Anyone tried Black Storm Chips

[Sky_Pilot]

Black Storm

I thought the OBDII was programmable and not a pop-out and replace type? How can they offer a replacement (not the whole ECU) chip? Sounds a little fishy.

[stealthsky]

looks like a scam to me. $8 wont buy you 75hp

[WishfulThinking]

They are making some pretty bold claims for something that costs ... < $20 shipped.

As to program vs replace, I think the OEM basically decides what's going to be configurable via OBDII. If you want more control than they decided to give you, then you have to swap.

[Sky_Pilot]

Wouldn't consider it, just stumbled across it on ebay ...

[BSRL]

Please don't waste your time on it. This has been discussed many times on this site. It's a scam.

[Skip]

Instead of buying into that , just mail me the money, it will do you just as good. Plus I might give you something in a letter as a tax writeoff...hehehe...Skip...

[Sky_Pilot]

My real question was whether our ECM was re-programmable or a pop-in type chip replacement. My limited understanding is that our are the programmed type and not a pop-in type.

[BSRL]

Originally Posted by Sky_Pilot

My real question was whether our ECM was re-programmable or a pop-in type chip replacement. My limited understanding is that our are the programmed type and not a pop-in type.

It is programmable but you can also take it out and replace it.

[JohnD]

Four things here scream "RIP OFF!!!" to me...

1. The amount of the claim. 75HP is an increase of what, 40% over stock? I don't think any chip alone ever made can provide that. Ridiculous.
2. The fact that at one point they say "20 MPG GUARANTEED" on the right side of the ad, and yet just a couple of lines down the say "Up to 20 MPG - Improved fuel efficiency GUARANTEED." There is a big difference between "20 MPG" and "Up to 20 MPG." A sale that says "Items Up To 50% off" can mean that the item you want to buy is 0% off.
3. The fact that I can add 75HP to a Chevy Venture, BMW 7 Series, Ford Thunderbird and Ford Bronco, too. Yeah, it makes sense that a a Saturn SKY, BMW 7 Series and a Ford Bronco all have the same performance gain potential. Right.
4. Finally, the fact that it works on a "1997-2005 Chevy Venture" PLUS a "2004 2003 2002" or a "1990-2008 BMW 7 Series" PLUS a "2007 2006 2005" or a 1990-2005 Ford Thunderbird" PLUS a "2004 2003" etc. This is just sloppy hype to have you hit this crap when you search for a given make/model. A wide-cast net looking for suckers... Don't be one.

[TravisJames]

Originally Posted by JohnD

Four things here scream "RIP OFF!!!" to me...

1. The amount of the claim. 75HP is an increase of what, 40% over stock? I don't think any chip alone ever made can provide that. Ridiculous.
2. The fact that at one point they say "20 MPG GUARANTEED" on the right side of the ad, and yet just a couple of lines down the say "Up to 20 MPG - Improved fuel efficiency GUARANTEED." There is a big difference between "20 MPG" and "Up to 20 MPG." A sale that says "Items Up To 50% off" can mean that the item you want to buy is 0% off.
3. The fact that I can add 75HP to a Chevy Venture, BMW 7 Series, Ford Thunderbird and Ford Bronco, too. Yeah, it makes sense that a a Saturn SKY, BMW 7 Series and a Ford Bronco all have the same performance gain potential. Right.
4. Finally, the fact that it works on a "1997-2005 Chevy Venture" PLUS a "2004 2003 2002" or a "1990-2008 BMW 7 Series" PLUS a "2007 2006 2005" or a 1990-2005 Ford Thunderbird" PLUS a "2004 2003" etc. This is just sloppy hype to have you hit this crap when you search for a given make/model. A wide-cast net looking for suckers... Don't be one.

To be clear, the ebay advertisement only states:

"75 Horsepower GUARANTEED"
"20 MPG GUARANTEED"

After reading this, I would say the seller is only guaranteeing that you'll at least have 75 HP (possibly more, "+") and will get up to 20 MPG after installing the "performance chip". I don't see where it says that the purchaser will get 75 more HP than they're getting currently or that they'll get 20 MPG better gas mileage. Author does specifically state "75+ horsepower" and "up to 20 MPG". To me, this implies that a car with this "performance chip" will get at least 75 horsepower and at best, 20 MPG.

[Homer]

sweet i get it.... my saturn get approx 177hp and 32mpg. after i install this chip i will only get 75hp and 20mpg. my only question is that measured at the wheels or crank or does the chip do nothing other than limit the rpm to only allow the engine to make 75hp and in turn in 5th gear on the highway you would only get 20mpg

[WishfulThinking]

Originally Posted by Homer

...after i install this chip i will only get 75hp and 20mpg...

That would explain the increase in engine life that's supposed comes along with it.

[redhotchillipepper]

The Blackstorm "chip" is in reality a resistor you install into the IAT sensor harness. It tricks the ECM into thinking the inlet air temp is lower than it really is, causing it to dump more fuel to the injectors at low engine rpm. While you may experience a little extra pep at lower speeds, THIS REDUCES FUEL ECONOMY!!! How do I know? My wife was one of their suckers. Also, after installing the "CHIP" my air conditioning would not work! I removed the resistor and chucked it after 1 day. The bright side? If only all of life's lessons could be learned for only $8.00.

[gadget]

Originally Posted by redhotchillipepper

The Blackstorm "chip" is in reality a resistor you install into the IAT sensor harness. It tricks the ECM into thinking the inlet air temp is lower than it really is, causing it to dump more fuel to the injectors at low engine rpm. While you may experience a little extra pep at lower speeds, THIS REDUCES FUEL ECONOMY!!! How do I know? My wife was one of their suckers. Also, after installing the "CHIP" my air conditioning would not work! I removed the resistor and chucked it after 1 day. The bright side? If only all of life's lessons could be learned for only $8.00.

They used to sell something like this for 80's toyotas only it was a potentiometer and it was installed I think on the MAS. You had to have a gauge to tell what your AF mixture was or you could get the mix too lean and fry the engine. (Was before you could have your ECU reprogramed).

The Sky will probably just adapt to this. the OX sensor will see that the mixture is too rich and start leaning the mixture out. If it doesn't it will probably screw up the catalytic converter.