The internet is awash with performance-enhancing products for your car, but not all of them deliver on their promises. The “Super Obd2 Chip” is one such product that has been circulating online, claiming to boost your vehicle’s performance simply by plugging into the OBD2 port. If you’re familiar with the Nitro OBD2 performance chip scam, exposed in detail by quarkslab’s reverse engineering analysis ( https://blog.quarkslab.com/reverse-engineering-of-the-nitro-obd2.html ), you might already be skeptical. This is wise, as the SuperOBD chip appears to be another iteration of this well-known fraud.
This article dives deep into the SuperOBD performance chip, examining its claims, dissecting its internals, and ultimately determining whether it’s a genuine performance upgrade or just another scam preying on unsuspecting car enthusiasts. Read on to discover the truth behind the SuperOBD and why you should keep your money in your wallet.
What is the Super OBD2 Chip and What Does it Claim to Do?
The Super OBD2 chip is marketed as a “Plug & Drive Ready device” that enhances engine performance. Product descriptions, like those found on Amazon, boast easy installation – simply plug it into your car’s OBD2 port, compatible with all cars from 1996 onwards. It claims to work by “remapping the Car’s computer ECU” based on OBD2 protocols. After driving 200 km (approximately 124 miles), the Super OBD2 supposedly “adjusts itself to the car, according to the drivers’ habits and always keeps remapping the ECU to increase the performance of engine.” The advertisement further suggests that “Super OBD2 makes new map in the car’s computer ECU to increase the performance of your car” and “renews the map” as you drive more.
However, a red flag is immediately raised by the claim that it fits “all car from the year of 1996.” Legitimate ECU tuning is typically vehicle-specific, requiring custom adjustments for different makes and models. A universal plug-and-play solution that works for everything sounds too good to be true – and often is.
The Price Discrepancy: Amazon vs. AliExpress
On Amazon, the SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip is priced around $35. However, a quick search on AliExpress, a Chinese online retail marketplace, reveals a drastically different price point – under $2.
This massive price difference is highly suspicious. Considering that the infamous Nitro OBD scam chips also originate from China, and the AliExpress listing even mentions “Nitro OBD” in the title, it strongly suggests a connection between the SuperOBD and the Nitro OBD scams. But how similar are they really?
Packaging and Installation: Echoes of the Nitro OBD2 Scam
The SuperOBD chiptuning box comes in a simple paper box with installation instructions printed on the back.
Take a close look at these installation steps. Now, compare them to the install steps of the original Nitro OBD2 scam chip.
The installation procedures are nearly identical. This striking similarity in packaging and instructions further reinforces the suspicion that the SuperOBD is directly related to, if not a rebranded version of, the Nitro OBD2 scam.
Internal Circuit Board Analysis: Déjà Vu of Deception
To delve deeper, a Super OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning box was obtained and its plastic casing was opened. The internal components revealed a circuit board layout that was eerily familiar – virtually identical to the verified Nitro OBD scam chip.
Verified Nitro OBD scam chip circuit board:
And here is the SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box Circuit board:
Both circuit boards feature three surface mount LEDs, a diode (ostensibly for circuit protection), and a 5V surface-mounted voltage regulator. Most notably, both contain the PIC16F59 microcontroller chip, a component frequently highlighted in videos exposing the Nitro OBD scam.
Microprocessor Limitations: Too Small for Real Tuning
The PIC16F59 microprocessor, manufactured by Microchip, has a meager 3KB of memory.
This memory capacity is woefully inadequate to store a vehicle map table, which is essential for legitimate ECU remapping. Genuine vehicle maps typically require 512KB or more of memory, depending on the vehicle’s complexity.
This memory limitation effectively rules out the possibility of the Super OBD2 chip performing any real ECU remapping. However, 3KB of memory is more than enough to execute a simple LED flashing routine – exactly what the Nitro OBD has been proven to do.
Real-World Testing and Blink Test: Confirming the Scam
To verify the Super OBD2’s effectiveness (or lack thereof), it was connected to a vehicle and tested over three weeks, including multiple fuel fill-ups. The results? No discernible difference in fuel economy, performance, or any other vehicle behavior. This real-world test aligns with the expectation that the chip is simply non-functional as a performance enhancer.
Further solidifying the conclusion, a blink test was conducted, comparing the LED blinking patterns of both the Super OBD2 and a verified Nitro OBD scam module.
As seen in this blink test video (https://youtu.be/NzdWdQw2UpQ), both modules blinked at precisely the same intervals. Identical components, identical blinking patterns – the evidence overwhelmingly points to the Super OBD2 being nothing more than a rebranded Nitro OBD scam. The “reset button” advertised on some listings is just a cosmetic addition to the same deceptive product.
Conclusion: Super OBD2 – Another Nitro OBD Scam
Based on thorough reverse engineering, component analysis, and real-world testing, it’s clear that the Super OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning Box is simply another iteration of the Nitro OBD scam. It’s a flashy light show masquerading as a performance upgrade. Don’t waste your money on this expensive blinker expecting genuine performance gains.
If, despite all the evidence, you are still contemplating purchasing this product, consider this:
