Tornado chip fitting

[sapper]

Ive just got a tornado chip and want to swap over but the original seems to be soldered in place, will this be the case, i dont want to force anything. Anyone done this and got any advice please.

[GreenV8S]

Some of them are soldered into place, and you will end up destroying the old chip to remove it. Then you need to solder in a suitable socket, the new Tornado chip then pushes into the socket. If you're handy with the soldering iron, it's a pretty quick job. If you aren't think twice about doing it yourself because it must be done right.

[sapper]

Thanks Peter.

[blitzracing]

Id firing a warnig shot about removal of the old chip. Firstly the holes are pretty small around the chip leg, and its almost impossible to get the solder clear without a proper proffesional desoldering system and get the chip out in one piece. Even if you think its almost clear and try levering it out, you will damage the tracks that go underneath so dont try it. Also the board is covered with some sort of sealant that can glue the chip to the board, so this needs softening with a small paint brush and white spirit around the chip body, but not too much as it makes a sticky mess. After that best bet is to cut all the chip legs, and then remove the body. Then remove each leg one by one with a soldering iron and small plyers. Finally then use a solder sucker to clear each hole befor you solder in a new socket.

Mark

[spend]

Are you sure you have a TVR ECU then? They were all supposed to be socketed ~ which implies you are prob running with a LR chip (and hence map).

[Mark Adams]

Spend is right!

If you want a socket fitted and you don't have anyone to do it, I can do it for you for a small charge. It will have a proper gold-plated turned pin socket fitted and be laquered so you can't tell it from original. Just PM or call (01694 720 144).

[sapper]

Cheers Folks for the relies. As it happens it was me being over cautious. The Chip i bought came with a daughter board attached, and it looked as though it was all soldered but after speaking to the chap I bought it off i found it wasnt soldered, and ended up being a straight swap. I havent tried it yet as it was getting late. Looking forward to finishing work today.

[sapper]

with the new chip the fuel pump doesnt prime and hence no fuel, no start.... any ideas please

[Mark Adams]

If the fuel pump doesn't prime then the engine definitely won't run. The usual causes are either that there is a pin snapped off, or sneakily curled underneath the EPROM chip instead of going into the socket.

It is important which way tound the chip goes, and it does have a red spot by pin one to help identify it (which only helps if you know where pin one is of course!).

Alternatively it is also possible that the new chip is dead. Don't worry because I can test and fix it for you.