Hello all!

I'm new to the forum and firstly, many apologies as my first post is an 'ask' but I need advice on getting my 2008 Fabia 1.4 TDi remapped or chipped. Which are the most economic and reliable methods?

I'm a little confused as to the choices available. From what I understand a remap is better than chips or boxes. If remapping is the best way to go, does anyone know of/recommend a reliable (and cheapish!) tuner localish to the Plymouth (Devon) area?

If boxes or chips would be the best solution, which ones should I look for and at what sort of price point?

I am most grateful for any assistance anybody could afford me and once again a big hello from me, I look forward to conversing with you in due course.

Welcome to Briskoda.

To help you understand.

Tuning boxes theirs are generally two types.

1. Cheap £20 eBay specials. This is a simple resister in a black box. It replaces the fuel temp sensor resulting in an incorrect fixed value being sent back to the ecu. The ecu has a map (many maps inside an ecu) which is fuel temp against IQ (injection quantity) with the outcome being duration (how long the injectors stay open for). The higher the temp the longer the duration to meet the required IQ. So by fooling the ecu you can get it to inject more fuel.

2. "digital" tuning box. These are a lot more expensive. These plug into the loom and intercept the signals from the ecu which tell the injectors how long to stay open for (duration). Result is they increase fueling throughout the rev range.

Ecu chip tuning/remapping

In the early days it was referred to as chip tuning. Reason being the EPROM chip was removed from the ecu board and read by an external programmer. The maps inside the chip were altered and then flashed to a new chip which was then resoldered or socketed back to the ecu.

As technology moved on reprogramming of the EPROM on later ecu's was able to be done via the obd port. This is when the Remapping word appeared. But their both the same thing. Theirs just many ways of doing it. Some newer ecu's can only be done over the BDM port inside the ecu.

Reprogramming of the ecu allows you to alter each seperate map (theirs lots and lots but not all need altering when tuning). So we're a tuning box increases fuel across the whole rev range, a reprogram allows you to alter fueling at set rpm points and at certain coolant temps, same with timing, boost etc

Hope that helps you understand better

Hi and welcome aboard.

Absolutely forget 'chipping' and tuning boxes and erase your memory, as though you never considered such a thought! ...... then get your TDI remapped by a tuner who specializes in VAG cars.

Absolutely forget 'chipping' and tuning boxes and erase your memory, as though you never considered such a thought! ...... then get your TDI remapped by a tuner who specializes in VAG cars.

Got to echo this.

A lad i came across with a fab vrs put one of those tuning boxes on his that he paid about twenty quid for on ebay and it smoked like hell.

Not a good idea. You cant just up fuelling alone without making other changes to compensate the extra fuel.

Hey guys! Many thanks for your replies, very much appreciated. Next question is... Where do I go to get remapping done? I live in Plymouth and would need someone localish and cheapish if that's possible I would look at getting it done as my 1.4 TDi seems to lack oomph and could benefit from an extra bit of power especially excelleration.

Hi and welcome.

Got to echo what Mark and Longyear said. Remap all the way. Find a specialist.

I've got the same car as you

Contact Shark Performance. They have a gimmick called STS that you plug in yourself and it remaps the car. You do have to upload your map to Shark to have it modified but it's quick, foolproof, and you have control of the remapping process. You can put the car back to standard for servicing or to sell it and it has a complete immobilizer mode where the car cannot be started or driven.

You also get a Shark map, which are generally held to be the best or among the best remaps available for VAG cars.

Many thanks for all the advice and welcomes chaps, it's very much appreciated. I will look into the Shark system. Sorry but one other question... Will my car need any additional modification to support the remap or can I just remap and go? I am new to all this and a little confused over the various stages of remapping ie stage 1, 2 & 3.

Remap and go, you wont need anything else. If the car hasn't been serviced recently get it done. A standard paper air filter will be fine

Many thanks for all the advice and welcomes chaps, it's very much appreciated. I will look into the Shark system. Sorry but one other question... Will my car need any additional modification to support the remap or can I just remap and go? I am new to all this and a little confused over the various stages of remapping ie stage 1, 2 & 3.

Depends how far you want to go really. If you end up doing sports cat and filter upgrade and front mount intercooler etc the a custom remap is advisable to map to the mods. If not and your happy with it but just want that little bit more power ie extra torque and bhp then an 'off the shelf' map would be ok. The sts units that got a mention are pretty good tbh, basically you have the modded map and the std file on the unit so you can change to std for lets say warranty work etc. they do also have , I believe , the vag scanner software on to do basic diagnostics. Have a word with Rob or Ben at Shark on here, im sure they will be able to help.

Just had a quick look at the Shark website and it looks like the Fabia 1.4 TDi isn't supported?

At least not after 2007 anyway. My car is a 2008 model.

At least not after 2007 anyway. My car is a 2008 model.

Mine is a 57 reg fabia II 5J (new shape) but has a BNV engine which is technically an engine from the old shape.

I'm pretty sure shark told me I had to go to an agent to determine it couldn't be done. I didn't like this approach so didn't bother.

What engine is yours and what kind of ECU have you got?

I'm not 100% but it should still be a Bosch edc15p+. So similar to the rest of the family.

According to some documents i've got the fabia with 80ps used an edc15p+ and edc16u31. I've got the bnv code next to the edc15 but no code next to the edc16 :( both are easy to remap as its the same family as most other VAG diesels.

Quick way to find out is to look on the ecu itself. You might have to remove the top of the airbox to see it (2 scews)

Possibly use the edc17u01 also.

Hi again all. Not to sure of the exact specifics at the moment but my car is a 2008 Fabia level 2 1.4TDi PD 80bhp and according to paperwork I have it's a BNV engine. Does any of this make sense and can the engine be remapped?

Yes it can be mapped but you could do with finding out which ecu you have. It says in the ecu itself which is behind the airbox.

All 1.4TDI Fabias without DPF are EDC15. The listings on the website might be a year out, but we can map all ECUs from the Skoda range apart from the 1.6TDI at the moment, so it's no problem.

All 1.4TDI Fabias without DPF are EDC15. The listings on the website might be a year out, but we can map all ECUs from the Skoda range apart from the 1.6TDI at the moment, so it's no problem.

That's what I was gonna say

Unprotected ECU on the BNV - easy car to map

Happy days

Am I right in thinking that as soon as i know EXACTLY which ECU i have I should be able to buy a shark 'DIY' box for my car then?

Sort of.

You get the feel that whoever is doing the tinkering knows there stuff and stick with it.

If not, run away....

But seriously edc15p+ and BNV engine should be no probs to any tuner who knows their ****.

We Are running mark1 engines in mark 2 cars with no ECU protection and it should be straight forward.

Mine cost 200 notes.

Happy yes.

Pining for more power... You bet.

Edc15p+ is really easy to tune. So should have no problem getting it remapped.