Haven't posted much about my FF275 kit on here. I meant to post a whole log on the DIY install, but just got busy with work and everything, I'm sure I'm preachin to the choir. Anyway, just wanted to provide an update if anyone is thinkin about installing the kit or has it already (beware, its a novel).
I've had 2 bad experiences with the kit since installation (Dec '06). Both happened after washing my car. The first time I wanted to pull my car into the garage after washing, only to find that the car almost wouldn't run at all. It was everything I could do to keep it running to get it into the garage. I thought this was very strange, because the car was running perfectly the day before. So I popped the trunk and found that a lot of water was sitting on top of the uni-chip piggy back and ECU harness. I figured that these should be built to withstand the elements, but that the water must be the root cause. It took 4 days to dry before the car would run normally again.
Afterwards I tried to avoid getting water in the engine compartment when washing and didn't have any problems until recently. I thought I kept from getting water into the engine bay but when I tried to start the car it had the same problems (wouldn't idle, running super rich).
Come to find out that water was standing on the ECU area again. So left it for a couple days to dry. Came back 5 days later, car started up fine.
I was going to go out to eat, driving down a back road and BAM car dies. I coasted to the side of the road and let it sit for a bit, then it restarted. Got it all the way back home with no problems. I was stupid and decided I wanted to try my luck again the next day. Strangely enough, not a single problem. So I thought maybe it was just some strange bug. A couple days later I decide to go out again. Car is running fine. Get about 10 miles from the house, out on the interstate, and BAM, like hitting a brick wall if you're runnin 70 MPH and your engine suddenly chokes out
. Luckily I was able to pull off to the side of the road without incident, and finally got it home.
So I get the car towed on a flatbed to the shop that did the original tune. They found that the pins in the ECU harness and Uni-chip were corroding, thus building up some oxidation that prevented good signal transfer through the pins. They "waterproofed" the area for me, so hopefully I don't have any more problems. Also got new tires, updated the Uni-chip software, and got a new tune on the shop's new Land&Sea Dyno-max steady state dyno.
Anyway...sorry that was a long story. The purpose of this thread is not to whine/bitch, just wanted to let the ForcedFed community know that it might be very advantageous to get the ECU area "waterproofed" to avoid any issues.
On a good note, the shop adjusted my suspension to a bit more aggressive profile, and the car pulled 270.2 HP at the wheel
Needless to say I had fun driving home
