Program Some Pick-Up With a Superchips Flashpaq Tuner

It's the 21 century. Engine mods aren't just done with hard parts like camshafts and carburetors anymore. Today's engines have complicated computer management systems that control every aspect from air induction to exhaust flow. The first electronically-controlled engines proved very difficult to hack, and even harder to manipulate without adding some physical hardware.

Since OBDII systems have gone into vehicles, optimizing your truck or 4x4's electronic controls has become something anyone with at least two fingers can do. Programmers that plug right into the OBDII ports found underneath the dashes of most vehicles made after 1995 can be utilized to increase engine power, improve fuel economy, and change transmission shift points.

Superchips is one company that's been in it from the beginning, constantly working on new tuning improvements for almost every type of vehicle you would ever want to tune (including some that we'd never want to own). Just a few years ago, we were still working with bulky tuners that were bigger than a rolled-up newspaper, but now Superchips has introduced tuners like their Flashpaq line that is literally smaller than your hand.

But tuning your engine and transmission isn't only what these programmers do anymore. Nowadays, you can use data acquisition features to see what's going on, read diagnostic trouble codes, recalibrate speedometers, monitor vehicle performance and do data logging. The newer the vehicle, the more vehicle functions you have control of.

We used a Superchips Flashpaq on a late-model Dodge to improve the power and correct some things.

The Flashpaq plugs directly...        read full caption The Flashpaq plugs directly into the OBDII port under the dash. As far as installation goes, it doesn't get much easier than this.	After turning the vehicle...        read full caption After turning the vehicle "off" and "on" as the tuner asks, you'll get to a "Main Menu" screen that you'll start at. Make sure to have your doors closed and all electronic accessories (like the radio) off before starting to tune.	Once you decide on a tune...        read full caption Once you decide on a tune program (we were given the options of 91-octane performance, 87-octane fuel economic, and towing performance tunes), the handheld tuner will save your vehicle's factory programming out of your ECU.
We hadn't yet found the speed...        read full caption We hadn't yet found the speed limiter on our ride (because we never exceed the speed limit), but just for fun, we raised our governor to kick in at 120mph, just in case we ever go to a track where we can drive this fast.	The Flashpaq is a great way...        read full caption The Flashpaq is a great way to change your vehicle's known tire size when tuning the engine. You have the options of choosing from 22-inch to 42-inch tires on your ride. Make sure that you physically measure the actual size of your tires and not just input what is on the sidewall of the tire. This will not only correct your speedometer, but also manipulate your shift points for optimum use.	Once everything is decided...        read full caption Once everything is decided upon, the Flashpaq unit will take only a couple minutes to enter the file onto your ECU.
Besides the tuning, there...        read full caption Besides the tuning, there are additional features like checking the diagnostics, data logging, reading your vehicle's identity, and some other functions.	Since this one tuner fits...        read full caption Since this one tuner fits multiple vehicles, it does have some functions that we were unable to use. We obviously will never use some "Desoot" mode that a diesel vehicle would, and we really would never screw with the idle on our ride, providing that it does not go awry.The multi-vehicle aspect of the tuner does not really affect you, the customer (as you can still only use them on one particular vehicle), but it does make the tuners readily-available on the shelves of your local off-road shops-something of real convenience. Since the shop only has to have one tuner model that will fit a number of vehicles, they can have a ready-to-go programmer for you to purchase on the spot.What's more, you can check for updates at www.superchips.com to see if there were any more advancements made in tuning your particular vehicle.Happy tuning!