Chip on top of PCM "re-burn"

papadelogan · #1 Thu, July 16th, 2009, 07:08 AM

I bought my truck about 2-1/2 years ago, and within a few weeks, had bought a DP Tuner. I recently got an Adrenaline HPOP and decided to go with a PHP chip. The tunes I originally got weren't the best choices for me, partly because I was in a massive rush. So now my Phoenix chip is back with PHP, and I've been running "stock"..... but my current (PCM only) "stock" is nowhere near as slow as the stock setting with a chip (DP or PHP). So I'm thinking that the former owner had some tuning put right in to the PCM.... and I have no idea what it could be.

I have 3 questions then:

1. Is there a way to get the PCM scanned/read to determine what is in there now?

2. Will having some unknown tuning done to the PCM affect how my truck runs with your (or any other) piggy-back style chip?

3. Would it be wise/safe/"the smart thing" to get the PCM flashed by a local Ford dealer to eliminate whatever is in the PCM?

Thanks!

***cleatus12r*** · #2 Thu, July 16th, 2009, 08:48 AM

I recognize you from the FTE forums.

To get your questions out of the way.

1. Yes. There are numerous ways to read the existing memory from the PCM. There won't be any data as far as what brand of programming it is, but the data can be compared to a stock file to get an approximate HP level.

2. No. The only thing that really matters is the actual hardware (PCM). No matter what "tune" has been flashed to the PCM, the PCM is still the governing factor on what tuning will be used for the chip.

3. It's not going to matter. Just know that you're not stock when you're "chipless".