Stutter gone - chipped, but at what cost?

[alter-ego]

Got vrs (07) Superchipped a couple of days ago (wife's car). The experienced, helpful fitter said he normally chips this engine after just a few attempts with various programs. It was tested on a four wheel rolling road (Dyno-Dynamics). He realised the engine was not typical and wondered if Skoda had changed a few things. After 7 attempts I tried it but even though the power was increased from 151 HP (yes, not the normal 140 they often see on the VW 130 HP model) to 165 HP, the torque was only increased from 200 ftlb to 230 ftlb (yes, only to what is quoted as normal spec.). These figures could be because I had had a problem from new and the Skoda garage had tinkered with the tuning. Anyway, after another 22 programs (sent from the Superchips main place trying to adapt to my car) the resulting power and torque were high but less than the limits that Superchips do not like to exceed (apparently the clutch is OK up to 180 ftlb). The curves for power and torque were nice showing no flat spots AND the stutter we used to have has GONE. On the previous program and another I tried it was still there and in one instance was worse becasue it spanned from about 1500 rpm to 1900rpm and not at the usual 1700rpm.

BUT today my wife was driving home from work in a queue at a steady speed of 50 mph and a buzzer came on with 3 warning lights - ABS, skid and oil. She stopped in a lay-by she was about to pass and turned the engine off. On restarting a minute later, everything was OK. I've taken it out tonight and there were no warning lights. Does anyone know what might have happened. The car is being driven carefully - no flooring in higher gears at low revs etc. I have registered with a new name for this as otherwise the Skoda garage I bought the car from may know. BTW the insurance company know it is chipped - the extra cost was fine.

[WW_VRS]

I'd give superchips a buzz, get them to check it over free of charge, worth doing to avoid grief

[alter-ego]

Thanks, yes, I will phone the headquarters (Buckingham) on Monday. They will say take it back to the place I had it done to have it checked out (they have all the VW/Skoda diagnostic equipment) but unfortunately the only technician who does chipping is on holiday all next week. I'm hoping it was a 'one off glitch' whilst it is 'learning'. Why I say this is that when I questioned them (Buckingham) about the programs they said it can take a few days for everything to settle down(!?)

[sharkrider]

you shouldn't really worry, remember superchips are the only place that will warranty your engine themselves after they chip it! take it back if anything goes wrong, and I'm sure they'll sort it...

[Td-eye]

Originally Posted by sharkrider

you shouldn't really worry, remember superchips are the only place that will warranty your engine themselves after they chip it! take it back if anything goes wrong, and I'm sure they'll sort it...

Yeah, I agree with that & in fact if it were me as the light has gone out I wouldn't even bother taking it back unless it comes on again.

Was it raining when the lights came on because if so it may just be standing water causing the car to aquaplane slightly and the abs light to come on ?

Either way as I said, if it were me, I wouldn't be too worried about it unless it comes on again and stays on.

[alter-ego]

Thanks for the suggestions. About the guarantee - I've wondered how one proves it is their new program and not an inherent fault with the car that has just materialised. Just becasue a fault developes a couple of days after, doesn't necessarily mean that the reprogramming is the reason eventhough it is very likely.

I am hoping it was a one off, but even if it is it will be in the back of the mind over the next few months that something may be amiss. It was dry at the time so it wasn't aquaplaning and also the oil light came on. I was wondering that because they had the ECU cover off so many times and made connections whether something on the circuit board had become loose. Anyway, time will tell but it is nice the 'stutter' has gone and thanks for the replies. If everything is OK I'll report back in a few months as to my impressions of the Superchip.

[rum4mo]

For your own peace of mind I'd get the stored fault codes read and cleared. I always thought that if an oil light came on, it would never go off (if there had not been an level problem) unless you opened the bonnet - the ECU would "see" that the bonnet had been lifted - ie to check the oil level. Some of the other lights could be caused by the dreaded brake light switch failure which can leave you with no brake lights working now and again - nasty!

[VRStu]

Definately worth getting the fault codes checked.

[alter-ego]

An update:

Had to have the program/chip removed as the car kept cutting out. For example, travelling at a steady 55 mph it would just turn off or slowing to approach a junction at 30 mph, cut out. Sometimes when starting you didn't get the 'rush' noise of fuel and the glowplug light did not come on. We are now testing the car with its original program to see if it was a Supership fault or original car. Up to now everything is working properly again. BTW, no fault codes ever show.

The performance was amazing. 50-70 mph (on the clock 52-72) was always between 3.3 and 3.7 sec in 3rd and only 4.1 sec in 5th. The power was 179 bhp and the torque 270 ftlb. Corten-Miller (fitters) tried 30 programs in the end. I paid an extra £70 to keep trying but they all had problems. So it's back to the stutter.

To rub salt into all this, my wife 'panicked' when it kept cutting out - went to fill up and put unleaded in. Fortunately she did not start the car.

[sharkrider]

hhmmm first superchips problem I've heard of on here, they are usually a conservative map.... be interesting to see if it does it wqith the standard map on....

[ChrisRs]

AmD One Click Generic = 166bhp & 286ft/lbs torque

[alter-ego]

be interesting to see if it does it wqith the standard map on

It's been fine since having 'it' removed.