Tuning box question

[Steve-L]

I have just purchased a tuning box from www.mrhoot.com and have to say first impressions are very good, no jerkiness, far better torque and quite smooth acceleration (once you get used to it) but after plugging it in the trip computer is flashing a spanner with the word "oil" . I looked this up in the manual and this say's oil change
I checked the oil level but this is ok. I am assuming I just need to get someone to reset the trip computer but am not sure.
Anyone else have any experience of this

 

[elnigel]

mate, tuning boxes have no connections with anything to do with oil as far as i know, they just plug in line before the fuel pump.

I fancy gettin one of those tunung boxes from mr hoot. you are the first one ive heard of whos got one.

How much did you pay? how good is it?

 

[sssstew]

glad youve had good results from the box, they are quite good for the cash, if u cant afford a remap.

Havent heard of the spanner problem before with any tuning boxes in fact, so it might just be coincidence.

 

[Steve-L]

mate, tuning boxes have no connections with anything to do with oil as far as i know, they just plug in line before the fuel pump.

I fancy gettin one of those tunung boxes from mr hoot. you are the first one ive heard of whos got one.

How much did you pay? how good is it?

So far I have been really impressed, the extra power is delivered very smoothly, no problems when idling and the increased torque certainly makes me feel far more confident for quick overtaking. I have no idea yet on fuel consumption but according to the trip computer it looks about the same.
My car is the TDI SE so from their website the car now has the same BHP/Torque as the TDI Sport (but as I have never driven a TDI Sport I do not know if this is the case) but for myself I am very happy.
The unit cost £129 incl vat & P&P. I know there were units on ebay for £25 but they looked a bit mickeymouse IMHO and I would rather buy from a registered company.

 

[cpufreak]

Spanner thing means oil change. or they forgot to reset it @ 10k service.
instructions in the manual of how to reset it.

TDi Sport = 6 speed, 130bhp(ish)
thought TDi SE = 5 speed, 100bhp(ish)

 

[ralph]

my spanner came on when I fitted my tuning box aswell but as the mileage had just gone past 15,000 I thought it was due to that so I just re-set it. Also after about a week with it fitted I had it plugged into VAG-COM and it brought up a warning for a faulty fuel temp sender unit but no eng management light came up on the dash.I am also going to give my old one away but I have offerd it to someone else and just waiting for them to get back to me so next one who wants it say so now and if the other guy doesent want it you can have it mine has had a re-map now.

 

[BeezerDiesel]

If it is one of the type of Tuning Boxes that fools the ECU via the fuel temperature sender then that is the likely cause of the problem. These boxes intercept the signal from the fuel temperature sender and ask the ECU to supply more fuel, so perhaps yours is a bit keen and the ECU is panicking at the amount of fuel being asked for.
Is there any form of adjustment on the box to try and slacken off the fuelling slightly to keep the ECU happy?
If not try and get a replacement box or refund as it's going to be a pain to live with.

 

[Steve-L]

TDi Sport = 6 speed, 130bhp(ish)
thought TDi SE = 5 speed, 100bhp(ish)[/QUOTE]


Correct all i said was the unit claims 25-30% increase in BHP so I am assuming the SE at 100bhp + 25-30% = 125 to 130bhp (ish). As I mentioned previously I have not driven the sport and I am sure it has additional bits that increase performance over the SE. I was just saying that the BHP must be similar if the unit "does what it says on the tin"

 

[Steve-L]

my spanner came on when I fitted my tuning box aswell but as the mileage had just gone past 15,000 I thought it was due to that so I just re-set it.


Mine was just over 15,000 when I fitted the tuning box. I followed the instructions in the manual to rest but it has not worked, maybe I am doing something wrong but it seems pretty clear...

turn off ignition
hold down reset button
turn on ignition whilst still holding reset button
hold for 10 seconds and release

As I say seems easy but did not work

 

[ralph]

I just held mine in until it had reset itself dont know how long it was but it was about 10secs mabye a bit more.

 

[driveforward]

Hi Steve, glad you are impressed.. I think you'll find you have the same box as I previously had - now owned by Stu B.. see:
http://www.driveforward.com/motoring/fae_sootysmoddingweekends_04.htm

 

[Timmy Turtle]

Fitted "Original Tuning Box" to my 1998 90bhp cordoba 3 yrs ago, no problems at all.pulls much better all through the rev range.no lag at all from standstill which is better than the Alpin box on my other cordy i just sold.cost £290 back then .may get another one for my new caddy tdi at gti international this weekend.

 

[BeezerDiesel]

I have also owned an 'Original Tuning Box' on a 90 and can recommend it as a good bit of kit, one of the proper tuning boxes by a reputable company for reasonable money (also found on one of StuB's fleet!!!).

 

[Steve-L]

I have got rid of the spanner and oil change message

I was originally holding down the button that resets all the info on the trip computer and not the dial/button that sets the clock etc.

Anyway alls well that ends well.

PS. Saw one of those new Astra's today, radical change in shape. I wonder if they are trying to appeal to a new market ?

 

[Paul TDI]

Just bought one of these boxes off ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32094&item=7901775176&rd=1

The way I see it, they all mod the Fuel Temp anyway, so i'd rather spend £30 than £200, and maybe mod the resistor values or the box myself if need be.

I'll fork out for a proper ECU remap one day

If it doesnt work, its only £30, can always put it back up on ebay

Will let you all know how it goes when it arrives, someone has to be the guinea pig dont they!

 

[sssstew]

fair enough, let us know how it goes Paul.

I like the way they specifically say its not a resistor in a box, for £30 it cant be much more, and we all know the resistor in a box does the same thing anyway!

 

[Paul TDI]

Theres a lot going around on ebay for £200 or £300 where they try to tell you its not a resistor in a box. Funny how the connectors only plug inline with the fuel temp sender though, so they all do the same thing. The build quality of some of the £200 ones is appalling, using cheap computer connectors instead of waterproof car ones, and poor wiring looms etc. They all do the same thing and fool the ECU into thinking the fuel is warmer than it actually is? Rough way of tuning though, aww well, more soot to through over the windscreens of them Saxo's

I'll take it apart when it arrives and see what components are in it.

 

[muddyboots]

Funny how the connectors only plug inline with the fuel temp sender though, so they all do the same thing

Yep - any tuning box that only has a two-pin connection, and fits in place of the fuel temp sensor, can only be a resistor.

If it's got more than two pins and/or it fits somewhere else, it's probably more complex and presumably does a better job.

 

[Stu B]

Hi Steve, glad you are impressed.. I think you'll find you have the same box as I previously had - now owned by Stu B.. see:
http://www.driveforward.com/motorin...weekends_04.htm

Yeap - Great little box..

I have also owned an 'Original Tuning Box' on a 90 and can recommend it as a good bit of kit, one of the proper tuning boxes by a reputable company for reasonable money (also found on one of StuB's fleet!!!).

Yeah me Fleet of Seats..... But this 'Tuning Box' is adjustable for mind blowing results as Andy (BeezerDiesel) can confess to...

Now looking for another box for father-in-law, coz he was so impressed with my two, he wants one......

 

[Paul TDI]

Well mine arrived today from Germany, fitted in less than two minutes.

It fits in line, no messy wires to route, and no box to mount somewhere else.

Took it for a spin, and wow what a difference! Best £30 i spent yet., Now just need a rolling road to test it on

A fair bit more soot and engine sounds a little rougher on idle, but i'm sure i can live with that til i decide to fork out for a remap