What good is a hardware if there is no software to make full use of it?
As mentioned
here, the car have a hardware upgrade done to it. Now since there is a hardware upgrade done, it is imperative that the software be upgraded to make full use of it.
So I turned to my usual tuners,
Project'A for the software upgrade portion.
After much discussion with them on my requirements and expectations, we got to work.
For the first step, it involved taking the existing ECU file for a base reading.
But before that, the ECU needs to be taken out from the car.
The placement of the car ECU is as below.
Once the ECU is taken out, the base reading will be done.
This is how the ECU looks like with its covers off.
With the base readings, the team at Project'A then proceed to work on setting the parameters according to my requirement.
Lets just say they work smart and fast. Overnight, they completed the necessary parameters and the next day, it is ready to be loaded to the car.
Met up with them again and they then proceed to load the new parameters to the ECU.
Once the entire process is completed, we proceed with some adaptability test.
With my butt dyno, I can feel that the car has much more mid range to top end power now and the car accelerate much better then before. The mid range (3k-5k rpm) acceleration was superb. There is no need to go down a gear.
The next step of course is to get the car on a dyno machine to prove what I've felt with my butt.
And wait for it.....
RED is stock.
So the dyno pretty much confirm what I felt with my butt.
The new map has a peak 22HP / 34NM gain over the original map with the bulk of the gain in the mid-range section, the section that will be used most in our daily drive.
The mid-range section (3k to 5k) rpm now is very much better. Personally this is how the car is supposed to be direct from the factory.
On the original map, I need to downshift a gear or 2 in order to gain some urgency in acceleration. With this new map, most of the time, there is no need to go down a gear to get the same urgency, even on the super long gear 7. All you need to do is to give it slightly more throttle and the car will go.
Apart from the huge improvement in the mid-range portion, the top end also felt livelier. Previously if I am to rev beyond 5.5k rpm, the car don't really pull as it is already at its limit of the power out put.
Now with extra 22HP gain in towards top end, the car is now more eager to go. The top end no longer feel like you are wasting fuel for nothing.
And lets just say, with the extra 22HP going to the wheels at the top range, the speed that you can reach is quite fascinating. Not super-car territory but more than good enough for a 3-box family sedan.
So like a certain tagline, you gotta "Drive it to believe it".
It's time for the million dollar question, why is the HP/Torque figures "low"?
Why is it not 195HP or 290NM of torque? Is this tuner not good in tuning?
The answers to all the question above is because this is exactly what I've specified to the tuners. I am not chasing for peak figures. I am going for drivability and they get the job done to my expectation.
If you want peak figures, they are able to get it done for you. I have no doubt about it.
Just bear in mind this, with higher output, the stress on your engine internals is higher too and don't forget about your dear friend, the DSG7 gearbox.
As for me, I am happy with what I have and yes, my 1.4 TSI engine and DSG7 gearbox is still fine, very much alive and kicking, if you all want to know.
P/S - Question about warranty will not be entertained.
PP/S - Fuel consumption question will not be entertained too as FC is in direct relation to how heavy your right foot is.
