got my JMS chip today......install tips?
- Thread starter mytight95
- Start date
think there's grease with it........
i think i had heard something about disconnecting the battery......????
other than that......i have never had to install a chip.........had one in my old coupe, but the shop installed it.....where i purchased it...
jason
i think i had heard something about disconnecting the battery......????
other than that......i have never had to install a chip.........had one in my old coupe, but the shop installed it.....where i purchased it...
jason
I've installed a JMS chip, and it's a bit more awkward than some of the other chips. The JMS chip I have sticks out of the diagnostic port, so the computer won't fit back into the plastic bracket the computer's in now. I had to reach in there with a Dremel tool and cut part of the plastic away until the computer + chip fit properly.
Here's the steps I used:
1. Pull both battery cables, and wait for 10-15 minutes. This insures that the computer is not retaining any power at all.
2. Pull the passenger's kick panel, and disconnect the 3 big connectors down there. You can just unscrew the bracket they're hooked on to, but I found it easier to disconnect them.
3. Disconnect the computer from the wiring harness.
4. Unscrew the one visible screw holding down the plastic bracket over the computer. The other one is WAY up there in the dash, and I couldn't figure out how to undo it without pulling the dash. The plastic bracket is flexible, so the second screw isn't necessary.
5. Move the plastic bracket out of the way, and remove the computer.
6. Remove the black plastic cover over the diagnostic port.
7. Clean the connections on the diagnostic port. They do have a plastic coating on them that you should scrape off. Be careful not to dig into the board, or scrape any of the metal off. I used a tiny flat-head screwdriver to scrape off the plastic. Be sure to do it to BOTH sides.
For extra insurance against bad connections, you can purchase some spray-on electrical contact cleaner to clean off the connections. You can also lightly coat the connections with some dielectric grease.
8. Push the JMS chip onto the diagnostic port. Make sure it's on there snug. To keep the chip from wiggling loose, and to protect from dirt getting in the computer, I taped the chip in place with packing tape. I've had the chip in there for about a year & a half, and I've had no problems.
Because the chip sticks out, the computer will no longer fit back in the plastic bracket. I suggest you either do step 9 or somehow secure the computer back up there. I tried to leave the computer loose, and I developed some weird error codes. The codes went away when I modified the bracket and secured the computer down.
9. Use a Dremel tool and a grinding bit to cut through the top part of the plastic bracket, to make room for the chip. I found it easier to remove the passenger seat first, then stick my arm up into the dash. Fortunately for me, I'm left-handed. Keep trying until you have removed enough material from the bracket so the computer + chip now fits. Vacuum up the plastic bits.
10. Reinstall the computer and connectors.
If you unhooked the 3 big connectors, I suggest spraying them with the electrical contact cleaner. The pins are aluminum, and they can get oxidized over the years. Again, it's not necessary but could help avoid electrical problems later on.
My JMS chip came with three programs - one that simply raised the idle to 2000 RPM (a test to see if the chip is working fine), a mildly agressive tune and a more agressive tune. These were selected by an external switch, connected to the chip by a long wire. The switch had a fourth position, which disabled the chip and used the stock program. My understanding was that these four settings were standard to a JMS chip. Check the instructions that came with the chip to verify these settings.
11. Hook up the battery and test the chip. Once the battery is hooked up, flip the switch to the "disable" position, and start the car. The car should idle as it did before. Stop the car. Flip the switch to the "test" position and restart the car. The car's idle should now be set higher. Presuming this all works, the chip should now be working fine.
12. Reinstall the kick panel and anything else that you haven't put back yet. I ran the JMS chip wire to an easily accessible area near the center console.
I'd suggest trying the tamer program first, to see how you like it. After a week or so, try the more aggressive program. Let us know how it works!
Here's the steps I used:
1. Pull both battery cables, and wait for 10-15 minutes. This insures that the computer is not retaining any power at all.
2. Pull the passenger's kick panel, and disconnect the 3 big connectors down there. You can just unscrew the bracket they're hooked on to, but I found it easier to disconnect them.
3. Disconnect the computer from the wiring harness.
4. Unscrew the one visible screw holding down the plastic bracket over the computer. The other one is WAY up there in the dash, and I couldn't figure out how to undo it without pulling the dash. The plastic bracket is flexible, so the second screw isn't necessary.
5. Move the plastic bracket out of the way, and remove the computer.
6. Remove the black plastic cover over the diagnostic port.
7. Clean the connections on the diagnostic port. They do have a plastic coating on them that you should scrape off. Be careful not to dig into the board, or scrape any of the metal off. I used a tiny flat-head screwdriver to scrape off the plastic. Be sure to do it to BOTH sides.
For extra insurance against bad connections, you can purchase some spray-on electrical contact cleaner to clean off the connections. You can also lightly coat the connections with some dielectric grease.
8. Push the JMS chip onto the diagnostic port. Make sure it's on there snug. To keep the chip from wiggling loose, and to protect from dirt getting in the computer, I taped the chip in place with packing tape. I've had the chip in there for about a year & a half, and I've had no problems.
Because the chip sticks out, the computer will no longer fit back in the plastic bracket. I suggest you either do step 9 or somehow secure the computer back up there. I tried to leave the computer loose, and I developed some weird error codes. The codes went away when I modified the bracket and secured the computer down.
9. Use a Dremel tool and a grinding bit to cut through the top part of the plastic bracket, to make room for the chip. I found it easier to remove the passenger seat first, then stick my arm up into the dash. Fortunately for me, I'm left-handed. Keep trying until you have removed enough material from the bracket so the computer + chip now fits. Vacuum up the plastic bits.
10. Reinstall the computer and connectors.
If you unhooked the 3 big connectors, I suggest spraying them with the electrical contact cleaner. The pins are aluminum, and they can get oxidized over the years. Again, it's not necessary but could help avoid electrical problems later on.
My JMS chip came with three programs - one that simply raised the idle to 2000 RPM (a test to see if the chip is working fine), a mildly agressive tune and a more agressive tune. These were selected by an external switch, connected to the chip by a long wire. The switch had a fourth position, which disabled the chip and used the stock program. My understanding was that these four settings were standard to a JMS chip. Check the instructions that came with the chip to verify these settings.
11. Hook up the battery and test the chip. Once the battery is hooked up, flip the switch to the "disable" position, and start the car. The car should idle as it did before. Stop the car. Flip the switch to the "test" position and restart the car. The car's idle should now be set higher. Presuming this all works, the chip should now be working fine.
12. Reinstall the kick panel and anything else that you haven't put back yet. I ran the JMS chip wire to an easily accessible area near the center console.
I'd suggest trying the tamer program first, to see how you like it. After a week or so, try the more aggressive program. Let us know how it works!
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