Before diving into this review, it’s crucial to understand the landscape of OBD2 performance chips. If you’re unfamiliar with the Nitro OBD2 scam, which has plagued the internet for years, we highly recommend reviewing the detailed analysis by quarkslab: https://blog.quarkslab.com/reverse-engineering-of-the-nitro-obd2.html. This background is essential because the “Thorton Top Speed OBD2 Cat Performance Chip Tuner” we’re analyzing today is another product cut from the same cloth – a deceptive device masquerading as a performance enhancer.
The market is saturated with these inexpensive gadgets, often marketed as “tuners” promising significant horsepower and fuel economy gains. Unscrupulous sellers capitalize on the desire for easy performance upgrades, and products like the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat have emerged as a result. Below, we present our analysis of the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner, revealing its true nature. To fully grasp the context, reading the quarkslab article is highly recommended. Numerous tests and articles have already debunked the Nitro OBD module as a scam, and we aim to show that the Thorton chip follows the same pattern. Don’t just take our word for it; the evidence speaks for itself.
Further reinforcing the scam nature of Nitro-OBD and its variants, numerous YouTube videos provide visual proof and in-depth explanations: 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. These videos collectively demonstrate the inner workings and deceptive marketing tactics employed by these OBD2 scam chips.
Reverse Engineering the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat: Unveiling the Scam
Our 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 claims or is simply another scam.
The Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat boasts a visually appealing, glossy black design. However, its aesthetic similarities to previously reviewed scam products immediately raised red flags. Thorton Chip Tuning, the company behind this product, claims to be “a team of automotive enthusiasts based on Columbus, GA, founded in 2008 with a mission to work with high-performance vehicles.”
Thorton Chip Tuning About Us Page
Thorton Chip Tuning “About Us” page showcasing generic automotive repair imagery.
Examining the “shop” photo on their “About Us” page, we find little evidence of vehicle tuning expertise. The depicted activities appear to be axle, gearbox, and tire work, lacking any visible connection to engine tuning or performance enhancement. This discrepancy casts doubt on their claimed specialization in “high-performance vehicles.”
Thorton Chip Tuning About Us Shop Photo
Image from Thorton Chip Tuning’s website, purportedly showing their shop, but depicting general mechanical work rather than tuning.
The product, as advertised on thortonchiptuning.com, is presented with sleek marketing visuals:
Thorton Chip Tuning Website Top Speed OBDII Cat Product Photo
Product photo from Thorton Chip Tuning’s website, advertising the Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip.
While the advertisement is visually appealing, we’ve learned that appearances can be deceiving. Even at a glance, certain details hint at a familiar pattern. Do you notice anything suspicious in the product packaging and design compared to other known OBD2 scams? Let’s take a closer look.
Packaging and Physical Similarities to Known Scams
CASE / PACKAGING
SuperOBD Box and Install Instructions vs Thorton Performance Chip Top Speed OBDII CAT
Side-by-side comparison of SuperOBD scam chip packaging and Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT packaging, highlighting striking similarities.
The packaging of the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat immediately triggers alarm bells. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the packaging of the SuperOBD scam chip we previously exposed. The box size, cover dimensions, and even the almost identical instructions printed on the bottom are strong indicators of a shared origin.
Comparison of Super OBD Scam Chip vs Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat
Visual comparison of the Super OBD scam chip and the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat, revealing nearly identical physical designs.
The chip itself further confirms our suspicions. The Thorton chip is virtually identical in design to the Super OBD2 / Nitro OBD chip scams. The lights, button, and overall casing are the same; only the color and labeling have been altered. This points towards a rebranding effort rather than a unique product.
Website Claims: Universal Compatibility Red Flags
What claims does Thorton make about this “chip”? Their website is filled with promises, mirroring those of other dubious products in this category.
Thorton Chiptuning Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Website Claims 1
Screenshot of Thorton Chiptuning website claims, highlighting standard promises of ECU remapping and performance optimization.
Initial claims like “adjusting to your vehicle’s engine and driving habits to remap the ECU for optimal performance and fuel consumption” are typical for these types of products. They create an illusion of advanced technology and customized tuning.
Thorton Chiptuning Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Website Claims 2
Thorton Chiptuning’s claim of being “U.S. sellers,” despite evidence suggesting overseas manufacturing.
They assert being “U.S. sellers,” attempting to build trust. However, as we will uncover, the product’s origin points elsewhere.
Thorton Chiptuning Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Website Claims 3
Website claim of “universal” compatibility across engine sizes and vehicle types, contrasted with the requirement to select specific vehicle details during purchase.
Here’s where the contradictions begin. They claim the “Thorton Performance Chip will fit all engine sizes and types for your make of vehicle,” suggesting universal compatibility within a brand. Yet, they also require customers to “select the correct Make, Model and engine of your vehicle when purchasing.” This inconsistency raises serious doubts. Is it a custom-programmed chip, or a universal, one-size-fits-all device? The conflicting statements are a classic red flag of a scam.
Thorton Chiptuning Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Website Claims 4
Outlandish claim of 40HP gains from a simple OBD2 plug-in chip, mirroring claims of known scam modules.
The most outlandish claim is a 40HP gain from an OBD2 plug-in “chip” that resembles known scam modules. Such significant horsepower increases are not realistically achievable through these simple plug-in devices. This claim further solidifies our suspicion of a scam.
Cost and Pricing Strategy Mimicking Other Scams
COST
The Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is offered in three “levels” on their website, each with a different price point:
Thorton Chiptuning Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Levels and Prices
Thorton Chiptuning’s tiered pricing for their Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip, with different “levels” at varying prices.
Despite the varying “power levels,” all chips look identical. “Level 1” is priced at $29.95, “Level 2” at $59.95, and “Level 3” at $89.95. The tiered pricing strategy, with no visible difference in the product itself, is another tactic common among scam products to entice customers to pay more for perceived “better” performance.
Chipyourcar Scam Chip Levels vs Thorton Chip Levels Comparison
Comparison of “Chipyourcar” scam chip levels and Thorton chip levels, highlighting identical MPG and horsepower values despite different branding.
The “dial logos” representing different chip levels bear a striking resemblance to those used by another scam, the “Chipyourcar” Thunderbolt chip. While the dial designs are slightly different in color and shape, the claimed MPG and horsepower values are exactly the same. This is highly improbable unless there’s a direct connection or blatant copying between these operations. It suggests either Thorton is a rebranded version of “Chipyourcar,” or they are expertly mimicking their scam model. All evidence points towards a shared, fraudulent origin. But what’s actually inside the Thorton Top Speed OBD CAT Performance Chip?
Internal Analysis: Confirmation of a NitroOBD Clone
INTERNAL ANALYSIS
To uncover the truth, we purchased a Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT Performance Chip and disassembled it. Upon opening the plastic shell, we immediately recognized a familiar circuit board design from previously analyzed scam modules.
Thorton Performance Chip Top Speed OBDII Cat Outside View
External view of the Thorton Performance Chip Top Speed OBDII Cat, showcasing its generic plastic casing.
Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Disassembled Inside View
Internal view of the disassembled Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip, revealing the circuit board and components.
A closer comparison confirms our suspicion: the circuit board is yet another NitroOBD clone. While component placement is slightly rearranged, and LED colors are changed, the core design is undeniably the same.
SUPERobd NitroOBS Scam Chip Circuit Board vs Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT Performance Chip Comparison
Direct circuit board comparison between a SUPERobd NitroOBS scam chip and the Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT Performance Chip, highlighting identical components and layout.
All components are identical to those found in NitroOBD modules, merely repositioned with altered LED colors for superficial differentiation. It utilizes the same, underpowered PIC16F59 microprocessor, which, as previously established, lacks the memory capacity to store genuine vehicle maps required for actual ECU remapping.
The reason for the striking similarities becomes clear when examining online marketplaces like AliExpress:
OBDIICAT Scam Chip on Aliexpress
AliExpress listing for an “OBDIICAT” scam chip, priced at just over $4, revealing the likely source of Thorton’s product.
The module is readily available from Chinese suppliers on AliExpress for around $4.32 per unit. Shockingly, the product photo used in this AliExpress listing is identical to the photo on the Thorton Chip Tuning website! They are directly using supplier images, further exposing their deceptive practices.
Aliexpress Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip vs NitroOBD Comparison
AliExpress listing comparing the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip to the original NitroOBD scam chip, openly acknowledging their shared nature.
The AliExpress supplier openly admits the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip is the same product as the NitroOBD scam chip! The listing further compares it to other known scams:
Aliexpress Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip Comparison to Nitro OBD Diesel and Benzine
Further AliExpress comparisons showing the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip being marketed as equivalent to Nitro OBD and ECO OBD modules, compatible with both gasoline and diesel vehicles.
The supplier markets the Top Speed OBDII chip as equivalent to older NITRO OBD and ECO OBD modules (which are also internally identical scams) and claims compatibility with both gasoline and diesel vehicles. This reinforces our understanding that it is a universal, one-size-fits-all scam device, designed to fit any vehicle because it does nothing to enhance performance.
These findings definitively demonstrate that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is not what it purports to be. Our initial suspicions were correct; it’s simply another iteration of the light flasher scam, repackaged with a new case and LED colors.
Real-World Testing and Blink Test Confirmation
To confirm our analysis, we tested the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip in a vehicle, driving the recommended 125 miles. As expected, we observed absolutely no difference in fuel economy, performance, or any other vehicle behavior. There were no noticeable gains, and frankly, we anticipated none. Most drivers can easily perceive a 10HP increase or more without specialized equipment. Thorton’s claim of up to 40HP gains is demonstrably false.
To further validate that the internal programming is identical to the Nitro OBD scams, we conducted a blink test, powering both modules with a 12V supply on a bench:
SuperOBD Scam Chip vs Thorton Performance Chip Blink Bench Test
Bench test setup comparing the blink patterns of a SuperOBD scam chip and the Thorton Performance Chip, demonstrating identical behavior.
Blink Test Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9atyTLr5KU
Both the Nitro OBD scam chip (left) and the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip (right) exhibited identical blink rates. Same programming, same blink interval, same scam – just with different colored LEDs.
As detailed in previous NitroOBD analyses, these scams utilize varying blink patterns to create the illusion of vehicle communication. They alternate between fast blinking (simulating activity) and slow blinking (simulating standby), even though they lack the ability to genuinely interact with the vehicle’s systems or enter a sleep mode. Both the Thorton chip and NitroOBD scam chips exhibit this deceptive behavior, further confirming their identical internal workings.
Conclusion: Steer Clear of the Thorton Top Speed OBD2 Cat Scam
CONCLUSION
Our comprehensive research and testing conclusively demonstrate that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is simply another iteration of the NitroOBD light-blinking scam. Our initial instincts proved accurate. Do not waste your money on this product. You’d be better off buying a bag of potato chips – at least you’d get some actual satisfaction!
UPDATE
It appears the perpetrators behind the Thorton Performance Chip are continuing their fraudulent activities with a new website: thortonsuperchargers.com. This site, claiming a Tacoma, Washington address (which is actually a UPS store), promotes air supercharger turbines and other accessories alongside the familiar Thorton performance chip. The website layout, images, and design are strikingly similar to the original Thorton website, strongly suggesting a linked operation.
Thorton Superchargers Nitro OBD Scam Page
Screenshot of the Thorton Superchargers website, openly marketing the “NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP,” further linking it to the original NitroOBD scam.
Notably, this new website openly refers to their performance chip as the “NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP,” directly associating it with the notorious NitroOBD scam. They also inadvertently admit its universal and inexpensive nature, contradicting any claims of custom programming. Thortonsuperchargers.com also has a “D” rating from the Better Business Bureau, with customer complaints of refund issues and product defects.
Thorton Superchargers BBB Complaints
Thorton Superchargers’ BBB rating and customer complaints, highlighting issues with refunds and product quality.
Thorton Performance Chip Website vs Thorton Superchargers Website Comparison
Comparison of the “About Us” pages from Thorton Performance Chip and Thorton Superchargers websites, revealing near-identical content and design, solidifying their connection.
Be warned: these two websites are interconnected scams and should be avoided entirely.
If, after reviewing this comprehensive evidence, you are still considering purchasing this product, we can only offer this:
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