Finally got round to fitting it. Below is a brief guide to how I did it with pictures for your viewing pleasure. Hope this will be of use to someone thinking about doing a similar job in future.

1) Engine cover removed, simply pull and wiggle, it will feel like its about to snap but don't worry keep tugging!

2)Examine contents of package. Blue ABS plastic box a little larger than a fag packet. Wiring loom including nicely terminated power connections, a grey wire for a remote bypass switch, and curiosly a purple wire labelled "DO NOT USE!" Rather brief and badly translated instruction sheet. (pic 1)

3) Find somewhere suitable to mount the box. Make sure you've got lots of cable ties handy 'coz they don't supply any! I chose to tie it to the air pipe from the filter box to the engine near the bulkhead. Seems secure enough. (pic 2)

4) Remove big round connection from front right side of engine, twist and pull off. Much easier than getting the new one on! At this point I found that the supplied cable, although allegedly a VAG part, has a slightly different pattern of grooves than the connector on the engine. Soon sorted with a bit of stanley knife action! (pic 3)

5) Cable from engine to blue box fits nicely n between battery and air box, minimal cable ties needed here. All thats needed now is to hook up the power. I ran the positive wire to a spare nut on the bus bar under the battery cover, and the negative directly to the battery terminal. (pic 4).

6) Tighten everything up and put the covers back on. Check for any left over pieces...... Start engine.......

Not taken it for much of a spin yet but can certainly feel a difference in pull at the bottom end. I have left the jumpers in the box set for standard at the minute, they reccomend a higher flow air filter to use the higher settings, which I will be trying soon.

Job took an hour in all, the fitting took only a few minutes but figuring out where to mount the box in such a small space was a real pain. Having to alter the VAG connector also added a bit of time.

I'll get back to you with details of how she drives...

Any comments?

Nice

Not too keen on the location of the box though, was hoping for somewhere a little more stealthy but its so bloody tight in there.

:confused:

what does it do?

My concern would be the 15 pin DIN plug and socket - they will be succeptable to water and dirt ingress.

Nice tutorial though mate - Thanks

Right then, done about 100 miles since I fitted the box and am in the main pleased.

Having it set to the lowest level obviously isn't giving me the maximum extra hp or torque but it does feel a bit smoother. It seems to have smoothed out the flat spot in acceleration between about 1500 and 2000 rpm and given me a little more pull from a standstill. Higher up the revs there is deffinately a bit more "go" there.

As i mentioned before the manufacturers don't reccomend using the two higher settings unless I've got improved air induction, they reccomend K&N. Doesn anyone know if a K&N kit would be comparable to fitting a green panel filter and a cupra intake pipe? Thinking about air intake a bit more.....

If I ran the higher setings without improved air flow, would this just mean I would be runnning the engine too "rich" causing more smoke out the back?

More testing needed I think.

@VRStu....

Yeah see what you mean about the D-type connector. Once I've settled on the final position for the box I might try a bit of heatshrink sleeve.

ITG panel filter every time. I have had them all and i mean all. And ITG is the one. Bout

Smiorgian,

Is your Fabia a TDI or a PD??, and how much did the powerbox cost/ where did you get it??

Cheers

JD

Is your Fabia a TDI or a PD??, and how much did the powerbox cost/ where did you get it??

Fabia only comes in PD flavour as far as I know

Chris

Indeed PD only on the Fab...

Got the unit from EastCoast Racing...http://www.dieselchiptuning.com/

Cost me

Just had a reply from their technical people about what power to expect, see this link...

http://www.psi-motorsport.com/turbodiesel/fiche-e.php?selectid=348&lg=en

Interestingly this is done with the box at the default settings , wonder what will happen when I use the higher settings? They have confirmed that the higher settings will produce more smoke without an upgrade to the air intake.

They have been strangely quiet about the issue with the connector not fitting correctly.