Performance chips are a popular option for drivers seeking to boost their vehicle’s horsepower and fuel efficiency. The GTE Stage 1 Performance Chip OBDII module is one such product that has garnered attention. To understand its capabilities, we delve into a technical review, dissecting its internal components and analyzing its potential.
After carefully removing the module’s cover, we immediately observe a sophisticated circuit board, notably more intricate than those found in many comparable performance chips. A prominent feature is a button, intentionally inaccessible from the exterior, suggesting its use is reserved for programming and diagnostic procedures.
The central Integrated Circuit (IC) bears a “JDM-USA Rev. 6.0” label. Rigorous testing, encompassing Program Memory type, CAN protocol, Program Max Memory Size, and Max CPU Speed assessments, reveals the core chip to be a JDM/Microchip variant of the PIC16F59. This version exhibits an enhanced Programming Memory of 24KB and verified CAN Bus support, confirmed through laboratory analysis. While Microchip’s relabeling practices are noted in industries like video cards, our focus remains on the functionality of this performance chip module.
Further examination reveals a 4MHz Resonator. This component is crucial for timing accuracy and signal stability, representing a higher quality component compared to the less precise internal oscillators often incorporated in budget performance chips. This suggests the GTE Stage 1 module is not a simplistic or deceptive product.
Based on the component analysis, the circuit board exhibits the technical foundation to potentially deliver on its performance enhancement claims.
To ascertain its communication capabilities with a vehicle’s On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) system, we scrutinized the OBD connector pins and their connection to the circuit board. Our analysis confirms that nine pins are actively connected: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, and 16.
Referencing the standard OBD protocol pinout chart, we can map these connections to supported communication protocols:
Analyzing the pin connections against the OBD protocol requirements, we deduce the GTE Stage 1 Performance Chip module possesses complete OBD connections for the following protocols:
- CAN (Controller Area Network): Pins 4, 6, 14, 16
- PWM (Pulse Width Modulation): Pins 2, 4, 5, 10, 16
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9141 & 14230 (K-Line): Pins 4, 5, 7, 16
- VPW (Variable Pulse Width): Pins 2, 4, 5, 16
Conclusion:
The GTE Stage 1 Performance Chip Module demonstrates the necessary OBD pin connections to interface with a wide array of vehicle communication protocols including CAN, PWM, ISO, and VPW. Product specifications indicate vehicle-specific programming, requiring reprogramming for use in different vehicles. This technical assessment suggests the GTE Stage 1 module has a robust hardware foundation capable of interacting with a vehicle’s ECU via the OBDII port, aligning with its advertised functionality.
