Has anyone tried this'chip' from eBay?

[Strobo43]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 15509040In reading the descripton and the seller's feedback, this seems to be just a common resistor added to or replacing the sensor on the air intake.I wonder if it really gives much improvement as they also tell you to use high test gas with this.Will high test give me that improvement without the resistor?

[Chris]

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is - all that hype leads me to believe they're blowing smoke. Real chips remap the advance, fuel etc to maximize performance. This takes a lot of r&d etc to come up with something that actually works.Regarding premium fuel, a GT could probably get a few extra hp as it's a high compression engine with a good ecu. The base vibe would probably not benefit much from premium. I use regular in my base and it works just fine.

[joatmon]

I wouldn't bother. Gotta figure if adding a ten cent resistor could add 20HP, then GM/Toyota would do it. My Vibe runs great, I wouldn't screw with the sensors based on some claim on eBay.I didn't see where it said you need to use higher octane fuel, but if it alters the fuel/air mixture and advances the timing, then you might. As I understand octane, it's not so much a rating of how much raw power is in the fuel, it's more a rating of how much you can compress the fuel before it explodes. Too low octane and then you get premature ignition, and knocking. That's why the higher compression engine in the GT needs higher octane than the base. The compression (and other things) gives the GT more power, the fuel doesn't have more energy in it. Running higher octane than you need will probably only have an impact on your wallet. I'm no expert, but I am cheap (and poor) and drive on a lot (10Kmiles in the 4 months I've had the Vibe). For me, "up to 20 HP" wouldn't be worth having to buy the more expensive gas. Depends on what your priorities are.

[MadBill]

I can't see any improvement being very much, but a lot of newer engines are set up pretty lean even at full throttle, for better emissions. A resistor in the air temperature sensor circuit could trick the system into thinking the air was colder and therefore denser than it actually was, so the computer would call for more fuel, giving a richer mixture closer to the maximum power air/fuel ratio.

[Impetus]

Don't EVER buy stuff like this from eBay.

[scherry2]

"curiosity killed the cat." I bid on one of the "chips" on ebay just to see what it was. and it is a resistor I have no intention of putting it on my vibe but like I said "curiosity killed the cat".I took it to work at the GM truck plant in Ft. Wayne Indiana and we all had a hearty laugh over it and the sheet that was sent along with it said to use a high octane gas. You get what you pay for..........

[scherry2]

$5.00

[scherry2]

LOL well in indiana that would be about 3 gallons. but parital yes.

[philndz]

http://www.installuniversity.com not sure if that link will work....if you go to "install documents" and scroll down and click IAT timing tricker....but its good reading on the subject....still a very debateable mod....now i did try this mod once but it was before i had a feel for the vibe so i couldnt tell any difference by the seat of my pants....i have re-installed it now just out of curiosity and i actually think it might work....i now have sticky high perf. tires on the vibe and could no longer catch second gear w/ a chirp....well i put the resistor in yesterday and a few times on the way to work i managed to really bite in second and let out a screaming yelp from the tires.....not spinning but just a sharp bite and screech....1st gear feels a little stronger and second seems to have the most improvement and 3,4,5 all seem normal......is it my imagination???

[scherry2]

maybe

[Nervous_Dog]

These kind of mods are a waste of money. They trick your ECU, making it think it's getting denser air than it really is so it dumps extra fuel in the cylinders. You might get a little boost from the extra fuel but not anywhere near 20hp. Since your engine doesn't really have denser air it can't burn all of the extra fuel. Repeatedly sending unburned fuel through the system leads to fouled plugs and clogged catalytic converters.