03-04 chip/box mod evidence?

[Ncostello]

Is there any way to tell if any electronic mods were used on 03-04 trucks? Or all the devices plug n' play and leave no trace in the ECM or cut wires? Thanks!



I'm interested in a "new" truck in this range of years... but some keep saying make sure it wasn't "chipped" to avoid the possibility of failed injectors. I just need to know how to tell.

 

[mberry]

I think you have to have some kind of scan tool like the dealers use. Other than that, I'm not sure how you would be able to tell. I don't know of any chips/boxes etc. that make you cut any wires on the 3rd Gen's.

 

[JEstes]

If the truck really is new, you won't have to worry about it. The dealer isn't going to mod it for you. I'm assuming you're talking about a like new used truck though.



Aside from a scan tool, there's still a couple of things you can look for. One would be an EGT probe on the manifold, or perhaps a plug where the probe was.



Another thing to look for is to see if there are any velco marks on the fuse box, or if there are any unusually clean parts under the hood. That might show that someone had a box on it and tried to cover it up.



If it's an auto, check the transmission fluid. If it's got low miles but the fluid is dark, that might be an indication of a box or neglected maintenance. You can tear one up with or without a box.

 

[wcjp]

I can't say this method would be 100%. Find someone with a Smarty. The Smarty can list the Key Count. This is a measure of how many times the key has been turned. Friend with recently purchased 05' was 2,560. My 06' has 3,420. If the number is very low, say 50 or 60. Guaranteed someone returned to stock for resale.

 

[AH64ID]

I can't say this method would be 100%. Find someone with a Smarty. The Smarty can list the Key Count. This is a measure of how many times the key has been turned. Friend with recently purchased 05' was 2,560. My 06' has 3,420. If the number is very low, say 50 or 60. Guaranteed someone returned to stock for resale.

With the exception that if the dealership flashed the rig when it came in the count will have been reset.

 

[Ncostello]

"New" meaning new to me, but used to the rest of the world.

 

[MrBee]

I do not agree about the egt probe, I know several who have gauges and no power mods, but just want to be informed about the status of things as they tow... . I would not take and egt plug as a sign of somebody bombing a truck. JMHO

 

[AH64ID]

I do not agree about the egt probe, I know several who have gauges and no power mods, but just want to be informed about the status of things as they tow... . I would not take and egt plug as a sign of somebody bombing a truck. JMHO

Exactly, both dad and I had ours installed for this reason, then saw how hot they got and got a Smarty Jr to drop the EGT's.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

ok you can have gauges and they can't do anything, a scan tool won't find a chip but can find a programmer all a chip does is mess with the signal between the sensor and the ecm.



Here are the ways I found chips, look for the velcro on the fuse box cover, or my favorite, when the engine is dirty and the connectors that hook into the chip are perfectly clean from when they unhooked it.



I have seen two trucks running pressure chips crack all 6 injectors, when I went to order the injectors, I had to call the star center. I told them that there was fuel in the oil, with the valve cover off you can see the fuel comming out of all 6 injectors, I didn't mention anything about a chip or nothing. The first thing they said is that the truck had been chipped because thats the only way to crack an injector. They threatened to send out a tech rep and look at the truck but I convinced them that the truck wasn't chipped.

 

[DieselFiend]

I guess there's at least one decent tech left.

 

[AllianceDiesel]

thats why I became a tech was to prove that there are actually good people out there and give tech/dealerships a good name for once.

 

[JEstes]

thats why I became a tech was to prove that there are actually good people out there and give tech/dealerships a good name for once.

Got any twin brothers? :-laf

 

[JDiepstra]

I do not agree about the egt probe, I know several who have gauges and no power mods, but just want to be informed about the status of things as they tow... . I would not take and egt plug as a sign of somebody bombing a truck. JMHO

Ok, an EGT probe does not mean for certain that there was any sort of a chip, box, programmer or anything else, but it sure raises the possibility of it a HUGE amount.

 

[rbattelle]

I do not agree about the egt probe, I know several who have gauges and no power mods, but just want to be informed about the status of things as they tow

I'm in that category. Except I don't even tow!

Ok, an EGT probe does not mean for certain that there was any sort of a chip, box, programmer or anything else, but it sure raises the possibility of it a HUGE amount.

True. But there also are many goobers out there who will install a programmer and have no idea that gauges should also be installed.



My truck would look to any normal person like a truck that had programmers all over it. Until recently I even had a leftover piece of Velcro on the fusebox cover. But I've never even laid my fingers on any programmer or fueling box.



I wonder if it would be worthwhile to pay the dealer to do an injector test on a vehicle you're considering buying. Won't detect a pressure box, but might detect soon-to-be-dead injectors.



Ryan

 

[JDiepstra]

I'm in that category. Except I don't even tow!







True. But there also are many goobers out there who will install a programmer and have no idea that gauges should also be installed.



My truck would look to any normal person like a truck that had programmers all over it. Until recently I even had a leftover piece of Velcro on the fusebox cover. But I've never even laid my fingers on any programmer or fueling box.



I wonder if it would be worthwhile to pay the dealer to do an injector test on a vehicle you're considering buying. Won't detect a pressure box, but might detect soon-to-be-dead injectors.



Ryan

I agree about the goobers also.



I would say negotiate a price then say do the test and if it passes, sold.

 

[Bob4x4]

The scanner injector test is not reliable enough to trust... ... ... Spend a bit more time if you are nervous. Pull the injectors out take them to a bosch shop. They will charge $15-20 to do a light cleaning and test.

 

[XXLTexan]

Yo Bob... might be a dumb ? but that never stopped me before... how do you pull injectors?

 

[Bob4x4]

On the common rails. Pull the lines off to the head,remove the connecting tube nuts off,slide the tubes out about 1/4 in,pull the vc off remove the ex rocker assy's off remove the wires from the injectors remove the inj hold down bolts. If you have a strong hand grab the injector and lift it out.

 

[rbattelle]

Yo Bob... might be a dumb ? but that never stopped me before... how do you pull injectors?

I doubt a dealership is going to let you do this.



But here's a more comprehensive procedure for it.

 

[CToney]

I looked at a few used trucks. The one I seen had 200,000 miles on it. It had a crack in the exhaust housing and exhaust manifold. It had a probe hole in the manifold for the pyro. Rode hard and put away wet. It was turned up without an education on how to do it safely. It was off to wholesale auction. Talk to the previous owner if you can.