Need Chip And Scan Device
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 5
Need Chip And Scan Device
Hey everyone, I just bought a white 1996. I was wondering what is the best chip I can get for my car. The only mod I've done is get rid of the mufflers. I won't be modding the car for a while so what chip would work best. Also, what is the scanner for and do I also need that with a chip. I also live in San Francisco, CA so there are emmission rules. I would prefer a chip that I could just change without having to customize it. Thanks in advance, Ed
Last edited by Dr_Shakalu; Jul 2, 2011 at 09:59 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 283
Likes: 5
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The programming is stored in EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory - known as "flash" for esoteric reasons). What that means is that it can be changed and it will retain the information when the power is off. It's like a file on a hard drive. If you want to change anything you write new information in place of the old.
You change the programming by sending a new program to the PCM. You can't change bits and pieces directly. You have to write the whole program at one time. Again, as in a file on a hard drive, you can change one letter in a text file but have to save the whole file back to the hard drive.
You will need a cable to connect your PC to the PCM and software on the PC to read and write the program. The first thing you'll want to do is read the old program and save it so you can go back to it if you mess things up.
If you have the knowledge on how to do it, you will need an editor to make changes. These range from high level editors that let you manipulate graphical elements down to low level editors/assemblers that get you down to the level of bits and bytes.
Otherwise you'll have to buy a new program and install it in your PCM.
You change the programming by sending a new program to the PCM. You can't change bits and pieces directly. You have to write the whole program at one time. Again, as in a file on a hard drive, you can change one letter in a text file but have to save the whole file back to the hard drive.
You will need a cable to connect your PC to the PCM and software on the PC to read and write the program. The first thing you'll want to do is read the old program and save it so you can go back to it if you mess things up.
If you have the knowledge on how to do it, you will need an editor to make changes. These range from high level editors that let you manipulate graphical elements down to low level editors/assemblers that get you down to the level of bits and bytes.
Otherwise you'll have to buy a new program and install it in your PCM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,772
Likes: 64
From: Mystic CT
If you have made no mods what would you change? Deleting mufflers is not going to need any program change as all you did was make the car loud not faster or change the power any significant amount.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
^^^ The factory did a pretty good job with the stock programming.
Here is the most popular LT1 OBDII tuning software. It's fairly complicated. So, if you choose to tune yourself make sure you do alot of homework.
http://carputing.tripod.com/9697lt1edit.htm
Here is the most popular LT1 OBDII tuning software. It's fairly complicated. So, if you choose to tune yourself make sure you do alot of homework.
http://carputing.tripod.com/9697lt1edit.htm
