CHIP VS FLASH VS PIGGYBACK

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:03 pm

Hi guys,

Just trying to get an understanding of different engine tuning devices etc...

My understanding is that for an FTO

you can get
* aftermarket ecu (e.g apexi FC)
* A chip (uni chip etc)
* or a piggyback device (e.g. SAFCII and I think a sth african comp)

is this correct?

Been looking at the GOLF GTI forums of late, and they talk a lot about flashing their cars.... I dont quite get all their differences but there is for example a

Bluefin or ST3 tune; which basically involves you sending your maps away, and then them sending upgraded maps back that once you download these onto your car via a laptop they are upgraded with extra KW..

then there is APR and Oettinger who I think can either flash your car; via direct port (as above) or put an after market ecu in...

Am i on the right track with this? was there ever a 'flash' developed for the FTO....?

what is the best and safest method?
sorry if this is not concise - just trying to get everything in my head onto paper...

Jamie · Post by **Jamie** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:05 pm

As far as I know the term 'flash' is actually just reprogramming the EPROM in the cars ECU. I haven't heard of anyone ever doing this before to the FTO. Maybe somebody might be able to elaborate a bit more for you though.

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 11:06 pm

As above ^^^ "Flashing" means to literally 'burn in' a new setting to the chip. Many cars these days come with factory ECU's that can be 'flashed' - such as the Golf & even Holden & Fords these days.

For cars that do not have flashable ECU's, you can use a piggyback such as a Unichip. With a Unichip, it has a flashable chip in it & as such when you get a tune, that new tune is burnt into the Unichip.

The other type of piggybacks (more modern types) are a little bit more exotic (technically) & have almost like ram chips that hold the tune information (as opposed to the older method of burning data to an eprom (chip) like the Unichip.

At the end of the day, the best method for doing all of this is by having car that has an ECU that can be flash tuned. If you dont (like an FTO) then you can add a piggyback that will do the job. At the end of the day, all a piggyback does is 'confuse' the standard ECU by over-riding the voltages going into it, to get it to do what it wants - like add more fuel / air here, advance timing there etc.

A stand alone ECU does not do any of the above - as the factory ECU is completely removed, the standalone unit runs everything (and to do so, the entire engine has to be rewired to the new ECU, hence the expense)

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:45 am

thanks bennoz - knew you would be the man for this question haha.

Looking into a golf GTI so was looking at what was available aftermarket - and appears to be a lot.... there is just a lot of hot debate on their forums as to which aftermarket tune to go for (and as a result a lot of locked threads!).

Post by **Bennoz** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:32 pm

Haha

Well, I work with a bloke who's got a GTI & he picked up some silly amount of power from simply having it retuned. Somewhere in the vicinity of about 40kws at the wheels

zuihoujueding · Post by **zuihoujueding** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 3:09 pm

Question!> wher can i get a good piggyback?

Post by **aza013** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:22 pm

Haltech for the Win

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:29 pm

Bennoz wrote:Haha

Well, I work with a bloke who's got a GTI & he picked up some silly amount of power from simply having it retuned. Somewhere in the vicinity of about 40kws at the wheels

yeah all these guys on the forums have had flashes / chips etc and taking the car from 147 to between 170-180kw all for the cost of between $800-$2000 depending on what company they choose. Bloody good bang for your buck!!!

FTO_GPvR · Post by **FTO_GPvR** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:05 pm

aza013 wrote:Haltech for the Win

ok so Haltech is a piggyback right?? correct me if im wrong. then whats a GReddy e-manage Ultimate is that a aftermarket ECU or a piggyback

koolio1234 · Post by **koolio1234** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:47 am

FTO_GPvR wrote:
aza013 wrote:Haltech for the Win
ok so Haltech is a piggyback right?? correct me if im wrong. then whats a GReddy e-manage Ultimate is that a aftermarket ECU or a piggyback

Its a piggyback engine management system.

FTO_GPvR · Post by **FTO_GPvR** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 10:55 am

koolio1234 wrote:
FTO_GPvR wrote:
aza013 wrote:Haltech for the Win
ok so Haltech is a piggyback right?? correct me if im wrong. then whats a GReddy e-manage Ultimate is that a aftermarket ECU or a piggyback
Its a piggyback engine management system.

Then whats a GReddy e-manage Ultimate is it a aftermarket ECU or a piggyback? did you reply for the Haltech or the GReddy e-manage ultimate?

Post by **Bennoz** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:42 pm

Both Greddy blue & Ultimate are piggybacks.

Haltech interceptor is a piggyback

Haltech Platinum sports are standalone ECU's.

FTO_GPvR · Post by **FTO_GPvR** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 12:46 pm

Bennoz wrote:Both Greddy blue & Ultimate are piggybacks.

Haltech interceptor is a piggyback

Haltech Platinum sports are standalone ECU's.

ok thanks ben for clearing it up