We often get asked many questions about superchipping and remapping cars – here are a few of the most common ones:
- Tuning box, Chip change or remap?
- Remapping / serial programming.
- Why don’t the manufacturers tune their engines for best performance at the start?
- Can I swap the chip from my old car to the new one?
- If I see a second hand chip on the internet can I fit it to my similar model?
- What is a protection board and why is it fitted when the original chip has none?
- Should I have my car set up on a rolling road when the chip is fitted?
- Do you check my car before you Superchip it?
- Is the Superchip Guaranteed?
- What if something goes wrong with my car after its been chipped?
- How does M-Tech chip your car?
Tuning box, Chip change or remap?
The question we are often asked is which is the best medium for tuning my car? As a result of 23 years in engine tuning and 10 years in chip tuning we have a wealth of experience in this market and know we can offer unbiased advice on this subject.
Up until about 8 years ago most engine control units [ECU’s] could only be modified by physically removing a chip and replacing it with one programmed with modified data. This job required great expertise and patience usually with a soldering iron which we mastered many years ago. Occasionally the manufacturers would provide a socket for simple removal and fitting of the modified chip but as technology progressed the chips became smaller surface mount types requiring much skill to replace.
These units were responsible for the poor reliability reputation chipping had in the eighties and early nineties as a result of many unskilled hands attempting there replacement. At M-Tech we still have much demand for this type of work and have a reliability record second to none using the very best surface mount soldering equipment and training. As technology progressed ECU’s became much more complex and increasingly it was possible to reprogram the ECU’s mapping chip without even opening up the casing.
By means of ‘serial’ programming it was possible to reprogram the chip through the main engine diagnostic socket requiring no tampering or soldering. This procedure commonly referred to as ‘remapping’ has become the most successful and reliable method of modification. Superchips in Buckingham have always been at the forefront of this technology, as well as Revo Technik with whom we have recently become a partner, and a large team of computer and dyno experts work constantly to develop new models. With the leap in diesel technology diesel tuning has become very popular due to the huge torque gains possible often with improved fuel economy. A modern diesel engine can easily outperform an equivalent sized petrol engine particularly where torque is concerned. There are two main mediums used for diesel chipping. 1- Chip tuning boxes These units are very common and operate by intercepting the signals between engine and ECU modifying the signals to achieve increased fuelling / timing and sometimes fuel pressure.
Although they achieve power increases their limited design can lead to glitches and running problems as they are effectively ‘cheating’ the system into increasing its parameters. Commonly fuelling is increased non uniformly and indiscriminately leading to manifold overheating engine damage and sporadic triggering of engine management warning lights. As a result M-Tech do not recommend these devices.
Remapping / serial programming.
This medium as preferred by us uses the same methods as the manufacturer uses to program the ECU at the factory and dealerships. By reprogramming the ECU’s mapping chip directly the engineers can manipulate many more parameters allowing for a smoother , safer and much more reliable modification. No longer is the fuel system being ‘cheated’ into increased fueling but is instructed at source to operate harmoniously with all other components.
Superchips develop modified software as a result of painstaking dyno development ensuring the greatest performance gain consistent with maximum reliability and fuel economy. The other most important reason for using this medium is that it is invisible to the naked eye and cannot be detected by routine servicing diagnostic equipment. There will be no fault codes stored on the ECU memory because as far as its concerned the system is operating normally. This cannot be said for the tuning boxes which very often cause the ECU to log fault codes which can be detected during routine servicing. Removing the box before taking your car into the dealership will not help as the fault may still be recorded until read and erased by the technician.
Why don’t the manufacturers tune their engines for best performance at the start?
This is a fair question and one which cannot be answered simply. The manufacturers have very stringent regulations to meet before they can release a model. Manufacturers have to ensure minimum emissions maximum reliability whilst using the worst fuel quality available. They are forced to reduce some exhaust gases whilst increasing other equally harmful gasses due to crazy legislation. This leads to highly compromised engine mapping. Ironically most engines are not tuned to produce best fuel economy as a result of the above and it is absurd that in order to achieve a particular exhaust emission cocktail we are using more fossil fuel to achieve it.
Petrol engines for example may be set up with excessively retarded ignition timing in order to increase exhaust temperature and so catalytic converter efficiency but all at the expense of performance and fuel economy. To conclude the car makers know how to tune their engines but they are forced into compromises that only the end user can rectify.
Can I swap the chip from my old car to the new one?
Tuning boxes are often chosen because of their ease at which they can be removed and refitted to a new car. In my experience when you change your car you are unlikely to by an identical model and more likely to upgrade to the latest version which will almost certainly not be compatible with the chip from your old car. Fuel systems change almost on an annual basis and each change will require a new device or software to modify it. All Superchips conversions are produced with reversal in mind and most Superchip dealers will carry out such a procedure for a minimal charge ensuring your car is ready for sale.
If I see a second hand chip on the internet can I fit it to my similar model?
For every year model of car there can be as many as 50 or more software versions installed by the manufacturer and it is unlikely that any are interchangeable. Even if the car starts there could be endless glitches ranging from poor running to complete ‘crashing’ of the ECU causing anything from non starting to complete wiping of the ECU’s internal processor rendering it permanently defective. For the chip to be compatible it will have to be from the same ECU part number and with the same software version.
What is a protection board and why is it fitted when the original chip has none?
A protection board is used often when a physical chip change is made. This unit protects the chip vendor from fraudulent copying of the modified chip by scrambling the data. If the modified chip is fitted without the PB the engine will not start.
Should I have my car set up on a rolling road when the chip is fitted?
All Superchip conversions are developed during long painstaking dyno development at their premises in Buckingham. The modified data does not inhibit the ECU’s ability to ‘adapt’. All modern engine management systems have what is called K.A.M [keep alive memories] meaning they are able to adapt to individual mechanical discrepancies inevitable with mass produced engines.
If the compression is slightly low on one cylinder or the boost pressure is slightly low/ high it can tune itself to ensure the best possible performance. This ability to adapt works along side the Superchip data creating a seemless package. If however your car has been extensively modified i.e major internal modifications it may be necessary to check your car on a rolling road as its ability to ‘adapt’ may not be able to cope with such large changes in characteristics.
Do you check my car before you Superchip it?
At M-Tech we always carry out a PDI on your engine before we start. This will start with a simple road test which can reveal many faults to an experienced technician and where possible an engine diagnostic check using sophisticated engine management software. After the conversion is carried out we retest to ensure there are no faults.
Is the Superchip Guaranteed?
All Superchip products have a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects. We guarantee our workmanship and fitting for a period of 12 months.
What if something goes wrong with my car after its been chipped?
In the unlikely event that your car misbehaves after the chip is fitted we will be happy to return at the earliest possible time to check it out. However almost every case like this is not attributable to the Superchip conversion but to some unassociated problem. A Superchip is often blamed for every defect after it is fitted and is rarely the cause.
How does M-Tech chip your car?
Over 15 years, Superchips have developed a unique set of applications for most modern cars, including Non turbos, Turbos and Turbocharged diesels.
