erasing APR software

[Arctra]

Has anyone heard of a way to plug a module in with the "reflash", (like plugging in a USB...) instead of the APR permanant system? I have heard that this module can just plug into the diagnostic port when you want it, and just be removed when not wanted.
The seeming advantage of this is that when we go in to the dealer, we just remove this and they are none the wiser...

Any thoughts or advantages / disadvantages?

I think what you are talking about is something like the Bluefin ST3 which you plug into the OBD-II port (under the steering wheel colsol) and reflash the ECU. You can flash it back to the original mapping when you want. I guess the main issue with it is that there are only so many times the ECU can be reflashed before the cells start to fail. The other concern (which I believe has been fixed now) is that the flash-counter is incremented whenever you remap and VW can detect this. I am told that has been sorted now and the flash-counter is reset after the ECU has been written to. Superchips (who make Bluefin) offer a warranty on the engine for any damage caused by the remap that is not covered by VW. They claim they are the official tuners for the VW racing team in the UK, and that they have never had a claim on the Bluefin warranty for the Tiguan. *shrug*

The other thing you my be referring to is something like the DP Chips module. What that does is intercept the signals being sent from the ECU and "adjusts" them to give you more power. Guys in the Club Touareg forum seem to swear by them. This option would be totally undetectable as all you need to do is remove the module from the engine bay and the dealer would be none the wiser. I think it's a higher risk option though due to it's lack of sophistication. Incidentally, I think these are the sort of modules available on eBay.

Hope that helps.

[Tigger]

That sure does help...thanks!

I guess the best way is indeed the APR method then...
It was just the apparant cost savings that first appealed. Although of course we only get what we pay for!

APR has been tried and tested I guess.

[Sharkie]

APR remap inside the ECU is invisible to the dealer's diagnostic equipment. They'd have to send the ECU to the factory to interrogate to detect it.

Easy way for the dealers to check however (since they all know how it works) is to try the cruise control buttons (which sets the program) in the appropriate manner to see if it responds as when chipped.

To prevent even this from happening, get the security lockout, which allows you to lock the setting and then only after entering a PIN will it allow a setting change. This is also undetecable and once locked in this way, there is no way for the dealer to see if you have an APR map loaded.

Remember that the reputable tuning houses, spend many hours and $$$ to get the software perfect. Any plugin device (thats stays attached to the system) is suspect as all it does is override some rudementary settings to increase boost, timing an fuel. It is recipe for disaster in the long run.

If you car is important to you, I'd suggest you pay for the solution that provides peace of mind and sufficient local back-up support.