[Resolved: Demap & Refund] Longyear's Boost Stutter & Surge thread

[Longyear]

[Edit: This issue turned out to be a really bad boost spike as a result of the remap, that was causing overboost cycles and subsequently rapid on/off/on boost surging. The problem was tactically resolved by making a fine adjustment to my N75 valve, reducing some of the remap's entry boost (and thus losing some performance), which eradicated the overboost cycle and completely removing all surging. See post #28 for more info.

However as a long term solution, no resolution could be found for the problem and the car was de-mapped and I received a full refund from the remapper.

Hey all,

Well as some of you may remember, a few weeks ago I had my car remapped with an Elite Remaps map, and I immediately had problems. 2 coils blew on the post-remap test drive, followed by another 2 the next day. I then suffered CEL and ASR warning lights which was diagnosed as a faulty MAF. I stupidly bought a £30 MAF from eBay and it lasted .... wait for it .... 1 day, before the ASR light came back on, and the car stated stuttering and hesitating, under medium load.

I then spent £101 on a genuine Bosch MAF, which has been good for the last 3 weeks, although the general lack of power smoothness wsince the remap has been getting me down and becoming more noticeable. When I floor the pedal there is a huge amount of boost, but when power is applied gradually there is still an "on/off/on/off/ON" feel to the delivery and it really spoils the fun.

Sometimes you can lightly press the accelerator in 3rd at 2,000 and get an inappropriate amount of boost (as though you've floored it), which has nearly caught me out a fiew times. Other times, you floor it and even though revs are in the sweet spot, there's a huge stutterly lag before any boost comes.

Technically, It's obnoxiously fast; if you floor it in every gear, it pulls like a train : but moderate driving is awful in the car now; normal street driving through every gear seems to be taking place right on the threshold of where the remap gets the turbo moving.

Now, today, 3 weeks after the last MAF (my 3rd since owning the car for 6 weeks), I am getting a ASR light on again, if I floor the car in 5th gear. (this is the point when the ASR light comes on if I disconnent the MAF too).

I have come to the conclusion that either (i) this is a really bad remap, or (ii) my car is just "one of those cars that doesn't react at all well to a remap". I have had the N75 valve checked and it's fine, the DV (which is standard Bosch) is 2 months old and seems fine. The car has almost all new breather pipework including some new blue vacuum hose stuff.

......... it really can only be the map now.

The remapper is on holiday but I intend to ask if he can put the car back to standard when he gets back, but that's in a couple of weeks.

Is there by chance anyone local to the North East who can flash my ECU to get the standard map back? ... it that even possible, or do I have to get the stock map back from the remapper?

I just really want to get the remap off to see how the car goes (I'm sure it will be fine : it was perfect prior to the remap).

Cheers.

Edited 12 June, 2012 by Longyear

[999pooch]

TBH I would wait and let the original mapper put it back to standard. This way if there are any problems there isn't another party involved where blame can be passed around.

Also the original mapper may refuse to refund you if the car is modified by someone else.

[Longyear]

Thanks. Incidentally I'm not looking for a refund. I have no firm evidence that the map is to blame. It seems I have the 'dodgy' ECU software that causes surging, which becomes more noticeable in remapped cars. I've chalked this down to experience: this was my 5th remap, with the other 4 all being on VAG TDI PD cars ... this will probably be my last petrol remap for a while ... certainly on the VAG 1.8T engine!

Only exception may be if and when I find the time and money to go down to R-Tech, who I'm sure could make a 'surge-free' custom map for the car.

If anyone in the N.E area can put a stock map on, I would be happy to pay a fee for this .......... just want the car standard, fed up with unpredictable surges, and a general lack of smooth driving characteristics. :( The thought of waiting over 2 weeks depresses me!

Cheers.

Edited 1 June, 2012 by Longyear

[Octygone]

How far away is Mansfield .........Shark

[999pooch]

Whilst I can appreciate your not after a refund, you should be able to come to some arrangement where you get most of your money back, and just pay him for the time spent on your car. That sounds reasonable to me.

On the mapping side of things have you considered Shark, I'm sure they have solved this and may be able to be done remotely via STS.

[Longyear]

Mansfield is pretty far from Newcastle/Durham ....... Just to be clear I wasn't really looking for another remap, I was wondering whether anyone was able to put a stock map on. As you can tell I don't even know if this is possible, except by a remapper, so my terms of reference may be confusing!

It was more around wondering/hoping whether sticking a stock map on was a relatively straightforward thing, that wouldn't cost the same as a remap.... If we're talking paying the same as for a remap, just to get a stock map back on, then obviously I'll have to wait for my original remapper to return from hols, as he has no charge for putting stock maps back on.

Cheers.

[sharkrider]

give the original mapper a chance to fix it

[Longyear]

give the original mapper a chance to fix it

It's a generic map, and my choices are; (i) stick with the map, or (ii) have my stock map restored.

There's no 'fixing' as such as that would involve custom mapping, which this remapper doesn't do. It's an Elite Remaps generic map for the VRS....

as I have found out 'you pays your money, you takes your chances'.

I've dropped R-Tech an email describing the full scenario / history, and asking whether they can custom remap on this issue, from a starting point of the Elite remap already being on there.

Edited 1 June, 2012 by Longyear

[JackDeath]

I would think any good remaping place would put it back to standerd and refund you if there map made the car run bad ??

Take it back to were you got it done.

[skinnyman]

As some of you may know, I had my OEM map put back on last week. I asked if any vRS map would have done the job, but apparently not. The car would run, but it may not be perfect according to James at Chipboost. I was lucky that he had my original map on his laptop as the car is really smooth to drive now. It's unbelievably slow, but it's so much smoother than any of the maps I've had on the car. Maybe Skoda should have marketed their own remaps as they got the original spot on in terms of surge free delivery.

[cloverleaf]

Slightly O/T but I just spotted that your avatar pic there Longyear is of my car...I saw someone on ebay'd used it too a few months back, ironically when I was contemplating trying to sell mine again!

[wayned]

All down to the map, mine is very smooth and has been fine since the remap.

[Longyear]

Slightly O/T but I just spotted that your avatar pic there Longyear is of my car...I saw someone on ebay'd used it too a few months back, ironically when I was contemplating trying to sell mine again!

Wow, if that's true that's really shocking, as that pic was clearly alluded to be a pic of the real car in the ad.... I never doubted it was a different car! .. I bought it off Autotrader but he did also have it on eBay.

Apologies for the use of the photo then. Obviously quite innocent and unknowing. Just shows you!

I'll remove the pic when I have a moment.

So for the remap, it seems I'll have to wait until the remapper returns from hols in 2 weeks ........ or hope that R-Tech reply to my email about it.

Cheers.

Edited 2 June, 2012 by Longyear

[cloverleaf]

Hey, don't worry about that, it doesn't in the least bit bother me - as soon as a pic goes up online it's pretty much free for all unless it's got a copyright logo on it. I just spotted it and was like 'I recognise that'! Took me a moment to remember why...

[Liam-6]

Real shame you've experienced problems with having your car re-mapped. I assume it puts you off considering another tuner? I would recommend having a trip down to mansfield and pop into shark and see what they can do for you. Had my car mapped last year and its been fault free. Done around 10k miles.

[Longyear]

Real shame you've experienced problems with having your car re-mapped. I assume it puts you off considering another tuner? I would recommend having a trip down to mansfield and pop into shark and see what they can do for you. Had my car mapped last year and its been fault free. Done around 10k miles.

Thanks mate. I must admit the thought of going back to standard power does make me shiver! ....... it's more the money that will prevent me going for a (better) remap anytime soon. But when funds allow, it would absolutely certainly be Shark or R-Tech that I'd go to next. It would have to be a mapper that has experience with the 'surging' and 'boost stuttering' map issues with these cars. Would never ever again trust another 'generic map', and would highly recommend no-one else go for a map from anyone other than those that specialize in VAG, and this engine.

You risk a car that is just awful to drive, if you get a poor remap on one of these cars.

Cheers.

Edited 2 June, 2012 by Longyear

[Lew_VRS]

Yeah as Liam-6 says.. Don't let a generic base map put you off mate.. Seriously!

A real map should be as smooth as standard but just with more boost.

Mine pulls like a diesel now but just keeps going all the way to the red line without dropping off. It's brilliant! People often describe it as night and day and it really is.

It seems like Mapping the VAG 1.8T's, properly anyway, is a bit of a dark art best left to the enthusiasts/specialists.. R-Tech mapped mine and it is awesome.

EDIT: Have you considered a shark Self tuning box?!

Edited 2 June, 2012 by Lew_VRS

[Liam-6]

Thanks mate. I must admit the thought of going back to standard power does make me shiver! ....... it's more the money that will prevent me going for a (better) remap anytime soon. But when funds allow, it would absolutely certainly be Shark or R-Tech that I'd go to next. It would have to be a mapper that has experience with the 'surging' and 'boost stuttering' map issues with these cars. Would never ever again trust another 'generic map', and would highly recommend no-one else go for a map from anyone other than those that specialize in VAG, and this engine.

You risk a car that is just awful to drive, if you get a poor remap on one of these cars.

Cheers.

A few people i know have used "generic maps" and have all experienced niggles with their cars since having it done. Tend to try lean people away from these "tuning boxes" aswell :S. I can vouch for Sharks top notch and friendly service as can loads of others on here. I've had no personal experience with R-tech but from what i've read from several users on here its all positive.

Don't bin the car mate, Just try get it back to standard then save for a "correct" map. Trust me, it will be worth it, well as long as the cars in good nick to start with .

As for the refund situation, whats the score?

Edited 2 June, 2012 by Liam-6

[shark_90]

As some of you may know, I had my OEM map put back on last week. I asked if any vRS map would have done the job, but apparently not. The car would run, but it may not be perfect according to James at Chipboost. I was lucky that he had my original map on his laptop as the car is really smooth to drive now. It's unbelievably slow, but it's so much smoother than any of the maps I've had on the car. Maybe Skoda should have marketed their own remaps as they got the original spot on in terms of surge free delivery.

You weren't "lucky" - although not any vRS map would have done, but there are only 3/4 versions for the 1.8T vRS.

To the OP - any remapping company should be able to put your car back to standard. We had some bad press about "surge" issues a while ago but addressed the issue and it's now sorted, and we're back to happy customers once more. Our Self Tuning System works with your car so no need to travel if you do want to use us - see www.sharkperformance.co.uk/sts.asp for details

[Liam-6]

You weren't "lucky" - although not any vRS map would have done, but there are only 3/4 versions for the 1.8T vRS.

To the OP - any remapping company should be able to put your car back to standard. We had some bad press about "surge" issues a while ago but addressed the issue and it's now sorted, and we're back to happy customers once more. Our Self Tuning System works with your car so no need to travel if you do want to use us - see www.sharkperformance.co.uk/sts.asp for details

Did you manage to get me a price on a FMIC and a straight through center section ben?

[Longyear]

Shark's remap for the car is 349.00 with another 150.00 for the STS unit ..... that's 500.00 in total, which is way out of budget for me, and quite considerably more expensive than the remap from R-Tech. I'm not comparing or saying anything other than both companies seem to get praise and recommendation and the R-Tech price is within my budget (or will be shortly).

So I think it would be a day trip down to Hinckley ........... but I'd be more certain about that, if R-Tech replied to my email. Hopefully they will after this long drawn out Bank Holiday weekend

Thanks for all the help guys.

[JonsVRS]

I went down to Shark with mine which was over an hours drive away. Worth every penny, plus don't forget if youre a freedom member on here you get a discount ( or did )

Ben and the team at shark were amazingly helpful and even go out with you on a test drive after its mapped so you can be 100% happy.

Best customer service I've ever experienced and would recommend them to anyone.

[missingmyvrs]

Longyear ring r-tech on wednesday !! There super busy and emails can be missed

[Longyear]

Longyear ring r-tech on wednesday !! There super busy and emails can be missed

Cheers, but I don't like taking people's time up until I have the cash to 'walk the talk' ... hence, fired off a quick email just to get some reassurance back from them that they can smooth out the awful surges and also get an up to date price, as I'm not sure if what I would want would constitute a standard R-Tech map for the car, or a custom one (car is completely standard apart from existing rubbish Elite Remap).

Cheers.

Edited 4 June, 2012 by Longyear

[Lew_VRS]

Cheers, but I don't like taking people's time up until I have the cash to 'walk the talk' ... hence, fired off a quick email just to get some reassurance back from them that they can smooth out the awful surges and also get an up to date price, as I'm not sure if what I would want would constitute a standard R-Tech map for the car, or a custom one (car is completely standard apart from existing rubbish Elite Remap).

Cheers.

I can't comment on the standard one, but the custom one for me is spot one.. IMO for the sake of the extra £££'s you're already travelling that far. Then you can say that map is designed for my car and the way that it operates. Not a base map etc etc. In this case mine on a custom map actually made 'less' power than what a typical base map would. But i'd much rather 5bhp less and have great driveability rather than another 5 bhp of pub talk and ****ty power delivery!

At the end of the day everyone's car has adapted to their driving style over years, loading a base map on it would kind of defeat the object imo.. that's just my 2 pence. One size fits all however does work for some!