Thinking about boosting your car’s horsepower and fuel economy with a simple OBD2 plug-in? You might have stumbled upon performance chips promising exactly that. One such product making waves online is the Thorton Top Speed OBD2 “Cat” Performance Chip. However, before you consider investing, it’s crucial to understand the reality behind these enticing claims. This article will delve into the Thorton Top Speed OBD2 “Cat” Performance Chip, revealing why it’s nothing more than a sophisticated scam, much like the infamous Nitro OBD2 modules. For a deeper technical dive into similar scams, we strongly recommend reading this detailed reverse engineering analysis by quarkslab: https://blog.quarkslab.com/reverse-engineering-of-the-nitro-obd2.html.
The internet has been flooded with these Chinese NitroOBD scams for years, spawning countless imitations with different colors and branding. Unscrupulous sellers quickly realized they could profit handsomely by marketing these blinking lights as high-performance “tuners.” Our analysis focuses on the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner, exposing its inner workings and confirming its true nature. As numerous tests and articles have already proven the Nitro OBD module to be a complete fraud, it’s essential to approach similar products with extreme caution. Don’t just take our word for it; the evidence speaks for itself.
Further solidifying the scam allegations, numerous YouTube videos dissect the Nitro-OBD light flasher fraud and its various forms. These visual investigations provide compelling proof of the deception: 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
Deja Vu: The Thorton Chip and the Nitro OBD2 Connection
The “Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner” boasts a sleek, glossy black design that might initially appear sophisticated. However, a sense of déjà vu quickly sets in for those familiar with similar products we’ve examined in the past. The company, Thorton Chip Tuning, presents itself as “a team of automotive enthusiasts based on Columbus, GA, founded in 2008 with a mission to work with high-performance vehicles.” But, digging a little deeper reveals inconsistencies.
Thorton Chip Tuning ‘About Us’ page showing a generic workshop scene, raising doubts about their tuning expertise.
A closer inspection of the “shop” photo on their “about us” page does little to inspire confidence in their tuning expertise. The workers in the image seem primarily engaged in tasks related to axles, gearboxes, and tires – conspicuously absent are any activities directly linked to “vehicle tuning.”
Close-up of Thorton Chip Tuning’s ‘shop’ photo, revealing workers handling axles and tires, not engine tuning equipment.
Unmasking the “Cat” in Thorton’s OBD2 Chip: A Closer Look
This is the Thorton Tuning Chip product as advertised on their website, thortonchiptuning.com:
Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip product photo from their website, showcasing sleek design but questionable claims.
The product photo on the Thorton website presents a visually appealing advertisement. However, as past experiences have taught us, appearances can be deceiving. Furthermore, the inclusion of “Cat” in the product name, “Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip,” is noteworthy. While “cat” likely refers to catalytic converter, it’s a subtle yet potentially misleading tactic. It might lead some to believe the chip interacts with or improves catalytic converter function, which is highly improbable for a generic OBD2 plug-in device, especially a scam. Legitimate OBD2 diagnostic tools can monitor catalytic converter efficiency, but a simple performance chip is unlikely to enhance its operation. This “cat” designation appears to be more for marketing than reflecting actual functionality related to catalytic converters.
Identical Packaging, Familiar Red Flags
Moving beyond aesthetics, the packaging of the Thorton chip immediately raises more red flags.
Side-by-side comparison of SuperOBD and Thorton Performance Chip boxes, highlighting striking similarities in design and instructions, suggesting a common origin.
The box is strikingly similar to that of the SuperOBD scam chip we previously exposed. Not only is the box itself nearly identical, but the installation instructions printed on the bottom are also almost verbatim copies, with only minor alterations. The size, shape, and overall design of the packaging strongly suggest a shared origin and further fuel suspicions of a scam. What about the chip itself?
Visual comparison of Super OBD and Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat chips, revealing identical physical appearance and components, differing only in branding.
Yes, the chip itself mirrors the Super OBD2 / Nitro OBD scam chips we’ve already debunked. The lights, the button, and the external design are all indistinguishable – only the branding and color scheme have been modified. The overwhelming similarities in packaging and product design strongly indicate that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is simply a rebranded version of previously exposed scams.
Too-Good-To-Be-True Claims and Universal Compatibility
What promises does Thorton make about this “chip”? Plenty, as evidenced by these screenshots from their website:
Screenshot of Thorton Chip Tuning website claim about chip adjusting to driving habits and remapping ECU for optimal performance.
Initially, their claims appear somewhat standard compared to other similar products advertised online. “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 self-adjusting, ECU-remapping narrative is a common tactic used in marketing these types of chips.
Screenshot of Thorton Chip Tuning website claiming to be ‘U.S. sellers’, despite product’s likely Chinese origin.
They assert being “U.S. sellers.” While they might operate sales from the US, the product’s manufacturing origin is almost certainly not within the United States, a common deceptive practice.
Screenshot of Thorton Chip Tuning website’s conflicting statements about universal compatibility and the need for specific vehicle details.
Here, inconsistencies begin to emerge. Many scam products of this nature claim “universal” compatibility, suggesting they work with virtually any vehicle. Thorton seems to allude to this as well: “The Thorton Performance Chip will fit all engine sizes and types for your make of vehicle.” This suggests compatibility across various models within a specific car brand, like all Toyota or Ford vehicles. However, they contradict this by stating: “Be sure to select the correct Make, Model and engine of your vehicle when purchasing.” This raises significant questions. If it’s a genuinely custom-programmed chip tailored to specific vehicles, why claim universal compatibility within a make? Conversely, if it’s truly universal, why require specific engine details during purchase? This contradictory messaging is a hallmark of deceptive marketing.
Screenshot of Thorton Chip Tuning website boldly claiming 40HP gains from their OBD2 plug-in chip.
Now, the claims escalate to the absurd. A 40HP gain from a simple OBD plug-in “chip” that physically resembles numerous known scam modules? This claim is highly improbable and aligns perfectly with the exaggerated promises typical of such fraudulent products. It’s a clear indication that something is seriously amiss.
The Price is Wrong: Deceptive “Levels”
The Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip website offers the product in three distinct “levels” at varying prices:
Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip pricing tiers, showing different ‘levels’ at varying prices, but identical chip appearance.
These levels purportedly correspond to the “power” of the chip, yet, remarkably, all levels appear to be physically identical. “Level 1” is priced at $29.95, “Level 2” at $59.95, and “Level 3” at $89.95. Another suspicious detail is the dial logos representing these levels. These logos bear an uncanny resemblance to those used for the Chipyourcar Thunderbolt scam chip levels:
Comparison of Chipyourcar and Thorton Chip ‘level’ dials, highlighting near-identical MPG and horsepower values despite different branding.
As you can see, the dial designs are subtly different in color and shape, but the crucial MPG and horsepower values displayed are EXACTLY THE SAME. What is the likelihood of these values being identical by coincidence? This similarity strongly suggests either Thorton is a new scam operation run by the same individuals behind Chip Your Car, or they are exceptionally adept copycats. The accumulating evidence points towards a shared, fraudulent origin.
Inside the Scam: Identical Circuitry
To definitively uncover the truth, we acquired a Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT Performance Chip and carefully disassembled its plastic casing. Upon opening it, we were immediately confronted with a design eerily familiar from our previous investigations of scam modules.
External view of the Thorton Performance Chip before disassembly, showing the plastic casing.
Internal view of the disassembled Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip, revealing the circuit board and components.
A detailed comparison of the internal components confirmed our suspicion: the circuit board is yet another iteration of the NitroOBD clone, with components rearranged and LED colors altered.
Circuit board comparison of SUPERobd NitroOBS and Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT chips, demonstrating near-identical component layout and design, confirming they are clones.
All components on both modules are identical; they have simply been repositioned, and some LED light colors have been changed. It utilizes the same notorious microprocessor, the PIC16F59, which, as previously established, lacks the memory capacity to store genuine vehicle maps necessary for performance tuning. Its limited capabilities render it incapable of delivering any real performance enhancements. The striking similarity between these components strongly suggests a common source – China.
Sourced from Scam Central: AliExpress Confirmation
AliExpress listing for the OBDIICAT scam chip, identical to the Thorton chip, highlighting the low wholesale price and Chinese origin.
Indeed, as seen in the AliExpress screenshot above, the module is undeniably sourced from China, available for approximately $4.32 per unit! Remarkably, not only is the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat chip identical to the listed product, but Thorton Chip Tuning even uses the EXACT SAME product photos from the AliExpress supplier on their own website! They directly lifted supplier images for their own marketing, further exposing their lack of originality and deceptive practices. Further down the AliExpress page, the listing directly compares the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip to – predictably – the original NitroOBD Yellow scam chip!
AliExpress comparison of Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip to NitroOBD, openly admitting they are the same product.
The Chinese supplier on AliExpress openly ADMITS that this is the same product as NitroOBD! The transparency is astonishing, albeit within a context of blatant misrepresentation to consumers. Need more convincing? The AliExpress page provides further comparisons:
AliExpress advertisement claiming the Thorton chip is equivalent to Nitro OBD and ECO OBD, and works on both gasoline and diesel vehicles, reinforcing its universal scam nature.
Here, the Chinese supplier claims the Top Speed OBDII chip is equivalent to older NITRO OBD and ECO OBD modules (which are internally identical) and, astonishingly, that the module works on BOTH GASOLINE AND DIESEL VEHICLES! This reinforces our conclusion that the module is a universally deceptive device, designed to fit any vehicle because it is fundamentally a scam.
The Real-World Test: No Performance Gains
Based on these findings, it’s abundantly clear that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is not what it purports to be. Our initial suspicions were unequivocally confirmed. It is demonstrably another iteration of the now-common light flasher scams, distinguished only by a new colored case and different LED colors.
To validate this in real-world conditions, we connected the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip to a vehicle and drove it for the recommended 125 miles. The result? Absolutely no discernible difference in fuel economy, performance, or any other vehicle behavior. There were no noticeable gains whatsoever, and no dyno testing was even necessary to confirm this (we anticipated no gains, so we weren’t surprised). Most drivers can readily perceive a 10HP increase or more without specialized equipment. Thorton’s claim of up to 40HP gains is unequivocally false.
Blink Test: The Final Nail in the Coffin
To further substantiate that the programming within the microprocessor is identical to the numerous verified Nitro OBD scams we have previously analyzed, we conducted a blink test. We connected both the Thorton module and a known Nitro OBD scam module to a 12V power supply on a bench and observed the blink intervals of their LEDs (OUR BLINK TEST):
Bench test comparison of SuperOBD and Thorton Performance Chips blinking patterns, demonstrating identical light sequences, confirming shared 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 blink rate! Identical programming, identical blinking interval, same scam – merely with different colored lights.
You might recall that some earlier scam modules displayed different blinking patterns, such as a standby interval. As explained in the original NitroOBD analyses linked at the beginning of this article, NitroOBD modules can alter blink patterns based on activity detected on other OBD port pins. This is a deceptive tactic designed to mislead consumers into believing the module is actively communicating with the vehicle. One pattern simulates rapid blinking lights to create the illusion of vehicle communication. When no pin activity is detected, it blinks slowly, mimicking a low-power or standby mode (although it lacks any genuine sleep mode capability – it’s purely a light pattern change). Previous scam analyses demonstrated this “sleep” pattern, and this Thorton scam also exhibits it. Like other scams, it can also enter the fake “activity” pattern, which is what we observed in this final test. Unsurprisingly, both modules displayed identical blink patterns because the Thorton Chip (right) and the NitroOBD scam (left) share the same microprocessor, circuit board, and programming!
CONCLUSION
Our comprehensive research and testing definitively conclude that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is simply another iteration of light-blinking scam boxes, akin to NitroOBD. Our initial suspicions were accurate. Do not waste your hard-earned money on this product – you would be better off buying a bag of potato chips!
UPDATE
It appears the same group responsible for the Thorton Performance Chip is perpetrating another scam with a new website: thortonsuperchargers.com. This new site utilizes identical logos and graphics but claims an address in Tacoma, Washington, instead of the previous Georgia location. Intriguingly, this Tacoma address is actually a UPS store. The layout, images, and design mirror the original Thorton website we reviewed above, but this one also promotes an “air supercharger turbine” and other dubious accessories. Given the presence of the Thorton performance chip on this new website, it’s highly probable that their other offerings are of equally questionable quality. Notably, on this new site, they barely attempt to conceal the performance chip’s true nature:
Thorton Superchargers website page openly advertising the ‘NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP’, highlighting its connection to the Nitro OBD scam.
Here, they openly acknowledge the performance chip’s name as “NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP”! This is the same name as the original NitroOBD chip scam! Further down the page, they concede that their performance chip is “an inexpensive, universal solution.” This directly contradicts any notion of a custom-programmed chip. It is, as we’ve already established, a universal scam device. This new website also has a concerning “D” rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website:
Screenshot of Thorton Superchargers’ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and customer complaints, reinforcing their untrustworthiness.
Customer complaints on the BBB site report issues with refunds, ill-fitting wires, and missing parts, further indicating untrustworthiness. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the “about us” pages of both websites:
Side-by-side comparison of Thorton Performance Chip and Thorton Superchargers websites, showcasing identical design and layout, confirming they are related scams.
Be warned – these two websites are interconnected scams and should be avoided entirely!
If, after reviewing all this evidence, you are STILL contemplating purchasing this product, our response is:
Humorous image expressing disbelief at anyone still considering purchasing the scam chip after the evidence presented.
Tags: Performance Chip, OBD2 Scam, Vehicle Tuning Scam, Thorton Chip Review, Nitro OBD Scam, Car Performance Scam, Engine Tuning, Catalytic Converter
