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Thread: Long term effects of a chipped ECU?

  1. 23rd February 2014, 04:19 PM #1
    plaven
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    Long term effects of a chipped ECU?

    Hi Everyone,

    The 2001 TD5 D2 I bought apparently has a Bruce Davis performance chip. I say this because I was told by the mechanic, whose sticker is on the ECU case, told me only uses Bruce Davis chips/maps. I have no idea how to confirm this.

    The long story is, while trying to diagnose hard starting problems with the D2 the mechanic I used thought the ECU was the problem, diagnostics pointing to it I guess, so I ended up with a second hand one. I noticed immediately the more sedate temperament of the D2.

    The hard starting problem has been resolved, turns out it was a leaking injector. However on the way home with the new ECU I found that the cruise control wouldn't work/turn on. I've thought for some time it might be my fault so didn't press the issue too much.

    I've been running this ECU now for some time and checking the mileage for kicks with a fairly simple spreadsheet. To date it looks like I'm averaging 11l/100km's.

    Today while working out if I can get a solid seal on the rear door, I thought I'd swap the chipped ECU back in and test if I get CC back.

    After a quick run up the main drag, CC works. So it's clear this is an ECU issue, not me.

    What I have noticed though is that the engine seems to be a little louder when it's running. Idling is fine, smooth etc, but the engine itself seems a little more 'clatterier', as in the diesel clatter you get is more noticeable than with the other ECU.

    I've also noticed that performance wise it's a missile over the other ECU and it's more inclined to hold the gear longer, so revs out to the 3k mark, even when a gentle throttle. I've also noticed that the gear changes aren't as smooth or gentle as with the other ECU. I don't know if this is a passenger comfort thing, but the gear changes are certainly noticeable.

    So I guess the question is, this added performance comes at a cost, is it at the cost of the longevity of the engine?

    Given the effort to swap the ECU's is minimal, should I just keep the two and only pull out the chipped ECU when needs arise?

    I'm going to run this ECU now for a few months to see what sort of mileage it gets too.
    Last edited by plaven; 23rd February 2014 at 08:39 PM. Reason: forgot the engine type
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  2. 23rd February 2014, 07:06 PM #2
    clubagreenie's Avatar
    clubagreenie
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    TD5 or V8?
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  3. 23rd February 2014, 07:09 PM #3
    sheerluck Guest
    Quote Originally Posted by clubagreenie View Post
    TD5 or V8?
    At 11l/100km, it can only be the V8.
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  4. 23rd February 2014, 07:18 PM #4
    schuy1 Guest
    If it is the '8 Id be mighty worried about the "but the engine itself seems a little more 'clatterier'" bit
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  5. 23rd February 2014, 07:32 PM #5
    clubagreenie's Avatar
    clubagreenie
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    That's why I ask, fuel is too good for V8, but noisy enough to be TD.

    Now the system that Davis uses for the V8D2 from what I've been told by them programs through the OBD port. Trouble is that this cannot acces all areas of the ECU for programming so I'm wondering just what they've changed.

    If it's TD then it's not an issue, but the earlier ECU couldn't be programmed I believe but can be swapped for the later (non NNN type?)
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  6. 23rd February 2014, 08:37 PM #6
    plaven
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    Quote Originally Posted by clubagreenie View Post
    TD5 or V8?
    I always forget that bit.

    TD5.

    Its the earlier ECU, so I belive it's chipped and not mapped. It's the non programable one I think.
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  7. 23rd February 2014, 09:03 PM #7
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    Hastykiwi
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    Normally, when you swap ECU'S, you need to load the injector codes to the new ECU via Nanocom or similar. Do you know if this has been done?

    Nick
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  8. 24th February 2014, 12:13 AM #8
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    joel0407
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    Search some of my posts about Bruce Davis tune. You need someone with a Nanocom to see what you have. My Disco 2002 had a Bruce Davis tune. It was for a EU3 motor and I (as well as you if it's a 2001) only have EU2 motors. If your tune is a EU3 tune, you'll see low atmospheric pressure. As the EU3 motor doesn't have the sensor the ECU takes a guess or something. Mine read like it was 600m below see level which caused pretty gross over fuelling.

    Happy Days.
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  9. 24th February 2014, 12:27 AM #9
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    joel0407
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    Oh yeah. Mine was noisy too. Now I have a TD5inside tune.

    Happy Days.
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