Hopefully one of you can help. The DTUK box sounds like a great way of improving the performance and mpg on my new VRS tdi. However the dealer said it would invalidate the warranty, and that the in car diagnotics would know if it had been fitted.

Has anyone had anything from Skoda UK to contradict that? Car will be on a PCH so don't want to do anything that messes up that deal.

I thought the car diagnostics could only detect remaps?

I have a DTUK box fitted, CRD-T and a pedal box, I've had to have Skoda assist out for an unrelated problem, popped the boxes off as the car had to be recovered from home to the dealer. No problem getting the warranty work done and nothing detected regarding the box.

Don't put one on for MPG reasons though, don't believe the hype in that, but power / torque, they work well.

As long as you give it 5 / 10 mins before fitting to let the electronics cycle down, and of course removed it before any servicing (5min job) then I'd say it would be fine.

I'm not saying it could not be detected, but as all this is a piggy back system, all it's changes are made by fooling sensors rather than physical changes to software within the ECU.

They are a good bit of kit, my TDI vRS is around 5 MPG down on stock though, 12k miles on it and I'm hitting mid 40's MPG wise with the box fitted, anything up to 5mpg down in stock (using fuelly to calculate)

Edited 14 March, 201610 yr by fluffmeister

Hopefully one of you can help. The DTUK box sounds like a great way of improving the performance and mpg on my new VRS tdi. However the dealer said it would invalidate the warranty, and that the in car diagnotics would know if it had been fitted.

Has anyone had anything from Skoda UK to contradict that? Car will be on a PCH so don't want to do anything that messes up that deal.

 

Why on earth did you discuss this with your dealer, there is no way they would support this or any other mod.  As stated above these are undetectable once removed, though some people have advocated running a VCDS scan after removal to clear any codes but there is no evidence this is really necessary - I ran one on my PD140 Octy for several years till the warranty expired and then I got a remap.

Thanks for the fast replies. Interesting that it doesn't have such a positive effect on economy as I expected. Will have to think further. Wonder what the warranty situation is with VCDS tweaks? If the front fog cornering is enabled would Skoda warranty have a problem? Once again any advice welcomed.

Why on earth did you discuss this with your dealer, there is no way they would support this or any other mod.  As stated above these are undetectable once removed, though some people have advocated running a VCDS scan after removal to clear any codes but there is no evidence this is really necessary - I ran one on my PD140 Octy for several years till the warranty expired and then I got a remap.

Just too honest I guess? Interesting that you think the dealer would not accept "any" mod. Hence my question about VCDS mods.

The whole issue around improved fuel consumption is dubious at best. The box makes the car use more fuel than the ECU thinks, giving the impression less fuel is actually being used. More power = more fuel = more bang. You can't argue with physics.  

 

With regards to coding things like cornering fog lights and such like. I have been using VCDS for almost 10 years now and I've never had any issues with warranty claims. 

Thanks dsteve2000. That puts my mind at rest. From the comments so far I think the VCDS box might be off the list to start with. I still want to have fun in the car so wont be driving it just for economy, but the possible warranty issues do concern me. Shame as the insurance increase from Direct Line was pretty reasonable.

As long as you give it 5 / 10 mins before fitting to let the electronics cycle down, and of course removed it before any servicing (5min job) then I'd say it would be fine.

 

 Very important to remember this bit

 

What you've got remember is, nobody doing a service is looking for this box or any trace of it having been there, the scan is only done as VAG ask for it and if the box isn't present, it won't show up however, if you smash the front end off the car its gonna be very difficult to remove the tuning box.  But, evading a TD1 flag which is all a tuned car gets from VAG unless you make a warranty claim, when if its engine or running gear then you'l get the "we told you so"

 

Regards

T

The whole issue around improved fuel consumption is dubious at best. The box makes the car use more fuel than the ECU thinks, giving the impression less fuel is actually being used. More power = more fuel = more bang. You can't argue with physics.

With regards to coding things like cornering fog lights and such like. I have been using VCDS for almost 10 years now and I've never had any issues with warranty claims.

Regarding fuel consumption, it totally depends how you drive...if you're using the extra performance and putting your foot down everywhere you go, then of course you're going to use more fuel.

However, I have a noticeable increase in fuel economy on a cruise and normal driving conditions - having driven a couple of times back to Newcastle since fitting, the consumption is visually less on the guage, and a few quid cheaper filling up at the other end.