What Is Auto Chiptuning, And How Does It Work?

 Do you want more speed, more power, more torque? This is possible with chip tuning or the reprogramming of original chips. But that should be considered carefully. First, the engine can suffer. And secondly, the operating license of your tuned favorite can expire. Here you can find out what to look out for with Chiptuning!

In the 1980s TV series "Knight Rider," David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight always pressed the Turbo Boost button when his supercar was supposed to deliver more power. But since cars have been rolling computers, car owners in this country can also help their darlings to perform better with a simple change in the electronic engine control. Chip tuning is the magic word. But what does Auto Chiptuning actually mean, and what options are there? This blog gives you an overview.

Chip tuning: That's Behind It

Chiptuning takes advantage of the fact that most automobile manufacturers do not fully exploit their engines' performance potential. You can make this leeway your own when tuning the engine: by reprogramming the engine control unit, all relevant parameters are stored on whose memory chip.

The reprogramming changes the individual values, for example, the boost pressure of a turbo engine, the injection of the fuel, or the ignition times of the individual cylinders. The result is increased engine performance.

What Options Are There For Chiptuning?

With Mercedes Chiptuning, the control chip is either reprogrammed, exchanged, or an additional device is installed. Which variant you ultimately choose is up to you.

The Reprogramming of the Chip

With this solution, the control unit of your car is reprogrammed. To do this, the data from the control section of your vehicle is loaded onto a programming device via the so-called ODB-2 interface (On-Board Diagnostics). There the old programming is overwritten with the new parameters and then played back on the control unit. Suppose at some point you don't feel like enjoying the benefits of your standard performance. In that case, factory programming can be quickly restored.

It costs between 300 and 1,000 Euros, depending on the workshop and vehicle type.

The Replacement of the Chip

If you have a car built in 1999 and older, things are a little different. In these vehicles, the memory cannot be reprogrammed, and the ODB interface is also missing. In this case, the original chip must be unsoldered and replaced with a new chip with the modified data.

Its costs depend on the workload and vehicle model.

The Tuning Box

Instead of overwriting the original chip or exchanging it, this variant simply uses an adapter plug between the sensors and the control unit, the so-called tuning box. It manipulates the sensor values ​​and, for example, simulates a charge pressure that is too low for the control unit, which increases it.

Costs:   From 15 euros for a small car to several thousand euros for a luxury sedan

This Increase in Performance is Possible

Suppose the electronic tuning of the engine is carried out correctly. In that case, it can significantly improve your car's performance: This enables around 20 percent more torque and power; with some four-stroke engines, it can even be 40 percent. This is particularly noticeable because the car responds more quickly to the step on the accelerator and reaches a higher top speed. Chiptuning in Maldegem can also have a positive effect on fuel consumption.

Final Words

One of the most common consequences of Chiptuning in Belgium is increased wear on the clutch and brake system. If in doubt, you should have an expert check whether the tires on your car can withstand the power surge.