Unknown Performance Chip
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix Arizona
Unknown Performance Chip
I'm a proud 3rd owner of a 2003 50th Anniversary with 50k miles. I've had it for a few weeks now and put about 600 miles on it which included a trip from Phoenix to Flagstaff and back, 300 miles.
So far so good, runs great no issues.
The first owner stated in his ad when he was selling the car that it had a performance chip installed, the second owner added a K&N cold air intake and Flowmaster 80 mufflers.
How would I go about finding out what Performance Chip is in the car?
I would like to maybe upgrade the chip or get a tuner, though I think I read somewhere here that there is no place for a performance chip, so I'm really not sure if there is one or not.
So far so good, runs great no issues.
The first owner stated in his ad when he was selling the car that it had a performance chip installed, the second owner added a K&N cold air intake and Flowmaster 80 mufflers.
How would I go about finding out what Performance Chip is in the car?
I would like to maybe upgrade the chip or get a tuner, though I think I read somewhere here that there is no place for a performance chip, so I'm really not sure if there is one or not.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,990
Likes: 346
From: Mt. Pleasant S.C.
The car doesn't provide for physically changeable chips. Doesn't work that way. If you were told it was "chipped" you were probably given snake oil.
What you can do is tune them using one of a couple of different tuning software systems to rewrite various parameters and tables within the ECM. You can't see it to see if it's been done. It's like looking at a hand drvie for a computer in your hand. What's on it? You can't tell until you plug in and read it. Same with the computer in the car. You need to have someone with efilive or hptuners plug in and look at your tune. If they are familiar with Corvettes they can tell you if it's been tuned or is factory stock. Or you can have a dealer check with their software.
In the former case they may have to pay a license fee if they have not already purchased the unlock for the series of engines (unlikely) and in the latter you can be sure the dealer is at a minimum going to charge a diag fee.
As you are in Phoenix and there are tons of Corvette guys there I'm sure that if you post in the regional forum you'll easily find someone that can plug in and let you know what you have.
What you can do is tune them using one of a couple of different tuning software systems to rewrite various parameters and tables within the ECM. You can't see it to see if it's been done. It's like looking at a hand drvie for a computer in your hand. What's on it? You can't tell until you plug in and read it. Same with the computer in the car. You need to have someone with efilive or hptuners plug in and look at your tune. If they are familiar with Corvettes they can tell you if it's been tuned or is factory stock. Or you can have a dealer check with their software.
In the former case they may have to pay a license fee if they have not already purchased the unlock for the series of engines (unlikely) and in the latter you can be sure the dealer is at a minimum going to charge a diag fee.
As you are in Phoenix and there are tons of Corvette guys there I'm sure that if you post in the regional forum you'll easily find someone that can plug in and let you know what you have.
Last edited by Sox-Fan; Mar 2, 2015 at 01:03 PM.
Pro
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 670
Likes: 46
From: Indiana
Anyone with HPTuners and a stock tune file can download what you've got in the car now and use the comparison feature in HPTuners to see what parameters if any are different. A license is required to change your tune if using HPTuners.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix Arizona
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Wow, thanks for the removal of that someone special....
I didn't think there was a performance chip but I just wanted to be sure if I decided to go the turner route. I do remember putting a chip in my Firebird Trans Am but that was back in 1985 and didn't think that applied to today.
There's a greet and meet here in town this coming Saturday, I'll have to ask around if there is someone who can take a look at my program and see if it's stock or changed.
Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.
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Wow, thanks for the removal of that someone special....
I didn't think there was a performance chip but I just wanted to be sure if I decided to go the turner route. I do remember putting a chip in my Firebird Trans Am but that was back in 1985 and didn't think that applied to today.
There's a greet and meet here in town this coming Saturday, I'll have to ask around if there is someone who can take a look at my program and see if it's stock or changed.
Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.
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Last edited by nickaz2003; Mar 3, 2015 at 11:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
Likes: 328
From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
Re-programmable chips have NOT been used by GM from about 1996---So either the owner wasn't familiar with the new terminology or was feeding you a line----
Any tuner with HP or EFILIVE can read your existing tune--save it--and compare it to a stock tune from a car of the same year---The comparison does NOT cause the tuner to use a new license for your car--Only if he re-flashes it again should a full tuning charge apply---
Typically bolts ons such as a CAI and mufflers do NOT require re-tuning---The ECM has the ability to make fuel corrections on it's own to compensate---
A real tune however would really wake up your car !! especially if it's an automatic---Trans tuning alone can make your car quicker without even addressing the engine--usually about 2-3 tenths in the 1/4 mile----
These cars were tuned very well bone stock --But you can still expect maybe 15-17 RWHP with a tune---AND the responsiveness and bottom end will be greatly improved !
Any tuner with HP or EFILIVE can read your existing tune--save it--and compare it to a stock tune from a car of the same year---The comparison does NOT cause the tuner to use a new license for your car--Only if he re-flashes it again should a full tuning charge apply---
Typically bolts ons such as a CAI and mufflers do NOT require re-tuning---The ECM has the ability to make fuel corrections on it's own to compensate---
A real tune however would really wake up your car !! especially if it's an automatic---Trans tuning alone can make your car quicker without even addressing the engine--usually about 2-3 tenths in the 1/4 mile----
These cars were tuned very well bone stock --But you can still expect maybe 15-17 RWHP with a tune---AND the responsiveness and bottom end will be greatly improved !
