Have a few upgrades I'd like you to check over before I buy...

[jdcaserockies]

I'm just lookin to squeeze out a few more horses outta my engine. So I've been shopping around a few websites and whatnot and came up with these "chips" as my best bets. Do these really work? I just want opinions and reviews, advice ya kno?

http://www.20horsepower.com/

http://www.speedydelivery.co.uk/car-...d-vitara.shtml


http://www.revchip.com/about.html

http://www.horsepowerchip.com/


I know a lot of these claim the same thing, but what's going to be the best all-around (actual increase in power, ease to install and remove, MPG gain/loss, etc. etc.)? Thanks!

[SeanMurphy]

All most of these devices do is put a resistor across your intake air temp sensor. That fools the ECU into thinking that it's cold all the time, so it runs more fuel to compensate. This does mean more power, but at a loss to fuel economy. You can do this is a 50 cent resistor yourself instead of wasting lots of money on a "chip".

[jdcaserockies]

So how would this 50 cent resistor thingwork? Where could i get one an rig one up? How easy/hard is it? Is thre a site that I can get the steps to do this?

[SeanMurphy]

Probably. All those units do is short a resistor across the leads of the air temp sensor. The air temp sensor puts out a certain resistance, depending on the temperature, the computer reads this and adjusts the fuel accordingly. If the resistance is altered by a device jumping the wires (like these resistor packs), then the computer thinks its cold all the time and dumps more fuel to compensate.

http://www.dfwstangs.net/tech/cppp/CPPP.htm

there's a quick and dirty detailing of it. Its probably not something you'd want to leave in all the time, because you WOULD use more fuel, but if you're looking to squeeze some numbers at a dyno or a race or something, it would be a ghetto cheap way to do it. With gas being $1.30 a liter here in Nova Scotia, I'm not going to be doing it anytime soon.

[jdcaserockies]

OK, so i decided to forget the resistor thing. Looked around a little bit more, and came up with these two items I'm considering:

http://www.improvegasmileage.com/default.aspx
I'm looking at the XP model if it's worth paying extra for.

http://www.ecotekplc.com/cb-26p.htm
This one I've got a few questions on. They sell the module by itself, and they also sell some sort of filter for it...do I need the filter? Will this filter help improve performance?

Also on these two, if you might happen to know of something that's the same thing but cheaper, please let me know! Again, just a general review of these, if it's a good buy or not. Thanks!

[SeanMurphy]

That first item I've seen before. It works on the semi-scientific principle that particles can line up in a magnetic field. I hate being the one to beat down your hopes, but I doubt you'd see any more efficiency or power out of these "infomercial" type items.

Looking at the second item, it seems to work by altering the engine vacuum. I don't know if the principle is even sound with this item, or if it's just engine voodoo, but I do know that messing around with the vacuum on modern cars can often throw codes like crazy causing your service engine light to be on. If you did try it, you would absolutely need a filter on it, otherwise I'd tihnk your vacuum lines would get full of dust and dirt, and since vacuum assists your braking, that'd be a bad thing.

If you want to get better efficiency, more power, whatever, I'll post a writeup on how to attach a decent cone filter to a 99-02 2.0L Tracker/Vitara later today.

[SeanMurphy]

Unclip air box top and remove stock air filter. Loosen hose clamp that holds the mass air flow sensor (MAF) to the 90 degree air hose. Unclip MAF and remove the top of the air box assembly from the vehicle. Remove the bolts that hold the MAF to the bracket attached to the air box. Wiggle MAF loose from air box and set aside.

Remove all bolts that hold the air box bottom to the vehicle. Pull intake air temp sensor (IAT) from air box bottom and set aside. Wiggle air box bottom loose and remove. At the spot where the air box bottom joined the tubing inside the fender, there is a rubber gasket, pull this gasket off the fender tubing and set aside, you will need it.

Place the rubber gasket from previous step and place it over the filter side (not the engine side) of the MAF sensor after removing the gasket that allowed it to fit into the air box. The MAF is now ready to be attached to a 3" inlet cone filter, preferrably Vibrant, as they have the rubber bottom suitable for installing the IAT.

Place the filter over the MAF, and drill a hole in the rubber bottom of the filter, to allow the IAT to be pushed in. If such a hole isn't possible, you can place the IAT _INSIDE_ the filter before installing it on the MAF, and then let the wires to it run between the filter and MAF walls, being careful not to overtighten the hose clamp.

You will want to make a bracket to support the new cone filter. I used a piece of 1/8" steel strapping, bent in a shape similar to below and then tucked the top tab of the strap under the hose clamp around the cone filter neck.

Filter
---
|
| screws
| v v
---------
Fender

Reconnect the MAF sensor harness and check everything to make sure its secure. You will probably want to disconnect the battery for a minute or two to reset the OBD-II system so it can adjust to the new Air/Fuel information.

Aside from the reduced air restriction, causing higher MPG and more high end power, this modification creates an awesome new sound to the engine. Much more aggressive sounding under throttle.

[SeanMurphy]

The gasket that is removed in step 2 is very important, as a 3" cone filter won't fit the MAF without it, and a 2.5" cone filter is too small. Oh, also, this writeup was in terms of the 2.0L engine, but I think it may also apply to the v6 in the Vitara.

[jdcaserockies]

Thanks, but that leads to my next question: what kind of filter should I buy? Went to Autozone, and they guy there said that a Stainless Steel Mesh cone filter would be my best bet, 50 bucks for the filter alone. Doesn't matter is it's online or whatever, but what would be the *best investment* to make, filter OR intake kit (if there's one available for an 02 GV). Thanks for your help so far!

[SeanMurphy]

There is no intake kit that I know of that'll work on these trucks, that's why I did it this way. As I said, I used a Vibrant filter (Item No: #2160C), as it has a rubber base suitable for drilling the IAT hole. Any mesh cone filter with a 3" inlet will work, assuming it's not too long to fit in the fender well.

[Swedie]

oh man! can't someone here just illustrate with PICTURES! I wanna make this modification both for the improved MPG and SOUND! :-)

I'm sure if I just see some pictures I'll understand everything just fine.

(from Sweden...)