# Performance module **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [December 29, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296 "2010-12-29T23:29:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stormy0314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@stormy0314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/stormy0314)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/1 "2010-12-29T23:29:58Z")
What are the electronic parts in a performance module? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/2 "2010-12-30T00:38:07Z")
An intergrated circuit. Your car works by taking readings from the various sensors and adjusting the amount of gas fed through the injectors and adjusting the ignition timing appropriately. A “performance module” simply takes the same readings and adjusts the injectors and timing to provide more power…at the expense of gas mileage. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/3 "2010-12-30T02:25:25Z")
At worst, just about nothing. It really depends on what you’re talking about. Actual improvements to hp require reprogramming the ECU/CPU. Any ‘performance module’ you find on a web site that has them for every make and model is really worthless. ---
**Author:** ![stormy0314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@stormy0314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/stormy0314)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/4 "2010-12-30T22:03:05Z")
Thanks for the quick replies. What are the “resistors” that are listed on ebay? Looking at the price I thought this must surely be a scam. I have had a couple of friends use some modules on their diesels. They claim to really have improved performance. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/5 "2010-12-30T22:15:35Z")
It is a scam. They basically just change a sensor signal to fool the ECU into thinking one of the parameters of the engine is different than it really is and spray a bit of additional fuel. The power you’ll gain will be negligible and the wisdom of running the engine rich is questionable. Be careful of placebo effects. I’ll testify on the good book that the rear spoiler I put on my '72 Vega made the car go faster… ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/6 "2010-12-30T22:18:00Z")
> Be careful of placebo effects. I’ll testify on the good book that the rear spoiler I put on my '72 Vega made the car go faster… Impossible…you only got the increased performance if you had the FRONT scoop along with the rear spoiler like I did on my 73 Vega…8\*) ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2010, 10:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/7 "2010-12-30T22:28:42Z")
I did. I had them both. Vega 8? Spent time ordering from the Cosworth catalog did you? ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/8 "2010-12-31T01:27:31Z")
Performance modules on diesels can actually increase power. They can kill an engine too. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 1:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/9 "2010-12-31T01:41:12Z")
A while back we had a long discussion with a diesel truck owner that fried their engine using well-know brand of add-ons, and Ford (correctly) refused to help, even though it was still under warranty. Avoid them (performance add-ons). ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/performance-module/59296/10 "2010-12-31T22:40:32Z")
8\*) is a smiley face with a bright drunkard nose and eyeglasses.