Has anyone tried a Steinbauer chip in their Puma?

[Brid]

G'day all. Just wondering if anyone else has tried a Steinbauer power module on their Puma engine? I'd love to hear your comments if possible please.

I had one fitted before our Vic high country trip in April, but it didn't seem to work at all. The supplier then had it on the dyno, acknowledged the problem, made a few tweaks, and there was a slight benefit, but it surged severely under load. After that the benefit was later gone anyway.

They even had the Steinbauer experts from Austria work on it when they were here last week. I got a message early in the day to say "great news, fitted module with new hardware, not even on the market yet ,and it is working well!" I don't know how they determined that...I'm just back from a 2000km + trip to the mines, and on or off, I can't feel any difference at all.

They say 20% power gain. If it produced that, it'd put a smile on your face straight away! I reckon I'd notice 10% easily. 5%, well perhaps you might or you might think it's going well today.

I know Steinbauer have a good name, so I suspect something is funny...maybe some sort of interference from alternator or whatever???

So, I sure would appreciate any comment from others experience.

Cheers
Brid

[p38arover]

Your best bet would be to have the car dynoed. If you are in Sydney, Graeme Cooper Auto are LR specialists and they have a 4-wheel dyno.

[Brid]

Thanks Ron. We have already been through that with Highway Diesel, the supplier in Brisbane. Following that, the got Steinbauer direct involved.

I gotta say that, I'm less than impressed with Steinbauer, when they can conclude that it's all sorted and working properly, when quite clearly, when I drive it, there is no discernible difference. Had they dynoed at the time, they would have known, and surely if they even drove it before and after, they would have known that they had not achieved anything significant.

I really hope someone else had tried it on a PUMA to comment one way or the other, in the hope there is some obvious solution. Otherwise I will request a refund on Monday.

Regards

Brid

[Wortho]

We've fitted two to puma Defenders and both went very noticeably better afterward, both owners very happy.

[p38arover]

Thanks Ron. We have already been through that with Highway Diesel, the supplier in Brisbane. Following that, the got Steinbauer direct involved.

What were the results of the before and after dyno runs?

[Wortho]

Wish we had a Dyno but we don't, seat of the pants only i'm afraid however it was not wishful thinking they really did go quite alot better.

[Brid]

Thanks Wortho

That's good to hear that they have been fitted successfully! But interesting that mine doesn't work, and they have actually tried 3 different boxes now. Where did you place the box on those 2 Defenders?

Mine has been sited on top of the clutch masted cylinder cover panel (between the radiator overflow bottle and brake booster. As I mentioned before, I wonder if some electrical interference is stuffing things up. It does cause bad radio static.

Ron

The dyno results weren't revealed to me...it was just a tool to try to tweak it a bit, and Highway Diesel acknowledged that the result wasn't up to scratch at the time.

Thanks

Brid

[p38arover]

The dyno results weren't revealed to me...it was just a tool to try to tweak it a bit, and Highway Diesel acknowledged that the result wasn't up to scratch at the time.

Ruddy heck. :eek:

If I paid for the dyno run, I'd want the results!

[Brid]

Didn't pay for it Ron. That was Highway Diesels cost in trying to get it sorted. The results weren't worth a cracker really.

Brid

[p38arover]

Ahh. Bugger.

[Brid]

Well, I tried a Steinbauer, after reading a lot of good reports about them, but unfortunately it made no difference to my ’07 Puma. I have no doubt that they have a lot of success with them as I know people who have them, but no benefit on mine.

I don’t know if it is a Puma engine management over ride thing or something else, but the diesel shop guys, who supplied it, said it was right by their lap top. They later dyno’d it and acknowledged it wasn’t working, replaced the unit, and even had the Steinbauer tech gurus from Austria work on it during a visit to Australia. They also claimed it was working well (by their laptop).

After persevering for 3 months I asked for a refund, and bought a Tunit which worked brilliantly! Doesn’t need a technician to fit, and easily adjusted to the required power needs. In fact, it was critical in giving me enough power to blast over the Simpson dunes last year. I just turned it up to notch 6 for that. I think it goes from 1 to 10, but I haven’t set it past 6 as yet. It is also very compact. The Steinbauer is quite bulky for a high tech chip!

Just wondering if anyone has used a Steinbauer successfully on their Puma?

Brid

[dullbird]

there is no way I would chip my defender while in warranty........

[Brid]

Fair enough comment I suppose, but 100,000kms is a long time to be deprived of some much improved driveability!

For me, I'll take the chance & it can be removed in 5 mins if needed.

[SVX37]

there is no way I would chip my defender while in warranty........


I am the same Dullbird - but would you chip it out or warranty?

[dullbird]

I am the same Dullbird - but would you chip it out or warranty?

good question..no I wouldn't I do not see the need the car has plenty of usable power....the car gets up to 130 very quickly so I see no need for the extra speed..

we pulled almost 3 ton with the car the other day and it pulled it like it wasn't there! so happy with the usable torque as well

this is just my own experience of course:)

[PAT303]

I'm with dullbird on this,around here chips and mandrel exhaust are very common,so are driveline failures and dealers are wiseing up to warranty claims.Subaru paint mark their covers and chip retaining screws and if there is the slightest mark on the paint warranty is void. Pat

[p38arover]

It has been mentioned on here. A search will find it.

Oh, it was you. http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/83461-steinbauer-power-module-puma-engine.html

I'll merge the threads.

[Scallops]

Well, I tried a Steinbauer.......Doesn’t need a technician to fit, and easily adjusted to the required power needs. In fact, it was critical in giving me enough power to blast over the Simpson dunes last year.

Brid

What route did you take over the Simpson?

[Brid]

Hi

We left from Birdsville via Big Red to Eyre Creek going about 20km north through Annandale Station to cross, then back track down again to re-connect on the QAA line to NT border. South on K1 Line past Poeppel Cnr to turn west on the Rig Road. Did a clockwise loop going north to join the French Line, then heading east to re-track on the QAA & Big Red again.

We were one of 51 vehicles in 4 groups doing the Drive4Life charity run. I can’t resist giving a huge plug for Drive4Life. They raise money for wheel chairs for disabled and every cent goes to Northcott Society for this purpose. Each vehicle donates $1000 to join an extremely well organized trip, with all the best back up support (sat phones, break down support, even organizing parts) to travel remote areas safely.

Here is the link Drive 4 Life - Fundraising 4WD Tours |Victorian High Country|Simpson Desert (http://drive4life.com.au/)

That’s our 3rd trip with them, and we always end up making more great friends. So, if you want to join us on the next one (Flinders Ranges in October), check the website out.

Regards
Brid

[Brid]

I'm with dullbird on this,around here chips and mandrel exhaust are very common,so are driveline failures and dealers are wiseing up to warranty claims.Subaru paint mark their covers and chip retaining screws and if there is the slightest mark on the paint warranty is void. Pat

Just bear in mind that there is often a lot of bluff in dealer warranty statements. I am involved in supplying a product for engines to the mining industry, and can tell you there is never any support for aftermarket product by manufacturers. However, their warranty must cover materials and workmanship. If their is a problem with the engine, their warranty covers it.

If it can be shown that the aftermarket product, additive or whatever, caused a failure or problem, they have no responsibility to repair or rectify.

OEM's & dealers will often try to get out of warranty by pointing to another product causing it, and you might have a battle, but if you know how you stand legally (and the product has not caused damage) the law is on your side.

I dealt with one mine that was told their warranty would be voided unless they used the engine manufacturers brand oil, while a BHP group of mines all used the recommended oil specification in a Mobil brand...knowing that there were no warranty problems at all. (This is unrelated to my business...just an example I came across.)

In my case, I don't believe the Tunit will cause any damage, and there are no reports I am aware of that indicate problems. Also, I don't drive it hard so there is only a small risk, and I am happy to use it under warranty, and enjoy the better drive.

Regards
Brid

[dullbird]

Just bear in mind that there is often a lot of bluff in dealer warranty statements. I am involved in supplying a product for engines to the mining industry, and can tell you there is never any support for aftermarket product by manufacturers. However, their warranty must cover materials and workmanship. If their is a problem with the engine, their warranty covers it.

If it can be shown that the aftermarket product, additive or whatever, caused a failure or problem, they have no responsibility to repair or rectify.

OEM's & dealers will often try to get out of warranty by pointing to another product causing it, and you might have a battle, but if you know how you stand legally (and the product has not caused damage) the law is on your side.

I dealt with one mine that was told their warranty would be voided unless they used the engine manufacturers brand oil, while a BHP group of mines all used the recommended oil specification in a Mobil brand...knowing that there were no warranty problems at all. (This is unrelated to my business...just an example I came across.)


In my case, I don't believe the Tunit will cause any damage, and there are no reports I am aware of that indicate problems. Also, I don't drive it hard so there is only a small risk, and I am happy to use it under warranty, and enjoy the better drive.Regards
Brid


try telling it to the guy that spent a fair bit of money lifting his puma...only to be told after the second gear box that he had to return it to standard as they blamed the vibration and failures of the gearbox on the lift...after trying other avenues

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to talk you out of what your doing only saying that In my opinion its all good till something goes wrong and you have to prove you and your accessories are not at fault. I have accessories on my car a few actually, however I feel tampering with the engine would be something I would not have the ball's to do...its the most expensive thing on the car and if they rufused to fix that I would be up ****s creek without a paddle

I have already been in a position where I have had to battle and prove something was not my fault...and I can tell you its bloody hard and I would not want to do it again however saved me 10grand.

[p38arover]

....I feel tampering with the engine would be something I would not have the ball's to do....

:confused::confused:

I'm confused now, Lou.

I thought you were a female. :p

[dullbird]

:confused::confused:

I'm confused now, Lou.

I thought you were a female. :p

only on weekends Ron...:wasntme:


(scratches beard)

[Tombie]

try telling it to the guy that spent a fair bit of money lifting his puma...only to be told after the second gear box that he had to return it to standard as they blamed the vibration and failures of the gearbox on the lift...after trying other avenues

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to talk you out of what your doing only saying that In my opinion its all good till something goes wrong and you have to prove you and your accessories are not at fault. I have accessories on my car a few actually, however I feel tampering with the engine would be something I would not have the ball's to do...its the most expensive thing on the car and if they rufused to fix that I would be up ****s creek without a paddle

I have already been in a position where I have had to battle and prove something was not my fault...and I can tell you its bloody hard and I would not want to do it again however saved me 10grand.

What if the modifications were untraceable and completely removable for servicing etc...?

No evidence of tampering ever!

[dullbird]

What if the modifications were untraceable and completely removable for servicing etc...?

No evidence of tampering ever!

well thats true....

but for instance if you have a flashed ECU that you put back to standard before the dealer hooks up the comp then yes they cant trace it...if you do have it on there the dealers comp automatically returns the map back to standard I believe.

I also believe that the ecu has a limited number of times it can be update 13 springs to mind before you need to, I cant remember whether it was a complete software install of the ECU or a new ECU..(I think its a new ECU.)

This was discussed when the patches were due out and then quarantined.

So the point I'm getting to is for me for what I see as not a hugh amount to gain in power from the chip (i'm sure the TD5 gains way more from being chipped then a Puma does) seems like a lot of effort that may well cost you in the end anyway should something go wrong.

[Tusker]

What if the modifications were untraceable and completely removable for servicing etc...?

No evidence of tampering ever!

Data logging will show it though.. All in memory for the dealer to see.

Not sure, but I think it's in some vehicles now. So I don't think data logging is far away for LandRovers.

Regards
Max P