Hey all Vortech users. Has any one had a problem with their Vortech supplied chip? Mine won't allow the car to start, though any other brand of chip worked. Just received a replacement chip this evening and will try the new one out tomorrow.

I was just curious to see if I am the only one experiencing these firsts, bad chip, missing parts in the kit, mismatched couplings, supplied hoses that were too short, insufficient bolts of various lengths, etc, etc. I tell you, if I had paid full clip for this kit, I would hollering louder to Vortech than I already am.

Mine came with to many bolts, the chip/PCM worked, but took 2 full weeks to get it from them.
-Mark

I was missing one of the spacers for the front cover/pulley bracket. I ended up making one of my own until I sold the kit (then which I ordered one from Vortech) after my spun bearing to avoid any complications with the sale. Everything else was there and in the right amounts. Only "extra" parts I had were those included in the kit for the Cougar radiator spacers since theirs are a touch different.

Congratulations, Chris! I hope you like!!

Vortech I had expected better from them...

So what does the chip do...just pull timing and alter fuel? Anything else? The reason I ask is I have an OBDI 95 and Vortech won't make an application for it and from what I've heard it's because of the chip. The kit should fit physicaly though without a problem.
If I know what they did as far as chip tuning is concerned, I could replicate that with other methods (i.e. Tweeker/Emanage) and run the kit. Anyone?

Well, Vortech sent me chip number 2, same exact brand and program. Plug it in, car doesn't start, take it out, car starts. BTW, the SVT was started for the first time this morning, in the past 6 weeks.

Now, I call tech support, and demand to talk to a real person, and not get voicemail. Talk to a guy named Jamie, I tell him that Superchips and Diablo chips work fine in the SVT. He gets on the line with some other person(s), and now they are going to get me a custom Superchip.

Back to the start up, now there is a lifter stuck, in the front bank, and the A/C stopped working. The A/C probably leaked out the freon, after not running for that length of time. Hope the lifter unsticks. Anyone have a suggestion as far as additives to get a sticky lifter unstuck?

Chris,

I had the same problems. The Vortech chip comes from Superchips. I have been back to Vortech two times and will be going once more. I have been told, but have not proven it, that you can run without it. But, I do not want to risk blowing my baby up. I am not experiencing any of the failures that others have had. So far so good! I have about 7000 miles on mine.

Jim

Well,

How stuck is it

You might try running an oil designed for diesel truck engines for
a thousand miles or so. More detergents in that, so you might
get a cleaning effect from that.

I'm going to try some Shell 5W40 Rotella Synthetic this winter in
my Buick. I figure I can probably go 10K miles with that stuff and
wont need to change it until spring. I drive about 2500 mi/month
or more in that car. At about $12-$13 for a 1 gallon jug it might be a bargain
synthetic as well. (Of course I don't know how synthetic it is.)
Mobil also makes a 5W40 called Devac 1 for over the road truck
applications.

I've heard the truck engine oils recommended before. Most have
S ratings as well (such as SL or SJ) in addition to the C ratings.

(FWIW, S ratings indicate appropriate for use in spark ignition engines, and C ratings indicate
appropriate for use in compression ignition engines.)

So if you can find a 5W30 or 10W30 (if you are not comfortable with 5W40)
it might be the ticket to cleaning out extra varnish in the engine.

HTH,

TB

Originally posted by JETNBYA:

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Chris,

I had the same problems. The Vortech chip comes from Superchips. I have been back to Vortech two times and will be going once more. I have been told, but have not proven it, that you can run without it. But, I do not want to risk blowing my baby up. I am not experiencing any of the failures that others have had. So far so good! I have about 7000 miles on mine.

Jim

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Jim, I have also heard from Simon L., that he was also sent a SUperchip. Not sure why they decided to go with this other brand. There are 4 cut wires sticking out of both of the modules. That's really odd. However, I will wait for the Superchip.

Theoretically, with 8 psig of boost, we should be okay without a chip but I too, will not take the chance of running high rpms without it. I didn't have a chance to install a boost gauge of A/F gauge either so more reasons to be careful.

About the sticky lifter, it's tap, tap, tapping away. I will be taking it to the dealer today to check the A/C and to see if they will cover the lifter under warranty too. The A/C has leaked before and being off the road since the second week of July, it is most probable that the dealer never did find the original cause of the A/C leak, and it probably leaked again.

On that note, I get to drive the SVT to the dealer today, sticky lifter and all. At least I get to drive it. It's been a few weeks.

Originally posted by cawong11:

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Jim, I have also heard from Simon L., that he was also sent a SUperchip. Not sure why they decided to go with this other brand.

On that note, I get to drive the SVT to the dealer today, sticky lifter and all. At least I get to drive it. It's been a few weeks.

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Can we order the Vortech sans chip? And does every kit come with the aftercooler?

I REALLY want to know how it runs!!

(PS> Any word on the rest of the suspension? My car is SHOT!! )

can't wait to hear how it turns out, chris...hope the new chip comes soon!

Originally posted by chknhwk:

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Can we order the Vortech sans chip? And does every kit come with the aftercooler?

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Just ask Buckshot how well stock pistons handle the detonation of 6psi+ on 10:1 compression... Doesn't matter that it's a 3L vs 2.5... Stock timing advance is waaaaaaaay to much to run on boost...

IIRC, someone out here in Cali wanted to go to a show before they had there chip in - from Vortech they said it's okay below like 3-4000 rpms, but if you get it above that say goodbye pistons!

(I personally wouldn't trust myself to leave the driveway!)

For the install, did you have to move the AC at all (ie will dealer say you broke a line during install)? For that matter, would they do the lifter seeing as somone just drilled a hole in your oil pan? Anyway, good luck - hopefully your dealer is friendlier than the ones I've dealt with!

Originally posted by bnoon:

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Just ask Buckshot how well stock pistons handle the detonation of 6psi+ on 10:1 compression... Doesn't matter that it's a 3L vs 2.5... Stock timing advance is waaaaaaaay to much to run on boost...

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Trust me Brad, I am NOT destroying this block you're kind enough to build for me. Just wondering how hard it would be to program and dyno tune this with the Greddy Emanager and possibly a Motec ignition with the chip in there. I don't think I'll need the chip if I'll basically be running stand alone...

Originally posted by ScottK97SEMTX:

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IIRC, someone out here in Cali wanted to go to a show before they had there chip in - from Vortech they said it's okay below like 3-4000 rpms, but if you get it above that say goodbye pistons!

(I personally wouldn't trust myself to leave the driveway!)

For the install, did you have to move the AC at all (ie will dealer say you broke a line during install)? For that matter, would they do the lifter seeing as somone just drilled a hole in your oil pan? Anyway, good luck - hopefully your dealer is friendlier than the ones I've dealt with!

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Scott

Vortech, I say Vortech product support, assured me that I would okay to drive it to the dealer as long as I didn't push it too hard. Well, with a stuck lifter, I kept it low in the rev band. I had not choice, as far as driving it, cause of the A/C, stuck lifter, and today the heater totally failed.

The dealer I go to knows the car very well. I too hope, they don't dicker me around.

Originally posted by chknhwk:

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Originally posted by cawong11:

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Jim, I have also heard from Simon L., that he was also sent a SUperchip. Not sure why they decided to go with this other brand.

On that note, I get to drive the SVT to the dealer today, sticky lifter and all. At least I get to drive it. It's been a few weeks.

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Can we order the Vortech sans chip? And does every kit come with the aftercooler?

I REALLY want to know how it runs!!

(PS> Any word on the rest of the suspension? My car is SHOT!! )

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If I get a Vortech Superchip, there is no reason why you could not order the same chip from Superchips. I am getting Diablosport to build me a specific Vortech chip too. That chip would be avaiable for SFG0 once it is made. The Vortech kits have no aftercooler but it looks like you could shoehorn a water to air unit similar to the Turbo kits. However, I was told that the Vortech kit was designed without an aftercooler in mind. Whether that is true or not, I don't really know.

About the suspension parts, once we have more information, I'll send you an email.

Cool, sounds like you have a good dealer.

Did you make sure to let them know that if they test drive it they HAVE to keep the revs down? You'd hate to have to fight for a new engine cause "Joe Tech" decided so see what a S/C SVT could do!

You know, I was wondering if I should say anything because if their techie blows up my motor, hmmm, what would they do then?

By any chance have you looked at your PCM? It might not be a chip problem, it might be that an electrode in yoru PCM isn't making a good contact to the chip. This would mean it would work fine without a chip and have an incomplete circuit with the chip installed.
-Mark

Mark

I was sent 2 identical chips, made for Vortech by Autologic. Neither chip worked. I had a diablochip installed up to the day before I fired up the car with the SC. Needless to say, both Diablo chip and Superchip previously worked with the ECU. I know what you are saying about the contacts, and I ensured that they were cleaned prior to installing the new Vortech chip.

If a contact is bent, even slightly, it can cause a break in the circuit which won't allow the vehicle to start with the chip installed. Check all of the electrodes on the PCM where the chip is installed. Look for any bent electrodes that could cause a poor contact surface.

If you have installed & removed various chips it could have easily bent an electrode in the PCM.
-Mark

Mark

Thanks for the advice, the only thing is that Vortech requested that I send back both chips so I did that yesterday.

In the mean time, I have Diablo building me a Vortech program, whilst I am waiting for the Vortech Superchip to arrive.

I received a Superchip today, and it works. Now I just have to work on the heat soak. The filter needs to be moved away from the engine bay. I can feel it bog during city driving. Filter sure gets hot too.

Originally posted by cawong11:

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I received a Superchip today, and it works. Now I just have to work on the heat soak. The filter needs to be moved away from the engine bay. I can feel it bog during city driving. Filter sure gets hot too.

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When are you going to give us some REAL impressions? LOL Sorry, don't mean to be pushy, but I need boost in a bad way...

John

I have been posting about my progress here. Take a look.

NICE.

Think I may have just made up my mind.

Just a little more research...