The internet is awash with promises of easy horsepower and improved fuel economy, often delivered through simple plug-in devices marketed as OBD2 chip tuning boxes. Among these, the SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip has emerged, boasting significant performance gains with minimal effort. But before you consider plugging this into your car’s OBD2 port, it’s crucial to understand what’s really under the hood of these devices. This review delves into the SuperOBD2 chip tuning box, drawing on reverse engineering analysis and practical testing to reveal the truth behind its claims. If you’re familiar with the Nitro OBD2 performance chip scam, extensively exposed by quarkslab and others, you’ll recognize a familiar pattern here. Our analysis will show why the SuperOBD performance chip is likely just another iteration of this well-known scam.
The SuperOBD2 is marketed as a “Plug & Drive Ready” device that enhances engine performance simply by connecting to your car’s OBD2 port. According to its Amazon product description, it “works based on OBD2 protocols as remapping the Car’s computer ECU.” It claims to adapt to your driving habits after 200km, continuously remapping the ECU to boost performance and create a “new map in the car’s computer ECU.” The allure of increased horsepower and fuel efficiency from such a simple device is understandably tempting. However, red flags appear immediately. The claim that it “fits all cars from the year 1996” is highly suspicious. Legitimate ECU tuning is typically vehicle-specific, requiring custom calibrations tailored to the engine and model. A universal solution for all cars post-1996 raises serious doubts about its effectiveness.
Image alt text: SuperOBD2 OBDII chip tuning box product listing on Amazon, highlighting its plug and play installation and performance enhancement claims.
Further investigation into the cost reveals another concerning detail. While the SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip is priced around $35.94 on Amazon, the same device can be found on AliExpress, a Chinese wholesale website, for as little as $1.97. This drastic price difference is reminiscent of the Nitro OBD scam chips, which also originate from China and are sold at vastly inflated prices through various online retailers. The product title on AliExpress even mentions “Nitro OBD,” strongly suggesting a connection between SuperOBD and the notorious Nitro OBD scam.
Image alt text: Super OBD tuning box product page on Aliexpress, showing a significantly lower price and mentioning Nitro OBD, indicating a likely scam connection.
Examining the packaging of the SuperOBD chiptuning box provides more compelling evidence. The paper box and installation instructions bear a striking resemblance to those of the original Nitro OBD scam. The step-by-step guide for installation is almost identical, raising serious questions about the authenticity and originality of the SuperOBD device.
Image alt text: SuperOBD box and installation instructions, showcasing a design and steps very similar to known OBD2 scam chips.
Image alt text: Nitro OBD2 scam installation steps, highlighting the near identical procedure to SuperOBD, reinforcing scam suspicions.
To uncover the inner workings of the SuperOBD2, we disassembled the plastic case and examined its circuit board. The internal components were found to be virtually identical to the verified Nitro OBD scam chip. Both devices feature the same basic circuit board layout and key components.
Verified Nitro OBD scam chip circuit board, courtesy manocao:
Image alt text: Circuit board analysis of a Nitro OBD scam chip, revealing simple components and a basic design indicative of a fake tuning device.
SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box Circuit board:
Image alt text: Bottom view of the SUPER OBD2 OBDII tuning box circuit board, showing an identical layout and components to the Nitro OBD scam chip.
Image alt text: Internal analysis of the Super OBDII OBD2 chiptuning box PCB circuit board, confirming the presence of identical components to the Nitro OBD scam.
Crucially, both circuit boards utilize the PIC16F59 microcontroller from Microchip. This microcontroller has a minuscule memory size of only 3KB, far too small to store the complex vehicle map data required for legitimate ECU tuning. Genuine vehicle maps typically range from 512KB upwards, depending on the vehicle’s complexity. The PIC16F59’s limited memory capacity makes it incapable of performing the ECU remapping claimed by SuperOBD2.
Image alt text: PIC16F59 product specifications highlighting the small 3KB memory size, insufficient for storing ECU maps and confirming scam suspicion.
This small memory is, however, perfectly adequate for a simple light flashing routine. Numerous investigations into the Nitro OBD scam have proven that these devices are nothing more than elaborate LED flashers designed to give the illusion of performance enhancement. The SuperOBD2 even shares a design element with Nitro OBD – the inclusion of three surface mount LEDs on the circuit board. The manufacturer’s comparison of SuperOBD2 to the Nitro OBD Tuning box on Aliexpress further solidifies this connection.
Image alt text: Aliexpress product comparison highlighting the reset button feature of SuperOBD2 in relation to the Nitro OBD tuning box, reinforcing the scam link.
To validate our findings, we tested the SuperOBD2 in a vehicle over three weeks, meticulously monitoring fuel economy and performance. The results were conclusive: no discernible difference in fuel efficiency or vehicle performance was observed. Further confirming the scam, we connected both the SuperOBD2 and a Nitro OBD module to a 12V power supply and compared their LED blink patterns. Both devices blinked at precisely the same intervals, indicating identical programming and functionality – or rather, lack thereof.
Image alt text: Blink test comparison of Nitro OBD (left) and SuperOBD (right) modules, demonstrating identical LED blinking patterns confirming they are the same scam.
CONCLUSION
Our comprehensive analysis, including reverse engineering and real-world testing, leads to a clear conclusion: the SuperOBD2 OBDII Chiptuning Box is unequivocally another iteration of the Nitro OBD scam. It’s a deceptive device, a mere light flasher masquerading as a performance enhancer. Don’t be fooled by the enticing claims and attractive price point. Investing in the SuperOBD2 is essentially paying for an expensive light show that offers no tangible performance benefits. If you’re still tempted to purchase this product despite the overwhelming evidence, we can only express our bewilderment.
Image alt text: Humorous image expressing disbelief at anyone still considering purchasing a SuperOBD2 chip after scam exposure.
