Is there any fun to be had with a £20 plug in box from eBay?

Do they do any harm to the engine and associated electronics?

I gather they are a simple resistor which plugs into the fuel temp sensor feed.

Does anyone have any 1st hand experience?

My 105 PD is sad to drive and I'm fed up aborting overtaking manoeuvres when trying to make good progress.

All they do is make the engine overfuel. Save the £20 and put it towards a proper remap from a reputable tuner which has been developed with extensive skills and research.

+1 on the above. If you don't want a remap there are better tuning boxes available which are plug and play. DTUK are a site sponsor and offer a discount to briskoda members over their web prices

PD105 sad to drive and abort overtakes ?

Mine was very lively when I had it and overtaking was very easy

I'd do a scan and see if it has any faults. Please don't buy these eBay chips as they will destroy your engine.

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@Stormchaser

Can I use most any diagnostic device to scan/clear codes, or do I need an expensive VAG specific tool?

BTW it does accelerate from 0-60mph in accordance with the book figure of 12 seconds so I assume there isn't a fault other than with me and my previous car being more lively.

OK how about a more expensive digital box from the likes of DTUK?

Seems less hassle than finding a tuner locally to flash a remap and if I want I can just unplug whenever.

OK how about a more expensive digital box from the likes of DTUK?

Seems less hassle than finding a tuner locally to flash a remap and if I want I can just unplug whenever.

 

The digital tuning boxes kind of work in a similar way.

 

They plug in between the ECU and the fuel rail. They modify the messages the ECU sends to the injectors and tells them to inject more for longer.

 

Much better than the resisters in a box but still not as good as a map.

 

The other cheap alternative is a blacksmoke remap.

 

You basically send your map file to them, they fiddle with it and send you a modified one which you flash to your car yourself.

 

I have also been tempted by a remap on our 1.9 PD105 but everytime I drive it I think it doesn't really need it.

 

It could be the DSG box on ours but it feels very sprightly and picks up very well. Overtaking is a toddle as you just press the throttle and it's off like a stabbed rat.

 

The book 0-60 time isn't anything to write home about but it feels faster than the figures suggest and the in-gear acceleration (30-60, 40-70 etc) is very pleasing.

 

My previous car just for reference was a Cordoba PD130 6 speed (long gearbox) manual. I don't feel like I have missed the power. Just the top speed that's lower for Autobahn driving.

 

Phil

Making the car run rich will not destroy an engine. It's not ideal for power or economy and you may get a bit of carbon buildup further reducing engine performance but total engine destruction is just scaremongering. If the car were to run lean and if it were a petrol that would destroy your engine.

 

I'm not saying this to be difficult and I totally agree that a remap is the best possible way to go short of a bigger engine. I just can't stand misinformation on the internet (wikipedia makes me soooooooo mad)

Making the car run rich will not destroy an engine. It's not ideal for power or economy and you may get a bit of carbon buildup further reducing engine performance but total engine destruction is just scaremongering. If the car were to run lean and if it were a petrol that would destroy your engine.

 

Its already happened to members cars, cylinders and/or piston rings have been badly damaged by Bore wash caused by the excess fuel. Turbo charger veins clogged up by excess carbon build up, there are plenty of threads with members on other forums as well. Google is your friend.

I'm wary enough of "standard" off the shelf remaps, which have had some development and generally adjust everything needed to run correctly... but a cheap resistor? Don't do it!

Ah right fair enough, when you guys said running rich I didn't realise you meant so rich that you could catch the exhaust fumes and put them back in your fuel tank. Clearly the resistance in these boxes is way too high.

 

That much extra fuel seems pretty useless unless you strap on some boost.

I ran one of these many years ago. Did the job and for £20 gave better BHP per pound than a air filter.

Gave no where near as much over fuelling as some remaps do.