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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: AKcurly on February 14, 2004, 01:30:46 AM

Title: Hack your car
Post by: AKcurly on February 14, 2004, 01:30:46 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/13/automobiles/13CHIP.html

WHEN Scott Farrell, a Coast Guard instructor in Newport News, Va., wanted a big power boost for his 1998 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, he didn't lower the suspension, install a hot camshaft or add a free-flow exhaust. Instead, he had a business-card size electronic part installed — a so-called "performance chip" designed to reprogram the car's engine control module to provide more horsepower. "It was a night-and-day difference," he said.  

Long story, go read if interested.

curly
Title: Hack your car
Post by: AKS\/\/ulfe on February 14, 2004, 01:36:24 AM
Those dirty bastards want me to register.

As far as chips go, they can add very little (unless there is a huge gas expense) without a cold air intake and voltage input change (spark plug upgrade with electronics upgrade to accomdate the voltage/current). Even then, you really don't need to upgrade the MCU (its that or some other lettering I can't remember) because by resetting that chip (with the new upgrades) and running it the car again will acquire new settings and adjust for the new power and fuel economy.
-SW
Title: Hack your car
Post by: Tuomio on February 14, 2004, 03:53:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
MCU (its that or some other lettering I can't remember)
-SW


Yes, MCU = microcontroller unit.
Title: Hack your car
Post by: SunTracker on February 14, 2004, 03:54:29 AM
My engine shuts off in my truck if I exceed 100mph.
Title: Hack your car
Post by: AKcurly on February 14, 2004, 03:58:32 AM
Quote
Originally posted by AKS\/\/ulfe
Those dirty bastards want me to register.



It's free, wulfie :)

curly
Title: Hack your car
Post by: Dingbat on February 14, 2004, 07:55:18 AM
Quote
Originally posted by SunTracker
My engine shuts off in my truck if I exceed 100mph.


GMC?
Title: Hack your car
Post by: TPIguy on February 14, 2004, 08:12:34 AM
In most cars an off the shelf chip is a waste of money. A chip needs to be tuned for your car, to take advandage of your mods and make it run like you want to.

I know lots of people who burn thier own. They are constantly tweaking them and testing. Its like tuning a carb, only 10x more complex.

That said, if your car has a computer controlled turbocharger you can gain ALOT from just a chip. As it can be programed to allow higher levels of boost. The same also applied to turbo diesel trucks.


http://www.theclashofthetitans.com/images/videos/vids/Diesel1.mpg
Title: Hack your car
Post by: TPIguy on February 14, 2004, 08:13:00 AM
In most cars an off the shelf chip is a waste of money. A chip needs to be tuned for your car, to take advandage of your mods and make it run like you want to.

I know lots of people who burn thier own. They are constantly tweaking them and testing. Its like tuning a carb, only 10x more complex.

That said, if your car has a computer controlled turbocharger you can gain ALOT from just a chip. As it can be programed to allow higher levels of boost. The same also applied to turbo diesel trucks.


http://www.theclashofthetitans.com/images/videos/vids/Diesel1.mpg
Title: Hack your car
Post by: TPIguy on February 14, 2004, 08:13:12 AM
In most cars an off the shelf chip is a waste of money. A chip needs to be tuned for your car, to take advandage of your mods and make it run like you want to.

I know lots of people who burn thier own. They are constantly tweaking them and testing. Its like tuning a carb, only 10x more complex.

That said, if your car has a computer controlled turbocharger you can gain ALOT from just a chip. As it can be programed to allow higher levels of boost. The same also applied to turbo diesel trucks.


http://www.theclashofthetitans.com/images/videos/vids/Diesel1.mpg
Title: Hack your car
Post by: Ripsnort on February 14, 2004, 08:24:06 AM
Quote
Originally posted by TPIguy
In most cars an off the shelf chip is a waste of money. A chip needs to be tuned for your car, to take advandage of your mods and make it run like you want to.

I know lots of people who burn thier own. They are constantly tweaking them and testing. Its like tuning a carb, only 10x more complex.

That said, if your car has a computer controlled turbocharger you can gain ALOT from just a chip. As it can be programed to allow higher levels of boost. The same also applied to turbo diesel trucks.


http://www.theclashofthetitans.com/images/videos/vids/Diesel1.mpg


WHOA! 12 secs in a diesel?  My Cod!
Title: Hack your car
Post by: TPIguy on February 14, 2004, 10:06:52 AM
damn, triple post.

Rip theres faster ones out there. Who needs AWD when you got a dually?
Title: Hack your car
Post by: lazs2 on February 14, 2004, 10:17:20 AM
tpi guys is correct... not enough to repeat it three times but.... correct...  A chip might add 10 hp in a few ranges in most cars but you need to program the puter if you do any mods.   way past my expertise or interest.

lazs
Title: Hack your car
Post by: FUNKED1 on February 14, 2004, 12:22:58 PM
In the WRX community we have the ability to do a total reflash of the ECU.  No need for a chip or installing anything permanently on the car.  There is about 35 hp available just by doing this with no other mods.
Title: Hack your car
Post by: Nilsen on February 14, 2004, 04:48:58 PM
Ehm... Tina (my gf) got 50 or something more hp out of her/our 530d Touring diesel by "hacking" it :D

Dont feel bad about it either, cars are EXPENSIVE in norway (they add tax to every HP you get :(
Title: Hack your car
Post by: BB Gun on February 14, 2004, 06:34:33 PM
A guy at work went from 150 (?) to 210 - I think, I'll have to ask him - by getting a chip put in his Audi A4.  I'll see if I can't get more details monday.

BB
Title: Hack your car
Post by: rpm on February 15, 2004, 02:57:03 AM
Just check out Superchips. (http://www.superchips.com/html/mainpage/index.htm)
Title: Hack your car
Post by: AKS\/\/ulfe on February 15, 2004, 03:50:18 AM
I know C, but while signing up is as easy as 1-2-3... I suck at math, so I don't make it past number a.
-SW
Title: Hack your car
Post by: Chairboy on February 15, 2004, 10:06:47 AM
On a slightly related subject, does anyone else have an OBD-II interface?  I have a serial interface to my laptop I use for projects and tuning, it's very neat.