Does anyone have any experience with those "Performance Modules" you can install yourself?
Here's a link to one being sold on Ebay ... (Btw.. I'm not the seller)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Acura...spagenameZWD1V

They seem too good to be true. Some boast 30+HP gain... increased torque and even better gas milage.

For the $15 or so they're costing, why wouldn't everyone (or even Acura for that matter) be installing one of these?

I'm thinking the old adage... if it's too good to be true, it probably is... fits here

-NavyDoc

 

Because they don't work.
Because they will probably increase the pollutants the car puts out.
Because they will probably void your warranty.

LL

 

Agree..

 

If you could get that much HP for $30 he couldnt make enough of them. Just remember all of the satisfied customers that he list have to do with receiveing the shipment not rating the product. Its a rip... but you could buy and test for the forum

 

I'm certainly no expert on these, but from what I read:

Mfr's have to program their cars' ECU's for compromise, because they're used in different parts of the country, at different altitudes, in differing climate conditions, to satisfy specific fuel and emissions requirements, etc., etc. As a result, it IS possible to tune engine parameters to extract better performance under more specific conditions.

The problem with that is that when you drive under different conditions, your performance may actually be worse than OEM.

So, people do successfully use performance chips (or better yet, tuneable ECU's) for the track or the strip. And if they run at a different track in another location, they usually have to re-tune for that locale. A one-size-fits-all chip is basically snake oil, since as you say, the mfr would be stupid not to configure his own ECU that way if it were better.
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Performance chips can give modest but noticeable improvements in performance, however, you should be very wary of who is the programmer/seller. There are a couple of reputable companies such as Performance chips and others. However, as far as I know, no one sells a chip for the Honda J35. Thus, any Ebay junket is probably fake. Another thing to ponder is emissions, most chips increase HP by changing the fuel air mixture algorithm,and in the process violate emission standards it may also make the engine run a little rough. Of course, if the engine goes south while using an aftermarkt chip your warranty is history, and in case you are wondering, it doesn't matter if you put the original chip in, the OEM chip remembers and logs any changes to its operation. SOOO, the skinny is this, they do work but gains are modest, voids warranty and violates emission standards. But, even if you are willing to take the chance, there isn't one from any reputable manufacturer for the RL.

 

Thanks... good info all around. I'll pass on the chips.

 

Unless Hondata makes it, i'd pass

 

Well, did anyone ever use one? The original question wasn't ever addressed. There were lots of opinions on how they work, and why you shouldn't use them or they may not be useful, but it would be interesting to hear from someone whom has tried it.

 

A friend of mine has a GMC Denali (4 wheel steering pickup). He added a "chip" that he paid $250-300 for. It allowed him to change tranny shift points, got better mileage and some other things (dont remember what), but he could do these changes using his laptop PC hooked to the truck.

Well, one day, he needed to take his truck in for some general service, so he removed the chip. When the dealer hooked up his truck to their computer, they knew he had been using a "chip" on his motor. He was out of warranty, at the time, but I wouldnt want to give the manufacturer ANY reason to not honor the warranty.

Peuters are smart! - and stuff.

 

Amuse makes an ECU chip but it is not available in this country, and no one has tried it on our board. One person said they'd try to get it from Japan, but nothing ever came of that effort. Too bad, I'm sure Acura left a little on the table with the J35 engine.