The internet is awash with performance-enhancing gadgets for your car, but it’s crucial to separate genuine upgrades from outright scams. If you’re curious about the reality behind “performance chips,” especially the Nitro OBD2, we highly recommend first reviewing quarkslab’s detailed reverse engineering analysis of the Nitro OBD2 scam here: https://blog.quarkslab.com/reverse-engineering-of-the-nitro-obd2.html. This investigation sheds light on a widespread deception that has spawned numerous imitations, including the Super Obd2 performance chip, which we’ll analyze in detail below. Our examination will reveal the inner workings of the SuperOBD chip, demonstrating its true nature. Understanding the Nitro OBD2 scam is essential context before diving into our SuperOBD analysis. Numerous online resources, particularly YouTube videos, further expose the Nitro-OBD fraud and its various iterations, providing compelling evidence of their deceptive nature. These videos offer visual and practical demonstrations that reinforce the findings of reverse engineering efforts. Some illustrative examples include: 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, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytwlDVaFbec.
Our focus in this article is a reverse engineering analysis of the “SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip.” We aim to determine if this OBD chip lives up to its performance-enhancing claims or if it’s simply another automotive scam.
The SuperOBD2 is marketed on platforms like Amazon with enticing promises: “Super OBD2 is a Plug & Drive Ready device to function increasing the performance of engine. Super OBD2 is easy to install. Just plug it into the OBD2 connector of cars. Super OBD2 fits all car from the year of 1996. It works based OBD2 protocols as remapping the Car’s computer ECU. 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. What does Super OBD2 make? According to your driving habits, 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.”
While some online testimonials surprisingly claim the device works, a significant body of evidence suggests it’s a fake. A red flag is the broad claim that it “fits all cars from 1996 onwards.” Reputable car tuning solutions are typically vehicle-specific, tailored to the unique ECU and engine characteristics of individual makes and models. This universal compatibility claim is immediately suspicious. To get to the bottom of these conflicting claims, we decided to investigate the SuperOBD2 firsthand.
Price Discrepancies and Red Flags
The SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip is listed on Amazon for around $35.94. However, a quick search on AliExpress, a global online marketplace connecting buyers with Chinese manufacturers, reveals a drastically lower price of just $1.97 directly from the source.
This massive price difference is a major warning sign. Combined with the fact that the notorious Nitro OBD scam chips are also predominantly manufactured in China, and the AliExpress listing even mentions “Nitro OBD” in its title, it strongly suggests a connection between the Super OBD Box and the Nitro OBD scam. The question is, how closely related are they?
Packaging and Installation: Echoes of Nitro OBD Scam
Often, crucial clues are hidden in plain sight. The SuperOBD chiptuning box comes in a simple paper package with installation steps printed on the back.
Examine the installation instructions closely. Now, compare them to the installation steps of the infamous NitroOBD tuning chip scam. Do you notice any similarities?
The installation procedures are almost identical. This striking similarity in packaging and instructions further strengthens the suspicion that SuperOBD is simply a rebranded version of the Nitro OBD scam. As the saying goes, “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck….”
Inside the SuperOBD2: Déjà Vu of the Nitro OBD Scam
To delve deeper, we acquired a Super OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning box and carefully disassembled its plastic casing. What we found inside was strikingly familiar: the internal circuit board was virtually indistinguishable from the verified Nitro OBD scam chip.
Here’s a look at a verified Nitro OBD scam chip circuit board, courtesy of manocao from mhhauto.com https://mhhauto.com/Thread-EcoOBD2-and-nitroOBD2-Good-or-Bad?page=2:
And here is the circuit board from the SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box we examined – the resemblance is undeniable:
Both circuit boards feature three surface-mounted LEDs, a diode purportedly for “circuit protection,” and a 5V surface-mounted voltage regulator. More concerning is the presence of the PIC16F59 microcontroller chip, a component frequently highlighted in videos exposing the Nitro OBD tuning box scam. The PIC16F59, manufactured by Microchip Technology, a US-based company, has a minuscule memory capacity of just 3KB.
This memory size is woefully inadequate to store the complex vehicle map data required for legitimate ECU remapping, which is contrary to the manufacturer’s claims. Genuine vehicle maps typically range from 512KB upwards, depending on the vehicle’s make, model, and engine management system, as detailed in resources like https://mechanics.stackexchange.com/questions/69265/ecu-tune-file-formats.
While 3KB is insufficient for ECU mapping, it’s more than enough to house a simple LED flashing program. This reinforces the conclusion that, like the NITRO OBD, the SUPER OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning Box is nothing more than a glorified light flasher, now with the addition of a reset button – as highlighted in marketing materials comparing it to the Nitro OBD.
Real-World Testing and LED Blink Confirmation
To validate our findings, we put the Super OBDII Box to a practical test. We installed it in a vehicle and drove for approximately three weeks, meticulously tracking fuel consumption and monitoring for any changes in performance or vehicle behavior. Our observations revealed absolutely no discernible difference in fuel economy, performance, or any other aspect of the vehicle’s operation.
To further confirm that the microcontroller’s programming is indeed identical to the Nitro OBD scam, we conducted a bench test. We connected both the Super OBDII Box and a Nitro OBD module to a 12V power supply and observed the blinking patterns of their LEDs.
The results were conclusive: both the Nitro OBD scam (left) and the SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box (right) exhibited precisely the same LED blink interval! This identical blinking pattern, coupled with the identical circuit board components, solidifies the conclusion – it’s the same scam, repackaged. You can see the blink test in action here: https://youtu.be/NzdWdQw2UpQ.
Final Verdict: Super OBD2 is a Scam
Our comprehensive analysis, encompassing reverse engineering, component comparison, and real-world testing, unequivocally demonstrates that the SUPER OBDII OBD2 Chiptuning Box is simply another iteration of the Nitro OBD scam. It’s a deceptive device, offering nothing more than a flashing light show, masquerading as a performance enhancer.
Conclusion: Don’t waste your money on this elaborate light show! It’s not a legitimate tuning device. You’re essentially paying for blinking LEDs and empty promises.
For further evidence of this type of scam in different circuit board variations, you can check this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB810U7j77k.
If, after all this evidence, you are still considering buying this product, we can only offer this:
