132 TSI / 1.8L - Loss of torque at low revs after stage 1 tune

[MurrayKhodd]

Okay, so qite likely I'm going to have the same problem again if the base tune is incompatable in some way, so I probably need to tread cautiously. The thing is if this doesn't work I guess I'll have to pay Skoda close to $5K to get my car running properly, which probably means I'll have to put up with it. That's a shed load of money when you're on a disability pension. The cost of this next tune is bad enough, though at least these guys have a dyno and I should be able to see if it's worked before parting with cash.

Many thanks for the tip.

Russell

[MurrayKhodd]

Lucas - looks like a really good option from what I see of their website. Actually I talked with them back when I was just trying to get a dyno report but the subject of custom tuning never came up. Will give him a call. A pity he's at the opposite end of Brisbane..

One thing that worries me just a little is that the first step of their tuning process is "Record thousands of datalogs from the vehicle in its factory state". What happens if it's not in its factory state I wonder?

Cheers

Russell

[MurrayKhodd]

A final updater for anyone who might happen across this thread later.

I got a custom tune from a place out on my side of town and it pretty much fixed things. A rough estimate of accelaration suggest im now getting from 0-100kph in around 7 seconds. This is similar to the quoted stock figure for this car, but the torque curve is now shifted to higher revs. Fun if I can find somewhere to fang it, good for overtaking trucks with camper in tow, but not so good around town where I drive 90% of the time. So it is a fantastic result from where I was with either of the APR tunes in my CPU. With their stage one tune I'd have been lucky to get to 60kmh in seven seconds. In hindsight though I think I'd rather have the stock tune. And $2650 back in my pocket.

To confirm a point earlier in this thread the "custom" tune did indeed start with a "base file" though the technician tinkered and test drove for about a day after that was loaded.

[brad]

A final updater for anyone who might happen across this thread later.

I got a custom tune from a place out on my side of town and it pretty much fixed things. A rough estimate of accelaration suggest im now getting from 0-100kph in around 7 seconds. This is similar to the quoted stock figure for this car, but the torque curve is now shifted to higher revs. Fun if I can find somewhere to fang it, good for overtaking trucks with camper in tow, but not so good around town where I drive 90% of the time. So it is a fantastic result from where I was with either of the APR tunes in my CPU. With their stage one tune I'd have been lucky to get to 60kmh in seven seconds. In hindsight though I think I'd rather have the stock tune. And $2650 back in my pocket.

As a recent (joint) purchaser of a 1.8tsi Alltrack this makes me very reluctant to do the is20/tune I was considering given that my missus is the main driver and we mostly punt around the 'burbs.
I love our Alltrack. The traction is wonderful and the power & torque feel very similar to my tuned gen1 1.8tsi Octavia. Even the DSG is OK (but manual would be better. It feels very spritely compared to our Pajero Sport (same power, similar torque, 700kg heavier)

I'm surprised you didn't get your low end torque back and it does make me wonder if there is an inherent problem with your vehicle.

I realise that not all people research to the frustratingly slow and methodical way that I do but do you feel you went into this fully informed about your own needs and what the tune would offer?

1 question. What fuel do you run?

[MurrayKhodd]

Yeah, nothing wrong with the car. I parted with yet more cash getting it checked out before the custom tune, and then the custom tune worked as it was supposed to, it was just designed to focus on high end torque (see a post from Lucas above). It's low end is still massively better than it was with the APR stage 1.

I did as much research as I could before getting the APR tune and I think my expectations were entirely reasonable. This problem is unusual and no one really knows what caused it. Then again no one can tell me the difference between a CSJA and CSJB. (Crankshaft maybe? If it were only a different factory tune surely the APR files would just turn the CJSB into a CJSA.)

Anyway, getting this thing sorted was an absolute misery and i really need to put it behind me. Once again, thanks to all those who helped.

I've never run it on anything but 98.

[Sharkie]

Happy it worked out in the end for you Murray. The 1.8TSI is a bit hard to tune from my own experience. We have that engine in our 2017 Polo GTI and running a stage 2 tune has been interesting. Torque down low (at stg 2) is actually a tiny bit worse (from a but dyno perspective) than stock but at 3000r/min it is crazy ... crazy wheelspin territory ... its like a switch that goes from nothing to crazy in an instant. Driveability has suffered a bit.

When we go IS20 (which is waiting on the shelf for a clutch upgrade to go in), we will likely try another tuner.

[Gutoneto]

Then again no one can tell me the difference between a CSJA and CSJB. (Crankshaft maybe? If it were only a different factory tune surely the APR files would just turn the CJSB into a CJSA.)

The engine is the same, the first three letters of the engine code is the hardware configuration. The last letter is related to the software calibration for the engine. As long as you get the same software, in your case the B, all should be the same as it came out of the factory.