anybody gain any performance by changing computers?

[OneLethal87GN]

My computer is working good but a friend had his Jeep Grand Cherokee running good too. It only had a small problem when idling at a light. It would also cut off when put in Reverse sometimes. He said he put another computer he got from a junkyard in and it runs better than ever. The reason I ask is because I feel my car should have more power than it does. I have the mods to run 10s yet it feels like maybe a high 12/low 13 car. I only track tested it once and had problems all night long. The boost wouldn't go over 3 psi on the launch and wouldn't go over 5 psi through all of first gear and halfway through second. Midway through second gear it would come alive and hit around 20 psi. Needless to say with all these problems I only ran mid 14s to high 15s all night. Part of that did come from letting off the gas and hitting the brakes too early too as indicated by my mph in the 1/4 being 20 mph SLOWER than the 1/8. I credit part of this to the race chip killing my launch boost due to being so rich. I will be getting a chip done by Eric sometime and think this will help some. I just had the tranny rebuilt again and it seems right this time. I haven't floored it yet and will wait to do so until I can get a performance valve body put in to replace the cheap one in there now. It just doesn't feel as strong as it should. I do have a Scanmaster and all the gauges to tune with. After I fix the ATR downpipe puck I will begine tuning it as best I can. It feels pretty strong under full boost but not as strong as it should. Even though the computer seems fine would a new one make things better? Could a computer be losing life like a coil pack can?

 

[Maltman]

Well, if memory serves me, any "chip" based circuit either works or it doesn't work. Much like your home pc, the software can cause glitches and runtime errors (i.e. chip program), but if the hardware fails, it doesn't come on slow. I was told by a computer geek to think of the hardware as a power source...it is on or off....and brown outs don't count

So, if the car runs, then the computer works. This doesn't mean your "chip" is good, but the components (board) are fine. It sounds like your on the right path....and I'd really get the puck fixed if your having boost problems! Whatever you do, don't just start throwing parts at your car....this is from experience....it will likely just end up costing you money

Anyone step in and correct me if I'm wrong about the computer...please...but otherwise, HTH.

 

[bruce]

Could a computer be losing life like a coil pack can?

*Could*, well, maybe, but I've yet to see that happen. Usually it's an all or nothing *thing*. One chip manufacturer (for another brand car) years ago was selling blue printed ecms. All tehy did was run them on an ecm bnech, and then labeled them, as blueprinted.

It's advisable to always carry a spare ecm, IMO, just so that one can use it for diagnostics, and quick sanity checks.

 

[its turbo time]

My brother has an 84 GN and he put the cal pack and chip out of my 86 t t type and now it runs better, it doesn't die anymore and idles a little less rough.