The internet is awash with promises of easy horsepower and fuel efficiency gains from plug-in OBD2 performance chips. Among these, the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner stands out with its sleek design and bold claims. But does it live up to the hype, or is it just another iteration of the infamous Nitro OBD2 scam? As automotive experts at techcarusa.com, we delve into the internals of this device to reveal the truth.
Before we proceed, it’s crucial to understand the landscape of OBD2 performance chip scams. Extensive research, including the detailed reverse engineering analysis by quarkslab, has consistently exposed the deceptive nature of products like Nitro OBD2. These devices, often originating from China, flood online marketplaces with alluring promises but deliver nothing more than blinking lights. Numerous videos on platforms like YouTube further corroborate these findings, demonstrating the scam in action.
Our focus here is the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner. We aim to dissect its claims and construction, comparing it to known scams to determine if it offers genuine performance enhancements or simply drains your wallet.
Reverse Engineering the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip Tuner
The Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat boasts a visually appealing black casing. However, a closer look triggers déjà vu. The aesthetics bear a striking resemblance to previously exposed OBD2 scam chips we’ve investigated. Thorton Chip Tuning, the company behind this product, claims to be a US-based team of automotive enthusiasts since 2008, dedicated to high-performance vehicles. Their “About Us” page features a photo of a workshop, seemingly aiming to project an image of expertise.
Image alt text: Thorton Chip Tuning “About Us” page displaying generic workshop image, raising doubts about their tuning expertise.
However, scrutinizing the workshop photo reveals workers focused on axles and gearboxes, with no visible signs of engine tuning activities. This discrepancy casts an initial shadow of doubt on Thorton’s claims.
Image alt text: Close-up of Thorton Chip Tuning workshop photo showing mechanics working on axles and tires, not engine tuning, suggesting a misleading portrayal of their business.
The product itself, as advertised on thortonchiptuning.com, looks professionally presented.
Image alt text: Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat product photo from their website, showcasing a sleek design but raising suspicion due to similarities with known scam devices.
But as we know, appearances can be deceiving. Even the packaging and case design offer telling clues.
Déjà Vu: Packaging and Chip Similarities to Known Scams
Comparing the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat packaging with the SuperOBD scam chip reveals striking similarities.
Image alt text: Side-by-side comparison of SuperOBD scam chip box and Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat box, highlighting identical size, shape, and nearly identical instructions, suggesting a common source.
The box size, cover, and even the installation instructions on the bottom are nearly identical to the SuperOBD scam. The chip itself echoes this resemblance.
Image alt text: Visual comparison of Super OBD scam chip and Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat, demonstrating identical design, lights, button, and outer shell, with only color and labeling differences.
Despite different branding, the Thorton chip mirrors the Super OBD2 / Nitro OBD chip scam in every physical aspect. Only the color and wording are changed.
Unpacking the Claims: Too Good to Be True?
Thorton’s website makes several claims about the Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip.
Image alt text: Screenshot of Thorton Chiptuning website claim about chip adjusting to vehicle’s engine and driving habits over 125 miles for optimal performance and fuel consumption.
They state the chip adapts to your vehicle’s engine and driving habits over 125 miles, remapping the ECU for optimal performance and fuel economy. This claim, while common among similar products, should be approached with skepticism.
Image alt text: Thorton Chiptuning website claim asserting “U.S. Sellers” status, contradicted by product origin and manufacturing location.
They promote themselves as “U.S. sellers,” but the product’s origin strongly suggests otherwise.
Image alt text: Website claim by Thorton Chiptuning stating universal compatibility across engine sizes and vehicle makes, yet requiring specific vehicle details during purchase, creating inconsistency.
The claim of universal compatibility across engine sizes and types for a vehicle “make” is contradicted by the requirement to select specific vehicle details during purchase. This inconsistency raises red flags. Is it a universal chip or a custom-programmed one?
Image alt text: Thorton Chiptuning website boldly claiming up to 40HP gains from their OBD2 plug-in chip, a highly improbable claim for such devices.
The most outlandish claim is a 40HP gain from this OBD2 plug-in device. Given the resemblance to known scam modules, this claim appears highly dubious.
Cost and “Levels” of Deception
The Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat is offered in three “levels” at varying prices: Level 1 ($29.95), Level 2 ($59.95), and Level 3 ($89.95). Intriguingly, all levels look identical.
Image alt text: Thorton Chiptuning price tiers for Top Speed OBDII Cat chip levels, showing identical chip images across Level 1, 2, and 3, with varying performance claims.
The “power” difference is supposedly determined by the level, indicated by dial logos with MPG and horsepower values. These dials bear an uncanny resemblance to those of another scam chip, the Chipyourcar Thunderbolt.
Image alt text: Comparison of Chipyourcar scam chip level dials and Thorton chip level dials, highlighting nearly identical MPG and horsepower values and dial designs, suggesting a shared deceptive marketing tactic.
The MPG and horsepower values on the dials are identical between the two brands. This either indicates a connection between Thorton and Chip Your Car, or blatant copying. All signs point towards a familiar, deceptive origin.
Inside the Shell: A Familiar Scam Circuit
To ascertain the true nature of the Thorton Top Speed OBD CAT Performance Chip, we disassembled it. The internal view immediately confirmed our suspicions.
Image alt text: External view of Thorton Performance Chip Top Speed OBDII Cat, showing the plastic casing before disassembly and internal inspection.
Image alt text: Internal view of disassembled Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip, revealing a circuit board layout strikingly similar to known NitroOBD scam chips.
A direct comparison with a NitroOBD clone circuit board solidifies the conclusion: it’s virtually identical.
Image alt text: Circuit board comparison between SUPERobd NitroOBS scam chip and Thorton Top Speed OBDII CAT Performance Chip, demonstrating identical components and layout with minor repositioning and LED color changes.
The parts are identical, merely rearranged with LED color variations. It utilizes the PIC16F59 microprocessor, known to lack the memory capacity for genuine vehicle maps. The source of this product becomes apparent when searching online.
Image alt text: Aliexpress listing for OBDIICAT scam chip, displaying the exact same product photo used on the Thorton Chip Tuning website, confirming its Chinese origin and low cost.
Aliexpress listings reveal the same module for around $4.32, with Thorton even using the supplier’s product photos on their website. The Aliexpress listing directly compares the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip to the original NitroOBD.
[](https://www.performancechipguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Aliexpress-Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip vs NitroOBD Comparison.jpg)
Image alt text: Aliexpress comparison image showing Thorton Top Speed OBDII Chip alongside NitroOBD, explicitly stating their equivalence and shared functionality.
The supplier openly admits its equivalence to NitroOBD and ECO OBD modules, claiming universal compatibility for both gasoline and diesel vehicles – further solidifying its scam nature.
Image alt text: Aliexpress advertisement claiming Thorton Top Speed OBDII chip is equivalent to Nitro OBD and ECO OBD, and works on both gasoline (Benzine) and diesel vehicles, highlighting its universal scam nature.
Road Test and Blink Test: Confirming the Scam
Real-world testing corroborated our analysis. After driving 125 miles with the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat installed, we observed absolutely no changes in fuel economy or performance. No noticeable horsepower gains were present, as expected.
To further validate its identical programming to Nitro OBD scams, we conducted a blink test, powering both modules on a bench power supply.
Image alt text: Bench test setup comparing blink patterns of SuperOBD scam chip and Thorton Performance Chip, visually demonstrating identical blinking rates and confirming shared programming.
Blink Test Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9atyTLr5KU
Both the Thorton chip and a Nitro OBD scam blinked at precisely the same rate, confirming identical programming and scam operation, differing only in LED colors. These devices use blinking lights to simulate activity and communication with the vehicle, deceiving consumers into believing they are working.
Conclusion: Save Your Money
Our comprehensive analysis and testing definitively conclude that the Thorton Top Speed OBDII Cat Performance Chip is another iteration of the Nitro OBD2 light-flashing scam. It offers no performance gains and is simply a rebranded, repackaged version of a known deceptive product. Avoid wasting your money on this device; your hard-earned cash is better spent elsewhere – perhaps on a bag of potato chips for consolation!
Update: Thorton Superchargers – The Scam Continues
The perpetrators behind the Thorton Performance Chip appear to be expanding their scam network with a new website: thortonsuperchargers.com. This site, featuring identical logos and graphics, claims a Tacoma, Washington address (a UPS store) instead of the Georgia address of the original site.
Image alt text: Thorton Superchargers website showcasing their “NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP”, openly admitting the Nitro OBD connection and highlighting the continuation of the scam.
This new site promotes an air supercharger turbine and other accessories alongside the Thorton performance chip, now openly called “NITRO PERFORMANCE CHIP” – directly referencing the infamous scam. They even admit it’s a “universal solution,” contradicting any claims of custom programming. Thorton Superchargers has already earned a “D” rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with customer complaints of refund issues and faulty products.
Image alt text: Thorton Superchargers BBB rating of “D” and customer complaints regarding refund refusals and product quality issues, reinforcing their scam operation.
Comparing the “About Us” pages of both websites reveals further similarities, solidifying their connection.
Image alt text: Side-by-side comparison of “About Us” pages from Thorton Performance Chip website and Thorton Superchargers website, revealing near-identical layout, design, and content, confirming they are related scam operations.
Be warned: both Thorton websites are scams and should be avoided.
If you’re still considering purchasing this product after this exposé…
Image alt text: Image macro expressing disbelief and incomprehension at the prospect of someone still considering purchasing the Thorton OBD2 scam chip after the detailed expose.
