Marcalucci

Thanks to everyone who answered my post last week regarding the newly installed chip that was causing the tach needle to jump up and down a little when the electric choke was engaged. It took a little while to settle down probably because the engine is only in this mode for a minute or so when it's first started. It was perfectly smooth in all other situations from day 1, however. Now, after a few days have passed, the engine is smooth all the time. It's a GIAC chip for a 2000 1.8T Quattro Tip. The power gains are significant and well-appreciated. What's amazing is the power gained before the turbo even engages. My car used to be very sluggish before the turbo kicked-in. Now, with the GIAC chip, it feels much stronger in the 1000-2000 rpm range. I perceive much less turbo lag with the chip. And once the turbo spools up, I get pushed back in my seat like I didn't think possible. Before the chip, the car felt like it had two modes. Super slow when it was reving below 2000 rpms and peppy when it was over 3000 rpms. These two modes were seperated by noticeable turbo lag. Now the power comes on smooth and strong from 1000 rpms to redline. It went from peppy in the mid-range to very powerful throughout the entire rev-range. I couldn't be happier with the GIAC chip and the guys at A.W.E. This was my first mod and I think I caught the "modding bug". I'm saving up for many more upgrades.

djnelsen

I thought that adjusting the boost levels of the turbo is how the chip worked on a turbo. The chip must also adjust air-fuel mixtures as well.

learn something new every day =)

coolhand {aka Craig}

I have their K04 GIAC upgrade, I noticed a twitchy RPM...sort of 'bouncy'...like 500 / 750...500/750. This is also typically at startup. I just wrote it off as a dirty Throttle Body butterfly. (and never cleaned it...) I have a 98 1.8t and wish I had any sort of torque at 100) RPM... my fun doesent start till 3K.

djnelsen

Chips for naturally aspirated engines produce very modest gains. Not a big difference. The chip on my 2.8 for instance only yielded about 10 hp.

Before your turbo kicks in, your engine essentially IS naturally aspirated.....so how can it be making a big difference?

I'm not doubting you, I'm just genuinely puzzled.

=)

CMH

While your motor is sucking in air, the turbo car is making boost to level it off at zero till the turbo really spools up to make a positive boost level. When you drive in a turbo car and look at a boost gauge your seeing 1 bar of boost in the intake manifold over zero pressure. The turbo is actually making 2 bar of boost.

djnelsen

oh ok......I didn't think that there was any boost until the turbo spooled up.

rigor

more timing makes more power off boost, thus more power off boost makes the turbo spool up quicker...

markbradford

Next to nil however.

Kris Hansen

before detonation determines power increases. This is why our cars tend to perform poorly on low grade gas, the knock sensor retrards timing to protect the engine. The more advance you can get, the more power you will make (to a point.)

Kris Hansen

maybe I am thinking of closed throttle.. I haven't driven a turbo car with a 'real' boost gauge in a little while, so I forget..