My Fuel Mileage
So I see a lot of posts regarding fuel mileage. Many of which are difficult to believe, such as "I get the same mileage towing my 20,000 lb. fifth wheel as I do not towing it". Personally I don't beli...
Forum Discussion
4X4Dodger wrote:deltabravo wrote:... on how the chip is programmed..
Trucks, cars, etc haven't used a "programming chip" in many many years.
They use a very elaborate computer, called an ECM to control the engine functions, which is far more complex than a "chip" of years ago.
Yes and that ECM is made up of very specific Resistors, capacitors and integrated circuits (Chips)Flat mounted on a copper covered PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that get updated with software or FIRMWARE changes ie. RE_PROGRAMMED.
Its the same thing.
I think what some people mean is that on older vehicles you could open the ECM (computer) and take the EPROM chip out and replace with an aftermarket chip that has a different tune file on it. My 93 Blazer/Tahoe was like this.
On my 2000 7.3 diesel I can reprogram or overwrite the stock ECM with a tune programmer.
There is also a slot on the side of the ECM where you can mount an aftermarket mini circuit board with a tuned chip on it. This situation the chip overrides the tune on the ECM and uses the chip's tune. I have both, my ECM has been retuned with a Banks tuner, and I also have a 16 different tune shift on the fly chip....which is currently overriding the ECM tune.
Most new cars don't have the to ability to change chip or add a chip, just to access the ECM tune file and modify it through the OBDII port.
So there are a few different options depending on how old the vehicle is.
