How do you Remove the Unichip?

[pizza boy]

Apperently you just unplug it and block the air hose thingy going into the small unichip module...it hasnt worked the car will just turn over and not start. Whats involved here? ive searched every where on the internet no joy. How is it done?

[Chris]

You wil have to follow the wiring down from the plug and remove/re connect the original wiring. If you are planning on re-fitting it, don't loose the wiring diagram like I did!

[paul port]

Three things...
The Unichip manipulates the Airflow / MAP sensor signal (depending on Rev)
It also manipulates the timing signal from the distributor.

Simply unplugging it will not re-connect these signals to the ECU.

Finally once you have re-connected the signals to the stock ECU, you will find that the ignition timing was advanced when the unichip was installed - you will need a timing strobe to set it back to normal (failure to do this will affect the running of your car).

The Unichip module is only a small part of the cost of having a unichip fitted, therefore it's second hand value is low to anybody that understands how it actually works! However nothing stopping you selling it to some muppet (unless they have similar mods to you, and you are able to tell them just how far advanced the timing was – even then they would be mad to run it without first having the tune checked at a unichip dealer!!).

Paul

[pizza boy]

So when you talk about the wiring...the actual unichip itself has a large rectangular plug with various wires, and the module has a smaller plug. Are ALL these wires to be reconnected into the original ecu?
And the strobe, does halfords sell this item? How far back should it be retarded and any special tool required for this?

[AM TUNING]

how do u want to remove it ,,,

if compleately then trace where the wires join and reconnect them as standard

or if temp removel then u can bridge 2 sets of wires togetter (just look down the loom and see what wires are connected to the same colour and run a little bridge across them )

like paul said u will have to adjust the ignition timing with a strobe (u can buy from halfrads but for a half desont one will cost a bit )

[Rikki]

Finally once you have re-connected the signals to the stock ECU, you will find that the ignition timing was advanced when the unichip was installed - you will need a timing strobe to set it back to normal (failure to do this will affect the running of your car).

How does the timing get changed? I dont follow this bit. When you take the unichip out of the loop and use one of their loopback plugs all should run fine.

They program the chip so when its out, its out - whats this about timing, how would that be affected? Ive got one in my car and I know the timing is controlled via the timing belt and the Unichip's timing map.

R.

R.

[emicen]

Pizzaboy, check ya PM's

[Corsa Killa]

Why are you disconnecting it anyway mate?
Is this to make racing me a bit fairer?

[paul port]

Finally once you have re-connected the signals to the stock ECU, you will find that the ignition timing was advanced when the unichip was installed - you will need a timing strobe to set it back to normal (failure to do this will affect the running of your car).

How does the timing get changed? I dont follow this bit. When you take the unichip out of the loop and use one of their loopback plugs all should run fine.

They program the chip so when its out, its out - whats this about timing, how would that be affected? Ive got one in my car and I know the timing is controlled via the timing belt and the Unichip's timing map.

R.

R.

What they normally do is this:
Fit Unichip module
Add X-degrees of advance manually (Mechanically) at the distributor body
Program the unichip to retard by X-degrees electrically

Now the overall timing change is zero.
EG Mechanically add 10, electrically subtract 10: +10 –10 = 0

However, the tuner now has the ability to advance timing through the unichip by simply programming less retard into it’s map EG +10 –5 = +5

If they did not mechanically add advance, they would not be able to ‘advance’ in the unichip map… Simply put, a Unichip cannot produce the timing marks in advance of when they would normally happen – its only able to delay the timing signals.

Bet that is as clear as mud isn’t it

Paul.

[paul port]

How does the timing get changed? I dont follow this bit. When you take the unichip out of the loop and use one of their loopback plugs all should run fine.

They program the chip so when its out, its out - whats this about timing, how would that be affected? Ive got one in my car and I know the timing is controlled via the timing belt and the Unichip's timing map.

R.

On this point...
The timing (Spark) is controlled by the signals generated in the distributor body. If you remove the dizzy cap and rotor, below you will see a toothed cog and pickups that tell the ECU what mechanical position the engine is in,
If you rotate the distributor body (and therefore the pickups) - you in effect make the timing signals appear sooner or later at the ECU - hence mechanically advancing / retarding the ignition. A unichip cannot predict when a timing mark is going to occur - that's in the future!! all it can do is delay a signal that has already happened

If your tuner has not mechanically advanced the timing when he installed the unichip - it means the only timing adjustments he can make through the unichip is to Retard the spark - that isn't going to make you any power!

Paul.