FASTCHIP COMPUTER
I'll handle this section in an FAQ style, since I always get people asking me about it.
Q: Where did you get you computer programmed at?
A: Fastchip. Look them up at www.fastchip.com for all the details.
Q: Is it a chip you have to swap or a whole computer reprogram?
A: It was a whole computer reprogram for me. The older 3.1 L engines, the MPFI, require just a chip swap. All the 2.3 L quad engines require just a chip swap too. The 2.8 L engines are also just a chip swap. The computer reprograms are about $300 anywhere you go. A performance chip is about $160 on average.
Q: Where is the computer located?
A: Right behind the glove box in the Berettas, this is a common locations for the ECM. The newer gran prixs have it in the air filter box for some crazy reason.
Q: How much faster did it make your car?
A: It made it a little quicker, a noticable difference, but not anything amazing.
The following is taken directly from the Fastchip website. I would recommend fastchip over any other chip company simply for reading this. If you visit the competitor's websites, you will notice that they do not make any direct attacks on other companies like Fastchip does here:
May 1998 issue of High Tech Performance Magazine contains chip "shoot-out" article. The test vehicle was a 1995 Chevy Impala SS with 3.73 gears, MSD ignition, 2 1/2" dual exhaust, pulleys, etc. Four "chip programmers" participated. The "shoot-out" was held at Englishtown, NJ on Aug 18, '97. Results, slowest-to-fastest:
Hypertech Power Programmer - 15.01 et @ 94.00 mph - Motorsports Technologies - 14.92 et @ 95.56 mph - Superchips Inc. - 14.83 et @ 95.00 mph - Fastchip - 14.77 et @ 96.19 mph
After reading that its safe to conclude that Fastchip dominates. With a time of 0.24 seconds better that Hypertech, they are the obvious choice. I don't know what the Impala pulled with a factory chip, but you have to assume that Hypertech had to have knocked off atleast a tenth of a second, if not two tenths. So Fastchip knocked off atleast 0.34 seconds roughly from the quarter mile time. That is a very nice improvement for a simple plug in and go mod. On a Beretta you should expect to see about a 0.2 or greater drop in your 1/4 mile time.
Q: Are there any side effects?
A: After about 5 to 10 thousand miles I began to have trouble with the service engine soon light. This is not directly related to the computer I feel. The car was around 70,000 miles and thats about when things start going. I replaced several sensors and the light is still comming on. Scanning the computer it is still saying the same sensor is bad even though it is on its 3rd one. I've also done several resets, or re-learns, on the computer. The car does not perform differently at all though.
Q: What about gas mileage?
A: Honestly I don't really pay attention to my gass mileage so I have no clue about this one. They tell you to use 90 or higher octane, but the only reason you ever need to run with a higher octane is if your compression ratio is rased. Thats why DOHC engines and higher compression engines require high octane fuel from the factory. The reprogrammed computer can't change your compression ratio. Milling your head can do that though. I ran with 92 octane for a long time, but I have gone back to 89 and noticed no difference.
Q: Is there anything I should know?
A: They can program the computer to run with any significant modifications you have made to your car. I had them program mine to run with an larger amount of air taken in (like a 56mm throttle would do) and a 180 thermostat. I couldnt' find a 180 thermostat though, so I just went with a 160 thermostat and the car runs fine and cool. Hypertech makes a 160 thermostat for the 3100, part #1008. Go to my Other Tricks section for way more detail about thermostats.
