Performance Chip Questions

Soooo i bought this 2006 Tacoma 2 months ago....couple weeks after i got it the check engine light came on throwing codes for running lean. Took it back, they replaced the O2 sensors, MAF Sensor and cleaned the fuel injectors. Got it back...ran good for a couple days, light came back on, same codes. Back to the dealership i went....this time they looked into replacing the computer, when they got to that they noticed that a Dastek Unichip Version Q was installed. They advised me the truck would get better gas mileage WITHOUT it and removed it. No more check engine light.

My question is, are they right? What are the benefits of having it on and was it just tuned wrong? If there are more pros to having it then cons, where would i get it re-installed and tuned correctly?

Thanks guys for any help!!

 

Just googled it. Its the piggyback ECU

 

Ah, that makes complete sense. Ill have to drive it a bit longer without it to see if i notice a huge decrease in power. Thanks man!

 

Those 'performance chips' are dangerous in general and cause lean conditions which causes detonation, which means hot, which means exploded or distorted engines/internaks. These engines in stock form are highly efficient with fuel timing and vvti, so yes, the dealer is telling you the truth. You will get better mileage and performance in stock forn

 

Im def noticing MORE power without the ECU. While it was in I was misfiring at freeway speeds and it just was not responding AND surging at stop lights. Now...its perfect.

 

Definitely had a bad tune on it. Getting it properly tuned could grant your engine more power over stock form, but that is the potential of opening a can of worms you aren't ready for.

OEM ECU is rich, but tuned very safe and properly.

 

^ This. If you are just driving your truck around as a daily driver and want reliability there is zero need for you to look at tuning that Unichip for your truck

 

Maybe the bought you bought had some mod on it that hvae been removed by the owner so the tune is not good anymore.

 

Very likely the possibility.