Check this out everyone...DHP PCM!!

[Red99GAGT]

Well its finally available. Check out PFYC.com (http://www.pfyc.com/store/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PFYC&Product_Code=GA3010&Product_Count=13&Category_Code=GANEW) for the new chip. Its been what some of us have been waiting for for a long time. I don't plan on purchasing this right away, but maybe the people who do purchase it could post their results on this thread? It could give everyone thinking about it a place to get some feedback. When there are some replies, maybe make this a sticky?

[Grand_Am_Guru]

n/m 295.00 thats a bit too steep for a piece of eeprom. Sorry, I'll wait until the price drops off.

[Red99GAGT]

Originally posted by GrandAmGuru
n/m 295.00 thats a bit too steep for a piece of eeprom. Sorry, I'll wait until the price drops off.

I agree it may be a little high, but I don't see the price dropping any time soon. The same company offers a PCM for the Grand Prix, and its been the same price for a long time.

Just a quick comparison to the ASE chip. Its $14 cheaper (i know, big woop...but keep reading). There is no "down time" with your car. You don't have to send out your ECU like you have to for the ASE chip, which depending on where you live can be over a week.

DHP PCM Benefits:
Speed limiter removed
3-1 and 4-2 skip shifts
Transmission line pressure increased
Shift points moved (5800-6000rpms)
Fan turn on points altered as follows:
186 degree F turn on
2 minute fan on at key-off (this feature activates when engine coolant is 179 degrees or greater)
Fuel/spark adjustments as follows:
Enrichens fuel delivery for critical problem areas
Provides a consistent power gain across the entire power band
Reduces spark retard (knock retard)
Dynamometer testing has shown up to an 6 to 10 HP gain in 60 degree temperatures on a development vehicle using 93 octane fuel

Basically, my overall point (which i didn't really mention) is that there is slowly but surely some growth in the GA aftermarket.

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by Red99GAGT
... Basically, my overall point (which i didn't really mention) is that there is slowly but surely some growth in the GA aftermarket.

... and it is a good point!!

I'll be blunt though, my initial problem was they mentioned about being careful about not to have the dealer 'reflash' the computer as your changes will be gone ... to me, that is a big risk and if everything was equal, I'd pay the extra $14 and have my car out of commission for a week in order to protect my investment :) Another concern, there are actually two styles of Grand AM computers (for the SE anyway, an early and a late) ... or so I have been told by a GM source that I would trust. In other words, how are they going to know which one you have?

[Grand_Am_Guru]

Originally posted by 99grandamse
... and it is a good point!!

I'll be blunt though, my initial problem was they mentioned about being careful about not to have the dealer 'reflash' the computer as your changes will be gone ... to me, that is a big risk and if everything was equal, I'd pay the extra $14 and have my car out of commission for a week in order to protect my investment :) Another concern, there are actually two styles of Grand AM computers (for the SE anyway, an early and a late) ... or so I have been told by a GM source that I would trust. In other words, how are they going to know which one you have?

That could be avoided. I believe it started in 1994 when pontiac changed their system to new pcm's. New pcm carries an eeprom instead of regular eprom. This gives it a major advantage. This unit can be reprogrammed for any engine / transmission combination. However the eeproms are not interchangeable from one computer to the other. Every eeprom since 1992 pontiac has used is larger then 256k. In 1996 the new eeprom were so advanced that they could even tell you if there is a cylnder misfire and which cylinder it is. From that point it was a standard feature.

And if you are worried about gm dealer reflashing your dhp there are two ways to get around that. One is to simply own 2 computers, second way is a lot cheaper. Simply solder a socket with the same number of pins onto the mainboard and buy another eeprom (total cost around $5). Have dhp reflash the second eeprom and from now on they could be like plug and play smt.

Abbreviations used here were:

eprom = erasable programmable read only memory.
eeprom = electonically erasable programmable.......
smt = surface mount technology.
dhp = digital horsepower.

[Red99GAGT]

Originally posted by 99grandamse
... and it is a good point!!

I'll be blunt though, my initial problem was they mentioned about being careful about not to have the dealer 'reflash' the computer as your changes will be gone ... to me, that is a big risk and if everything was equal, I'd pay the extra $14 and have my car out of commission for a week in order to protect my investment :) Another concern, there are actually two styles of Grand AM computers (for the SE anyway, an early and a late) ... or so I have been told by a GM source that I would trust. In other words, how are they going to know which one you have?

But for those of us who have only one car, this DHP makes more sense.

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by Red99GAGT
But for those of us who have only one car, this DHP makes more sense.

... as far as the delay is changing it out, yes ... but what about the 'chance' of loosing what you paid for and the idea there were two styles of 99 computers? I am not intentionally down playing this as I feel it would probably be a good product but there are just concerns :)

[Pte Socks]

whoa! hold the phone.. this thing requires you to run premium? god that gets expensive! guess ill stick to my stock pcm and just get the jet speed module.. at least that thing doesnt make you run premium.. though it doesnt get rid of the govenor.. grr..

[TA^Guy]

Originally posted by Unrealoaded
whoa! hold the phone.. this thing requires you to run premium? god that gets expensive! guess ill stick to my stock pcm and just get the jet speed module.. at least that thing doesnt make you run premium.. though it doesnt get rid of the govenor.. grr.. Power doesn't come cheep.

[Grand_Am_Guru]

Originally posted by TA^Guy
Power doesn't come cheep.

10 hp using 93 octane? In California we do not get 93. It is not available here.

[kamikaz16]

In Maryland we get 94 octane at a few places :)

[Pte Socks]

hehe i know power doesnt come cheap.. but id rather not have to switch which gas i get.. thats why im sticking with my mod.. it aint as nice.. but it gets me what i want

[GrandAmageGT]

Question...when and why would a dealer reflash your computer?

[Gimli]

Originally posted by GrandAMage GT
Question...when and why would a dealer reflash your computer?

Every once in a while the manufacturer will modify the PCM code to reflect better settings, like timing or fuel table adjustments.

If you take your car to the dealer for service where they'll have to keep the car for a while they'll usually verify whether you have the most recent version of the code and upgrade it if you don't. NORMALY they're supposed to ask you if you want it done first but some dealers do it without telling you.

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by Gimli
... but some dealers do it without telling you.

... and that is the part that scares me :(

[Rev]

I know this thread is a little old, but I have been looking at this chip and drooling and waiting for the day when my warranty will expire. Well in 10K miles it will expire. So within the next month or 2 I will be able to buy this chip and change it without having to worry about voiding my warranty. (Plus the chip has dropped in price considerably. Only 100 bucks.) I am not worried about the fuel cost, as I already use 91 octane. Speed is what I want, and this is one of the ways I plan on acheiving my goal. I have a few questions but here are my car stats first.

Car Stats: 02 Grand Am, 71K+ miles, 3.4L V6, K&N Air Filter with stock box minus the honeycomb near the mass air flow sensor. Most everything is stock, excpet for calipers, rotors, and pads.

1. Has anyone used this chip? Any negativites? Positives?
2. Any other engine additions I should purchase with this chip?
3. Possible short/long term issues?

Thanks for your help!

[angrysk8r]

Originally posted by Rev
I know this thread is a little old, but I have been looking at this chip and drooling and waiting for the day when my warranty will expire. Well in 10K miles it will expire. So within the next month or 2 I will be able to buy this chip and change it without having to worry about voiding my warranty. (Plus the chip has dropped in price considerably. Only 100 bucks.) I am not worried about the fuel cost, as I already use 91 octane. Speed is what I want, and this is one of the ways I plan on acheiving my goal. I have a few questions but here are my car stats first.

Car Stats: 02 Grand Am, 71K+ miles, 3.4L V6, K&N Air Filter with stock box minus the honeycomb near the mass air flow sensor. Most everything is stock, excpet for calipers, rotors, and pads.

1. Has anyone used this chip? Any negativites? Positives?
2. Any other engine additions I should purchase with this chip?
3. Possible short/long term issues?

Thanks for your help!

if you get the pcm (btw it completely replaces your old computer, it isn't a "chip") you'll see some performance gains but mostly you'll feel much firmer shifts, if you get it for anything get it for the shifts

and please say you didn't remove the screen on your MAF...

[Rev]

I did. A friend who works for GM said that is was not all that necessary. He also said that you receive better air flow. (now mind you that dealership is no longer with us)

Can you explain the shifts to me? Why do you say the shifts are so important.

Thanks!

[angrysk8r]

Originally posted by Rev
I did. A friend who works for GM said that is was not all that necessary. He also said that you receive better air flow. (now mind you that dealership is no longer with us)

Can you explain the shifts to me? Why do you say the shifts are so important.

Thanks!
You may not be getting an accurate airflow reading if you descreen your maf, or so i've heard, but w/e, whats done is done

the pcm moves your shift points higher up into the rpms and firms them up a good deal, it also allows the skip shift at higher speeds, it translates into quite a difference in your quarter

btw, dont ever trust a dealer, most of them dont know crap, I tried to take my car in for a case learn at a local dealership (which you should do if you get a new pcm), I had to ask at least 5 different people before someone even knew what I was talking about, then they said it would cost 80 freakin dollars to do so.....lesson is, they're untrustworthy