Unichip Owners…What from Here?? 4-3-04


I have some more light to shed on the latest round of questions. The question
has been brought up about what effects the unichip will have on daily driveability,
and closed loop operation. Is this just a “WOT modification” that only gets used
past 85% throttle as recently stated?

The first place to look for this answer and the one to place the most merit in
would be the end users. We have (2) different TS users driving these test trucks.
Read their comments, they state runs better, shifts better, runs like it
should…and other similar comments on daily driveability. These are not solely
realated to WOT…and there is reason for this. Also yellbird has independently
posted similar comments…another TS user, and he stated he would buy again…lets
no lose site of this when we evaluate the purchase.

Now, on what changes are made in WOT, this is where power gains are made, if you
need more power you push the pedal, at some point the motor will downshift…yes,
but you are asking the motor for more work and this is how a vehhicle is designed
to give you the most possible. The unichip at 85% of “power capibilty” lets call
it, because throttle position is inaccurate, starts to develop the additional power,
and this is the point where open loop mapping takes over, and where our tunes for
mods plays the role in “power”.
This is not necessisarily 85% on the throttle position, and I had a long talk
with Jack about this today. My 03 seems to have most of its power from zero to
half pedal…it’s drive by wire….the rest of the pedal does next to nothing…and this
is important because each vehicle can and is different from manufacturer. It will
do its downshift and go for power at about half pedal….so we may be going into
open loop somewhere around there. Jack is going to check this with my truck…he
can tell this on the dyno….and we’ll know in a couple of weeks. So forget about
85% throttle position for now…it’s 85% power capibilty from here on!

Now on closed loop, and no benefits as V8Toilet posted. This is not true. There
are no “adjustments made to CHANGE” from the 14.7 to 1 ratio…we have to and want
to keep that for economy. But…unichip does help here…not by trying to “change”
but working with the ECU to maintain 14.7 to 1….and it will help maintain it
better because it will increase and more accurately supply the actual amount
on data points…so the waves up and down from optimum will smooth out. And this
is why it runs better as people are posting. Now…while we are here…I told Jack
I believe some adjustments here could be in order…many of us smell unburned fuel
under load…this could be an issue…and it could also be poor fuel…but he will LOOK
for this as well. He saw no problems in closed loop in 2 test truck, but wasn't
asked to look for any specific issues, and stated no CHANGES are made in closed
loop…and this is true…just better information and more data points are going out
to your engine.

I will keep everyone in “open loop” on where things are…and yes…Jack is mapping
headers, free flow exhaust, and intake and I will be doing it…I will add an intake
and recheck….so unless you are getting a RAPS which we all know helps…I would hold
off on the intake until we se how it does!

In closing….this has been a PITA!!!….and I got a bit edgy at times…but thank each
and every one for taking a part…it got a lot of great info out here. The money
and information will be forwarded to Unichip on Monday…we finished with 45 orders!!
Now we wait till the 23rd.

Kevin