DSMChips Stage III Review (It rocks!!!)

[vassil]

Hi Guys,

I thought I'd share my experience with the DSMChips.com Stage III eprom chip. I just installed it tonight and all I have to say about it is that it is impressive. The car runs smooth, and everything works like a dream. The chip I ordered has the following specs:

8500 Redline, 950 Idle, 2G MAS compensation, Denso 660 compensation, no fuel-cut, shift-no-lift, 5000RPMs launch,
blah-blah-blah.

I set my AFCII settings at 0 across the board and went for a drive,
everything ran amazinigly smooth as compared to my 1G MAS and
the MAFT translator I tried earlier. The only thing I had to do is lean out the idle about 7% or so. At WOT the timing advance is great ... simply put this is one of the best mod that ever went in my car. Also I had Jeff convert the stock boost gauge into a knock gauge and it DOES work!

Here is the list of mods (I know I need a bigger turbo)

Ross 8.5:1 pistons
Eagle Rods
ARP Main & Head Studs
Mitsu MLS Headgasket
Ported & Polished Head
1mm SS oversize valves
Crower springs & Ti Retainers
HKS 264/272s (Findaza Camgears)
Supra Pump, Denso 660s, Stevetek Lines, Aeromotive A1000
Setrab 19 row oil cooler with -10AN lines
Fluidyne Radiator & 12" SPAL Fan
2.5 UCIP
2G MAF
ACT 2600/Findaza Flywheel
Ported EVO III Manifold
Stock 14B/Stock O2 housing
3" Thermal Exhaust
SAFC-II
Suspension, Buschings, brakes, gauges, etc.etc.etc.

Originally I was maxing the poor 450s before 5000rpms and I could not
do anything to fix the problem and I used to get a ton of knock. I was
a little worried to try the 660cc injectors with the 14B @ 15lbs, but
I was reall amazed at how well it works.

I would strongly recomment Jeff Oberholtzer chips to all the 1G owners.
The coolest mod ever. If anyone wants to see datalogs of the car I would be more than happy to upload them.

--Vassil

 

[90GSX182]

would that chip work well with even my mods

 

[turbowop]

I finally got my car off the jackstands tonight. It's been since the end of last September. Anyway I had Jeff make me a chip to compensate for my 2g mas and FIC 780's. With the AFC zeroed out the car ran great even with the big injectors. Excellent mod.

 

[Groomz]

Originally posted by turbowop
I finally got my car off the jackstands tonight. It's been since the end of last September. Anyway I had Jeff make me a chip to compensate for my 2g mas and FIC 780's. With the AFC zeroed out the car ran great even with the big injectors. Excellent mod.

If you already have a S-AFC and a datalogger, but are still struggling, the DSMchip is awesome. For 125$, it can't be beat. They even do 2Gs now, which is a nice alternative to going to a full blown setup like a DSMlink. Both are good, but saving money is even better.

 

[Revolution]

I would like to see a link in regards to a 2g mod chip .What are the pro's and con's ?
Cost and wait time.
Does any body have a link where all these questions can be answered?

 

[90GSX182]

but it wont work with basic mods?

 

[Enigma_Man]

http://www.dsmchips.com/

Well worth it, great for any DSM with any mods.

-Jesse

 

[RuBiCaNT5X]

I've got the 2G on the way, UPS says it will be here tomorrow. Here is what I got and I have an automatic..

Idle 750
Injector Compensation for 660cc Denso (690cc @ 43psi)
Rev Limit @ 7800
Stock Boost Gauge -> Knock Reading
Knock Count of 5 trips CEL
No fuel cut

 

[Groomz]

Originally posted by RuBiCaNT5X
I've got the 2G on the way, UPS says it will be here tomorrow. Here is what I got and I have an automatic..

Idle 750
Injector Compensation for 660cc Denso (690cc @ 43psi)
Rev Limit @ 7800
Stock Boost Gauge -> Knock Reading
Knock Count of 5 trips CEL
No fuel cut

I definitely like the boost gauge turned into a knock count gauge. Do you know what levels on the boost gauge corrolate to the amount of knock?

 

[PaulPDX]

Did you do your own socketing? I am thinking of trying this so I can run a 2g mas. Might have to pick up another ECU just in case though...

 

[brads]

Originally posted by PaulPDX
Did you do your own socketing? I am thinking of trying this so I can run a 2g mas. Might have to pick up another ECU just in case though...

If you haven't socketed an ECU before, be very careful about deciding to do so. It takes some skill and patience to properly socket one, and I have seen people really mess these up. I have socketed several, and had to repair some attempts at socketing by people who supposedly were electronics techs. If you aren't VERY sure of your desoldering abilities beforehand, I'd find someone else with the skills to socket it for you. Repairing a botched socket job is much more of a hassle than the socket job itself.

Brad

 

[RuBiCaNT5X]

Originally posted by Groomz
I definitely like the boost gauge turned into a knock count gauge. Do you know what levels on the boost gauge corrolate to the amount of knock?

First notch is 7, second notch is 14 and the 3rd notch is 21... Not perfect but definitly and improvement.

 

[BoostinAWD]

Mine wont work

All I get is a bunch of clicking from my relays and the car won't start.
I had a friend do it, he has all the desoldering stuffs etc. I was pretty uneasy when he started spraying clearcoat remover on it. Maybe he didn't get it soldered properly

I'm pissed.

 

[dsmturboawd]

then send it back.

 

[vassil]

When I put my first TMO Stage III chip ... I fried it, because I plugged it backwards. There is a semi cirlcular cutout on one side of the chip, you will need to line than up with the socket on the ECU board.

The exact same thing happened to me, relays clicking and the car did not start. So I fried the chip. Then I bought I knock-off chip from ebay and plugged it the right way and it worked fine.

Now that I jot the dsmchips.com eeprom I looked at it 10 times before I plugged it in to make sure it was right.

 

[-=TWITCH=-]

I have an EPROM ECU using a TMO stage III Chip Would it be better to get the new dsmchip
chip over the older TMO chip? The thing I really like is that you can see knock on a 2g using the CEL is this TRUE? I did not find any information about this on their site. PLease let me know thanks.

Chris R

 

[Groomz]

Originally posted by -=TWITCH=-
I have an EPROM ECU using a TMO stage III Chip Would it be better to get the new dsmchip
chip over the older TMO chip? The thing I really like is that you can see knock on a 2g using the CEL is this TRUE? I did not find any information about this on their site. PLease let me know thanks.

Chris R

Most stuff he can do within reason. Yes you can have the CEL flash when there is a certain amount of knock ( you decide the amount ). The CEL can even be used as a shift light. I am not familiar with the TMO chips, but the DSMchips is definitely worth the upgrade. Stuttebox functions are also available on 2Gs.

 

[Big Bald]

I am a newb at this but i am curious as to the advantages with this over dsmlink. From what i read it would be to my advantage to go with link but no i am starting to hear about these chips.

 

[RuBiCaNT5X]

Originally posted by Big Bald
I am a newb at this but i am curious as to the advantages with this over dsmlink. From what i read it would be to my advantage to go with link but no i am starting to hear about these chips.

People who have gotten bits and pieces of their setup will like it more, (I.e. pocketlogger, SAFC/2). DSMLink does it all and more, but it also comes with other required things. For one, you need a notebook computer. Also, if you don't have a 95, you need a 95 ECU and then socket it. (The same goes for the chip). DSMLink lets you customize just about everything in terms of engine management. Probably almost as good as a standalone. The chip, IMO is for more DD people. Get your injector size set, and the ability to read knock and you are set. Mine showed up yesterday, as soon as the weather gets warm or I can find a warm garage to use, I am gonna throw it in with my 660cc's...

 

[Groomz]

I would consider the DSMlink a standalone with its capabilities. I already have a datalogger and will be getting a S-AFCII soon, so the DSMchips mod is much easier and cheaper for me. For those of you who are not 95 owners ( EPROM ECU only for 95 ), then it starts to add up for a DSMlink ( laptop and EPROM ECU plus DSMlink ). I save a couple hundred bucks with my setup and I get to see knock, timing and most of the other important engine data.

I don't know if this will work, but you could have the CEL trip at a certain knock count and have the datalogger log when the CEL was thrown, giving you a data point for when you had knock. Corrolate that to your RPM and timing logs and you can see where knock was happening. Just and idea right now though.

 

[Big Bald]

Actually after doing the math, this may be a better route to go then DSM Link. Seems like you can save a lot of many this way.

 

[RuBiCaNT5X]

Originally posted by Big Bald
ok gotcha....thanks. I have a laptop already and a 95 of course. So i guess DSMLink is the way for me then.

Since you have a 95 ECU, the Stage 3 chip is only 125 bux, vs 645 for DSMLink...

 

[Big Bald]

So a AFC is ALMOST useless after this mod correct? Also where are you getting the $125 pricing from? On the site it says $90, am I missing some features?

 

[Remy]

Does anyone have a contact information on the guy besides his email address ? (phone number) This is something I wanna get in the next few weeks.

 

[Groomz]

Originally posted by Big Bald
So a AFC is ALMOST useless after this mod correct? Also where are you getting the $125 pricing from? On the site it says $90, am I missing some features?

http://www.dsmchips.com/2g.html

The AFC will still be needed to fine tune fuel to your car. Every car is different, so adjustments are always necessary. With the S-AFCII you can always save a fuel map for race gas, so don't go throwing out that AFC just yet. The DSMlink is very powerful tuning tool. I don't have much tuning experience first hand, so I plan to go the more travel S-AFC route until I get some real tuning experience, then someday I'll either get an AEM EMS or the DSMlink. For another DSM of course.