Hi everyone,have done a bit of a search on the subject but i would like to know peoples opinions on tuning boxes.I'm thinking of buying one soon but theres so much choice its a bit confusing! Are they all best avoided? any one recomend a particular make? Prices seem to range from £24.99 on e-bay(:eek: best avoided i would imagine) to £400,and all seem to suggest the same 30-40bhp/60-70ftlb torque increase.

The cars a 56 plate 40k miles vrs,otherwise standard.

cheers

The cheap boxes on ebay are nothing but a resistor in a box. Google "Evry mod" for details.

The more expensive digital tuning boxes are better, but still interfere with the signals generated and received by the ECU. While some of them are relatively good, it's still much better to have the ECU knowing what's going on with the engine particularly for safety reasons, which is where a remap comes in.

While a remap can be more costly it's a much, much better option. And I'm not just saying that because I sell remaps, I've been where you are now a few years ago looking for tuning options and I bought a cheap tuning box, discovered that it was a resistor and sent it back, then a digital tuning box which was better, but I failed an MOT with it connected, then a remap. Which was the best thing I ever did for the car

There's loads on the site about remaps or have a look at Frequently Asked Questions about Tuning and Remaps for some pointers.

My experience is with diesels. Ive tried the cheap resistor in a box (which cons the ECU about fuel temp), the digital tuning box (which usually cons the ECU about fuel temp but also takes into account engine load and so doesnt over fuel at low revs so much, and a full generic remap. I can honestly say the full re-map is by far the best and worth the extra money. I use a Bluefin generic remap from Superchips because it is easily removed and reinstalled (on the same car). A bespoke dyno remap is better still but not so convenient. In retrospect I wish Id listened to advice from this site and not wasted my time and money on lesser tuning boxes and gone for a remap first time around.

Fitted a dragon box that I had lying around from my first Fabia, but the clutch started slipping so took it off again pronto.

Too jerky anyway, the memories of which came flooding back from 4 years ago, which is why I opted for a remap in the end.

That knackered the clutch too though.

Adequately nippy enough for me anyway (imo) on a standard clutch and brakes.

Couldnt agree with the above post enough !! If you have done the running gear improvements I dont think there is any need for anything else.

I've got the "original tuning box" thats the name of the company on the box and have had no problems on it, as it had been on a Fabia before and a T5 Transporter van and no problems had occured, not sure on cost as I paid £100 for mine second hand.

My experience is with diesels....the digital tuning box (which usually cons the ECU about fuel temp but also takes into account engine load and so doesnt over fuel at low revs so much...

If that's what you believe, then it seems to me that you tried an analogue box masquerading as a digital one - perhaps like the ASA one discussed on here recently. Every digital box I know of sits DOWNSTREAM of the ECU, and modifies the signals to the injectors according the the revs and the power hike you've selected. I can't deny that a custom remap ist the best option, but personally I like the fact that no extra strain is put on the turbo by my Dragon box (as often seems to happen with generic remaps), and that I can rein in the power easily if required.

Oh, and a standard clutch can cope with up to 300lb-ft AFAIK, so anyone complaining of clutch slip with a tuning box is likely to have had an underlying problem that was simply exacerbated by the extra power and torque, rather than caused by it.

Just my 2ps...

I can't deny that a custom remap ist the best option, but personally I like the fact that no extra strain is put on the turbo by my Dragon box (as often seems to happen with generic remaps), and that I can rein in the power easily if required.

I can nearly agree with you there, but what about the higher EGTs from the extra fuel and the same amount of air? Unfortunately with diesels you don't really have much to play with but adding fuel without boost isn't necessarily a good thing.

Another point to make about tuning boxes, When it comes time to move on, You've the option of selling the box and recouping some of it's cost, Or fit it to your next car (The tuning box would need re flashed, And if changing vehicle brand a new wiring harness required). And a couple of the companies operate a part-ex scheme

A remap goes with the car!

And as ap0gee stated the boxes do not change the turbo's characteristics.

So down to personal choice, You pay's your money and all that!

I can nearly agree with you there, but what about the higher EGTs from the extra fuel and the same amount of air? Unfortunately with diesels you don't really have much to play with but adding fuel without boost isn't necessarily a good thing.

Surely someone in your game would realise that diesels run greatly lean of stoichiometric (40-50% excess air at virtually all levels of load), and this is what tuning boxes make use of. Obviously, as the ratio of excess air reduces with overfuelling, smoke becomes an issue, but since there is no throttle on a diesel engine, this can be mitigated by simply supplying more air (using a PD160 inlet, for example). Since the turbo simply supplies a given amount of pressurisation to whatever amount of air enters it, but combustion is ruled by the quantity of air in the chamber, there is no difference in pure chemical terms between a greater quantity of air at a lesser pressure, and a smaller quantity of air at a greater pressure. PV = nRT, and all that!

I'm sure what you have is perfectly safe (as you certainly appear to know what you're talking about ) but the man on the street isn't going to know or bother to work out the science behind it.

(And I still think it's better that the ECU knows what's happening to the engine it's connected to).

i had a dragon didital on my old fabia, was good, no complaints at all. on my new fabia though i went for a jabba remap and clutch and there is a big difference between the two but the dragon was sufficient. id defo go the dragon route though, some companies are sellin tunning boxes for remap prices!

If that's what you believe, then it seems to me that you tried an analogue box masquerading as a digital one - perhaps like the ASA one discussed on here recently. Every digital box I know of sits DOWNSTREAM of the ECU, and modifies the signals to the injectors according the the revs and the power hike you've selected. I can't deny that a custom remap ist the best option, but personally I like the fact that no extra strain is put on the turbo by my Dragon box (as often seems to happen with generic remaps), and that I can rein in the power easily if required.

Oh, and a standard clutch can cope with up to 300lb-ft AFAIK, so anyone complaining of clutch slip with a tuning box is likely to have had an underlying problem that was simply exacerbated by the extra power and torque, rather than caused by it.

Just my 2ps...

Well all I can say is that the digital tuning box supplied by DPT for my Octy was "T'd into" the temp sensor conector and also had a wire going to the MAF, plus 2 wires to the battery for power. It didnt connect to the injectors directly or anywhere else. But I felt this was not a very impressive device so I sold it and bought a bluefin which is great.

Incidently I had a digibox on my TD5 discovery and that had a wire spliced into each of the 5 injectors (which was a pain to remove and re-install).

Agreed none of these digiboxes alters the turbo boost only the fueling whereas remaps do and put more strain on things, but I think alot of the failures in association with power enhancements are due to the way these cars are being driven.

Thanks for all your replys,was kinda hoping you would all say tuning boxes were great,so that i could buy a cheap one!

But at the same time i sorta guessed that you get what you pay for and that a remap would be best,just wanted to get some advice.looks like i'll start saving for a re-map! (after my holiday next month which is going to clean me out! :()

Thanks guys:thumbup:

Yo, just my 2 pence, yup I agree with the ECU remap camp. I tried the DPT Tuning Box which I bought from Jules and I cannot tell a difference..at all. (diff cars but DPT confirmed would work on mine)

It does up the MPG, though to be taken with a pinch of salt. If like me you can try one for a good price give it a go. I like to have a fiddle

I would'nt of been happy paying close to £300 for a new unit (or even used).