I've had a Unichip for 6000 trouble free miles--until last night when the car misfired and threw a SES light. I called the local MINI SM and he said it could reset with some driving but bring it in this morning. I did drive last night and the SES light went out--only to return this morning on the way to tell the SM he was right... They checked everything, found lots of "random codes" (their words) and blamed the Unichip (what else, eh?) They reset the OBD and I drove away only to get the light again after a mile (darn!)
I got to work and detached the Unichip, then reconnected it (thinking I might "reset" the Unichip.) I started the engine with no SES light. But I haven't driven it to see if that actually did it.
So to my inquiry. Has this happened to anyone else with a Unichip, and does it sometimes "get confused" and require a reset? (Computers do this, especially if they run WhineDoze) I know that my dealer is not going to help me with this, until I remove the Unichip and drive in with the SES light on (then they'll just reflash the ECU with the latest v44 blah blah.)
thanks,
phil

 

I was just getting ready to post something about this. For the past 3 days my car under moderate to heavy accelleration has started getting SES/EML lights turning on and it going into limp home mode (nothing scarrier than merging onto the freeway and it doing that when traffic is comming up behind you and you can't accellerate anymore) and usually if i lift off for about 5-10 seconds the lights go off and it's back to normal. It happened 3 times yesterday on me. So last night i removed the unichip and this morning it didn't do it (tried to replicate exactly what i did yesterday). I didn't use my scanner yet to see what codes it threw out yesterday but will tonight.

Randy,

Help us out. what's going on???
miniboost

 

I had the same code problem with mine. It turned out to be a fault not in the chip itself that is under the cowl, but somewhere in the wiring harness or connector. Unichip sent a replacement free of charge and that solved the problem

 

There's another thread about Unichips and codes (https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ht=Unichip+SES) but the problem seems slightly different, and there's no answer to my question about resetting the Uchip. I have a call in to WMS, but Randy is busy and while Bridget tried to answer my questions I think this is an experience-based issue. I read on one thread something about a power harness for the Uchip, but the post is unhelpful as to what that means. If I keep getting codes (btw, what do I need to read the OBD codes, and how much does it cost?) I will disconnect the Uchip and send it to Randy for diagnostics.
Of course, apart from the misfire (limp mode maybe) when it threw the first SES last night, it's been running like a champ.
later, Phil

 

[quote=gandini]There's another thread about Unichips and codes (https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ht=Unichip+SES) but the problem seems slightly different, and there's no answer to my question about resetting the Uchip. I have a call in to WMS, but Randy is busy and while Bridget tried to answer my questions I think this is an experience-based issue. I read on one thread something about a power harness for the Uchip, but the post is unhelpful as to what that means. If I keep getting codes (btw, what do I need to read the OBD codes, and how much does it cost?) I will disconnect the Uchip and send it to Randy for diagnostics.
Of course, apart from the misfire (limp mode maybe) when it threw the first SES last night, it's been running like a champ.
later, Phil[/quote

As I stated, the problem is most likely not the chip, but the wiring harness. If you want diagnostics, all you have to do is switch back to stock and see if you throw a code. If not, switch back again and see what happens.

 

I already had that issue with the defective harness (it would throw the DSC light on solid ) and got a replacement from UNICHIP already. I think maybe my unit is going bad. It still has yet to throw a fault or light since i removed the harness last night.......

miniboost

 

I had similar issues...call Josh at Unichip..... he is very helpful

 

Since I started this thread let me finish off my part in it. The car threw more codes yesterday afternoon and went into that incredibly unsafe limp mode (in the middle of an intersection under acceleration--who thought this was a good idea?) Anyway, I removed the Unichip and reset the SES. It then threw the code again. I went to the dealer this morning and they detected a vacuum problem on the inlet. Oops I thought...what if my VGS mod had come undone? I fessed up to the mod, and sheepishly asked for my keys back. They left the work order open, but were otherwise pretty OK with it all. I removed the IC and there was the offending vacuum hose flopping around. Reconnected and installed the Alta IC diverter while there, and now she runs perfectly.
It also gave me an opportunity to feel what the Unichip was doing. It actually works as the car just seems so sluggish with stock ECU. I'll put it back tomorrow and take more care of my mods...
cheers, phil