Hi,

I know this has been asked a more than a few times in various guises (I've read more than I care about ECU remaps) - but anyway can anybody give a definative answer to the statement 'if you remap the car with a switchable remap but then take it off, it can still be detected'

Thanks

Yes, HTH

Chris

Just to elaborate on Chris' answer.

By driving it, it's undetectable, but if they run some serious diagnostics, it will be visible that some of the code has changed indicating a remap.

From what I understand their is a flash counter on the ecu. Each time your ecu is flashed the number increases. But you'll find all decent mapping companies can reset this counter.

I'm not sure if theirs other ways in which people can detect if a car has been remapped at some stage.

Other systems that store more than 1 map in the ecu will take up more memory space than say 1 map.

Yep, all Remaps can be detected! Even if the remap is taken off, and put back to standard, it can still be found that your ECU was modified in some way.

not if you use a dragon tuning box instead

not if you use a dragon tuning box instead

Don't feed people wrong information!

Thought that it was only detectable on the newer ECU`s (I.E EDC16) when put back to standard,as they had an inbuilt counter. Need a pro to elaborate, as far as i know this is right and the ECU flash software makers have got this cracked so even the newer ones when reverted to standard are undetectable.

Ok.

Ok.

Can you elaborate?

I've already replied an answer at the top. But you didn't read it for you to type what you did.

Need a pro to elaborate, as far as i know this is right and the ECU flash software makers have got this cracked so even the newer ones when reverted to standard are undetectable.

Interesting - really would like to get a remap done but the missus won't let me if it's going to affect the warranty. Can anybody confirm this?

Interesting - really would like to get a remap done but the missus won't let me if it's going to affect the warranty. Can anybody confirm this?

Check the T&C's of the warranty document you agreed to when you signed the car

Chris

Check the T&C's of the warranty document you agreed to when you signed the car

Chris

Ahh, yeah I more meant which can be proven to 'affect' the warranty

am not sure about this warranty stuff!!....i spoke to jabba last year and he told me that they remap brand new motors for the local vag dealer and they have no issues with warranty at all!!....mine was mapped when i bought it from a main dealer and had no warranty issues and it was in a good few time for work!!....does anybody have a definitive answer for this?.....or is it just down to your dealer as to wether he will do any work that is needed under warranty?

k:)

You can always tell if a flash device has been reprogrammed, it is just a case of how hard they want to look.

Even without a counter etc you could tell, but that would be doing some serious diagnostics on the thing at a chip level.

This isn't worth the cost for say a small item, but if you had to make a claim for a whole new engine and they suspected a remap it suddenly becomes cost effective to check the ECU etc in great detail.

HTH

Some dealers are more open minded than others.

Bottom line is - Skoda UK will not warrant anything that may be damaged by unauthorised modifications - this includes remaps even if done by the supplying dealer.

honestly though... wouldn't a dragon tuning box be undetectable (when removed) as it doesn't "flash" the CPU ?

I was thinking that, but maybe everytime something is plugged in it logs it, like when you plug a USB thing into your computer is could possibly log it?

am not sure about this warranty stuff!!....i spoke to jabba last year and he told me that they remap brand new motors for the local vag dealer and they have no issues with warranty at all!!....mine was mapped when i bought it from a main dealer and had no warranty issues and it was in a good few time for work!!....does anybody have a definitive answer for this?.....or is it just down to your dealer as to wether he will do any work that is needed under warranty?

k:)

The thing with Jabba, as Stu pointed out is that they don't have any warranty issues with the vag dealer in question as they have a "gentleman's agreement".

This is often the case with dealers and local tuners. There have even been dealers which have demo cars remapped by tuners to help convince drivers a bit more. Very naughty, but it does happen.

The problem is that what if that dealer goes bust / moves away, or more cynically, gets sussed out by Skoda HQ who will then remove the approved dealership status, also red-flagging any car purchased through them as potentially having a remap and thus voiding any engine / mechanically related warranty claim.

Generally, the rules are more guidelines, and dealers will help out. The issue is when you have a big problem and where the warranty is with Skoda UK (the dealer claims back from Skoda UK who will enquire if things sound suspicious).

honestly though... wouldn't a dragon tuning box be undetectable (when removed) as it doesn't "flash" the CPU ?

It doesn't "flash" the ECU, but the ECU may log faults, etc which could only have occured if parameters were outside the programmed ECU values

Oh dear, wish I'd known about this before I ordered a Dragon box the other day!

Just checked the website and there is 30 day money back guarantee if they cant resolve any issues for you (hope warranty wrecking is included in that?)

Is it worth me checking this one out with a dealer?

Presumably they will know of any tuning even if your car has only gone in for a service? Is the car connected to anything if there are no fault lights/service lights on dash?

The tuning box option is fine - Don't panic.

Remove it when you need to

The tuning box option is fine - Don't panic.

Remove it when you need to

Cool! Thanks Stu (again).

Any update on the Dragon box? I'm very close to getting 1 myself and was wondering if you had a report for us?