What Is a Performance Tuning Chip?

A performance tuning chip is an aftermarket device that helps modify the ways in which your car’s ECU controls the engine’s performance.

The modification process involves altering the electronic signals sent to the engine from the ECU, mostly idle and throttle air intake, fuel mixture, turbocharger boost pressure, air-fuel ratio, throttle response, torque control, and other functions.

Most of the after-market tuning chips currently available use the car’s OBD-II diagnostic port, or they can be attached to the engine sensors as a piggyback unit.

The majority of performance tuning chips no longer need to be hard-wired into the ECU as was the case with the 1990s models; thus, the need to modify the car’s computer is eliminated.

How Does a Tuning Chip Work?

Almost every car on the road today is equipped with an ECU that is responsible for reading the information from the sensors on the engine.

Generally, the Engine Control Unit (ECU) uses the information coming from the numerous sensors on the engine to determine the amount of fuel injected into the engine, the timing of the ignition process, and the turbocharger’s cut-in and cut-off points.

Modern performance tuning chips are able to manipulate the information that the sensors provide to the ECU in order to access the car’s performance capabilities.

The performance tuning chips enable you to access more power than what is available in the stock car settings. This is because automakers usually set cars to run conservatively to achieve a combination of performance, power, economy, and emission control and compliance with warranty and emission regulations. As a result, vehicles are often tuned to operate under their potential.