Before diving into this review, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the detailed investigations by quarkslab into the Nitro OBD2 performance chip fraud. You can find their analysis here: https://blog.quarkslab.com/reverse-engineering-of-the-nitro-obd2.html. Understanding the Nitro OBD2 scam is essential context, as numerous imitations, distinguished only by color variations and branding, have saturated the market. Unscrupulous sellers quickly realized the profitability of marketing these simple LED blinkers as high-performance ‘tuners’ at inflated prices.
This article will dissect the “Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner,” exposing its true nature. To fully grasp the extent of this deception, reading the quarkslab analysis is highly recommended. Extensive testing and numerous reports have already established the Nitro OBD module as a complete scam – and we urge you not to simply take our word for it.
Further evidence of the Nitro-OBD light flashing scam and its various clones can be found in these YouTube videos:
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
Reverse Engineering the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner
OBD Performance Chip Tags: CAN OBD Performance Chip, Vehicle Tuning Scams Analysis, Reverse Engineering, Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner Scam
This investigation focuses on reverse engineering and analyzing the “Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner” to determine if it lives up to its performance enhancement claims or if it’s just another automotive scam preying on unsuspecting customers looking for an easy top speed boost.
The Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip boasts a visually appealing, sleek black design. However, its aesthetic similarity to previously exposed scam products immediately raises red flags. Thorton Chip Tuning, the company behind this device, claims to be “a team of automotive enthusiasts based on Columbus, GA, founded in 2008 with a mission to work with high-performance vehicles.”
Image: Thorton Chip Tuning “About Us” page displaying generic claims of automotive expertise, raising suspicion about their actual tuning capabilities.
Examining the photo presented on their ‘About Us’ page does little to inspire confidence in their claims of being in the ‘tuning’ sector. The image depicts workers engaged in tasks related to axles, gearboxes, and tires, with no visible activities associated with ‘vehicle tuning’ or ECU remapping. This discrepancy between their claimed expertise and visual representation adds to the skepticism surrounding their product.
Image: “About Us” shop photo on Thorton Chip Tuning website, showing mechanics working on general auto repair rather than engine tuning, contradicting their performance chip claims.
The Thorton Tuning Chip product itself, as advertised on their website, thortonchiptuning.com, is presented with professional-looking product photography:
Image: Product photo of the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat chip from the official website, showcasing a sleek design intended to appeal to customers seeking performance upgrades.
The advertisement is undeniably slick and professional. However, as past investigations have shown, appearances can be deceiving. Even at a glance, there are striking similarities to known scam devices. Before proceeding further, can you spot any familiar traits in the product presentation above? If not, the comparison below will highlight the concerning parallels.
CASE / PACKAGING: Déjà Vu?
Image: Side-by-side comparison of the SuperOBD scam chip packaging and the Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT packaging, revealing almost identical boxes and instruction sets, suggesting a common origin.
Not only does the box bear an uncanny resemblance to the packaging of the SuperOBD scam chip previously investigated, but the installation instructions printed on the box’s bottom are also nearly identical, with only minor alterations. The box dimensions, cover design, and instructional layout are strikingly similar. What about the chip itself? Is it just a case of recycled packaging, or does the similarity extend to the core product?
Image: Visual comparison of the Super OBD scam chip and the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat chip, demonstrating identical physical characteristics beyond branding and color, strongly indicating they are the same underlying product.
Indeed, the similarities are more than skin deep. While the logo and color scheme are different, the Thorton chip is virtually IDENTICAL to the SUPER OBD2 / Nitro OBD chip scams previously exposed. The lights, button, and overall external design are the same – only the branding and color have been modified. This level of similarity strongly suggests a common source and raises serious doubts about the Thorton chip’s legitimacy as a unique performance product.
Website Claims: Too Good to Be True?
What performance enhancements does Thorton actually promise for this “chip”? Their website is filled with bold claims. Let’s examine some of the screenshots from their promotional material:
Image: Screenshot of Thorton Chiptuning website claim stating the chip “adjusts to your vehicle’s engine and driving habits,” promising ECU remapping for performance and fuel economy.
Initially, their claims appear somewhat standard compared to other similar products marketed online. They state, “After driving about 125 total road miles, our tuning chip will adjust itself to your vehicle’s engine, your driving habits and continues to remap the ECU for optimal performance and fuel consumption as you continue to drive.” This adaptive learning claim is a common tactic used to lend credibility to these types of devices.
Image: Thorton Chiptuning website claiming to be “U.S. sellers,” a statement contradicted by the product’s likely Chinese origin revealed through reverse engineering and online sourcing.
They promote themselves as “U.S. sellers.” While this may be true in terms of their sales operations, evidence strongly suggests the product’s manufacturing origin is far from the USA, a point we will elaborate on further.
Image: Website claim from Thorton Chiptuning highlighting contradictory statements about universal compatibility versus vehicle-specific selection, raising suspicion about the chip’s actual functionality.
Here’s where inconsistencies begin to surface. Like many scam products of this nature, they claim universal compatibility, stating the chip is “capable of being used on any vehicle known to man.” They assert, “The Thorton Performance Chip will fit all engine sizes and types for your make of vehicle,” suggesting compatibility across all variants within a specific manufacturer’s lineup. However, this is immediately contradicted by the subsequent instruction: “Be sure to select the correct Make, Model and engine of your vehicle when purchasing.”
This raises a critical question: Is it a custom-programmed chip, or a universal device? If it’s genuinely custom, why claim universal compatibility across vehicle models? If it’s universal, why the need for specific engine details during purchase? This contradictory messaging is a hallmark of deceptive marketing tactics.
Image: Thorton Chiptuning claim of “up to 40HP gains” from an OBD plug-in chip, a highly improbable assertion for such a simple device, strongly suggesting exaggerated performance promises.
Now, the claims escalate into the realm of the unbelievable. A 40HP gain from a simple OBD plug-in “chip” that visually mirrors previously debunked scam modules? This claim stretches credibility to its breaking point. Promises of such significant horsepower increases from a device of this type are highly improbable and serve as a major red flag.
COST: Levels of Deception
The Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip website offers the product in three tiers, differentiated by price:
Image: Thorton Chiptuning pricing tiers for the Top Speed OBDII Cat chip, offering “Level 1,” “Level 2,” and “Level 3” at increasing prices despite all chips appearing physically identical.
These levels purportedly correspond to the “power” of the chip, yet, intriguingly, all chip levels look identical. “Level 1” is priced at $29.95, “Level 2” at $59.95, and “Level 3” at $89.95. Another noteworthy observation from the price tier graphic is the dial logos representing each chip level. These bear a striking resemblance to those used by another previously exposed chip scam, the Chipyourcar Thunderbolt chip:
Image: Comparison of dial logos for Chipyourcar scam chip levels and Thorton chip levels, revealing nearly identical MPG and horsepower values despite different branding, suggesting a shared deceptive marketing strategy.
As you can see, the dial designs are subtly different in color and shape, BUT the MPG values are EXACTLY THE SAME – and the supposed horsepower gains are also IDENTICAL. What are the odds of such precise duplication? This could indicate that Thorton is either a rebranded iteration from the same source as Chip Your Car, or they are remarkably adept copycats, adopting not just the product design but also the deceptive marketing elements. The accumulating evidence strongly points towards a common, dubious origin. But what’s actually inside the Thorton Top Speed OBD CAT Performance Chip? Let’s delve into its internal components.
INTERNAL ANALYSIS: Unveiling the Familiar
To uncover the truth, we ordered a Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT Performance Chip and carefully disassembled its plastic casing. Upon opening it, we were immediately struck by a design that was all too familiar from our previous encounters with scam modules:
Image: External view of the Thorton Performance Chip Top Speed OBDII Cat, showing the sleek black casing before disassembly, designed to give a high-tech impression.
Image: Internal components of the disassembled Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat chip, revealing a simplistic circuit board and basic components characteristic of scam OBD2 devices.
A closer comparison with previously analyzed modules confirms our suspicion: the circuit board is yet another clone of the NitroOBD design, with components simply rearranged and LED colors altered for superficial differentiation.
Image: Circuit board comparison between the SUPERobd NitroOBS scam chip and the Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT Performance Chip, demonstrating near-identical component layout and the use of the same limited microcontroller.
All components are identical on both modules, merely repositioned, and with some LED light colors changed. It utilizes the same, inadequate microprocessor, the PIC16F59, which, as previously established, lacks the memory capacity to store genuine vehicle maps required for effective ECU remapping. The shared origin of these remarkably similar parts becomes clear when considering their source: China.
Image: Aliexpress listing for the OBDIICAT scam chip, showcasing the identical product being mass-produced in China and available at a drastically low cost, exposing the true source of the Thorton chip.
As the above screenshot from Aliexpress reveals, the module is indeed sourced from China, available for approximately $4.32 per unit! Incredibly, the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat chip advertisement uses the EXACT SAME product photo as the Aliexpress listing! They have brazenly taken supplier photos directly from Aliexpress for their own website. Further down the Aliexpress page, the same listing directly compares the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip to—unsurprisingly—the original NitroOBD Yellow scam chip!
Image: Aliexpress comparison image showing the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip alongside the NitroOBD, openly acknowledging their product’s similarity to the notorious scam device.
The Chinese supplier on Aliexpress explicitly ADMITS that this is the same product lineage! If more confirmation is needed, the Aliexpress page further provides additional comparisons:
Image: Aliexpress comparison chart claiming the Thorton Top Speed OBDII chip is equivalent to Nitro OBD and ECO OBD modules, and falsely asserting compatibility with both gasoline and diesel vehicles.
Here, the Chinese supplier claims that the Top Speed OBDII chip is equivalent to the older NITRO obd and ECO obd modules (which are internally identical), and furthermore, that the module is universally compatible with BOTH GASOLINE AND DIESEL VEHICLES! This reinforces our conclusion that the module is, in fact, a universal, one-size-fits-all device designed to fit any vehicle because its primary function is deception, not performance enhancement.
Based on this evidence, it’s abundantly clear that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is not what it purports to be. Our initial suspicions were correct. It is definitively another iteration of the now widespread light flasher scams, repackaged with a new case color and different colored LEDs.
Performance Testing: As Expected – Nothing
To verify our findings, we connected the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip to a vehicle and drove for the recommended 125 miles. As anticipated, we observed absolutely no difference in fuel economy, performance, or any other vehicle behavior. There were no noticeable gains whatsoever, and no dyno testing was required to confirm this – we didn’t expect any positive results and were not disappointed. Most drivers can readily perceive a horsepower increase of 10HP or more without specialized equipment. Thorton’s claim of up to 40HP gains is simply baseless.
Blink Test: Identical Scam Logic
To further confirm that the programming within the microprocessor is identical to the numerous verified Nitro OBD scams we’ve previously analyzed, we connected both the Thorton module and a Nitro OBD module to a 12V power supply on a bench and observed the blink intervals of their LEDs (OUR BLINK TEST):
Image: Bench test comparison of LED blinking patterns between the SuperOBD scam chip and the Thorton Performance Chip, demonstrating identical blink rates and confirming shared deceptive programming.
Blink Test Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9atyTLr5KU
Both the Nitro OBD tuning scam (Left) and the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip (Right) exhibited EXACTLY the same LED blink rate! Identical programming, identical blinking interval, identical scam – merely with different colored lights for superficial variation.
As observed with previous scams, some blink in different patterns, including a standby interval. This behavior is detailed in the original NitroOBD analyses linked at the beginning of this article. The NitroOBD’s blink pattern changes based on activity detected on other OBD port pins, designed to mislead users into believing it’s communicating with the vehicle. One mode simulates rapid blinking to create the illusion of active communication. When no pin activity is detected, it blinks slowly, mimicking a low power or standby state (though it lacks any true sleep mode capability; this is purely a light pattern change). As demonstrated with previous scams, they all exhibit this ‘sleep’ light pattern, and this latest Thorton scam is no exception. Like other iterations, it can also enter the deceptive ‘activity’ pattern, which we observed in our recent test. Unsurprisingly, both modules displayed identical blink patterns, as the Thorton Chip (right) and the NitroOBD scam (left) contain the same microprocessor, the same circuit board design, and the same fraudulent programming!
CONCLUSION: Save Your Money – It’s a Scam
Our comprehensive research and testing unequivocally demonstrate that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is simply another iteration of light-blinking scam boxes, directly akin to the NitroOBD. Our initial instincts were validated. Do not waste your hard-earned money on this device – you would be better off buying a bag of potato chips!
UPDATE: Thorton Superchargers – The Scam Expands
It appears the same individuals behind the Thorton Performance Chip are perpetuating their scheme through a new website: thortonsuperchargers.com. This site employs identical logos and graphics, claiming a Tacoma, Washington address (a UPS store, in reality) as opposed to the Georgia address of the original site. The layout, images, and overall design are virtually indistinguishable from the first Thorton website reviewed above. However, this new venture also markets an air supercharger turbine alongside other questionable accessories. Given that the Thorton performance chip is also featured on this new site, it’s highly likely their other offerings are of equally dubious quality. Here, they barely attempt to conceal the “Thorton” performance chip’s true nature:
Image: Thorton Superchargers website page openly advertising the “NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP,” revealing the direct connection to the original NitroOBD scam and confirming the product’s deceptive nature.
They openly refer to their performance chip as the “NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP”! This is the very name of the original NitroOBD chip scam! Furthermore, they admit near the bottom of the page that their performance chip is “an inexpensive, universal solution.” This definitively contradicts any claim of custom programming. It is a generic, one-size-fits-all scam device, exactly as our analysis has concluded. This new website has also received a “D” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB):
Image: Thorton Superchargers BBB rating showing a “D” grade and customer complaints regarding refund issues and product quality, reinforcing the scam allegations.
A customer complaint detailed on the BBB site reports issues with refunds and receiving products with short wires or missing parts. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the ‘About Us’ pages from both websites:
Image: Comparative analysis of “About Us” pages from Thorton Performance Chip and Thorton Superchargers websites, highlighting identical design elements and confirming the interconnected fraudulent operation.
Be warned – these two websites are linked and represent scams that should be avoided at all costs!
If, after reviewing all of this evidence, you are still considering purchasing this product, our response is:
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