove the metal case to be able to do it them put the computer back in the case.

 

Good luck here as well. A custom tune is not "bullet proof".
Both times PCM ran my tune they took about 5 tries before everything was perfect.
Doing a tune in the blind is very difficult. DO you have a data recorder?
The data from the ECM is rather important for a tuner to use for trouble shooting.

You shouldn't get discouraged this soon.
Tell them what happened and give them a chance.

 

I realize no tune is going to be bullet proof or perfect. At this point I am not willing to go any further with the venture as I call it and I want my money back. I sent an email asking whether or not they would pay for the return of the chip ? All I got was a blank "Yes" after including my email and reference to Paypal. Zero funds. So I am out more money as I sent it back USPS with $200 insurance. Not exactly what I call good customer service ducking the point of refund and avoiding the petty cost of shipping. I am at the end of my rope with them. My car runs STRONG with the stock ECM and I want my money back. All I had hoped for was better gas mileage. This notion of getting additional horsepower from a chip is a joke in my opinion. Horsepower comes from the camshaft, and heads. If the engine runs smooth and mine does as is I can't see MORE horsepower being added with a chip as these companies claim. I regret ever sending my $217.94 at this point and yet another nightmare added to the ownership of this old car. When you request a refund pretty straight forward I might add and you get some side step response like we will fix the problem. All you have to do is spend more money to get what you already paid for is BAD. I guess the only option at this point is to go to Paypal and try to get my money refunded. I might add no prongs were bent. Last night after I got off work I have the ECM hanging there I plugged in the PCM of NC chip and I could not ever back out of the drive way as my engine chocked for life. Whoever made this chip is a clown ! I wish he could see his handy work as my engine sputtered in place. I reached down swapped back to the stock chip and away she went to the US Post Office. I was warned of this mess and sure enough I got it. Sucks

 

Did you ever verify it is installed properly? You are implying that they did you wrong and calling them a clown? Before they even get a chance to correct it, IF there is anything wrong. A lot of chips are installed backwards, bent pins, etc. especially when it wont run.
It sounds like you have buyers remorse after spending your money and just want a refund. Never mind the fact that Alvin spent time and experience programming your chip, and you want him to eat shipping.

 

I paid for the shipping once. He sent me a faulty product. He should eat the return shipping. At this point I don't care it a loss either way of my time and energy. Yes it was installed properly. It's made in a way that it can't be plugged in upside down. Unlike the stock chip which could be plugged in upside down. If I had gone to a local shop any mistakes could have been ironed out onsite. Trouble with mail order versus walk in service. I'm disappointed that the chip can't even allow my car to run without my foot on the gas pedal. I'm mad that when I asked for a refund I was given a run around rather than a Yes. PCM can still make this right and just refund my money. Buyers remorse ? I didn't get what I paid for and when that happens I do have remorse.

 

you are wrong, it can be plugged in backwards. Alvin sold you a service and has always worked with others to make it work and if not refund.
It appears in your case you talked to someone who told you mail order is junk and you are not even willing to consider its installed wrong or even if it is incorrect working with Alvin on getting the tune correct.
Again, its not the chip you purchased its the service and now you want to quit, not giving consideration to proper install or giving Alvin a chance to work with your tune. He has time and money invested as well.

 

I got a tune from them and my car runs great. But when i first put the chip in the car wouldnt even run just turn over. I thought what the hell? Took me a while to figure out how to properly install the chip. Once i did that the car ran much better.

 

I will say it one more time there is only one way the chip will fit in the ECM. There is a metal or plastic edge preventing the chip from going in any other way.

 

It appears your mind is made up.
Good luck

 

So my question, if local is better for the reason you stated above, why did you buy mail order? I sell things over the net, and I know how important my reputation is, so I try and keep EVERYONE happy if I can. From what I've read here, these guys do the same. I don't think you are being fair with this whole thing until you know exactly what happened and why, and you need to give them a chance to make it right. Based on what I've heard about them here, I plan on doing business with them when my C3 is ready for their electronics. Good luck

 

You didn't even give them a chance to respond, Alvin and Kelly run a fantastic business based on customer service. The tune they did on my ECM and TCM for my Trailblazer SS was flawless. I can only imagine the composition of the email that got you blank "yes" for an answer. And yes you can get great results from a tune, mine was good for +30 HP and almost 3mpg better on the interstate.

 

I'm not on here to bash them merely tell others my experience. I could not even get the engine to run. It would idle then when put in gear stalled out. I don't have the time or patience to wait on the mail back and forth. If the car at least ran I would have a better attitude but it won't. The only reason I tried the mail order chip was based on the Forum. I didn't have a good experience. Nobody responded to my request for a refund after I explained my reasons why. Now I will eventually get around to a shop in Tempe AZ who can make a chip for an old TPI C4.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by C4in mesa

I'm not on here to bash them merely tell others my experience.

Ahh, I think here is the heart of the matter. You have buyers remorse on trying a mail order chip, now you want Alvin to eat the chip so you can move on to a dyno tune.

 

I never said I was going to do a dyno tune. I said someday I will take it to a shop in Tempe that can make a chip for my old TPI C4. Dyno tunes cost allot more than $200. All I gave on here was my experience. If you want the chip PCM NC will get it today. Post $217 off your PayPal account and they can send it to you.