98 Passat - Unable to chip !!

[dino67]

Hi I have a 1998 Passat 1.8 T, tiptronic. I sent my ECU to a friend in the US to forward to AWE Tuning. This is the response I got back. Has any one else come across this issue ? I would still like to get it chipped but I'm unsure if any one in Aus can do it for a reasonable price.

First let me state that we don't normally see too many Euro spec ECU's. However, we do get them and have successfully programmed them.

Your computer on the other hand was a mystery. This computer was unlike any early A4 or Passat computer we have ever seen. We called our programmer and told them the part # on the cover. They did not have a program. No big deal, we can usually get them made. However, the chip itself on the mother board is unlike any we have seen for this type of car. It physical shape and way it is soldered to the board is unlike our normal findings. We do not have the tools to even remove it, nor does our programmer!

[BL33SU]

theres REVO/GIAC/APR/

how much does awe charge?

[dino67]

They do a GIAC chip for $400 US. I don't see how someone here can do it if the chips are made in the US and all they do is import them and solder them on here. Do I have some rare ECU that is unlike any other ?? That would be my luck !!

[Tim]

yeah dont waste your time and just get something done locally. at least it will be supported locally if you have any issues afterwards.
clearly they dont just import them and solder them. if that was the case then the US company would have been able to do it for u.

we have a different market and what applies to the US doesnt apply here. Its cheaper to buy euro stuff in the US than it is to buy it in europe. When we have 350 million consumer whores in australia then we will be able to get similar pricing im sure

[DaveMack]

theres REVO/GIAC/APR/

how much does awe charge?

And let's not forget the granddaddy of them all ... Oettinger.

Dave

[Guy_H]

98' Passat is an AEB engine - our ECU controls for that model are specific to AUS, Asia & a couple of EU countries.

The Americans never had them, but they are certainly common as anything here, and the PLCC type chips are not "unusual" at all - although they are getting harder & harder to get as they have not been used in production ECU's since 2001 !

[BL33SU]

which state are you in???

[dino67]

Qld. I'm in Brisbane.

[DubSteve]

Out of curiosity aren't the US ECUs and that different spec, by that I mean different numbers so when they look at it they will be like wtf?

There are many places in Australia that will do it and due to the recent stock market alot of the prices have come down significantly. Google is your friend and so is this forum just make sure that you choose wisely do your research, and pick the one that will best suit your needs and wallet

PS. Welcome to our forum hope you enjoy yourself

[dino67]

Any suggestions ? From what i've read Giac/APR/Otteinger all get good reports. I know APR through Harding in Brisbane is having a 10% off sale - ends today. I will give them a look at my ECU when it arrives back in Aus. Can any one else suggest a product in Aus that they are happy with ??

I ship bike stuff back and forward to my friend in the US all the time so I'm really only down the time it took for my ECU to go on a tour. Here I was thinking I was going to save some money getting it done there. !!

[DubSteve]

There are many and alot of people can suggest anything, best thing to do is test it out yourself if you know anyone that has a chipped passat in QLD take a ride up there in it, there you can decide for yourself if that chip/flash is the right one for yourself.

I had the same situation with yourself when I had engine work and decided that a chip was the way to go with the mods I made, they had to send the ECU to melbourne, in conjunction with the programmers in America to make the code then they sent it down to Melbourne to be uploaded to the chip, from which then was sent back to be placed in the car.

[Golf Loon]

Those AEB Passats are a funny car, by the way the owners swop ecus around, it appears that they are not coded to the keys. Makes em good for a conversion I reckon

[Golf Houso]

The chips are all different according to the country they're sent to. I noticed that for the MK3's that in England, Belgian, Denmark and a handful of other conutries had the same cpu codes as we do. The Yanks all have to run on awful 91 octane hence even more differences. Yeah get it done locally, the difference will be enormous...

I wish my mum's passat was chipped, its a yawn box at the moment...