The internet is awash with promises of easy horsepower gains and improved fuel economy from simple plug-in devices. One such device, the “Super OBD2 OBD Chip Tuning Box,” claims to remap your car’s ECU and boost performance. But does it live up to the hype, or is it just another automotive myth? As experts at obd2global.com, specializing in car diagnostics and repair, we decided to delve into the Super OBD2 tuning box and uncover the truth.
Before we proceed, it’s crucial to acknowledge the groundwork laid by Quarkslab’s investigation into the infamous Nitro OBD2 performance chip scam. Their reverse engineering analysis, available here, serves as a vital precursor to understanding the Super OBD2. The Nitro OBD2 scam has been rampant online for years, spawning numerous imitations and variations. Our analysis of the SuperOBD performance chip will demonstrate its striking similarities to these fraudulent devices. To grasp the full context, we strongly recommend reviewing the Quarkslab article. Furthermore, a plethora of YouTube videos corroborate the Nitro-OBD scam, detailing its deceptive nature and various iterations, such as these examples: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgXwfBTKLGU, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-l9ohTjvkw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdoIjt2mMEQ, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OIO1tJPEy8, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1OmGDE1FLA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytwlDVaFbec.
Our investigation focuses on reverse engineering and analyzing the “SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip” to determine if it delivers on its advertised promises or if it’s simply another scam preying on car enthusiasts.
Super OBD2 Claims: Too Good To Be True?
The Super OBD2 is marketed aggressively online, particularly on platforms like Amazon. Product descriptions boast of a “Plug & Drive Ready device” that effortlessly boosts engine performance. The sales pitch continues, stating it’s “easy to install,” requiring just a simple plug into your car’s OBD2 port and “fits all cars from the year of 1996.” It supposedly works by “remapping the Car’s computer ECU” based on OBD2 protocols. The advertisement further claims, “After driving 200 km road total, Super OBD2 adjusts itself to the car, according to the drivers’ habits and always keeps remapping the ECU to increase the performance of engine.” The promised results are enticing: “Super OBD2 makes new map in the car’s computer ECU to increase the performance of your car. As you driving much more KM/Mile, it renews the map.”
These claims immediately raise red flags for any seasoned automotive technician. Legitimate ECU tuning is a complex process, often requiring specific software and vehicle-specific adjustments. The idea of a universal plug-and-play device that works on “all cars from 1996 onwards” is inherently suspicious. Furthermore, the claim of continuous ECU remapping based on driving habits from a simple plug-in module is technically dubious.
The Price Discrepancy: A First Warning Sign
The SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip is listed on Amazon for around $35.94. While seemingly affordable for a performance upgrade, a quick search on overseas wholesale sites like Aliexpress reveals a drastically different price point. Direct from Chinese manufacturers, these devices can be purchased for as little as $1.97.
This massive price difference immediately suggests a low-cost, mass-produced product, likely with minimal genuine technology inside. Coupled with the prominent “Nitro OBD” mention in the Aliexpress product title, the connection to the notorious Nitro OBD scam becomes increasingly apparent. The question is: how closely related are these devices?
Packaging and Installation: Déjà Vu with Nitro OBD
Often, the most telling clues are hidden in plain sight. In the case of the SuperOBD chiptuning box, the packaging itself offers significant insights. The device comes in a simple paper box with installation steps printed on the back.
Take a close look at these installation instructions. Now, compare them to the installation steps provided for the original NitroOBD scam tuning chip. Do you notice a striking resemblance?
The installation steps are almost identical. This is a major red flag. As the saying goes, “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck…”
Internal Circuit Board Analysis: Striking Similarity to Nitro OBD Scam
To definitively determine the nature of the Super OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning box, we acquired one and disassembled its plastic casing. What we found inside was virtually indistinguishable from the verified Nitro OBD scam chip.
Here’s a look at the circuit board of a confirmed Nitro OBD scam chip, courtesy of manocao from mhhauto.com:
Now, examine the circuit board from the SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box we analyzed:
The similarities are undeniable. Both circuit boards feature three surface mount LEDs, a diode (purportedly for “circuit protection”), and a 5V surface-mounted voltage regulator. Most concerning is the presence of the PIC16F59 microcontroller chip. This chip, manufactured by Microchip Technology, a US-based company, has a minuscule memory size of only 3KB.
This memory capacity is woefully inadequate to store the complex vehicle map data required for genuine ECU remapping. In reality, legitimate vehicle maps typically range from 512KB upwards, depending on the vehicle’s make, model, and engine configuration, as detailed in discussions like this one on mechanics.stackexchange.com.
While the PIC16F59’s limited memory is insufficient for ECU mapping, it is perfectly capable of running a simple LED flashing routine. This aligns perfectly with the established fact that the Nitro OBD tuning box is nothing more than a light flasher scam. Therefore, the evidence strongly suggests that the SUPER OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning Box is simply a rebranded Nitro OBD scam, possibly with a decorative reset button added for marketing purposes. The manufacturer even draws a comparison to the Nitro OBD Tuning box, highlighting the addition of a “reset button”:
Real-World Testing and Blink Test Confirmation
To further validate our findings, we conducted real-world testing. We installed the Super OBDII Box in a vehicle and drove it for approximately three weeks, meticulously tracking fuel consumption and performance across multiple gas fill-ups. Our observations revealed no discernible difference in fuel economy, performance, or any other aspect of vehicle behavior.
To definitively confirm that the internal programming of the Super OBD2 is identical to the Nitro OBD scam, we performed a blink test. We connected both modules to a 12V power supply on a bench and meticulously observed the blink intervals of their LEDs:
You can witness the blink test in action here: https://youtu.be/NzdWdQw2UpQ
The results were conclusive. Both the Nitro OBD tuning scam (left) and the SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box (right) exhibited identical LED blink intervals. Identical circuit boards, identical blink patterns – the evidence is overwhelming.
Conclusion: Super OBD2 – Another Flashy Scam
Our comprehensive research and testing unequivocally demonstrate that the SUPER OBDII OBD2 Chiptuning Box is nothing more than a rebranded Nitro OBD scam. It’s a deceptive device that offers no performance benefits and serves only as a pointless light flasher. Don’t waste your money on this expensive light show!
Further evidence of this type of scam can be seen in different circuit board versions, as highlighted in this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB810U7j77k.
If, despite all the evidence presented, you are still tempted to purchase this product, we can only offer this final piece of advice:
