I have seen several topics about burning new chips. How is this done. If any one has a little info on this i would like to find out what its all about.

 

The computer controlling the engine ( ECM ) has a 'Programmable read only memory' ( = PROM ) with all the information needed. Based on the data in this PROM the ECM adjust the timing and fuel as you drive.

The data on the PROM can be stored as a bin-file. With a bin file editor you change the data to match your engine.

Then you use an empty PROM and fill it with the data from the bin file. This is called prom burning or chip burning. ( the RPOM is a chip ).

Then you replace the chip in the ECM with the one you just made.

 

What is needed to burn a chip. Is it hard to do or can most anyone do it. How much does it cost.

 

First things first, all the info you are looking for is already on the net. Check out the tech articles section of this website for a beginners guide to prom burning. It helped me alot when I first got interested in this kind of stuff (about 2-3 months ago). Here's a quick rundown of SOME of the parts you need (not in order):

#1. Computer. You need a PC Computer to burn PROMS. You can use a laptop, or a desktop but the laptop is better because its mobile. All the tools you will use to scan data from your car, tune a chip, and burn a chip will interface with the computer. I ended up getting a used laptop for $75. Does the job well!!

#2. Prom Burner. This is the device that actually burns the data onto the PROM or chip. It plugs into the laptop and you use the PROM burning software to burn the chip. I went with the Pocket Programmer.

#3. EPROMS. This is the chip that holds the tuning data for the car. First thing to think about is the size of the prom. Some hold 128k of data, some hold 256k of data. The PROM you choose will depend on what kind of ECM you'll be putting it into. Also, there are a new type of PROMS you can buy called EEPROMS. EEPROMS will make the erasing process alot easier (makes a difference when you're trying multiple tunes on multiple chips).

#4. BIN file. The BIN file is the baseline PROM. A BIN is usually a copy of the stock PROM. You use the BIN as a starting point.

#5. Tuning software. This software allows you to make changes to the .BIN file. This is basically the tool that allows you to tune the car. The variables you change here will change how the car runs (aka changes the tuning). I went with TunerCat.

Basically the process is you pull the .BIN from the stock chip, save the .BIN, import it into the tuning software, make the changes, save the new file, burn the new file on the PROM, plug it into the car's ECM and see what happens.

Other things like a ZIF adapter, a ScanTool, an ALDL cable, and other things I cant think of right now will also make the tuning process alot easier. So far I have around $275 into everything not including the new ECM I'm using. It will take a while to learn how to tune properly, but yes anyone can do it if you put in the time and effort.