Hi all.

A lot of people over on the Corsa C website use DTUK tuning boxes on their 1.7 and 1.3 cdti's.

They give about 20-30% gains apparantly and better fuel consumption.

However I have heard from a few people that these boxes are merely glorified eBay resistor chips... just fooling the ECU into overfueling. How much truth is their to this?

I'm just wondering what your opinion is on these tuning boxes and if they are any good what are the best ones availaible? Can they cause any damage?

And advice appreciated.

Joel

There are two types, analog and digital. Analog are basically a (variable) resistor in a box and the digital ones contain an ECU which allows the resistance to be varied for a given input. Both work well, but both work by fooling a sensor causing the ECU to overfuel. The only disadvantage of the analog one is it may cause the ECU to log a fault with the sensor if it's turned up too high. This can easily be cleared with VAG-COM.

If you buy from a reputable dealer then you won't have any problems. I've tried two analog and a digital and I honestly couldn't tell them apart. The cheapest was a resistor in a box, the most expensive was a Dragon digital.

Chris

Can they reduce the life of the engine and turbo though? How would they increase MPG if they are overfueling? Can this combated by getting more air into the engine with larger intakes?

They swear by them on Vauxhall Corsa C Sports Club Home I think several 1.7 CDTi's have rolling roaded at around about 130bhp thats 30bhp up on standard... although I am a rolling road skeptic.

I'm not familiar with the maker, but a proper "tuning box" should be like buying a generic remap, although slower because it works by reading and then altering the parameters from the standard map once they've been sent to the engine devices, rather than replacing the map. Hence why they're also known as "intercept chips", they intercept the data messages and change them. I'd not recommend them unless your car can't be remapped or re-chipped, but then I don't recommend generic maps anyway.

As Chris says, some of them though are basically a more sophisticated "resistor in a box".

Ok, generalities done.

If the claims for better mpg are correct, I'd think they're using intercept devices. Any reduction of engine/turbo life from one of those should be down to the engine being habitually driven harder by the driver, rather than someone using the extra power to run lower throttle openings, or faster overtaking only.

Why are you an RR sceptic? I don't necessarily trust claims of absolute figures from an RR power run, cos some RRs read more power than others, but I would trust a "before and after" run that claimed "30bhp more" from a custom map.

Only used the resistor ones. For the cost of

Basically, you get more MPG because the amount of torque produced allows you to be in a higher gear for a given speed (compared to previously). However, I've not noticed any drop in economy with mine on so I must have been compensating by driving it harder!

Any form of tuning will reduce the engine/turbo life, however, I doubt it will reduce it significantly more than standard. If you abuse the car, you will break things, standard or modded

Chris

A freind of mine has just turned his remap back on after a good few months and notice 4mpg increase with normal drving.

Urm - kinda disagree with some of this...

A tuning box generally just messes with the fuelling and not the boost, so it won't impact on the turbo at all.

There may be some that also do that, but the Dragon one I had didnt for sure.

Analogue tuning boxes work fine but as already pointed out, a CEL wouldnt be surprising and it is more likely to smoke a lot and/or idle a tad fast. The digital one was a lot more refined, it's stepped but in a reasonably smooth way.

A generic remap will usually alter (increase mostly) boost and fuelling - you may find better fuel economy when cruising, but of course you will be more likely to enjoy the extra power which is achieved by more fuelling so you can guess what that does :P

It certainly has a good grin factor

Can the Dragon box be taken on and off without damaging the car? How hard are they to fit?

Can the Dragon box be taken on and off without damaging the car? How hard are they to fit?

Take 15 minutes to fit if you include making yourself a cup of tea, reading the instructions and getting your tools out of the shed/garage 5 mins tops otherwise. And yes, they can be easily removed and refitted.

Chris

i'm currently running a Dragon digital box on my VRS , fuel consumption about the same , unless given some stick , noticed now after its been on 2 months that the back of the car is a bit more sooty than standard

the benefit of the Dragon box is that you can adjust how much extra fuel goes in

but a proper "tuning box" should be like buying a generic remap

I have to correct this.

A tuning box is nothing at all like a generic map. A tuning box change one 1 thing....fuelling. It does this by altering resistance.

A re-map, (from a reputable company) changes approx 14 maps on the Fabia VRS. 4/5 maps alone for various phases of injection. You then have torque limiters which are accurately adjusted, (one of the reasons some tuning boxes cause juddering)

Other maps include turbo pressure, turbo limiters etc etc.

We can supply tuning boxes if customers really want, but certainly dont recommend them.

I must also say, that we have had alot of customers that have come to get it done properly after alot of running issues with a box, even the expensive digital versions.

A freind of mine has just turned his remap back on after a good few months and notice 4mpg increase with normal drving.

It's now warmer and we're on summer diesel, so I would expect that sort of improvement anyway.

What setting do you people who have a dragon box run, i have just got a dragon box and was wondering which setting was the best balance between performance and smoke, Its a seven settings option box

Not really bothered about economy

Thanks

matt

What setting do you people who have a dragon box run, i have just got a dragon box and was wondering which setting was the best balance between performance and smoke, Its a seven settings option box

Not really bothered about economy

Thanks

matt

Mine is set to pin 7.... Maximum power setting..... Had it on 5 for a while as it seemed a little smoother but then went up to setting 7 and seemed just as smooth so i've left it on that ever since. Only had it on a couple of months so should be about to bed in anytime now.

Cheers

Dave.

Thanks fella, have you noticed any increase in smoke and more importantly has the power increase been noticeable.

i have no instructions with mine so not sure how to change the settings

matt

Thanks fella, have you noticed any increase in smoke

There is a little more smoke compared to our other vRS which only has a PD160 intake and green filter. I only really notice it at night though when cars behind me light it up with their lights.

more importantly has the power increase been noticeable.

There is a big increase compared to the other fabia with no Dragon box fitted.... And a little more power when compared to having it on the standard default setting that the Dragon box comes setup as.

i have no instructions with mine so not sure how to change the settings

matt

To change the settings you have to do the following.

With the engine and ignition turned off open the dragon box and change the pin setting by ONE notch.... Towards the edge of the box is more power towards the middle of the box is more economy. Resecure the dragon box and take the car out for a test drive going all the way to the redline in 2nd & 3rd gears to check it works throughout the rev range.

Repeat this proces each time you want to change the setting...... So if it's on setting 4 and you want setting 7 then you do this 3 times till you get to setting 7.

I'll try and get my scanner working if you like and get a copy of my instruction sheet for ya if you still have problems.

Cheers

Dave.

Excellent, thankyou very much for that helpful response

If you would be able to fire up the scanner and send me copy of your instructions i would very grateful.

it all sounds very promising, looking forward to getting it fitted,

Have you noticed any clutch or engine management problems???

Matt

Excellent, thankyou very much for that helpful response

If you would be able to fire up the scanner and send me copy of your instructions i would very grateful.

it all sounds very promising, looking forward to getting it fitted,

Have you noticed any clutch or engine management problems???

Matt

Nope not as yet........ You just have to be sure you don't boot it too much so as not to stuff the clutch up but that's the same if you had a remap etc... i suppose.

Cheers

Dave.

yeah makes sense, i try and wait till above 2500 rpm before going for full throttle as i was aware of the possible clutch damage before,

doesn't sound like driving style needs to be changed,

so setting 4 is like having no tuning box and anything above that increases power?????? or have i misunderstood that

Matt

yeah makes sense, i try and wait till above 2500 rpm before going for full throttle as i was aware of the possible clutch damage before,

doesn't sound like driving style needs to be changed,

so setting 4 is like having no tuning box and anything above that increases power?????? or have i misunderstood that

Matt

Setting 4 is still around 15-20BHP more than stock..... going up to setting 7 will give you the full 30BHP they claim. :D:D

Cheers

Dave.

Thanks very much for you help

Matt

I couldn't help but notice your long list of mods, I have fitted Phillips extreme 80% bulbs and the difference is massive, just as an extra if yr interested

Matt

looks like you are covered for the instructions then Matt

yeh thanks for the helpful advice, its very much appreciated

Matt