UNICHIP Install and Evaluation

So the big problem with Toyota's is having a tuner to maximize performance and or MPG...
There are very limited options, none are cheap or easy....

The unichip maf cal is a great, cheap option to adjust the fuel side of things.... The Problem is you only have 1 map at a time and the 4.0 loves gas, tune for max power and the truck runs great but you get 12-14 mpg. At first you don't care but over time you miss the MPG. And reduce any fuel directly reduces performance. I have to drive 3 hours to get to the woods, so eating gas on the hwy sucks...

So I'm trying the Unichip with the plug and play harness and tuning software... About 1000 total... If you get a programmer they are useless with out tuning software, so unichip sticks you with paying extra for the tuning software...

My goal is to have an economy map that doesn't kill all the power (18-19 mpg) and a full performance/towing map... Maybe additional mid range map in the future...

Unichip allows you to adjust both fuel and timing and have up to 5 selectable maps.

So I get the package and everything looks great, heavy duty more rugged than I thought it would be..

The Bad:

1. software key didn't work and had to get a new key( sort of weird procedure)
2. Pain to get the usb to serial to work
3. the base map only leans out top end, that's it. almost useless..
4. Too bulky under the dash
5. Odd non mountable switch
6. need to know how to tune engines
7. need to turn off truck to change maps with std switch(pita)

The Good

1. Rugged
2. easy to tune and fast to remap, much faster than the maf cal or ecu tek...
3. 5 available maps...
4. Map 2 works good...
5. software works good
6. great for tuners

UPDATE:

So the unichip is making good power and is working good. very easy to remap once you get it set up...

Over all; if you know how to tune or have a tuner close by I would recommend the unichip... Not perfect but does a good job.... It will correct for intake and exhaust mods and make the truck run much better than stock...

The multiple maps are not perfect but nice to have for different situations...
Neither the maf cal or unichip will improve MPG on modified trucks... When you correct the positive trim it will add more fuel and MPG will go down but the truck will run and accelerate much better.... When you try to lean it out it runs bad and is less efficient and hurts mpg... The best mpg comes with 0 to slightly negative trim...

 

The unichip is the small box...
The big loom of wires is the plug and play...
May be better to save on the harness and just hard wire it in..save $300...


Great switch, How to mount???

Great quality, but all this extra wire behind the glove box...

Sample timing map



Unichip update

So the unichip is not over riding the computer in closed loop...
It is intercepting the MAF sensor like the maf cal....
so you can only cheat the fuel in closed loop but like the maf cal the computer will still attempt to go back to 14.7...
Dash command is still working with the unichip...
With the std switch the truck has to be turned off for 5-10 seconds before you change maps or it will keep running the same map...
Now I can see the different trims and F/A ratios...
My economy map runs between 14.7 - 15.2..
My power map 14.7 - 13 in closed loop, according to dash command...
The unichip has a limit of 4.9 volts output and I'm running 4.2 at wot, so I'm well within the limits....

The timing is adjustable at all rpms but is limited buy range of the computer...
Doesn't matter that much because the truck will only take about 8 degrees of timing anyway...
I'm cheating low load and going to 12 degrees..
I'm setting the timing up for 87 oct winter gas so I have worse case covered...
With extra fuel 87 oct is about all you need, at the dunes I may mix in 30% 93 oct...

There is a map for TPS but I'm not sure if it changes the TPS or the total MAF voltage, but you can feel the difference....

 

summary

 

Interested to hear results and more information. You dont see much on here about the Unichip or the results. And when you do its usually people complaining.

 

I hesitated a long time and got the maf cal, it works good but very limited....
So far the unichip is working good...
Easy and quick to tune...
Only on my 3rd map but it's working good....
You have to pay for the tuning software or have someone tune it....
The supplied maps don't do much....

Bottom line can you adjust the fuel............Yes
can you adjust the timing...........................Yes

So it's just a matter of dialing it in....

 

Sub'd for the tune day's results.

 

Interesting

 

I don't know of anyone else that bought the whole shebang. I only have heard of other buying the unit and having it tuned at an authorized dealer. I mean if it can adjust timing and compensate for larger injectors.....that's huge for us 09+ guys.

 

Are timing and fuel the only items that can be adjusted, or any parameter coming to the PCM can be tweaked?

 

I know of one other member on here. His screen name currently eludes me.

@novanut21 perhaps?

 

The main maps are for fuel, timing and TPS...
It's not a reflash so it has limited tuning...
There are 5 extra empty maps that could be used for boost control, shift light, water injection, extra fuel ect...

You can add timing but the computer is still making crazy adjustment so you can't change what the computer is doing, just add or take away from the total timing and fuel...

 

Basically yes. However, it has less features than the UCON. Including safety protocols to protect the engine. However, it is user tunable, whereas the UCON comes with an adaptive self correcting tune. Once specific parameters are entered. If any futher tuning of the UCON is necessary, that will require a datalog file sent in, or them remotely connecting to it and tuning while you drive.

 

So far I like it......
It's not perfect but it does a good job...

Running our crappy reformulated winter gas up here in WI I'm getting about 12 MPG, today I got 15 MPG testing the new map...
so that should put me back at 17-18 in the summer...
Running on the hwy the extra timing is great, hold at 75 effortlessly up hills with min throttle movement...
It really pulls good at 3000 rpm....

The extra timing makes it spin too bad and it's too cold and a moist out today...
so no full throttle runs yet...

 

you live in wi nice. i do to.

 

Sweet, I live in Muskego..... Where do you live??

 

West allis. I was looking thru you pictures and the tundra looks like a lady's husbands I work with. Dana. I know they got rid of it for a jeep. Same person?

 

Yeah, I work across the street with Brian... He got a Jeep and she has a runner...
We go up to the pipe line a couple times a year...
Sweet small world...
I used to sell at Toyota, now I'm in finance...

 

Yup that's them. I'm a mechanic at Wilde. Small world in deed. Isn't the pipe line closed? Thought that was closed along with the mountain

 

You can get on parts of it... We just go up to get in the woods and run around forest roads and trails...
Cool I'll have to check out your truck sometime...