Do resistor chips work?

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Dec 6, 2004 | 03:19 PM

cinccycat

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Do resistor chips work?

I hear lots of talk about intake, exhaust, and headers, but nothing about resistors, I was wondering if they actually work or if anyone has them. It claims to give 10-20 HP. I'm not really sure I believe the claims. There are several ebay auctions about them and all claim the same things. So whats the truth?

here are some links to them.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33597

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=42604

Dec 6, 2004 | 03:45 PM

duston831

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Dec 6, 2004 | 04:02 PM

cinccycat

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Quote:

Originally Posted by duston831

can you elaborate, why do think "no".

Dec 6, 2004 | 04:07 PM

ScummyMcOwnage

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This is from another thread that I responded in:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScummyMcOwnage

If you are talking about the resistors on ebay:

from an engineering point of view, I would rather shoot a hole through my engine block than buy that resistor. What they say the resistor does is fool your ecu into believing that it is getting colder air than it really is. Colder air would be more dense, so your ecu adds more fuel into each cylinder to keep your air-fuel ratio correct for the percieved data. Since the air is not actually cooler, it causes your engine to run rich. Not good. You will only see an improvement if your car is already running lean, and even then it's not the greatest idea as you will not be addressing what is causing your car to run lean, but finding away around it.

It is best to save your money.

Dec 6, 2004 | 04:38 PM

smurf3642

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Quick question...

Both those auction say that that chip fits ONLY Scion cars...

this includes the xA xB & tC...

Hmm...last I heard the xA and xB had the focus 1.5 ltr engine where the tC had the camry 2.4...

I really dont think they are the same engine...though I have been wrong before...

But if a chip works for 2 engines, why can't it work for more??

Hmm...and how can a chip so specific work on 2 different engines??

Dec 6, 2004 | 04:40 PM

Littleguy

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Because it doesn't work on any engine.

Dec 6, 2004 | 05:58 PM

spider

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NO. its that simple. its just a waste of money. i know several people that have tried it. either no gain, or the car ran really bad after the install. save your $.

Dec 6, 2004 | 06:15 PM

TheScionicMan

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Do a search on eBay, they sell the same damn thing for every model car. The ECU in your car will see the change and try to correct it.

Of course they say it'll give 20 HP, but if something so simple and "harmless" worked so well, why wouldn't Toyota incorporate it into their designs? The designs they spend millions studying and engineering... Are they afraid to give the public a car with too much power?

Dec 6, 2004 | 06:32 PM

panasoanic

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The most efficient ratio of air to gasoline is 14.7 to 1. This is where all fuel is burned completely. You can change this ratio to yield better performance when going richer or yield better mileage by going leaner.

However, blindly changing your air to fuel ratio with a resistor is pretty stupid though. What is your new ratio? I don't think the tC even has a wideband oxygen sensor to tell you. You could run too lean and start to have detonation or you can run too rich and get fouled plugs and not be able to make it back home.

This "chip" works as well as the electric "supercharger" or the tornado exhaust tip you'll see on eBay.

Dec 6, 2004 | 10:18 PM

#10

Whocares05050

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Quote:

Originally Posted by smurf3642

uuhh, the focus engine as in the FORD FOCUS? Thats a no, and its also not a 1.5, in the xa and xb are the toyota echo engines

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Dec 7, 2004 | 03:51 PM

#11

Daemon1313

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If these are what I think they are then the quick answer is yes they will make more HP but not safely.

What it does is lean out the air/fuel ratio. A leaner mix makes more HP but puts more stress on the engine. Lean it out to much you will get detonation and the joy of buying a new engine. I use to run a similar but far more sophisticated product in my Mustang called a Mafterburner.

An air/fuel ration of 14.7 to 1 is considered stoich. Which means from a chemical standpoint the combustion will be perfect but, that doesn't happen in the real world.

There's a phrase used in racing, "lean is mean but fat is safe".

Dec 7, 2004 | 06:22 PM

#12

jlaznlover

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it will make your car run rich, leading to a "F" up cat. a messed up cat = won't pass emission = illegal = dark exhaust tip and smoke. and in some cases from people that have installed these so call cheap power adders, it threw a CEL. i think it will also be fun to explain to the dealership how the CEL was triggered

Dec 7, 2004 | 06:38 PM

#13

panasoanic

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Daemon1313

You've got it wrong. If we could use less fuel to make more horsepower, why, we've just got the solution to perpetual energy.

Quote:

There's a phrase used in racing, "lean is mean but fat is safe".

I have never heard of a "fat" air/fuel ratio. Perhaps you heard that in the context of weight, not air to fuel ratios..

Dec 8, 2004 | 06:34 PM

#14

Daemon1313

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Quote:

Originally Posted by panasoanic

You've got it wrong. If we could use less fuel to make more horsepower, why, we've just got the solution to perpetual energy.

You've never tuned a race car before have you. Lean air/fuel ratios get the engine to put more fuel into the cylinder when it needs it and ensures the the fuel that is there is burned. You have to remember air is the limiting factor in your engine's ability to make power not fuel.

http://www.autometricsmotorsports.com/techtips/09.htm

Dec 8, 2004 | 07:03 PM

#15

panasoanic

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Now I understand. Thanks for correcting me. I keep on thinking that fuel is the limiting factor, but that only applies in forced induction applications where lean conditions from inadequate injectors can quickly lead to expensive repairs.