francois
10-04-2005, 08:52 PM
I get home from Vegas and there's an ECU at my door. While I was away, I shipped out my car brain and had some nerds reprogram to get more power. Yeah!
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 001.jpg">
My car is a Passat with a small 1.8T engine. 180 horse, decent torque. I've been planning to chip it since Day 1 three years ago but just never got around to it. Last week, I bike with two different people fromt this site and they say 'you chip it yet?' No. 'What's your problem?' They have three 1.8Ts between them all chipped, awesome performance, same mileage and no problems.
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/00_ecu_start.jpg">
So I pull the trigger while I'm gone since this is all done by mail. I plug it back in the car and start er up. My 35-mile commute to work is either through highway 101 or 280... but not today. Today, we will do 42 miles through the 9-35-92... the mountains.
Oh yah, the mountains. And it looks like a clear day. No freeway, just curvy mountain roads. Little Passat has upgraded Bilstein suspension and soft tires so curves are ok. Power was not as enthusiastic. But it now it's different. This car is CHARGING! Dayum. The turbo now whines very noticeably then a lot of whoooshing sounds ensue.
Downtown Saratoga, then the mountains...
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 007.jpg">
whirrrrrr, whoosh, whoosh
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 011.jpg">
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 013.jpg">
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 016.jpg">
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 019.jpg">
Ahh the ocean on de left side. This is rarely seen as it's always socked in with fog. But fall in the SF bay area is brilliant. And visibility today is UNLIMITED.
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 025.jpg">
Oh cool Alice's
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 034.jpg">
Now for the best part. A couple mile uphill climb with 10 turns. This is where the car has an angry attitude!
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 037.jpg">
Oh hey Skeggs Point. I hear bikers like to ride the off-road trails here.
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 038.jpg">
Freaking Vista point has about 5 feet of viewable space between trees
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 041.jpg">
And then to my dreary office building. Big smile not from a morning ride but a morning drive.
francois
Tech notes:
The VW 1.8T engine is overbuilt with a large turbo at very low boost. The main thing the 'chip' does is boost up the turbo. 34 extra horse and almost 100 ft/lbs of torque. If you have a 1.8T on your Bug,Jetta, Golf, Passat, A4, or TT chip it for $500 at goapr.com. Only caveat is you need upgraded suspension so you don't drive off the road.
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 001.jpg">
My car is a Passat with a small 1.8T engine. 180 horse, decent torque. I've been planning to chip it since Day 1 three years ago but just never got around to it. Last week, I bike with two different people fromt this site and they say 'you chip it yet?' No. 'What's your problem?' They have three 1.8Ts between them all chipped, awesome performance, same mileage and no problems.
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/00_ecu_start.jpg">
So I pull the trigger while I'm gone since this is all done by mail. I plug it back in the car and start er up. My 35-mile commute to work is either through highway 101 or 280... but not today. Today, we will do 42 miles through the 9-35-92... the mountains.
Oh yah, the mountains. And it looks like a clear day. No freeway, just curvy mountain roads. Little Passat has upgraded Bilstein suspension and soft tires so curves are ok. Power was not as enthusiastic. But it now it's different. This car is CHARGING! Dayum. The turbo now whines very noticeably then a lot of whoooshing sounds ensue.
Downtown Saratoga, then the mountains...
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 007.jpg">
whirrrrrr, whoosh, whoosh
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 011.jpg">
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 013.jpg">
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 016.jpg">
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 019.jpg">
Ahh the ocean on de left side. This is rarely seen as it's always socked in with fog. But fall in the SF bay area is brilliant. And visibility today is UNLIMITED.
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 025.jpg">
Oh cool Alice's
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 034.jpg">
Now for the best part. A couple mile uphill climb with 10 turns. This is where the car has an angry attitude!
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 037.jpg">
Oh hey Skeggs Point. I hear bikers like to ride the off-road trails here.
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 038.jpg">
Freaking Vista point has about 5 feet of viewable space between trees
<img src="http://mtbr.com/author/photos/ecudrive/pics 041.jpg">
And then to my dreary office building. Big smile not from a morning ride but a morning drive.
francois
Tech notes:
The VW 1.8T engine is overbuilt with a large turbo at very low boost. The main thing the 'chip' does is boost up the turbo. 34 extra horse and almost 100 ft/lbs of torque. If you have a 1.8T on your Bug,Jetta, Golf, Passat, A4, or TT chip it for $500 at goapr.com. Only caveat is you need upgraded suspension so you don't drive off the road.