The internet is awash with promises of easy horsepower and improved fuel economy, often delivered through simple plug-and-play devices. Among these, the Obd2 Chiptuning Box Super Obd2 has emerged, claiming to magically boost your car’s performance. But before you rush to plug one of these into your vehicle’s OBD2 port, it’s crucial to understand what’s really under the hood – or rather, inside this little box.
If you’re familiar with the automotive tuning scene, you might have already encountered the infamous Nitro OBD2 scam. Independent researchers at quarkslab have thoroughly reverse-engineered the Nitro OBD2, exposing it as nothing more than a deceptive piece of electronics. This prior investigation is essential context, as the Super OBD2 appears to be a close relative, if not a direct copycat, of this notorious scam. We recommend reviewing quarkslab’s findings here: https://blog.quarkslab.com/reverse-engineering-of-the-nitro-obd2.html
The Super OBD2, like its predecessor, has been aggressively marketed online for years, spawning numerous variations with different colors and branding. This article delves into the SuperOBD performance chip, dissecting its internal components and functionality to reveal the truth behind its bold performance claims. As you read our analysis, remember the lessons learned from the Nitro OBD2 saga to fully grasp the bigger picture. Numerous videos on platforms like YouTube further corroborate the Nitro-OBD light flasher scam, showcasing its deceptive nature and various iterations:
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
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytwlDVaFbec
This detailed examination involves reverse engineering and in-depth analysis of the “SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip” to determine if it lives up to its performance promises or is simply another automotive snake oil product.
Super OBD2 Claims: Too Good To Be True?
The Amazon product page for the SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip paints a picture of effortless performance enhancement: “Super OBD2 is a Plug & Drive Ready device to function the 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 remaping 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.”
These claims immediately raise red flags for anyone familiar with legitimate ECU tuning. The assertion that a single device “fits all cars from the year of 1996” is highly improbable. Genuine performance tuning requires specific calibrations tailored to individual vehicle makes, models, and engine configurations. A universal solution that remaps any ECU with a simple plug-in is simply not realistic.
Caption: Amazon product listing for the SuperOBD OBDII Chiptuning Box, showcasing its advertised plug-and-play performance enhancement capabilities.
The Price Discrepancy: A Sign of Deception?
The SuperOBD2 Tuning Chip, as seen on Amazon, is priced at $35.94. However, a quick search on AliExpress, a popular online marketplace for goods sourced directly from manufacturers, reveals a drastically lower price of just $1.97. This massive price difference is a significant indicator that the SuperOBD2 is likely mass-produced at minimal cost and sold with an enormous markup, typical of scam products.
Caption: Aliexpress product page for the Super OBD Tuning Box, highlighting the significantly lower price point compared to Amazon listings and suggesting a direct-from-manufacturer source.
Adding to the suspicion is the fact that the notorious Nitro OBD scam chips, along with countless similar devices, are also manufactured in China. Furthermore, the AliExpress product listing for the Super OBD even mentions “Nitro OBD” in its title. This strong connection suggests that the Super OBD Box is not only related to the Nitro OBD scam but potentially just a rebranded version of the same fraudulent device. But how closely do these scams align? Let’s delve deeper.
Packaging and Installation: Echoes of the Nitro OBD Scam
Often, the most telling clues are hidden in plain sight. The packaging of the SuperOBD chiptuning box, a simple paper box with installation steps printed on the back, bears a striking resemblance to that of the Nitro OBD.
Caption: SuperOBD box and installation instructions, revealing a simple paper packaging and basic plug-and-play guidance.
Examine the installation steps carefully. Now, compare them to the installation instructions provided with the original NitroOBD tuning chip scam. Do you notice a pattern?
Caption: Nitro OBD2 scam installation steps, showcasing an almost identical procedure to the SuperOBD, raising serious concerns about their shared fraudulent nature.
The installation steps are virtually identical. This near-perfect mirroring in packaging and instructions strongly suggests that the SuperOBD is not an independent product but rather a derivative, or outright clone, of the Nitro OBD scam. As the saying goes, “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck….”
Internal Component Analysis: Identical Scam Circuitry
To definitively uncover the truth, we acquired a Super OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning box and disassembled its plastic casing. The internal components revealed a shocking similarity to the verified Nitro OBD scam chip.
The circuit board of the verified Nitro OBD scam chip, as analyzed and documented by manocao on mhhauto.com (https://mhhauto.com/Thread-EcoOBD2-and-nitroOBD2-Good-or-Bad?page=2), is shown below:
Caption: Circuit board analysis of a Nitro OBD scam chip, revealing basic components insufficient for ECU remapping.
Now, compare this to the circuit board of the SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box we examined:
Caption: Bottom view of the SUPER OBD2 OBDII Tuning Box circuit board, demonstrating a striking resemblance in component layout and simplicity to the Nitro OBD scam chip.
Caption: Internal analysis of the Super OBDII OBD2 Chiptuning Box PCB circuit board, further highlighting the identical components and basic design shared with the Nitro OBD scam.
The internal circuitry is undeniably identical. Both boards feature three surface-mounted LEDs, a diode (purportedly for circuit protection), and a 5V surface-mounted voltage regulator. Most 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, a US-based company, has a minuscule memory capacity of only 3KB. This memory size is woefully inadequate to store the complex vehicle map tables required for genuine ECU remapping, as claimed by the manufacturer.
Caption: PIC16F59 product specifications, emphasizing the limited 3KB memory capacity, insufficient for storing vehicle map data required for real ECU tuning.
Legitimate vehicle maps typically range from 512KB upwards, depending on the vehicle model and its intricate configurations (https://mechanics.stackexchange.com/questions/69265/ecu-tune-file-formats). While the PIC16F59’s limited memory cannot accommodate vehicle map data, it is perfectly capable of executing a simple light flashing routine – precisely what the NITRO OBD has been proven to do.
Based on these internal component similarities, it’s evident that the SUPER OBD2 OBDII Chiptuning Box is merely another iteration of the NITRO OBD light flasher scam. The addition of a round reset button is a superficial change, adding no functional value beyond another “fancy flashing light.” The manufacturer even draws a comparison to the Nitro OBD Tuning box in promotional materials, further solidifying the connection:
Caption: Aliexpress advertisement comparing the SuperOBD’s reset button to the Nitro OBD Tuning box, inadvertently highlighting their shared origin and likely fraudulent nature.
Real-World Testing: No Performance Gains, Just Blinking Lights
To validate our findings, we connected the Super OBDII Box to a vehicle and drove it for approximately three weeks. During this period, we meticulously tracked fuel consumption through multiple gas fill-ups and closely monitored vehicle performance. The result? Absolutely no discernible difference in fuel economy, performance, or any other aspect of vehicle behavior.
To further confirm that the programming within the SuperOBD’s microcontroller is identical to the Nitro OBD scam, we conducted a bench test. We connected both modules to a 12V power supply and observed the blinking intervals of their LEDs.
Caption: Blink test comparison between Nitro OBD (left) and SuperOBD (right), visually demonstrating the identical LED blinking patterns, confirming shared programming and scam functionality.
Blink Test Video: https://youtu.be/NzdWdQw2UpQ
The outcome was conclusive: both the Nitro OBD tuning scam (left) and the SUPER OBD2 Tuning Box (right) exhibited EXACTLY the same LED blinking interval. Identical circuit board components, identical blinking patterns – the evidence overwhelmingly points to the same fraudulent device under different branding.
Conclusion: Super OBD2 – Another OBD2 Chiptuning Scam
Our comprehensive research and testing lead to an unequivocal conclusion: the SUPER OBDII OBD2 Chiptuning Box is unequivocally another Nitro OBD scam. It’s nothing more than a decorative light blinker masquerading as a performance enhancer. Don’t be fooled by the enticing promises and waste your hard-earned money on this expensive light show.
Different circuit board versions of this scam exist, as highlighted in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB810U7j77k
If, after reviewing all the evidence, you are still considering purchasing this product, our response is best summarized by this image:
