Remap Diesel Tuning UK 'chip'

[TTDegs]

latest update

It's been a busy couple of weeks for me, so it took me a while to get round to sending the box back

But the replacement version(s)* should be arriving over the next few days

I'm not taking them straight on the RR this time - at £100 a pop I don't think it's a good idea just yet!

Instead what I'll be doing is playing with the various settings and measuring with my built in 'arse-dyno'TM to see which one feels best first



* I'm being sent 1 programmable box, and one 'green' box which is prefconfigured (apparently) *shrug*

[audijohn]

"I feel that a proper remap is streets ahead of this as a tuning option, however nobody seems to do a plug in remap via the diagnostic port, although it must be possible, as Honda can seemingly do it during a service." [quote]


323-GT-R, You are right a proper re-map is the answer, these boxs only change fueling which is not the best way to keep the engine in fine fettle. Verious companies can be found on the web,and the results are very good.
I have had my last two cars done by "superchips" outside my front door, and the cars go very well with improved economy if driven with a light foot. 40+ BHP should be acheivable with a re-map

[TTDegs]

[quote=audijohn;17450]"I feel that a proper remap is streets ahead of this as a tuning option, however nobody seems to do a plug in remap via the diagnostic port, although it must be possible, as Honda can seemingly do it during a service."

323-GT-R, You are right a proper re-map is the answer, these boxs only change fueling which is not the best way to keep the engine in fine fettle. Verious companies can be found on the web,and the results are very good.
I have had my last two cars done by "superchips" outside my front door, and the cars go very well with improved economy if driven with a light foot. 40+ BHP should be acheivable with a re-map

Yep, absolutely agree 100%

But until someone can come up with a method of doing this that doesn't involve opening up the ECU, these various plug in boxes which tweak fuelling are the only option we have

Pottsy's Superchip has / should have gone to 170bhp.

Which is 30bhp above what should be stock.

[IWANTACIVIC]

Has mpg droped tt? like was said earlyer if u are over fueling the engine maybe you wasteing some fuel were superchips say u save fuel maybe because its keeping the mixture right hopely superchips will come up with the answer soon

[audijohn]

Originally Posted by IWANTACIVIC

Has mpg droped tt? like was said earlyer if u are over fueling the engine maybe you wasteing some fuel were superchips say u save fuel maybe because its keeping the mixture right hopely superchips will come up with the answer soon

What answer will superchips have to come up with?
They re-map your car you drive away happy more power more torque, beter MPG if drive as before,what are you expecting?
Superchips have been doing these re-maps for years and have got it right, there is NO over fueling with there re-maps.

[TTDegs]

hmmm

New box arrived today (ok, 2 days ago, but I had to go fetch it from the post office as I wasn't in at the time...)

new maps are:

4) The best (only) one from last time
3) As 4), but pre-tweaked by 30% (0% on this map = 4 + 30%)
1) Starts similar to 3), but fuels for longer / higher RPM
2) as 1) but pre-tweaked by 30%

I jumped straight in with map 3) on 0%

Car immediately felt quicker (than standard) round town (ie low speed acceleration felt better)
On the m/way, felt like a bit more willing to pull in higher gears

So far, so good

Pulled off the m/way, onto roundabout leading to (empty) dual carriageway.
All clear...
2nd gear, foor on the floor...
Revs to about 5.5k, all the Revs lights lit - pulling well (obviously doing this to test, not the way I normally drive!)
Into 3rd...
and the engine light comes on
and the plug symbol

and I've got not power.

At all...

Coast into the layby (yes, I did know it was there - partly why I chose this stretch of road).
Car won't restart (TTDegs starts to get a little bit worried!)

Turn it all off and remove the tuning box

10 mins later, restart...

Phew

Will be testing map 2 and 1 another time...


Map 3 was good - while it lasted

[audijohn]

Sounds like a pile of crap to me, get in re-mapped.

[TTDegs]

It's not looking great - but I agreed to try it out for them before just giving it back.
On the grounds that between us we would hopefully come up with the best results which may then be of use to everyone else

But so far, I'm now rather warey of plugging it back in


Once I've offically given up on it, or got as much from it as I can (which looks like it won't be enough), there is indeed a second option

See the 'more oomph' thread

[audijohn]

Originally Posted by TTDegs

It's not looking great - but I agreed to try it out for them before just giving it back.
On the grounds that between us we would hopefully come up with the best results which may then be of use to everyone else

But so far, I'm now rather warey of plugging it back in


Once I've offically given up on it, or got as much from it as I can (which looks like it won't be enough), there is indeed a second option

See the 'more oomph' thread

The trouble is TT they are using YOUR Car as a Guinepig with the resultant dammage uninsured.
You can dammage your engine and fuel system, injectors ECT by "experimentation".
Please go a "superchip" company that has tested and proven there product BEFORE you get it.
This could back-fire on you big time and they will back away from a big disputed bill.

[TTDegs]

John - advice is much appreciated, but essentially I'm not happy with the idea of SuperChips having to open my ECU.

Whilst I have not personally been there, done that, tried to fight a 3 way claim for a blown up engine (without pointing any fingers at SuperChips I hasten to add!), I do know someone who has.
It all went horribly wrong with a blown turbo - the chipping co said it was a manufacturing fault in the turbo, the car manufacturer and turbo maker said it was cos the turbo was being driven too hard (ie the new map)...

And the owner ended up paying


IF all else fails, then yes, I will probably end up going down the chipping route, and ECU be damned!

But in the mean time, if similar power gains were to be available at roughly half the cost of a SuperChip, AND be 'invisible', then it's an option that needs looking at

Paying £250 for an increase from 139 to 165 bhp is £10 per pony - which is good VFM in my book

Paying £20 per pony is less good (SuperChips claimed figures), but still not bad.

However, £250 to get from 149 to 159 (which is what the dyno has shown so far) is £25 each - not great at all.

But to be fair (and this is not a dig at either SuperChips, or more importantly Pottsy ), we've yet to see independant results from their solution either...

[IWANTACIVIC]

my ** had his 307 dynoed and it gave more bhp that they said and as i said in other topics they mite not need to open ecu anymore and price is now 339inc vat for 170 bhp , and they can change the map by the sound of it 170 is the safe starter.
tt how did u start @ 149 isnt the civic 138-140 as stanard what other mods u done ?

[TTDegs]

right then

a (final- ish) update...


There has been a delay due to personal circumstances at DTUK, but I've spoken to Andrew today about my concerns with the car going into a fairly spectactular(!) limp mode.

We have agreed that I will send the box back for a refund

Which I'm quite gutted about, but trying to diagnose over the phone hasn't worked really

On the plus side, he has had a query from a 2.2 owner much closer to him, and if that follows through, Andrew will be able to take it over to play with, rather than doing changes via royal mail.


And if it does work out, he'll be letting me know

At which point, I'll obviously be letting you all know

But for now, this option finishes with just getting me from a standard (no mods at all) 149bhp to a max of 159bhp.


Whilst not the results we were hoping for, I personally would be happy to go back to them once they get things sorted out with the maps - very pleseant people to do business with

[daiashthomas]

Originally Posted by IWANTACIVIC

my ** had his 307 dynoed and it gave more bhp that they said and as i said in other topics they mite not need to open ecu anymore and price is now 339inc vat for 170 bhp , and they can change the map by the sound of it 170 is the safe starter.
tt how did u start @ 149 isnt the civic 138-140 as stanard what other mods u done ?

car manufacturers almost always understate bhp figures

mainly an insurance group thing i think
(or i say always underestimate.... that way if u get more then ** happy)

[Miggins]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

I hope they manage to get it a touch better. But still, there is a useful increase, and dare I say it, possibly the best you'll get from making the mixture a little richer. Have you noticed any smoke?

When my car gets serviced and I lose my map, I'll try to get it re-mapped at a place with a RR, so we can see the before and after of the Superchips job.

Mr P,
Do they definitely blow away the map when servicing a civic? I thought this was only if there were 'issues' requiring a new manufacturer’s map. (Either way I will wait till after the service).

TT - I hope it works out as I'm sure it’s a lot cheaper than SuperChips.

Having my Diesel SEAT superchipped made a vast difference (unfortunately they didn't dyno after the work). Driving on derestricted roads I found top speed was significantly increased - 120 to 135mph - but I've never managed it since!!!! Acceleration and driveability has also been transformed - 2nd gear going up multi storey car park ramps and accelerating from 1000rpm with 6 in the bus - no hesitation!

S/Chips did have to open the box as they couldn't flash it through the port and needed to take the chip out to get the new map on. Either way it transformed the vehicle and I don’t believe I have any more smoke than most other diesels (especially those that have never put their foot down until I pass them )

Fuel consumption. . . . . . errrrrrr I reckon I use about 20% more but only when using the go pedal.

Claimed increase for my SEAT is 130 to approx 170 depending on which plot you use. I believe the SEAT like the CIVIC starts off with a bit more than claimed. So far my gearbox, clutch and brakes all seem up to the job (why did I say that?)

If I get the same results with the Civic I will be more than pleased.

[audijohn]

I can tell you the map will NOT be overwritten at service time, in fact it will not be looked at unless an upgrade map from honda is reqd, then it will just get "flashed"in and thats that.

[damianscott71]

Had my Golf 2.0TDI remapped by superchips to 180bhp and before that my modded Passat 1.9tdi (with big injectors & big turbo, originally 110bhp, got 170 with the mods) was custom remapped. Didn't see much difference in fuel consumption though, especially on the Passat, I could ALWAYS get 600 miles to a tank of fuel. That was an amazing vehicle! I did find however that on the Golf, the superchips map wasn't as smooth or progressive, and you could really feel the turbo coming on boost.

I did find however that remapped cars "urge" you to drive harder & faster, that's when the fuel bill starts to creep up (and the accidents start to happen!)

I'll probably have my Civic remapped when I can afford, also the wheels need spacing too in my opinion. Look's like 20mm extra on the track might sort the way it looks and handles, I think the car currently looks & drives too "top heavy"..... But that's another subject!

Does anyone know (it's going to be Pottsy) how smooth the Civic map is? Is there a noticable step up at any point in the rev range?


Damian

[Pottsy]

Originally Posted by damianscott71

Does anyone know (it's going to be Pottsy) how smooth the Civic map is? Is there a noticable step up at any point in the rev range?

The standard car has a noticeable rush at 2000 rpm, the chipped car is just the same except with a bit more - as well as more higher up the rev range. It is a nice mod, but more conservative than the Golf (my 150 - 190 conversion by Revo was a fair bit wilder).

[Jedi71]

i have a tuning box - 6 settings and very impressed with this any others tried this one ?

[TTDegs]

nice one Jedi!

So far, only Pottsy and I have (owned up to!) done any engine modding on here - Pottsy with good results, me with less good

which tuning box did you go for?

Is it one I put in this thread -> Extra Ooomph options for the 2.2 or something different again?

And - have you had it dyno'd (please say yes! )

[Jedi71]

NO I GOT IT FROM TUNINGBOX SITE IS WWW.TUNINGBOX.COM AND GOT IT FOR A STEAL £100 BASICALLY FROM A CUSTOMER WHO BOUGHT IT A WEEK BEFORE ME AND HAD A MISHAP WITH CAR, VERY IMPRESSED MID RANGE IS ACTUALLY BETTER THAN MY PREVIOUS 295BHP/295LBFT IMPREZZA AND THE PERFORMANCE SURPRISES ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVENT HAD IT RR YET BUT WILL BE GOING ALONG WITH OLD MATES FROM SIDC, MIGHT EVEN SHOW A FEW OF THEM UP ON THE TORQUE CURVE !!!!!!