Q&A
Your Questions, Answered
What Does it cost?
Depending on the vehicle , type of ECU, Type of method for the Remap costs can range from £249.00 to £399.00.
All we need is your vehicle Registration number and we can quote you accordingly.
What is an ECU?
The engine in all modern vehicles is controlled electronically by an ECU, which is constantly processing information received from a multitude of sensors. The engine’s fuelling, ignition timing, boost if applicable, torque values, etc, are all calibrated within the ECU code based on the conditions in which the vehicle is being used, its altitude, the quality of the fuel in its tank, and so on. Together with the sensor information the relevant tables, or ‘maps’, are used to keep the engine running at optimal performance – whether it is being asked to deliver high or low output.
ECUs are increasingly complex and every new generation that ECU manufacturers (typically BOSCH, Siemens, Delphi, Magnetti Marelli, Denso and others) produce requires a deeper understanding of the strategy that has been employed.
What is Remapping an ECU
ECU remapping is taking a read from the ECU’s processing chip of the vehicles standard compromised map and adjusting various parameters within the map such as fuel pressure, boost pressure (on turbocharged applications) ignition advance and throttle pedal control amongst others to release the true performance from the engine. It is a completely safe process as it is just giving the engine the performance it should have had in the first place before all the compromises were applied to the original programming. Every engine will have its own unique map and by adjusting this we can fine tune the characteristics of the engine; unleashing more power and in many cases reduce fuel consumption too.
What are the benefits of Remapping?
ECU programming will not only improve the engines power and torque figures, it will also sharpen the throttle response and widen the power-band. This will make the power delivery a lot more linear, which in turn will make the vehicle feel livelier to drive and the engine more flexible. Frequently, the vehicle’s power output is restricted by the manufacturer for no other reason than to ensure that it fits into a class to suit fleet buyers. As a driving enthusiast, you do not need or want such restrictions placed upon your vehicle’s ECU, so with a conversion you can benefit from the hidden power and torque locked away within your engine management system.
The other main benefit of remapping will be a reduction in fuel consumption. With the extra torque - especially at the bottom of the rev range - you will see a fuel saving as it will require less throttle input to maintain motorway speeds; you can drive in a higher gear at a slower speed; and the additional power is especially useful when fully laden, towing, or on gradients.
WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY MODIFY IN MY VEHICLE?
We do not change any hardware in your vehicle, we just modify the operating parameters in the ECU’s program or ‘map’. In many cases the map stored on the ECU’s processor can be accessed via the on-board diagnostics port (OBD) in the vehicle, normally found under the dashboard. In some newer models the ECU will have to be removed from the vehicle and the casing opened, our technicians will then use specialist tools to read the original map straight from the processing chip.
We will then upload the original map to our map writing team who will adjust the parameters to maximise the performance, fuel economy or a clever blend of both. Depending on the vehicle and ECU type the chip tuning process can take under an hour and if at any time you wish to return your vehicles ECU to its original default settings, this can be done easily and free of charge as we always keep a copy of the original software as a backup.
Is it safe for my vehicle?
Remapping enhances and optimises the power of the engine within safe limits. We are taking up the slack of the high tolerance level that vehicle manufacturers always build in – often to ensure that warranty claims are kept to an acceptable minimum. A good remap from a file writer who understands the strategy within the ECU will not allow the engine to get close to component failure.
Note that quality tuning companies offer very similar gains – so be wary of some with a lesser reputation, who appear to offer enormous power increases. In reality these claims are either simply untrue, or they are programming the ECU well outside of safe operating parameters. Every vehicle has a mechanical limit to the amount of power it can produce, so if it sounds too good to be true it generally will be.
Each individual engine is different as in how much it can be pushed in a remap, but a good ecu remap from a quality ecu tuner will never get close the limits of component failure.