What are the benefits of performance remapping ('chipping') my car?

• Increased Bhp across the entire power range.
• Increased torque (Nm) - Especially at low Rpm.
• Increased Mpg through more economical use of fuel.
• Far cheaper than upgrading the entire car!

What is included in the price?

All vehicles are visually inspected and road-tested prior to being remapped. Volvo cars pre-1999 will be checked on Autodiagnos equipment while post-1999 cars will be fully VIDA checked. Other makes will be fully tested on Launch X-341 Super Scanner equipment to read off all diagnostic trouble codes prior to remapping. A certificate of remapping will be issued in addition to the invoice for your piece of mind should you wish to sell the vehicle in the future.

How are these performance increases gained?

Manufacturers have to allow for varying fuel qualities across all continents that the vehicle is sold in, this means that the engine is not optimized for maximum performance. Through remapping certain variables within the engine management system it is possible to get power and torque increases and improve fuel economy. If your vehicle is a VOLVO, it will receive full VIDA diagnostic checks before and after remapping to ensure perfect optimisation.

Some manufacturers gradually improve the power available from the engine over the life span of the model, this is usually achieved by remapping the car slightly for each subsequent model year that is released. Performance remapping simply develops this a stage further to gain greater results with due consideration to other components which may be affected by increasing power output.

Is the ECU upgrade invisible of detectable?

The ECU upgrade is not detectable by most standard dealership servicing and diagnostics equipment. The modified ECU software is also invisible, which means it cannot be seen with a visual inspection.

How will if affect my dealer warranty ?

The ECU upgrade will not affect your manufacturer 3 yr / 60K mile warranty for the car as a whole, and this varies from country to country. For further clarification please ask when enquiring.

How will if affect my insurance ?

Although the ECU upgrade is invisible and undetectable to most systems, it is your responsibility to notify your insurance company of any modifications to your vehicle. Our ECU upgrades are "insurance friendly" and we can tailor the upgrade to meet the criteria of your insurance company. Please call us for more details.

What petrol should I use once the ECU is upgraded (petrol cars only)?

We always recommend 98 or 99 RON such as Shell Optimax / V Power. If not available, we recommend Super Unleaded, then a branded Premium Unleaded.

How is the economy (MPG / L/Km) improved?

Increases in low-end torque allow the driver to use higher gears and therefore increase the economy of the vehicle after remapping. Your driving style will have an effect on economy and turbo petrol cars generally only see slight improvements to economy while turbo diesels can be increased by up to 10%! Obviously these increases are reliant on a similar driving style before and after tuning, this will greatly depend on your individual reasons for remapping the vehicle. Please note that sports remaps (available for some Volvo models but not all) will decrease economy slightly to give significantly more power and torque. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements!

Will remapping my vehicle damage it?

All of the solutions we supply have been thoroughly tested to ensure minimal engine wear occurs as a result of performance remapping. It is important to realise that remapping a vehicle to run with greater performance will show up faults earlier than they would otherwise have occurred. That is to say that engine components such as Mass Air Flow Meters which degrade over time may well bring up engine management lights/error codes after remapping as the standard operating margin is exceeded and a fault recorded. Remapping a vehicle will not damage these components but may flag up error codes earlier than a standard car will. Please read 'Can race-tune.com remap all vehicles?' to find out more about remapping requirements.

Can Race-Tune.com remap all vehicles?

We recommend only remapping vehicles with good service history (not necessarily main dealer) and insist upon all work that may be required such as air/oil leaks being fixed prior to remapping. Air leaks can significantly reduce boost pressures and result in poor performance.

Please use the 'My Car' menu system (left) to select your Make of vehicle to find out what performance increases can be gained. Most vehicles introduced from 1999 onwards can be remapped including some pre 1999 vehicles. NB. Some vehicles may require engine modification and can only be remapped at RICA in Bromsgrove.

How long does it take?

This will depend on which solution you opt for and any other work that is required prior to remapping.

Remaps on 1999 and onwards vehicles should take no more than 2 hours providing software is available. Earlier cars may take all day and require ECU removal and reprogramming. A courtesy car will be made available to you if this is the case.

BSR PPC units must be ordered and can take up to 1 week to arrive. We require the vehicle registration, make, model, chassis number and ECU number.

Do I need a performance exhaust of a race-cat?

No! A performance exhaust or race-cat is entirely optional.

Do I need an induction kit?

We recommend using the standard air box and filter or ITG panel filter. Most open cone induction kits draw hot air from the engine bay which often results in a decrease in power.

Can I use a bleed valve with my turbo engine when the ECU is upgraded?

No. Our ECU reprogram increases the boost, and therefore no bleed-valve is required. If you have one fitted, it must be removed before the ECU is upgraded.

How does a diesel tuning box differ to an ECU upgrade?

Tuning boxes are add on devices that work by intercepting the signals between the ECU and the sensors and fuel system in the engine. Some tuning boxes intercept the sensor signals fooling the ECU into thinking that the engine is doing something different to what it actually is, thus making the ECU add more fuel. Other tuning boxes work by intercepting the output signals from the ECU and thus modifying the fuel control. Either way, a tuning box will only increase the amount of fuel that is added. Furthermore, the tuning box is always fighting the ECU. The ECU will to some extent try to compensate for the increase in fuel that is caused by the tuning box. This is especially true of the latest Euro IV engines with very tight emission controls. The end result is often inconsistent performance, and sometimes no improvement in performance at all.

A remap on the other hand works in harmony with the engine and emissions control. A "remap" is simply a rewrite of the software in the engine computer. Unlike the tuning box which only alters the amount of fuel, the ECU remap alters the turbo boost pressure, fuel injector duration, fuel timing, fuel pressure, and many other paramters, all of which can be optimised to give substantial increases in power and torque, while still remaining within emission control envelopes. Since no signals are intercepted, the ECU does not have to compensate for any abnormal readings and therefore the performance will be consistent. With the Euro IV engines, the ECU remap is the only way to improve performance because the ECU is too sensitive for a tuning box to successfully alter the behaviour of the fuel system without the ECU compensating for it.

 

What are the terms and conditions of the remap solutions?

Tuning will be organised at a mutually agreed time and date and be covered by a 14 day money back guarantee if not completely satisfied. Any fuel required for road testing will be supplied by the customer or invoiced to the customer if insufficient fuel is supplied when the vehicle is handed over to Phil Whitaker Cars for remapping. We reserve the right to refuse tuning to vehicles we feel would not benefit from ECU software upgrades.

What are the terms and conditions of courtesy car use?

Extract from 'Loan Car Contract' Version 2 (May2005) - ©2006 Phil Whitaker Cars Ltd.

In accepting this vehicle, I acknowledge that it is the property of Phil Whitaker Cars Ltd and is provided to me on loan subject to the following conditions:

• I am over 25 and have held a full UK Drivers Licence for over 2 years.
• I will return the vehicle as and when requested by the owner.
• I agree to keep the vehicle in good condition and repair throughout the period of the loan.
• I will indemnify Phil Whitaker Cars against any fixed penalty or other fines or costs incurred with respect to the vehicle during the loan period.
• The vehicle will only be driven by the authorised driver named above.
• The vehicle will only be used for social, domestic and pleasure purposes and/or for my own business purposes.
• No Animals are allowed in the Loan Cars.
• I accept responsibility for the INSURANCE excess of £500.
• A Strict NO SMOKING policy applies to all loan/hire cars.
• I will need to put FUEL in for my usage.

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