Chip tuning originally meant exactly that: removing the memory chip from the ECU and soldering in a replacement holding a different map. On anything built in the last twenty years there is no chip to change. The ECU is reprogrammed through the diagnostic port, or on the bench if it is locked, and the words chip tuning and remapping now describe the same job. A tuning box is a different thing again, and worth understanding before you buy one.
Chip tuning – So what is it?
A lot of people have heard of ‘Chipping’ a car, but on most modern vehicles there’s simply no need as the flash memory can be reprogrammed via the diagnostic port, or by connecting to the ECU on the bench in boot mode.
Chiptuning is the process of directly tuning the memory chip on the ECU. We de-solder the chip from the ECU that stores all the map data, then reprogram the chip directly before re-fitting to the board. Here’s how we did it step by step on a Smart Brabus Roadster.
Firstly we disassemble the ECU and remove the circuit board from the casing;
We then identify, and de-solder the flash memory chip. In this case, it’s a 44pin AMD chip;
The chip is then inserted into our reading and programming tool, with the correct adaptor;
This allows us to extract the data from the chip in binary format;
The data is then uploaded into our tuning software. We’ll then be able to customise the mapping on the car…various parameters are altered, turbo boost pressure, air fuel ratio, ignition timing and many more factors are altered to get the perfect tune for the vehicle.
We then fit a socket to the ECU, this makes it easy for us to remove the chip to reprogram when the car is on the dyno and easy to revert to the standard software at any point;
The final product;
This is a very unusual way of tuning a car nowadays, but still something we can take on if required.
Over the next few weeks we’ll write up a few articles on the other more common methods of tuning.
Contact us for more information
Photos from the build
7 photos in our Maidstone workshop. Tap any to enlarge.
Questions we get asked
Is chip tuning the same as remapping?
Today, yes. The term survives from when a physical chip was replaced. Modern ECUs are reprogrammed by rewriting their software, either through the diagnostic port or with the unit on the bench. If someone offers you chip tuning on a current car, they mean a remap.
What is a tuning box then?
A separate module that plugs in between sensors and the ECU and alters the signals, usually fuel pressure or boost, so the engine delivers more. It does not change the ECU software at all. It is removable in minutes, which some people like, but it is working around the ECU rather than with it.
Which is better, a box or a remap?
A remap, in almost every case, because it changes the actual calibration and can be tailored to your car. A box has its place if you want something you can unplug before a dealer visit and you accept a cruder result. We sell both and we will tell you honestly which suits you.
Does remapping damage the ECU?
Not when it is done properly. The unit is designed to be reprogrammed; that is how manufacturers issue their own updates. What causes damage is an interrupted write, which is why we use a stable power supply and the right tool for the unit.
Can it be undone?
Yes. We keep your original file and can write it back at any point. Plenty of people have that done before a main dealer visit and then have the map put back afterwards.
How much power will my car gain?
On a modern turbocharged engine, typically 20 to 30 per cent on power and more again on torque. On a naturally aspirated engine, far less. Put your registration into our tuning builder and it will give you the figures we hold for your exact engine.
