Chip question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Manama Bahrain
Chip question
how do you know when you have a bad chip? If the chip is installed wrong could that ruin a chip? Ive once installed a chip wrong and once installed a chip with the battery still connected. Could this harm the chip? If so is it perminent(sp?) or can ereasing the chip and reinstalling the tune fix it? If the chip is bad how would the car run? 1993 C4
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
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From: VA
how do you know when you have a bad chip? If the chip is installed wrong could that ruin a chip? Ive once installed a chip wrong and once installed a chip with the battery still connected. Could this harm the chip? If so is it perminent(sp?) or can ereasing the chip and reinstalling the tune fix it? If the chip is bad how would the car run? 1993 C4
Yes either could destroy the chip.
If "installing it wrong" means backwards or something like that, this will destroy most chips. Exceptions being those that have symmetrical power and ground pins so when you install it backwards power and ground are still on the right pins.
Installing one with the power connected could destroy it but you can get lucky with that. More likely here would be corrupting the contents, which can be fixed by reburning.
You can test them with your prom burner by writing to it and then reading it back and comparing it to the original file. Doesn't give you a 100% guarantee, but a pretty good test.
How much are the chips for your car? I think the ones for the 94-95 were about $5 when I got some a few years ago. If I had one that was in question I'd just replace it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
how do you know when you have a bad chip? If the chip is installed wrong could that ruin a chip? Ive once installed a chip wrong and once installed a chip with the battery still connected. Could this harm the chip? If so is it perminent(sp?) or can ereasing the chip and reinstalling the tune fix it? If the chip is bad how would the car run? 1993 C4
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,596
Likes: 19
From: Portland Oregon
You may not have zapped the chip. The easiest way to check is to place the chip into the burner and check it. Just perform a "blank" check to see if its blank, if not then erase it, then reflash it. If it does all of that then the chip is OK. I have made the mistake of installing the chip in backwards and have not personally "fried" one yet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,356
Likes: 1
From: Chesapeake Va
You may not have zapped the chip. The easiest way to check is to place the chip into the burner and check it. Just perform a "blank" check to see if its blank, if not then erase it, then reflash it. If it does all of that then the chip is OK. I have made the mistake of installing the chip in backwards and have not personally "fried" one yet.
