GOLF TDI TUNING BOX

**JELLYBEAN** · 27-01-2007,08:56 PM

HI EVERYONE, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE TUNING BOXES AVAILABLE, TO FIT THE GOLF TDI 130. HAS ANYONE ANY EXPERIENCE AS TO WETHER THESE ACTUALLY WORK?, AND HAVE ANY PROBLEMS BEEN REPORTED WITH THEM. I HAVE A TDI 130 AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE CHEAPEST WAY TO A FEW MORE BHP, ANY HINTS/TIPS MUCH APPRECIATED.
THANKYOU
JELLYBEAN

**devonutopia** · 27-01-2007,10:22 PM

Turn the caps lock off mate

makes it hard to read the post.

A tuning box will work, but it works by fooling the car into thinking its driving in much colder conditions, so just chucks more fuel in for more power. This is not healthy for the engine and will be a "smokey" power.

For the health of your engine, and for a MUCH better performance, save up £400 for a good custom remap somewhere. If you plan to keep the car for some time, you might end up spending £400 on engine repairs due to the tuning box.

**Apophis** · 28-01-2007,03:43 AM

There's tuning boxes, and there's tuning boxes. Most are cheap, as described above. However, there is the Tunit box

http://www.tunit.co.uk/tunit-product-range.php

See what you think. I know a few pumpe duse owners, who use them. They are easily transferred/removed etc. The cost is £479. You can get remaps nowadays at cheaper prices then the £513 Superchips, best I've seen so far is £150.
IMPORTANT:- Discuss any mods with your insurers BEFOREHAND, otherwise you're in for a nasty shock....

**NicholasP** · 28-01-2007,10:13 AM

ive had both.

I had a £240 dragon tuning box which was ok. It was easy to setup, and once plugged in gave the car a good power increase...very smokey though. Car felt a bit strained as well..

After 2 days, ditched the box...phoned Upsolute...and got my mk3 golf tdi chipped for £260. Much better...

The car doesnt feel strained at all. It just feels alot faster, and smokes a little but only when you floor it. I think it was well worth the money and definately a better choice over the tuning box..

Keep in mind the tuning box advantage is you can pull it out whenever for insurance, warranty, claims etc where as when its chipped..thats it.

**devonutopia** · 28-01-2007,11:25 AM

I believe the best remap is one done on a rolling road, so plenty of runs can be done between trying out different settings. This is one reason I go to Jabbasport for my tuning, the other reason is the Xbox in the waiting room and the huge TV.

**JELLYBEAN** · 28-01-2007,04:50 PM

hi guys, thanks for the replies to the posting yesterday. much appreciated. i have since mailed buyers of these items from an auction site that rhymes with she bay...and the replies i have had (and they appear genuine) confirm that they do work and no one has noticed any more 'smoke' than normal when flooring the car, so am still 50/50 on whether to get one. it's not about the money (before you call me a tight welsh git) as it's only £25, it's more a concern that it may overheat or stall regularly or anything like that, i can give up a few mpg for the fun factor so long as it's reliable and doesn't affect any other electrics on the car, the buyers that have replied have only had them fitted for 2 weeks at the most you see.
jellybean.

**Eshrules** · 28-01-2007,05:32 PM

the old saying of 'you get what you pay for' is applicable here. as has been mentioned above, the best way to get increased performance from the car in regards to the chip is a full remap on a rolling road. when you get work like this done, it comes with a warranty and should anything fail as a result, youll be covered. the cheap chip you talk of @ 25 quid is not going to do anything positive for your golf in the long run.

long and short of it, if you want a car that will last, dont go fitting a 25 quid engine mod. it does not enhance performancem it simply fools the engine into putting more fuel through, ultimatley some of which will be unburnt.

unfortunatley, you own a vw golf, as with all engines from the VAG group, they are precision engines.

i would personally head devonutopia's advice, he has done a lot of work with his fabia and knows what he's talking about.

also, as has been mentioned, be cautious in regards to your insurance, you must inform them of your intentions as you may completley invalidate your insurance.

**Eshrules** · 28-01-2007,05:37 PM

just another note, devonutopia or other techies may confirm or question this. but if your engine is thinking it is cold all the time, your temp readings and anything that runs off it will be false, it will think the engine is, in effect, cold, all the time.... have you not noticed how poorly these cars can run when they are cold. i had a problem on my brava, wherby the temp sender and thermostat were reading incorrectly, it was causing the engine to overheat as the engine appeard to be always cold, hence the engine cooling fan etc never kicked in..... that would be my major concern in regards to fitting this 'chip'.

**devonutopia** · 28-01-2007,05:39 PM

If there is a bonus about a tuning box, it's that in the event of trouble it can be ripped out the engine p.d.q. I would still notify the insurers of it's presence though. Sometimes I'm really glad of my policy. I can do anything except change engine CC, so going to see how far an 1896cc engine can go.

**JELLYBEAN** · 28-01-2007,05:57 PM

eshrules....you've convinced me to err on the cautious side mate....cheers guy, my main issue was with the overheating due to it thinking it was cold, i'm far far away from being an expert but thought there may be an issue there, thanks man. so i'm going to have to fork out well into 3 figures am i ?....dammit...better start convincing the missus now. anyone else thinking of doing it 'properly'? how about maybe a group booking at a chipping site / rolling road for a tip-top discount... anyone interested?? if you don't ask you dont get!
thanks once again.
jellybean