Hi Ben. No, the chip as fitted provides a moderate tune-up but no rolling road set-up was carried out. Using a playstation analogy, it's a stage 1 tune. East Coast can offer a further power increase (approx 8bhp) with a simple home upgrade at no cost. I assume it involves plugging the chip into your pc via the serial port on the rear of the chip casing and making some adjustments to the software. They also offer advice induction kits, K&N filters, the usual stuff.
To be honest at £323 I was prepared to have a punt. The unit comes with an over-ride so you can switch it on and off at will (although why you would want to is beyond me). I gave it a toggle or two just to get an on-the-road comparison and it definitely bangs in the power.
I was only after an improvement in drivability, but if I were after a GTA beater then yup, a rolling road visit and general tinker would be in order.
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Just as an aside, the car had only covered 7500 miles before I got it and had just seen its third service. I put 1600 miles on it blatting across to the Alps and back before fitting the chip to make sure everything was bedded in and running smoothly.
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Sounds like you have got a pleasing result, and thats what counts. Good luck. I just wish i had the cash to do up a car the way i want. Or even, one day, but one thats good to start with!
Ben
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Alan, how about a long term update on your Alfa?
I took the plunge this week and got an East Coast box for my C5, it's like a rocket now. Thank god for the overspeed warning buzzer (set to just over motorway speed).
I'll report my findings when they are complete. So far so good though.
Ben
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Well I\'ve taken the plunge and fitted an Autodelta foam filter element, allowing me to turn the chip up to max boost. If you thought your car was quick on the standard setting.....
Unfortunately it does induce some lag. Absolutely no power until 2100 then BANG!!! I\'m going to turn it back one notch to make it more drivable in town.
I\'ve now covered 20,000 miles with the chip in place and no problems. The car passed its first MOT with the chip on with very low emissions. The guys at the garage were very impressed.
I\'ve been changing oil at around 6,000 to 7,000 and had the timing belt changed at 36,000 as opposed to the 72,000 recommended by Alfa, more for peace of mind than anything.
MPG still in the region of 36-42, despite spending a far bit of time driving in central London.
Thoroughly recommended.
ND
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If only others would follow your very sensible example on cambelt changes Alan!
--
groups.msn.com/honestjohn - Pictures say a thousand words.....
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No Dosh,
It seems from your posts that you have an increase in power of 15-20% - which you use. Using that extra performance, fuel economy is improved by 14%. You get an increase in drivability and there is no affect on the reliability of the engine. All this for very modest cost. Apparently all pluses and no minuses.
I wonder if the more technically minded can explain how this is achieved. For instance if you chip it to give, say, 40% extra power do you get even better economy?
Alfa sells primarily on its sporting image. If a car was chipped to produce the same power and additional economy during manufacturer it would be zero cost.
Any idea why Alfa don't do this?
C
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You need to use best quality fuel, many "chipped" car owners only use one or 2 brands. I stick to Shell Diesel Extra.
"Chipping" must cause increased wear, many owners service twice as often and only use the best synthetic oils.
If the manufacturer was to "chip" from standard, they would probably have to demand short service schedules as a lot owners wouldn't take care of their car in comparison to the mechanically sensitive car loving people we are here.
How many company car drivers would wait for the car to fully warm up before using the increased performance, let turbos cool for longer and the like?
In short, the manufacturers need to build in larger tolerances to allow for cars to be abused.
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Cardew,
I'm guessing its probably a combination of a couple of things;
Firstly, as ND says, it can make the care a great deal less "driveable" and therefore is unsuitable, and probably undesired, by a large proportion of the diving population.
As for the additional power and additional MPG, I'd guess he doesn't use the additional power all the time.
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It\'s worth noting that mine is one of the earlier 136PS models. Within a very short time this was upgraded to 140PS and subsequently 150PS by Alfa, all with improved economy and handled by tweaking to the ECU alone. They have now changed to a 20v nultijet variant, pumping out 175PS with even better economy again.
This all stems from the launch model having the same engine as the Fiat Marea Weekend (estate with a silly name), allowing Alfa to get the JTD to market at minimum cost. Once they had a chance to tinker with the engine and found what it could do they launched the higher output versions.
A common story with many manufacturers, with low-output versions coming out at launch and subsequent model years showing noticable power gains from essentially the same mechanicals.
ND
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Ok, 300 miles since I moved the chip back a notch and much more drivable now. Hasn't got the same urge to crack on (to be expected) but much more progressive power delivery and much smoother and more predictable when pulling away from a standstill. Quieter too, with a lot less injector clatter (I suspect the injectors were right at the limit on the max setting).
I don't expect to see any change in MPG but will report back after half a dozen tanks if there is a noticable change.
For those fitting a PSi Powerbox from EastCoastRacing and wanting still more power, suggest option 3 on their tune-up guide for best combination of power and drivability. You will need to get a free-flow airfilter element though.
ND
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Ok lets get a few things clear.
Normal tunning boxes (this ounds like one of them) increase the injection duration on diesels ie more fuel than normal.
But they do it after normal injection finishes which has effects (long story). Proper tunners ie supechip etc who mess about with the ECU better program the computer maps etc for more efficieny but they cost more and more difficult to hide for services (could buy a new ECU but expensive). Saying a tunners get an extra 15% and so a 15% ower tunning box isn't the same .
But there are very few failures modern engine will fail though other things than tunning boxes (incorrect servicing etc) and short journeys. Just use a TUC etc approved one and you'll be fine the older extreme increase boxes used on VAG TDis have been problem after 10yrs as they pushed the engine to far and turbos have gone.
MPG will depend on driving but expect between 5% increase and 5% decease at worst you 'll probably drop at first uding the extra power like mad but then MPG will increase by ~3mpg.
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Anyone any experience of EastCoast Racing compared to Simon Coe at Upsolute.com
Simon is quoting me about £305 inc fitting, whereas East Coast are nearer £375 and you fit the chip yourself.
Are these totally different things? (I am not technically minded)
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I'd go for the fitted option everytime. If you're not technically minded, the last thing you want to do is go exploring inside your ECU. One false move with a screwdriver and you're stuffed....
Besides, I found Simon Coe to be really helpful, and I was very, very pleased with the results when my 406HDi was 'done'
DB
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ND, talking to my local dealers Medway Alfa who go recommended by the way, the 150BHP JTD uses a variable geometry turbo which is where the extra 10BHP comes from to give 150. I suspect our cars are around the same age and mine missed it by a few months. Mine is a Nov 2000.
Recently had a 1.9 JTD 156 SW on loan, jeez was it quick and with a 6 speed box.
Jim
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I hear the 175BHP 20v 2.4MJet is a total loony mobile as well.
I'm still finding the car is a bit reluctant to start pulling until 2200 rpm or so. It may be that I have a small amount of oil fouling on the turbo casing, causing the vanes to stick a little when they start to spin up, or it may be that the chip is overfuelling at lower RPM, causing the engine to bog down.
It's in for a service on Saturday so I may pop the powerchip out this evening and see if it's more responsive at lower revs. If so, then I think I'll get a full OBD remap done after the service. If not, then it's a can of carb cleaner and a lot of kitchen roll to clean out the turbo housing. :o)
Just to clear one point up; the chip from Eastcoast involves nothing more complicated than unplugging a couple of the sockets on the ECU and inserting a replacement plug, piggy-backing the original plug. No screwdrivers, soldering or physical opening of the ECU housing.
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