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Installation and Operation Guide POWERCHIP Model PC-3
Installation and Operation Guide PowerChip PC-3 Installation and Operation Guide
Page 2
Introduction
Congratulations on purchasing the ProECM PowerChip. The PowerChip is the product of years of
development and will enhance your driving experience by improving your automobiles power, eliminating
the speed limiter, improving throttle response, and adding to your cars gas mileage. Once installed, the
PowerChip requires no configuration, tuning, or maintenance, and does not interfere with the autos onboard
diagnostic system (OBD, OBD-II).
NOTE: The PowerChip is not intended for highway use, although it will not have a significantly negative
effect on vehicle emissions. Use of the PowerChip on public roadways is at the users own risk.
Installation
Installing the PowerChip is not difficult, but requires cutting cables to the ECU. Failure to comply with
these instructions voids the manufacturers warranty on the PowerChip device, and may damage the
PowerChip and/or the ECU. ProECM is not responsible for any damage incurred by incorrect installation,
either to the PowerChip or to the automobile.
The PowerChip taps into the wire harness where the ECU is located. To gain the maximum benefit from this
product it is important to reset the ECU at the time of installation. This is achieved either by using an OBDII
tool or by disconnecting the ECU completely for a lengthy period of time, i.e., overnight.
The PowerChip has 8 cables in different colors that need to be installed according to these instructions. The
ECU is located under the floor mat on the passenger side. To remove the floor mat there are two plastic
fasteners. One is located to the right on the firewall, the other one to the left on the mid console. It is
necessary to remove the protective shield for the ECU to gain access to the wiring harness. This protective
shield is fastened with three 10mm bolts and one 10mm nut. Two wires are to be cut (three for turbo
applications), and installed in a serial fashion (see picture below). Green is to be used in a turbo application
equipped with MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor only. All Subarus up to and including 1999 are not
equipped with MAP sensor. For specific notes on the wiring harness, consult the application notes for the
specific vehicle being installed.
White
Orange
White/Black
Orange/Black
Green
Green/Black
Cut these
wires
WIRING HARNESS
Goes to the rest of the car
Black
Nut for ECU - GROUND
ECU
POWERCHIP
Red
Blue connector PowerChip PC-3 Installation and Operation Guide
Page 3
Adjustable Precision Voltage Clamp Necessary for forced induction only.
The PowerChip incorporates an Adjustable Precision Voltage Clamp (APVC), this is a device that makes it
possible to limit the sensor signal to the ECU so that fuel cut do not occur. The limit is pre-set for your car
and should work fine, however due to variances in the sensors the threshold might need some adjustment.
To adjust the APVC you simply turn the recessed screw on the side of the PowerChip. To increase the
value, turn the screw clockwise, and counterclockwise to decrease the value. If you experience Check
Engine Light (CEL) during boost, it is likely that the value is set to high and you would want to decrease it
to eliminate the CEL.
Application Notes
The PowerChip was designed to work with the following vehicles:
§

Subaru Impreza, 93 to present (including Outback models, excluding WRX)
§

Subaru Forrester, 98 to present
§

Subaru Legacy, 90 to present (including Outback models)
NOTE: Check Engine Light problems
Some customers have reported that the CEL comes on after installing the powerchip. This has happened for
about %5 of the customers. This has been traced down to a bad ground in the ECU bracket. To remedy this
problem connect the ground wire from the powerchip to the ECU ground wire, marked in the diagrams. If you
dont have any CEL problems, dont worry about it. PowerChip PC-3 Installation and Operation Guide
Page 4
Model-Specific Information
2003 Legacy 4 Cylinder engine (including pick-up model)
The connectors above depict the connectors that go into the ECU.
Identify the connectors depicted above by looking at the profile of the connector.
Also identify pin 1 on each of the connectors by looking at the profile of each connector.
Connect the blue connector shipped with the PowerChip to the wire that goes to connector C, pin 10. Fold
the blue connector over the wire and press together. This creates a female connection for the red wire from
the PowerChip to connect to. Connect red wire from PowerChip to blue connector.
Connect black wire from the PowerChip to ground by using bolt that holds ECU.
Locate pin12 on connector B, cut the cable approximately 3 from the ECU.
Connect orange wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect orange/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
Locate pin 10 on connector D, cut the cable approximately 3 from the ECU.
Connect white wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect white/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
For Turbo applications equipped MAP sensor only:
Locate pin 15 on connector B, cut the cable approx 3 from the ECU.
Connect green wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect green/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
Pin 35 connector A is ground for the ECU, use this as ground if you are experiencing CELs.
6 5 4
3 2 1
17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7
26 25
24 23 22 21
20 19 18
4 3
2 1
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5
20 19
18 17 16
15 14
C
D
A
8 7

6 5





4 3

2 1
23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24
B

7 6 5 4





3 2 1
19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8
28 27 26 25 24
23 22 21 20 PowerChip PC-3 Installation and Operation Guide
Page 5
2003 Impreza Non-turbo engine
The connectors above depict the connectors that go into the ECU.
Identify the connectors depicted above by looking at the profile of the connector.
Also identify pin 1 on each of the connectors by looking at the profile of each connector.
Connect the blue connector shipped with the PowerChip to the wire that goes to connector C, pin 10. Fold
the blue connector over the wire and press together. This creates a female connection for the red wire from
the PowerChip to connect to. Connect red wire from PowerChip to blue connector.
Connect black wire from the PowerChip to ground by using bolt that holds ECU.
Locate pin12 on connector B, cut the cable approximately 3 from the ECU.
Connect orange wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect orange/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
Locate pin 10 on connector D, cut the cable approximately 3 from the ECU.
Connect white wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect white/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
For Turbo applications equipped MAP sensor only:
Locate pin 6 on connector D, cut the cable approx 3 from the ECU.
Connect green wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect green/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
Pin 18 connector C is ground for the ECU, use this as ground if you are experiencing CELs.
A
8 7

6 5





4 3

2 1
23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9
35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24
B

7 6 5 4





3 2 1
19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8
28 27 26 25 24
23 22 21 20
6 5 4
3 2 1
17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7
26 25
24 23 22 21
20 19 18
4 3
2 1
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5
20 19
18 17 16
15 14
C
D PowerChip PC-3 Installation and Operation Guide
Page 6
1999-2001 Impreza, Legacy, Forrester, Outback
The connectors above depict the connectors that go into the ECU.
Identify the connectors depicted above by looking at the profile of the connector.
Also identify pin 1 on each of the connectors by looking at the profile of each connector.
Connect the blue connector shipped with the PowerChip to the wire that goes to connector C, pin 1. Fold the
blue connector over the wire and press together. This creates a female connection for the red wire from the
PowerChip to connect to. Connect red wire from PowerChip to blue connector.
Connect black wire from the PowerChip to ground by using bolt that holds ECU.
Locate pin14 on connector C, cut the cable approximately 3 from the ECU.
Connect orange wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect orange/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
Locate pin 24 on connector B, cut the cable approximately 3 from the ECU.
Connect white wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect white/black wire from the PowerChip to cable going to the sensor.
For Turbo applications equipped MAP sensor only:
Locate pin 5 on connector C, cut the cable approx 3 from the ECU.
Connect green wire from the PowerChip to cable going into ECU.
Connect green/bl