Chipped C3

[mooseshaver]

So who knows all about chipping cars? Especialy C3 diesels. I guess its the program in the ECU/EMS thats actualy changed, and what happens at mot time? Do the mods increase fuel emissions? Most manufactures use the programming in the ecu to control emissions, at the cost of performence, are these chips undoing that?

[kelby]

Ok, what is chipping? I understand it in the sense of a playstation :angry: but what does it do in a car?

[mooseshaver]

Most cars have an EMS or ECU which is a little computer that controls the engine by looking at various inputs like temperature and emissions, and then altering the fuel mix? and engine speed and stuff like that to give you optimum power, and at the same time keeping the emissions low. Most manufacturers program their ECUs to get the lowest possible emissions output or better fuel economy at the expense of power.
So if you "chip" your car, it usualy it means changing the program in the ECU to make it fiddle with the engine for more power, usualy sacraficing fuel economy and emissions.
Not sure how much it improves performence, but look in the C5 section to see how much extra HP his C5 got. Imagine that in a C3

[pork_pie]

The only thing thats chpped on my car is the paintwork.

[mooseshaver]

"The only thing thats chpped on my car is the paintwork. "
Boom Boom!
yes those kind are sooo anoying
Contacted a company that chips cars, but the C3 1.4hdi-16 is not yet available to be chipped.
shame, would like 30% more power....what is 30% of nothing ;-)

[pork_pie]

I had a Big Whopper meal with fried in my car the other week.

I found a chip under my seat a week later.

Does that count?

30% more power?

Thats oooh 110 bhp.......

Sell your C3 and buy something assembled by the people of a country whose flag does not contain Red, White and Blue.

The most annoying thing now Moose is that cars are so advanced that now electrical problems are overtaking mechanical problems and them kind of gremlins are really difficult to erase.

[mooseshaver]

"The most annoying thing now Moose is that cars are so advanced that now electrical problems are overtaking mechanical problems and them kind of gremlins are really difficult to erase.
"
Tell me about it, I used to fix the computers for the Dealer that sold my car, and their understandsing of computers was often less than my understanding of cars. They should take on real electrcians/computer people to help them. They wouls surely only need one. Let the grease monkeys do dirty stuff and let cable monkeys do theirs.

[pork_pie]

The mechanics at Citroen UK don;t have a clue.

Hook a laptop to the cars ECU and then wan*ers in overalls SHOULD DIAGNOSE an EGR FAULT. WHY DID IT TAKE 4 VISITS...... ?

NOW ITS GONNA BE NEARLY TWO MONTHS BEFORE MY PART GETS FINALLY FITTED!!!!!!

DISGUSTING.

[mooseshaver]

I wonder if they ignore fault codes or if they don't interpret them correctly. Are they just a bunch of little lights they have to decode.
Perhaps there is often a "general" fault code that comes up and covers a few things, so dealers have to change them one by one till the warmer weather temporarily cures the fault.

[pork_pie]

Either way there is no excuse to fit a car to the roof with gadgetry when no one understand how they work and how to get them fixed.

It really is a joke.

[CCCTech]

Chipping a car should actually improve economy, it will reduce it if the extra power is constantly being utilised, but on todays crowded roads it's very difficult to 'race' around everywhere. The main reason that economy is improved is because of the low down (low revs) torque that is produced. This basically means that less gear changing is required around town for instance, or when climbing that steep hill. Generally a chipped car is smoother to drive than a standard one, although this depends on the driver as well though.
The standard files in todays cars are very restrictive, there are many reasons behind this - a big one being that they (Manufacturer) always want to keep tempting consumers with a new more powerful engine, so they don't exactly rush to release them. I guess they want a continual flow of buyers being tempted after two years by a similar car with 20% more power. They then sell this for x% more, even though the cost of developing this 'new' car is quite small as it's already been done on the current one.
Another big reason is because they don't want to have to spend lots honouring their warranties. The file in our cars here in the UK is released world wide but we have some of the best fuel in the world, perfect climate (temp and altitude) and tend to abide by the service intervals. All this means that our cars are really 'held back' from what their true potential is.
As for dealers not knowing a great deal about the cars - I think it's because they have to rely heavily on what the diagnostics tells them, and this isn't always right - The MAF sensore being a perfect example for any of you that have had problems. I also suspect that Citreon UK (and other manufacturers) don't like shelling out for new parts so just 'fob' customers off where possible. That's why these forums are great for sharing experiences !!!
Ask the dealer for a copy of the fault codes when you have a prob then post 'em on here, either someone will know the answer or a common problem can be spotted which will help save two months wait !!!!

[mooseshaver]

Thanks for the info CCCtech. If I find out any codes will post them.

[madman]

I found a German/Danish/Austrian/Dutch C£ web page (all in German) where many people have had 110 to 115 bhp chips fitted, I think they were supplied by a Belgian firm.

[mark_lar]

Why chip a car? The engine, gearbox, camshaft etc will be desgined for the amount of power it rolls out the factory with. By adding more power to the engine, you are risking severe engine damage. The pistons and engine block especially won't be able to cope with it.

[Guest CitTone]

The engine, gearbox, camshaft etc will be desgined for the amount of power it rolls out the factory with.

 

No, they are designed with sufficient safety margin that you can tune most engines +10% without significant problems. Take the 92bhp 8v PSA HDi 2-litre as an example. With only an ECU program change, it becomes a 110bhp engine, in cars with no other major mods, and that is from the factory. By contrast, the C3's 16v HDi also produces 92bhp from 1.4-litres...so how understressed was the old 2-litre?

 

Usually the additional stress is provided by the driver...if you still treat the vehicle sympathetically, it should be fine, but if you clutch-dump, wheel-spin and otherwise abuse it having acquired the extra grunt, expect trouble.