Chip tuning

What is chip tuning

Chip Tuning is a safe way to improve the performance of your vehicle. Modern cars are equipped with electronic control unit ECU (Engine Control Unit), controlling the quantity of injected fuel and control ignition, depending on engine operating state. Car manufacturers are forced to compile these programs according to certain criteria and with significant reserves. Simply put - a car that meets the production line, it must also function well in extremely warm in extremely cold climates. It is a serial program data sufficiently broad and take into account a wide range of other aspects (such as low fuel, etc.).. Consequently, the engine of your vehicle only utilises 60-70% of its potential. This fact, however, can be easily and safely changed by adjusting the data stored in the memory control unit, called Chip.

This was done with early engine computers in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, the term chip tuning can be misleading, as is used to describe ECU tuning that does not involve swapping the chip. Modern electronic control units can be tuned by simply updating their software through a standard interface, such as On Board Diagnostics. This procedure is commonly referred to as engine or electronic control unit tuning. electronic control units are a relatively recent addition to the automobile, having first appeared in the late 1970s.

As technology has advanced, so did the electronics that go into cars. The electronic control unit in a modern automobile, together with advanced engine technology, makes it possible to control many aspects of the engine's operation, such as spark timing and fuel injection. The electronic control unit may also control electronic throttle control (drive-by-wire), poppet valve timing, boost control (in turbocharged engines), anti-lock braking system, the automatic transmission, speed governor (if equipped), and the Electronic Stability Control system.

Performance gains are realized by adjusting the ignition timing advance. Different timing may result in better performance. However, to cope with advanced timing, you should run high-octane petrol to avoid pre-ignition detonation or pinging. Manufacturers design for a specific timing and this may limit performance accordingly.

A poorly tuned electronic control unit can result in decreased performance and may even cause engine damage.

What is chipping?

The manufacturers chip in a vehicle contains a look-up table. The table contains data that tells the engine how to respond under various circumstances. Taking an example, if you are driving at 50 miles per hour and you quickly press the throttle, the computer will detect this and ask the chip what to do. The chip will refer to its table and tell the computer how much petrol to send to your engine, how and when to shift your car into a lower gear (in the case of an automatic), how to adjust the timing and how much turbo boost to provide, if your car has a turbocharger. In a factory chip, all of these parameters are dictated by the car manufacturer based on a balance of market options for the model in question. When you put a performance chip in, the look-up table is changed and adjusts the parameters to give you the best performance without regard to fuel economy, emissions and other performance-reducing constraints.

The benefits of chip tuning

Once your vehicle is remapped you can expect:

  • An engine that responds to the throttle quickly
  • Smoother power delivery making town driving much easier with fewer gear changes
  • Improved acceleration for safer overtaking
  • Improved fuel consumption

What is the purpose of the factory chip?

Modern car engines are controlled by a computer. These computers have a "chip" that tells the computer when and how to adjust your car engine timing, its fuel-to-air ratio, turbo boost and other things. Since automobile manufacturers must be competitive in fuel consumption, and comply with emissions and other regulations, they often reduce many of these settings to provide a "market acceptable" model.

Save fuel with chip tuning?

When we remap a vehicle, especially when fuel saving is the priority we focus on improving the low-end torque in particular and widening the power-band as far as we can.

This increase in low-end torque will mean less throttle pedal input is required to maintain cruising speeds, when fully laden or when on a gradient. It will also mean that the vehicle will be more comfortable in higher gears at slower speeds as well requiring fewer gear changes overall.

If you combine these factors with adjusting your driving style to make the most of the extra low-end torque you will see an improvement in fuel consumption. This is most effective on turbo-diesel engines where the savings could be as much as 20%!

Is chip tuning legal?

Yes, it is legal to remap a chip. Although you should inform your insurance company of alterations made to the vehicle.

ECU Remap

When a manufacturer develops a new car the designers have to consider all the conditions it can be subjected to, in all the regions where the model will be sold. Dundee Remaps rewrite the software on your engine ECU to safely gain power and torque, improve the driving experience and the added bonus of enhanced fuel economy on diesel engines. Dundee Remaps works with the UK's largest remap provider to make sure you get the best remap available.

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What is chip tuning?

Chip Tuning or Chipping is simply remapping by another name, but involves the physical removal of the program chip from the main ECU in the vehicle and either re-programming or replacement with a new chip modified with a fully tested remap.

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The benefits?

  • More power
  • More Torque
  • Faster throttle response
  • Less fuel usage
  • Smoother Driving
  • Lower emissions
  • Relaxed economic driving

Diesel remap

Dundee Remaps specialise in diesel remapping. This is possible because of our partnership with the Uk's largest remap program supplier. We pride ourselves on ensuring that your turbo diesel will perform to a higher standard once the remap has been completed.

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Visit with Confidence

You can visit Dundee Remaps Garages in complete confidence, knowing you will be looked after. Not only do we guarantee all of our work (parts and labour) for 12 months, we also subscribe to codes of practice. As a Bosch appointed service centre we adhere to the OFT code of conduct for garages, in addition we are members of the Scottish Motor Trade Association, Good Garage Scheme and Motor Codes, all of which give you security in the knowledge we will take care of you and your vehicle. In the unlikely event that you wish to challenge the work that Alastair Reid Garages have undertaken, then please contact the garage directly in the first instance. Should you not be happy that this issue is resolved then you can contact Motor Codes via their website, they provide dispute resolution services on behalf of Alastair Reid Garages.