As the title says I installed a hypertech street runner chip in my car today and have a question(maybe even a concern).

I first want to say that after driving my car I do notice a slight gain in power and my car seems to be running smoother.

Now, when I start my car, the electric fan turns on, and stays on, the whole time that the car is running. Why is it doing this? I don't want the fan on all the time, only when it needs to be. I thought that the fan was only supposed to turn on when the temp reached a certain level, not run all the time. It does this when the engine is cold or warm; whenever. Because the fan is running the engine never has a chance to warm up. Could this cause problems with how the engine runs. Like for instance it will stay in closed or open loop mode or something. I tried calling hypertech but they are already closed so was wondering if any of you guys knew. I don't want to have to turn my fan on manually and want it to automatically come on. I have a stock thermostat, and the fan only used to come on when the temp reached 220 degrees or so and would bring it back down to about 150. Do you guys have any words of wisdom?

 

Mines on all the time too, doesn't seem to do anything but annoy me... I have a question for you, WHERE and HOW did you get a set of Heddman headers for your 2.8???? I would be VERY interested in aquiring a set...

 

Did either of these cars have A/C? There is a saftey switch built into the a/c system that activates the cooling fan. The switch is normally closed and if you remove it, you remove the ground and activate the circuit.
If not, are there any other mods that have been performed?

 

the reason the fans is on, is you are supposed to run the 150/160 thermo.
It is to keep the engine cooler. Cooled = More power.
Also, cooler(under 170/180) = closed loop = more fuel = less MPG.. alot less MPG.

the chip has that change programed in.

 

Correct. I have a Hypertech chip also but run a 180* therm. with two small holes drilled into the out plate section of the thermostat for air relief. Car sits at 172* at idle on a mild temp day- this was confirmed on a Diacom scanner. Fan comes on at aprox 190*-195* with the Hyper chip

 

I talked to hypertech and they told me that the chip that I have will not affect when the fan is supposed to come on.

No, I do not have A/C

When I was talking to them they told me that the chip that came out of my car is different from the chip that they calibrated the new chip for. My chip has three letters "DUM" and four number which I could not make out. He told me that the chip that they calibrate theirs off of is an "FTP" chip. So my computer from the factory is different from all of the computers that they have ever run across and probably has different info in it which would be why the new chip is affecting my car this way.

 

That could explain why you noticed some improvments. Most people gain notihng form them chips when it was made for their car. Why people burn their own prom's.

Most of them aftermarket chips are a ripe off snake oil product.

 

The Hypertech chip I have (10+ years) fails the o2 sensor at full throttle and fully dumps the injectors wide open. Don't know if the new ones still do this?

 

I was lucky enough to find them on ebay, brand new, in the original box, for only $75. I haven't seen any others on there lately. I have to say though, they didn't fit all that great. I was surprised. They hit the motor mount on the passenger side a little, and they were touching my speedo cable and burned a hole in it, which made it stop working. Other than that though, no problems.

 

So they do make a 180 degree thermostat for our cars? I have a 160 degree and dont like it b/c i get next to no heat out of it. Does any local parts store carry the 180s?

 

advanced is only local place that carrys them for me.

 

I just trimmed down a V8 one instead of running all over town looking. They are hard to find.

 

I just got a hypertech chip for my 2.8 I hav'nt installed it yet ... can you guys give me some instructions on how to put it in ..

Also Do you really see a gain ? torque? top ? running smoouth what do you mean ? ... ALSO .. I am still running stock thermastat will this effect anything ? what thermastat do i need ? Will the chip eefect my MPG ?


Thanks
-John

 

The chip comes with very comprehensive instructions.

1.There are two screws at the bottom of your dash on the passenger side. Take them out and drop down the computer.

2. There are two little screws holding the access cover. Take those out.

3. You will now be able to see the chip. Take it out.

4. Replace with new chip.

5. Screw access cover back on.

6. Replace computer in the dash and secure with the two screws.

It didn't say to unhook the battery in the instructions but I did anyways just to be safe.

Yes, I did see a gain. It runs smoother and pulls harder. The chip will affect your MPG, but not by much. If the chip that you got was the street runner chip then you do not need a new thermostat.

 

THANKS bes217 !

 

what if you use the chip and keep the stock thermostat?

 

From what I've heard, aftermarket Performance Chips are
A few do give performance gains, but at the sametime, will slowly destroy your engine.

Chips are needed for highly modified engines.

Just get 180* thermostat and a lower Fan Switch.

Akshay

 

what comes with the 3.1 stock? I've been told that for some reason mine has a 2.8 thermo...

 

All your 2.8's and 3.1 have 195 thermos.
If you want to run a cooler thermostat (with a stock comp) and have your car go open loop, you will have to wire a sesistor in parell (side by side) the temp sensor to lie to the computer and make it think it is running hot when it is not.

 

so its still fine to use the chip with stock thermo?

 

It all depends on which level of chip you get.

 

I belive I have the non-california non-track version...

 

There are two levels of the chip. Here is the info from the hypertech website:

Hypertech Power Chips™ are direct replacements for the stock chips in 1981 - 1995 GM vehicles. The Power Chip™ contains the Hypertech Power Tuning™ data that controls the engine's air/fuel ratio and spark advance. Power Chips™ can be installed in less than 30 minutes using only hand tools. No wiring or soldering is required - just plug in and go!
Street Runner™ and ThermoMaster™ chips both contain Hypertech Power Tuning™ programs. ThermoMasters contain special programming that allows the use of a 160-degree or 180-degree thermostat. If you can't or don't want to change the thermostat, then use the Street Runner.

Street Runner Power Chip™ The Street Runner Power Chip is designed for daily street driving or competition in unmodified vehicles using a stock thermostat. The Street Runner Power Chip contains Hypertech's powerful engine tuning information to deliver maximum power at full throttle (with increased boost pressures on turbocharged cars). The Street Runner also raises RPM for torque converter lock-up, producing better driveability and smoother shifting. Mileage and emissions during ordinary daily driving are not affected. The Street Runner Power Chip puts fun and excitement in your driving and gives you the extra power you need for passing, pulling, or maneuvering out of a tight situation.

ThermoMaster Power Chip™ The ThermoMaster Power Chip;, used in conjunction with a low-temperature PowerStat&8482; thermostat, is the most powerful chip you can run on the street. The ThermoMaster not only provides maximum performance, but it will also help keep the engine cooler in situations of extreme heat such as emergency vehicles, desert driving, competition, etc. Cool air has more air molecules per cubic inch than hot air. An engine running in cool, dense air produces more horsepower and is less likely to detonate than an engine that is taking in hot air. The Hypertech PowerStat thermostat lowers both the temperature of the incoming air/fuel mixture and the engine coolant temperature. The ThermoMaster Power Chip is programmed to take advantage of this cooler, more powerful air/fuel mixture produced by the Powerstat. All temperature-sensitive functions controlled by the ThermoMaster chip (such as a minimum temperature for torque converter lock-up, closed loop operation, and in some cars, early fan turn-on) are adjusted for a cooler temperature thermostat. The Hypertech PowerStat is specifically designed for use with the Thermomaster Power Chip.

 

ok guys i had the same problem with both my 85 camaro and my current car my 87 Firebird both have 2.8 V6 in them

there is a little sensor for the A/C that runs along the inner fender on the passenger side in the engine compartment down below the strut tower. Above the sensor is a rubber hose that rubs against the sensor and yes the sensor comes disconnected and the cooling fan stays on all the time, I plugged it back in and the fan comes on in its normal cycles. Im not saying this is the problem but its a hint seeing how it happend to both my cars

 

I don't have A/C on my car, so I don't think that is the problem.

 

oh ok damn you got the good car no A/C more horses

 

I don't know if I would say the "good car", but yea I might have a couple more horses. Sometimes when it is hot here like it has been the last couple of days I wish that I did have A/C. But anyways, for now I just have my electric fan unhooked until I can figure what to do. If the heat continues I am going to put in my original chip, and hook the fan back up so that I don't risk overheating and damaging something. Does anyone know where you can get a custom chip made that takes into account the mods that I have for a reasonable price, offhand? I know there are a couple people on this V6 board that have had chips made for their cars.

Oh, and I found out by looking in my 4" thick GM service manual that the chip that I have in my car is a "DUM 4777". I also checked for the FTP chip like the guy at hypertech told me their chips are based from and there never was an FTP chip put into my year car. So I don't know what is going on anymore.