reprogram stock chip?

[elmuelmu]

I took my car to Trackside automotive in South Florida (seemed to be a popular guy with Gn repair) because my car was surging at low throttle upon decceleratiing. After a $525 estimate to clean the injectors I figured this guy knew what he was doing. He cleaned the throttle body and injectors and said it wasn't fixed completely and that he would send my original stock chip to be programmed to deliver more fuel. I told him I didn't want to do that as my car is original and i have never seen a serice bulletin that said the stock chip was bad.

My question is this: why would anyone want to reprogram the stock chip instead of fixing the real problem. i didn't have it done and ended up paying $525 for basically nothing, guy wouldn't even admit he didn't know what he was doing or give me a break on price because of not fixing the problem. Am I missing something here or does this seem like a bogus way to fix a car?

If enough people tell me I am wrong I will be the first to apologize to the man(Jeff). Until then, I think I got ripped and this is a stupid solution to a problem. GM never recalled the chips so why would I modify mine?


thx

 

[GNandGS]

Likely not a chip problem! MUCH can be improved over the stock one though... and not just for power.

For $525 I could buy a set of injectors and resell them to you for a profit.

 

[TurboDave]

I took my car to Trackside automotive in South Florida (seemed to be a popular guy with Gn repair) because my car was surging at low throttle upon decceleratiing. After a $525 estimate to clean the injectors I figured this guy knew what he was doing. He cleaned the throttle body and injectors and said it wasn't fixed completely and that he would send my original stock chip to be programmed to deliver more fuel. I told him I didn't want to do that as my car is original and i have never seen a serice bulletin that said the stock chip was bad.

My question is this: why would anyone want to reprogram the stock chip instead of fixing the real problem. i didn't have it done and ended up paying $525 for basically nothing, guy wouldn't even admit he didn't know what he was doing or give me a break on price because of not fixing the problem. Am I missing something here or does this seem like a bogus way to fix a car?

If enough people tell me I am wrong I will be the first to apologize to the man(Jeff). Until then, I think I got ripped and this is a stupid solution to a problem. GM never recalled the chips so why would I modify mine?


thx

Geez, $525 will buy a new set of injectors and a new chip to match.
The stock chip, while OK, is 20 year old technology, and has been improved on in so so many ways. One of the stock chip's major problems was that it had a bit too much timing in it, ESPECIALLY for today's gasoline's.
A stock chip will add NOTHING to the value of the car unless you wish to sell it in Concours condition. Today's aftermarket chips will add tremedeously to your car's overall performance and driveability in general. If your injectors are original, it's a good time for a new set anyway.
Oh, and BTW, there was a recal chip brought out in early/mid 87. Didn't improve much though.

 

[TurboBob]

If the car is still performing poorly, the car probably:

Has a clogged catalytic converter

or

has a bad MAF

or

has a bad fuel pump.

or

is overboosting and is detonating badly

or

has a dead cam

Lots of things to check. The chips of today run a lot better than the stock chip. But I think your problem is more complex.

Bob

 

[MoeJr]

Also check to make sure your torque converter is locking and unlocking like it should. My 84 is having a similar problem and I believe my TC is not working right. Probably a switch or solenoid.

 

[mikestertwo]

Like TurboDave said, there was an updated chip in 87' with the code "BBKJ" but it didn't do much. I think you should take your car to someone else. I'm sure there's someone here on the board who knows of someone in Florida who knows what there doing with these cars and won't rip you off. What year GN do you have?

 

[elmuelmu]

...

87 GN. Original 23xxx miles. He offered to have the chip reprogrammed for nothing extra but I don't think $525 is even close to a good deal, even including that. It just REALLY didn't seem to be like he knew what he was doing.

Seemed like since he works on modifying Gn's so much his solution was to modify something in the car to compensate for the real problem. You guys are a big help and maybe I will take it someone else after I see how much what he did actually helped. It isn't a MAJOR problem but it's something that isn't getting better. Would the car being in storage and only driven 30-50 miles a month have anything to do with this?

 

[SouthernCal GN]

87 GN. Would the car being in storage and only driven 30-50 miles a month have anything to do with this?

Yup! Cars need to be operated so the various lubricants can do their job. If the car has been sittting for that long with minimal operational time, you've got a time bomb waiting to go off (leaks, rrough running, etc) as you're already starting to experience....

 

[mikestertwo]

A car with 23K on it doesn't need injectors cleaned or anything else. It sounds like you should just go out and run it a little bit. I would recommend a different chip. The stock chip has a little bit too much timing in it for today's fuels. Talk to Eric (TurboTweak) and I'm sure he can fix you up with a good chip.