The job done by the superchips can be achieved by a £20 bleed valve. Both are dangerous, but one is cheaper danger than the other.

in my opinion, not worth the risk, even if you do exercise restraint.

[Edited by Adam M - 11/5/2001 3:04:03 PM]

 

Adam,
The Superchip solution is not just a bleed valve.

Prezagek,
The job done by the Superchip in this particular case (I.e. an Impreza Turbo) is basically an ABC board. It removes the fuel cut which is the safety in place to stop the engine being destroyed should the boost levels increase over their factory levels (with some leeway) for what ever reason.

Once this safety is removed you are free to increase the boost levels to your desired amount via a bleed valve or even an EBC such as the HKS unit (or others).

Done correctly, you can increase the boost level by a few (or more) psi and suffer no ill effects. However, if you are going to get it done, I would say get it done by someone who knows what they are doing and who can check the fuelling etc. (As SAM says).

However, it is viewed by many not to be value for money. I know of a SuperChip Modem Dealer who won't fit them because they think they are a rip-off for what they are. Maybe the setup is cheaper where you are ?

(This whole thread reflects my views with regards to the Superchips solution for the Subaru Impreza Turbo only).

Cheers

Ian

[Edited by IWatkins - 11/5/2001 4:28:49 PM]

 

If the Superchip is just a bleed valve and a fuel cut defender, you could achieve a similar effect for less than £100...

Dawes MBC (better than a bleed valve) US$35 inc shipping - http://www.dawesdevices.com/boost.html

Turbosmart Fuel Cut Defender (£60 approx):
http://www.turbosmart.com.au/fcd_aus.html

However, using a fuel cut defender removes the safety net provided by the ECU as well as feeding duff information - not to be recommended!

Either fit a Dawes and keep the boost under the fuel cut limit or pay for a Link ECU or Unichip. Do the job properly!

Thanks

Gavin

[Edited for "echo" ]

[Edited by GavinP - 11/5/2001 7:15:02 PM]

 

I heard a lot of bad stories about the Superchips chip. It completely takes away the fuelcut for example. Can i trust this chip (with bleedvalve) on my my96 Impreza ?

 

No.

 

No

 

Right, thought so already, but i don't know why exactly.
Anyone ?

 

Generally speaking, yes, you can trust a Superchip.

However, many Turbo car Superchip installations involve having the boost level increased via a bleed valve. It is then the case can you trust the owner not to turn the boost up further and then blow the car up.

Done properly and not messed with, a Superchip is a cheap way of getting good power increases.

I've had Superchips on various cars and never been happier. But there again, I've also had a Unichip and loved that as well.

Cheers

Ian

 

I can control myself in not putting the bleedvalve too high, trust me. I just wonder if the Superchips does anything, except removing the fuel cut ? Heard some stories about Superchips that were exactly the same as the standard chip, and the bleedvalve did all the "good" work. If that is so, i'd better buy a bleedvalve and kill my engine, than buy a Superchips thing.

 

Stay away, besides the obvious risk of upping boost without sorting fuel/ignition, you will also "disable" failsafe systems that works by numbing boost (MAF failure and so on).

/J

 

If that's true, a Superchips thingie is nothing more than a Fuel Cut Defencer. My doubt was between a ChipTorque chip and a Superchip (which i can get for free), but i think it's gonna be the ChipTorque. Heard good stories 'bout them.

 

Gavin, there's more than Link and Unichip......
FCD & Bleedvalve is not an option for me.

 

...There's more than Link and Unichip...

I had three chips shipped over from Chiptorque - and all three were returned to them in Australia. Error codes, irregular starting etc.

Maybe I was unlucky - but three times?

Guess again!

Thanks

Gavin

 

At what psi would the normal fuel occur in the different models of Impreza?

 

Don't know about others, but the HKS FCD doesn't remove the ECU protection it merely raises it.

I've been running a Turbosmart bleedvalve and HKS FCD for some months now at 1.2 bar on a 96UK with no probs. It was running 0.9 bar standard.

I also got an air fuel ratio meter to check I wasn't running lean on full boost.

FCD cost £112 fitted and bleedvalve was £35. AFR meter was just over £100.

A lot cheaper than £400+ for a Superchip and it gives the same boost levels if not more plus it has the advantage of still retaining the ECU protect which Superchips AFAIK removes.

 

I suggest that replacing the chip means that the ecu is remapped. It doesn't happen when you raise the boost manually with a bleedvalve. I'm still not sure if this is safe or not. There's nobody who really knows it, although there are a lot of guys who have opinions about it.

Does the ChipTorque chip only raise the boost and the fuelcut, or is it a complete remap ?

 

I belive that the Chiptorque chip does alter the fuelling and timing as well as the boost - which I why I was looking to get one....

I imported three in total (one after the other) and they didn't work properly on my car. A socket needed to be soldered onto the ECU board which I got a local electronics shop to do for me. After the second chip didn't work, I understandably thought that the soldering was suspect so took it to another shop who tested the socket in front of me and said it was fine!

Anyhow, after the third attempt I gave up and got a refund. Maybe I was unlucky, maybe the auto box caused complications (although the Link ECU worked fine) but personally I would be cautious.

Having said that Chiptorque have a good reputation in Australia so maybe this is an isolated incident....

BTW, there is an article on Autospeed about Chiptorque producing a chip for the WRX which is interesting: Autospeed article

Thanks

Gavin

 

Tnx, good info. What my do you have ? The chip for my96 seems to fit without soldering etc.

 

MY1994 WRX Auto - the area on the board was obvious but there was no socket installed.

Thanks

Gavin