| Engine Tuning (ECU Modifications) | | | | range, e.g. : 6000 revs/min, so by raising this to a |
| The ECU (also known as the Engine Control Unit) | | | | slightly higher, yet not dangerous, level, e.g. : 7200 |
| is basically the brain of your vehicle. It controls | | | | revs/min, then more power can be reached and |
| amongst many other things all the ignition timing | | | | performance will therefore be increased. |
| and fueling settings and would have been setup | | | | It is widely recognised that the only way you can |
| by the manufacturer in the factory with | | | | get the absolute optimum performance from any |
| economy, reliability and drivability being the main | | | | engine is to have the ECU completely remapped |
| priority. | | | | for that particular engine. |
| By re-programming it (better known as | | | | ECU Replacements |
| remapping), the settings can be altered to | | | | To obtain the optimum performance from your |
| produce more power from the engine it controls. | | | | cars engine it would really need to be on a rolling |
| Chip Upgrades and Remapping | | | | road and have the ignition and fueling setup |
| Modern uprated ECU chips, from the many | | | | perfectly to match the other components of the |
| reputable aftermarket tuning companies can | | | | engine, but as the standard systems are not |
| improve the drivability and torque curve all the | | | | programmable, a new system must be installed to |
| way through the revs. It should not effect the | | | | store the new settings. |
| fuel economy or reliability in a major way and due | | | | There are 3 options here. |
| to the way they are setup, but they are | | | | Firstly is the ECU chipping method as described |
| pre-programmed and are therefore wont give the | | | | above, however these are usually not |
| optimum gain. | | | | remappable, although remappable chips are |
| One of the main issues with the standard chip, is | | | | available which will do the job. |
| that the parameters and settings it controls are | | | | Secondly there are piggy-back units which are |
| designed to be used on all of the engines that a | | | | basically plugged in line in order to override some |
| manufacturer produces, and therefore has to | | | | of the settings of the standard ECU. However, |
| have built in safety margins in mind, as all engines, | | | | because the complete original ECU system is still in |
| even if of the same design, will be slightly | | | | place, there may be some controls, such as the |
| different. | | | | rev limit, that will be fixed at the manufacturers |
| With after market performance chips this | | | | setting. |
| problem is not cured, as yet again, these chips, | | | | Lastly, and the most effective solution, is to install |
| designed more for performance than fuel | | | | a complete new programmable ECU, which once |
| economy, are intended to fit in any ECU of any | | | | fitted, will offer complete control over the engine |
| particular model. Again, they are not designed | | | | and all the settings that control it. |
| specifically for the one particular engine in your | | | | On modified cars, ECU remapping can give |
| car and therefore must cater for the slight | | | | excellent results, making the car more driveable |
| differences between the different engines. | | | | and refined, while maximising the benefits from all |
| On a positive note, one of the best things about | | | | the other modifications, giving the absolute |
| chips is the ability to raise the rev limiter to a | | | | optimum performance for the specification |
| more powerful level. On some cars the rev limiter | | | | available. |
| has been set to come in quite low in the rev | | | | |