New tdi Jetta with ecu remap

[TDIESEL]

Hi Guys,

I dont want to plug anyone but the best Diesel power increase i have seen is through DP CHIP which most of you have heard of.

These have been used in lost of different brands and don't go over the gearbox (man/auto), clutch and drive line power/torque raitings.

Easy to fit and easy to take off.

Cheers

Much cheaper companies around that do the same thing. Check out TDC Technologies.com
Have one of their tuning boxes on mine now and it's made a huge difference in power and better consumption. From what I can see it's basically the same product as DP chip but costs bugger all in comparison.

Handy hint: Cheaper to buy TDC box from EBAY than direct from company.

[vectorskink]

TDC says that it doesn't void the warranty. How can they say that? Do they get the go ahead from VW saying that the device doesn't void warranty?
I like the sound of it, and for US$99 on ebay it's damn cheap!

Folks that own 'chipped' 2.0 TDI's, what real-world fuel consumption improvements are you seeing? Are you seeing improvements in urban/suburban driving?

[VW Convert]

TDC says that it doesn't void the warranty. How can they say that? Do they get the go ahead from VW saying that the device doesn't void warranty?
I like the sound of it, and for US$99 on ebay it's damn cheap!

Folks that own 'chipped' 2.0 TDI's, what real-world fuel consumption improvements are you seeing? Are you seeing improvements in urban/suburban driving?

US$99???? Doesn't void warranty?

You know the old saying.....if it sounds too good to be true it probably is!

Cheers

George

[TDIESEL]

TDC says that it doesn't void the warranty. How can they say that? Do they get the go ahead from VW saying that the device doesn't void warranty?
I like the sound of it, and for US$99 on ebay it's damn cheap!

Folks that own 'chipped' 2.0 TDI's, what real-world fuel consumption improvements are you seeing? Are you seeing improvements in urban/suburban driving?

Taken from TDC site:
Will the PowerBox void my new vehicle warranty?

According to your vehicle warranty manual and federal law, “modifications to your vehicle (using aftermarket parts) do not, of themselves void your warranty but if a failure is caused by a non-OEM part then your warranty may be affected.” The above statement or a very similar one is in the warranty section of every owner’s manual for every vehicle sold in America. To comply with the Magnuson Moss Act and be a legal warranty, such a statement is required. Use of the phrase “caused by” in the warranty statement means that for your warranty to be legally voided, due to a modification, the manufacturer of the vehicle must demonstrate how the modification caused the failure before denial of a warranty repair.



They don't actually say their product is covered under VW warranty and I think any blind Freddy would know any modification away from standard will give the dealer a reason to get out of paying for any repairs at their expense, so usual rule applies of buyer beware. If owners are worried about factory warranty being voided - wait till it expires. Or do what most people do with these things, simply unplug it when taking it to the dealer for service etc and they are none the wiser.

I found that virtually all "chipping " companies claim around the same power/torque increase yet the cost varies dramatically. It all comes down to how much faith you hold in their advertising (dyno charts) and how much you are prepared to fork out to believe their claims. I was prepared to gamble $100 to see if the TDC tuning box delivered the goods and it has delivered a large enough bum in drivers seat difference (much better acceleration and pulls a lot earlier in rev range) and better consumption for me (averaging around 5L/100) not to look at blowing $1000+ on a flash tune that still poses warranty issues and can be wiped by the dealer anyway.

[eternaloptimist]

Hmmm, annoying development:
Background: Jetta 2.0 tdi ecu remapped by Powerchip agent (also the VW dealer...) is now 1 week old and 300 km driven.
There is noticeable turbo lag "from off the line" but once the turbo kicks in it is great fun. I think it has improved in the last few days but am not sure.
I raised my concerns with the agent. He has talked to their mechanics and to Powerchip....
In several weeks (am going away), I will return the car to the agent who will return the ecu to "stock" so they and, more importantly, I can see if there is any real world difference. If not, then there is something fishy going on....
If there is no change, I will be keeping the ecu stock and getting my money back. If there is a significant real world difference... I will get the ecu remapped "back" and stop whinging!
Lesson learnt: Drive the car un-chipped for a while first BEFORE getting it chipped!
D

[SoVeReIgN]

Hmmm, annoying development:
Background: Jetta 2.0 tdi ecu remapped by Powerchip agent (also the VW dealer...) is now 1 week old and 300 km driven.
There is noticeable turbo lag "from off the line" but once the turbo kicks in it is great fun. I think it has improved in the last few days but am not sure.
I raised my concerns with the agent. He has talked to their mechanics and to Powerchip....
In several weeks (am going away), I will return the car to the agent who will return the ecu to "stock" so they and, more importantly, I can see if there is any real world difference. If not, then there is something fishy going on....
If there is no change, I will be keeping the ecu stock and getting my money back. If there is a significant real world difference... I will get the ecu remapped "back" and stop whinging!
Lesson learnt: Drive the car un-chipped for a while first BEFORE getting it chipped!
D

*ahem*

Powerchip is rubbish.

*ahem*

Drive a APR/GIAC/REVO car then decide what you want to do!

[mikinoz]

*ahem*

Powerchip is rubbish.

*ahem*

Drive a APR/GIAC/REVO car then decide what you want to do!

Mate there are many ways to reach an end result.

You also forgot MTM if you were going to be super TDI savvy!

In all each person chooses what is good for them and if they purchase a Powerchip and are happy - great for them. Also if they have not heard about the others, they would not know what they have to offer...

[eternaloptimist]

*ahem*

Powerchip is rubbish.

*ahem*

Drive a APR/GIAC/REVO car then decide what you want to do!

I am wary of blanket statements....
One major factor in my going with Powerchip was that the local VW dealer is also the Powerchip agent (doesn't advertise the fact ...) so there are no potential issues with local dealer servicing etc. I would be surprised if VW dealer mechanics would support something that was "rubbish"... Maybe I am naive!
Thoughts?

[gregozedobe]

There are many people doing remaps (chipping).

There are many more opinions about the pros and cons of the different remaps (probably the understatement of the year)

If I was considering a remap I would want to drive a car the same as mine except for the remap, so I could tell whether I liked the change or not. Dyno tests seem to be quite variable (to say the least), and they don't tell you what the part throttle response is like, but that (part throttle) is where you spend the vast majority of your driving time (unless you do lots of track driving or have no mechanical sympathy).

[DaveMack]

I initially had a Powerchip ... had it removed and refund after Dyno check showed it gave identical power to ... wait for it ... the standard car.

Then I got APR ...

Dave

[eternaloptimist]

I initially had a Powerchip ... had it removed and refund after Dyno check showed it gave identical power to ... wait for it ... the standard car.

Then I got APR ...

Dave

Hi DaveMack,
Thanks for the comment.
What engine / car did you have "Powerchipped"?
I had a quick look at APR and in their Product index I couldn't find a lising for the 2.0 tdi engine...
Another problem I have is that I live in a regional city.... options are more limited....
If I find there is no real world difference with the ecu returned to "stock" I will be getting my money back... if this happens... any suggestions for an alternative ecu remap approach for someone who lives many kms from the major cities!
D

[eternaloptimist]

So....
Had the Powerchip ECU remap "undone" i.e. ECU remapped to stock.
Am very happy, car drives much, much better.
Why? Because although the car had marginally more power when well underway (including more turbo "kick"), at low speed car was bloody hard to drive and really easy to stall. 4 of 5 people who drove the car stalled it from stationary on first attempt...
Since returning the ECU to stock, the car is much easier to drive, smoother and with less engine noise.
The Powerchip agent has refunded my money without question which was impressive. They were very surprised the ECU remap was not a success.
Live and learn.
D

[jb747]

Just curious, but how do you know the ECU is now 'stock'. Did they copy the original settings, or just flash it with an approximation of stock?

[SoVeReIgN]

*ahem*

Powerchip is rubbish.

*ahem*

Drive a APR/GIAC/REVO car then decide what you want to do!

I am wary of blanket statements....
One major factor in my going with Powerchip was that the local VW dealer is also the Powerchip agent (doesn't advertise the fact ...) so there are no potential issues with local dealer servicing etc. I would be surprised if VW dealer mechanics would support something that was "rubbish"... Maybe I am naive!
Thoughts?

So....
Had the Powerchip ECU remap "undone" i.e. ECU remapped to stock.
Am very happy, car drives much, much better.
Why? Because although the car had marginally more power when well underway (including more turbo "kick"), at low speed car was bloody hard to drive and really easy to stall. 4 of 5 people who drove the car stalled it from stationary on first attempt...
Since returning the ECU to stock, the car is much easier to drive, smoother and with less engine noise.
The Powerchip agent has refunded my money without question which was impressive. They were very surprised the ECU remap was not a success.
Live and learn.
D

Can't say I didn't tell you so!!

Now give APR/GIAC/REVO a go.

[Greg Roles]

There are many people doing remaps (chipping).

There are many more opinions about the pros and cons of the different remaps (probably the understatement of the year)

If I was considering a remap I would want to drive a car the same as mine except for the remap, so I could tell whether I liked the change or not. Dyno tests seem to be quite variable (to say the least), and they don't tell you what the part throttle response is like, but that (part throttle) is where you spend the vast majority of your driving time (unless you do lots of track driving or have no mechanical sympathy).

SPOT ON. Drive a chipped car, use your bumometer. At the recent dyno shootout I got to drive Jaymz chipped TDI, and on the dyno you'd look at the graphs between my stock car and his and think "OK it's more, but doesn't seem a huge amount..." THEN you drive the thing and think " holy SHEEEET !! ". Graphs are for theorists, and that's fine, but in the end, go the real world result.