Performance chips are a popular option for car enthusiasts looking to boost their vehicle’s performance. The GTE Stage 1 Performance Chip Module OBD2 is one such product claiming to enhance your car’s capabilities. To understand if it lives up to the hype, we delve into a technical review, examining its internal components and OBD2 connectivity.
Taking a closer look inside the GTE Stage 1 module, we immediately observe a sophisticated circuit board, more intricate than those found in many basic performance chips. Interestingly, a button is present on the board, though inaccessible from the exterior casing, suggesting it’s intended solely for internal programming or diagnostic procedures.
The core integrated circuit (IC) is marked with a “JDM-USA Rev. 6.0” label. Through rigorous testing, including assessments of Program Memory type, CAN protocol, Program Max Memory Size, and Max CPU Speed, we’ve identified the chip as a JDM/Microchip variant of the PIC16F59. This version notably features an upgraded 24KB Programming Memory and verified CAN Bus support, confirmed through our laboratory analysis. It’s worth noting that Microchip sometimes relabels chips for custom builds, a practice also observed in other computer components. However, our focus remains on the functionality of the GTE Stage 1 module itself.
Further examination reveals a 4MHz Resonator on the circuit board. This is a significant detail as resonators provide more precise clock signals compared to the less expensive internal oscillators commonly used in lower-quality performance chips. The presence of this resonator suggests that the GTE Stage 1 is not a purely deceptive or “scam” chip, indicating a degree of engineering consideration in its design.
Based on our component analysis, the GTE Stage 1 Performance Chip Module appears to possess the foundational hardware necessary to potentially deliver on its performance enhancement claims.
Next, we investigated the OBD connections, tracing them from the connector to the circuit board. We found that nine pins are connected: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 14, 15, and 16.
To evaluate the module’s communication capabilities, we cross-referenced these pin connections with standard OBD protocol requirements.
Analyzing the OBD protocol pinout chart, we can determine the supported protocols based on the connected pins:
- CAN (Controller Area Network): Requires pins 4, 6, 14, and 16 – Present
- PWM (Pulse Width Modulation): Requires pins 2, 4, 5, 10, and 16 – Present
- VPW (Variable Pulse Width): Requires pins 2, 4, 5, and 16 – Present
- ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9141-2: Requires pins 4, 5, 7, and 16 – Present
Our analysis confirms that the GTE Stage 1 Performance Chip Module has all the necessary OBD pin connections to support CAN, PWM, ISO, and VPW protocols.
In Conclusion
The GTE Stage 1 Performance Chip Module OBD2 demonstrates the physical connections and internal components suggesting it is equipped to interface with a range of OBD2 protocols. This technical assessment indicates that the module has the hardware potential to communicate with a vehicle’s computer system. According to the manufacturer, the module is specifically programmed for individual vehicle compatibility and requires reprogramming for use in a different vehicle, highlighting the importance of correct application and potential limitations for universal use.
