A3 1.8T makeover....

[parso_rex]

I'm moving this thread from the Audi Quarter to its rightful place here :)
Linky to old thread (http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/showthread.php?43018-Just-bought-a-nice-condition-A3-1.8T-MY99)

Initial pics

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

I was supposed to pic it up today but with the way the Auctions are setup the car is not supplied with plates so its needs a Blue slip FFS and therefore an inspection before I can even think of going to the RTA. On top of that the car has an aftermarket alarm system that seems to be rather unhappy and it wouldn't let the car run for more than 5 seconds till its own internal battery had recharged. There is also no remote to be found. I'll either clone the alarm by gutting it and finding its coding inside or more likely give it an enema and bypass everything. I hate crap alarms..... Fun times ahead :banana:.

I just called up a flat bed and had it towed to Miranda not bad for $100. on the positive It has a blue slip as of 15 mins ago If I can keep the kids under control tomorrow I might even get some plates on it

So yes I've just wasted my whole morning Hee Hee

As I've said in the other thread this will be the Ebay build where possible as long as the stuff isn't too bodgy....

I've see Alex's thread, same colour minus 2 doors All good great minds think alike :). I'm going to copy your silicone piping too but I'm not up to speed with the intakes and the rest of the gear just yet

Assuming the engine is in good nick and the boost control stuff is OK I'll do a Dynorun on thursday to get a baseline and then I'll reflash the ECU on Thursday night.

[alex g]

good good, i await the build with anticapation

they are a super fun and tidy little car, makes the mk4 golf feel like a tank

who is sorting the flash cough# cough# custom code
as im very happy with the outcome

[jayjay]

looking forward to it!

lol at the ape number plate.

also - glad to hear CC is treating the a3 well Al.

[parso_rex]

good good, i await the build with anticapation

they are a super fun and tidy little car, makes the mk4 golf feel like a tank


I can see the bait being cast out here :)

The guys at the workshop reckon it goes great - Bastards !!

I can't say much re the flash for fear of potentially upsetting some touchy sponsors but yes I'd Be using Custom Code if i didn't have my own options.
If you read the other thread you might be able to work it out (hint hint)
Hopefully my own sponsorship will be approved at some stage...

The hose from the PCV heading to the inlet is cracked where they always split so I used some gaffa tape to 'fix' that. I'll have to organise something a bit more permanent till the silicone jobbies turn up
Rego tomorrow hopefully
Scouring for T04s and exhausts still

[parso_rex]

looking forward to it!

lol at the ape number plate.

That number plate has gone, I guess a euro style one should take its place. Pity I like to it too. I can't think of any Hektik alpha-numeric combinations that would suit

[parso_rex]

I've been busy today

The car is finally rego'd. I wanted the Euro plates but I just can't live with the thought of giving the state government another $220
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/IMG_3401.jpg

Filthy engine
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/IMG_3413.jpg

Goodness what's this ??
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/IMG_3404.jpg
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/IMG_3407.jpg
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/IMG_3411.jpg
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/IMG_3408.jpg

The auction place has punched something through the rear bar somehow. I'm not to happy about it but I'll leave that till later
I also ordered one of these
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/VW-18Tdownpipe.jpg

[parso_rex]

A Dyno run from this afternoon. I expected a touch more like 85 atw.
On the road I think it really does feel rather gutless but then again my other car has another 280 kW atw ontop of this :banana: so I'll hold off final judgement till everything else has been done
I have to tap off a line for boost too as this unfortunately can't be viewed with Vagcom
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Audi%20A3%201.8T%20Power.jpg

[parso_rex]

Well I have found another leaking hose off the manifold so you can add a little to that dyno run above. I don't know how I missed that before either. All the hoses need to be replaced.
I've also had problems selecting reverse and found several things amiss with the gear select shaft and counterweights on the box. A previous workshop had left the nut on top of the counterweight thingo loose so the whole counterweight has been wearing on the spline, so it was flopping around. Plus I looked at the two cables from the shifter and they'd put a circlip on the wrong side of the locator and the other had the circlip where the rubber boot should slip over. Basically it meant there was heaps of play. I'd read about the lower section of the box where the selector shaft attaches actually breaking off but that hopefully isn't the case.
I also found several nuts loose but they were only for the starter motor and battery. I'd say they let the apprentice lose on this one after a clutch change
So now its getting the shift aligned properly and then
Oh the radio is possessed, the volume control goes bezerk and you can't turn it down LOL. Its actually a chip inside the radio that need to be replaced. If it was more modern I'd change it to something else.
I'm not liking my chances of getting this ready for the dyno day at this rate but I'll try, if not I'll have to take the STI
fuel economy is excellent compared to my other cars

[schoona]

Wow the auctioned vehicle isn't giving you a nice easy run into the modifying path is it :) The A3 1.8T is quoted at 125kw crank ja??

[parso_rex]

I think its only 110 actually I know it went to 125 at some stage. The car is OK for its age there's just a few things to fix up. Theres more electrical issues but I can sort these myself. In the receipts that were in the logbooks you can see where the workshops have tried to fix faults and failed and yet still charged the owner for the privilege.
Sorting the shift alignment right now, I've got everything all tight with spacer to pull the counterweight back onto the selector shaft
I'm putting in a spare Blitz DSBC ( boost controller) not for boost control but just to monitor whats going on. I could use it of course but the tune still needs a bit of timing added to really bring out its full potential so I'll just wait till that happens.

So yeah a bit of a pain in the arse but nothing serious. My wife doesn't understand of course LOL

[schoona]

Well mk4 GTI was 110, i would have thought the audi was "gifted" ?

Either way I'm sure the Rex wasn't a straight forward affair, you have the patience.

[h100vw]

When they dropped the cable throttle in favour of the drive by wire is when the 132KW motors came in. There was a 'T Sport' A3 in the UK that had a K03s on it. Also you could get a MK4 GTIs and A3s with a K03s but 110KW. I know of a few that had dealershio flashes with the 'T Sport' software.

Gavin

[parso_rex]

I've got the linkages sorted even the wife is driving it :banana:

With the rex its literally taken 4 years to get right and two motors lol but its fine now. Every car I test drive it always a bit of a let down after it even the other guys joke about that

I have the tuned rom ready to go on heaps more boost and quite a bit more timing across the midrange and top end. I'll put it on this week once the eeprom burner adapter finally turns up. I'm now not going to worry about a K04 till a bit later not till I get all the silly time wasting crap sorted properly. What size injectors are these ? that and the crap intercooler will be the limiting factors

Cheers

Mark

[schwartza3]

parso, just about the LC1 you mentioned in the other thread, don't want to clog up alexg's thread.
are you converting to dbw? or does this tune need a wideband sensor??
i think injectors are about 250cc at 3bar.

[h100vw]

You need to log the AFRs externally as you can't view it with VAG-COM and it's not wideband anyway.

A lot better to have the LC1 uo the front rather than in the tailpipe.

Gavin

[parso_rex]

I need the LC1 just to check that what I've done is right especially if your changing injectors and the like. If you have a sniffer up the tailpipe it can give readings slightly leaner than whats happening up front especially if you have a muffler with a large diameter outlet or two outlets plus its after the cat. I'm not doing that with this one though and the probe up the date would be fine in this case but I'm not at the workshop every day.

I have the dump pipe here now but unfortunately not the PSOP socket for the burner so no remap yet I have the rom and all maps sorted but no way of copying it.

I'll now put the dump pipe in on Thursday. The car is getting a polish tomorrow its really needs it
Dump pipe pics up a bit later buts it much the same as Alex's

[parso_rex]

Some pics
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/IMG_3423.jpg

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/IMG_3424.jpg

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/IMG_3419.jpg

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/IMG_3420.jpg

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/IMG_3421.jpg
Its heavy guage too not the thin walled stuff I was expecting. Bargain.

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/IMG_3430.jpg
A bit of swarf to clean off on one o2 sensor hole but everywhere else both outside and inside is really neat. I've found the store front too and its even cheaper LOL
AdvancedJDMParts.com - Performance Parts and Accessories (http://advancedjdmparts.com/search.php?mode=search&page=3)

A sticker was ontop of this on the box.

I'm too lazy to install it myself thesedays, so I'm heading over to Versace/Australias best Tyre service where the guys can put it on for me. They've always charged me vitually nothing foranything in the past. All i need is their welding skills and drop saw. (pity there is no decent coffee there however)
If my PSOP socket adaptor hasn't turned up by Thursday I'll dyno it with just the exhaust then do a final one later

[h100vw]

http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/03/21112008108-1.jpg
Nice and shiny at least!! This is the 3 inch downpipe I had on my A3.
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/04/21112008107-1.jpg
Centre section
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/images/imported/2010/04/21112008106-1.jpg
Back box
Gavin

[parso_rex]

Another busy day in sunflower valley.......
Crap phone pics but you get the idea.
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/15042010429.jpg
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/15042010430.jpg
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/DownPipe/15042010431.jpg

I now have a full cat and a spare 02 bung if need be

There isn't some amazing boost in performance with this.Yes as the guys above say it really seems to improve spool but the butt dyno doesn't see a massive gain. My butt is calibrated for upwards of 300atw so yes its not calibrated well down here :cool: It really needs the remap to fix the pathetic 8.7 psi boost and very retarded stock top-end timing values.
More shortly

[GoLfMan]

keep it up mate :) loving the quick build time

[parso_rex]

The adaptors I needed to begin flashing the Eeprom arrived from Canada yesterday but I've stuffed up and the 'cheaper' one I bought doesn't fit my particular programmer Doh !!!. I tried to find a suitable option in Sydney yesterday either the adaptor or even borrow and older style programmer but had no luck. So the remap will have to wait another 1~2 weeks till the correct part turns up. I'm still going to call up a few favours from old Telco contacts today but its not looking good. Every place had this gear 10 years ago but not anymore, Damn ! . I really wanted this on the dyno tomorrow

I'll put up some ignition timing tables a bit later and show just how much more timing is added with the remap even under full boost in fact double the original 8.7 psi. These engines are so wound back.

I'm going to put in a spare Blitz DSBC this afternoon. The mixture was quite rich in stock form so it will give me a bit of grunt albeit with reduced timing. Not ideal of course but I'll see how it goes

[parso_rex]

The Blitz DSBC is partially in, I'll have it ready by the morning. I have to take the STI over to Tunehouse at Marrickville in the morning for a WRX dyno day then I'll most likely take the A3 over to Turbo XS at hornsby and possibly achieve the lowest figure of the day :) at the moment its around the same power as a stock MkV TDI 2L except minus the torque. I'll just run the blitz up to a flat 11psi I'll start at 9 and go from there. On the dyno the fueling was fairly rich so theres a bit of a margin but not too much so I'll just see how we go. The final proper tune covers all the alterations to Fueling, Ignition and boost. I'm pretty disappointed I can't run it tomorrow but such it life

Here is one of the timing maps that I will be using in the ECU once I order the correct part :mad:
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Tune/AudiA3Timing1.jpg

The 3D map shows the difference over the stock 110kW map.you can see in some places there is a 7 degree advance. This rom is setup for 98 RON so no funny racegas business either. I personally don't like to run anything other than 98.

[schwartza3]

nice work on the tune
is that 3" cat & res going into 2.5''?

[parso_rex]

nice work on the tune
is that 3" cat & res going into 2.5''?
No its far worse, that last dodgy looking weld joins on to the factory rear section and muffler . I'm being given another one shortly so I'll put that on and join it there.

This tune is a 'shelf' stage tune the reason being I haven't done an A3 1.8T with this Motronic 3.8.3 ECU before so rather than guess I start from the base, test it and work either forward or even backward from there. I really need to convert the ECU to accept a socket for fast eeprom changes.
All the maps are nice an progressive no dodgy jumps. . I've by passed the boost solenoid and its restrictor and now have the blitz plumbed in very temporarily.

I'm thinking about this guy If I keep the car long enough or if I get bored
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370365841766

It has bigger turbine and comp wheels but I'm unsure of the housings A/R given its K03 or K04-1 based (maybe its not either)

[parso_rex]

Bit of an update. I still don't have the necessary hardware to talk to the flash yet nor has the silicone pipe work hasn't turned up so all I've been able to do is rip out the alarm. I can't identify what brand it is even from its PCB and without a remote its just a PIA. I therefore don't have remote central locking and I have to lock and open thte car with a key - how last century :)

I have fitted a Blitz DSBC SBCiDII which is a very good boost controller, its a little bit hard to setup if you don't know what your doing but rock solid once you get your head around it. As well as being able to control boost very well it can log manifold pressure graphically and thats what I'm mainly after. A quick squirt around the streets shows that something is amiss. Even with the factory boost control removed from the system and boost set to 10 psi flat, boost drops after say 3500 rpm to wastegate acutator spring pressure which is approximately 8.7 psi. It might even be less than this.
So the next step is to find whats leaking, there is a faint rattling sound from near the turbo ( is this what the K03s sound like when dieing :)) but it could be another leaking hose, the PCV setup, the BOV setup, part of the stock boost control or the wastegate spring or actuator.
Any hints of what commonly dies much appreciated

[parso_rex]

Some stuff turned up finally. A couple of breather pipes appear to have been left out Grrrr.

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/silicone/IMG_3463.jpg


Now for the remap.... :banana:
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/ecu/IMG_3465.jpg

Yep some stuff I need for this.... and a Volvo T5R

[HOTHATCH]

Something tells me you will be updating your sig very soon :)

[parso_rex]

Something tells me you will be updating your sig very soon :)

:banana: Chip mods complete and now I have mega wheelspin for some strange reason LOL

Original flash Eprom removed and board cleaned up
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Chip/IMG_3468.jpg

Original data is read and stored (just in case) and the new modifed data written back on
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Chip/IMG_3469.jpg

A tiny 1mm tip on this iron, only 10~13 watts but its all you need, in fact it could be smaller. I'm going to use sockets from now on what a PIA
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Chip/IMG_3470.jpg

I'll post up some maps a bit later. I'm still in the process of swapping over lots of prett silicone pipes. The dumpvalve is fluttering, infact I'm sure its not venting at low pressures and its certainly leaking up top. It sounds very much like my Garrett GT35R on my other car with the BOV blocked . This is not good on a K03 Borg Warner

The car hammers I wish it had AWD

[noone]

Hi mate,

coming along I see...

Would love to see some mapping in action. Drop me a PM when you're going to be playing God and I'll come look over your shoulder and ask lots of annoying questions.

[schwartza3]

:banana: Chip mods complete and now I have mega wheelspin for some strange reason LOL

Original flash Eprom removed and board cleaned up
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

Original data is read and stored (just in case) and the new modifed data written back on
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

A tiny 1mm tip on this iron, only 10~13 watts but its all you need, in fact it could be smaller. I'm going to use sockets from now on what a PIA
http://www.vwwatercooled.com.au/forums/

I'll post up some maps a bit later. I'm still in the process of swapping over lots of prett silicone pipes. The dumpvalve is fluttering, infact I'm sure its not venting at low pressures and its certainly leaking up top. It sounds very much like my Garrett GT35R on my other car with the BOV blocked . This is not good on a K03 Borg Warner

The car hammers I wish it had AWD

that's impressive!
i'm assuming this is how all the custom mapping is done in uk rather than what we get here in oz (generic chip)
i'm pretty sure you'd be the first one in oz to do this yourself :fist:
get some rollers and open up a business!

[parso_rex]

that's impressive!
i'm assuming this is how all the custom mapping is done in uk rather than what we get here in oz (generic chip)
i'm pretty sure you'd be the first one in oz to do this yourself :fist:
get some rollers and open up a business!


Not much of an update and the silicone enhancements are not on the car, I had to lend it to a customer whilst I sorted his potent STI :)

This is the way everything used to be done 10 years ago before the SPI stuff was available. Theres a couple of other methods too like BDM (google it) I have that too but its not suited to this ECU. Ideally you'd put a socket in there but they want a whole 9 Euro each for that and they aren't available on Ebay. Its still a painfully slow process - almost as slow as flashing an R32 LOL
I have a mainline 4WD dyno to use and yes a business too but I'm awaiting sponsorship approval before I start blowing trumpets. Other vendors tend to get upset I find, not everyone just some. Its fair enough though there are rules that must be adhered to and I respect that.
I like to show people what I do and take away some of the mystery.

[parso_rex]

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Tune/1.8TAGUboost.jpg

Heres the two boost maps, the one on the left is stock the one on the right after the remap. When you drive the car you can really feel where things come on boost and where it tapers off.Peak boost there is 16.5 psi. Its a pity I don't have the fueling in place to increase boost up top. I'd really like to get this to 16 flat and thats if the Turbo supports it of course.... which it won't :).
I still have the stock rear muffler so maybe this is also exaggerating the drop off. The thing really hauls now though its a totally different car
I've also fitted a (RBV-25) TurboXS Blow off valve or as some prefer to call it diverter valve. Full plumb-back of course to satisfy the ECU.

I'll see how I go. The next step is to decide whether or not to stop here with the addition of rear muffler or to do the injectors pump and K04 hybrid - or bigger !!!
I need some new or low km struts and springs too, no coilovers allowed where I live as the roads are too Shyte

I'll try and get it on the dyno on Thursday if time permits :banana:

[cpitts]

Very much *Subscribe*

:-) Waiting intently to see just what it lays down.

Any chance you can give some detail around how to replace the DV with something a LOT more reliable and also fitting of the EBC? Everything to date has been shrouded in the usual "It's euro, it's not like those Jap cars with parts you an just ..... fit!"

[parso_rex]

Very much *Subscribe*

:-) Waiting intently to see just what it lays down.

Any chance you can give some detail around how to replace the DV with something a LOT more reliable and also fitting of the EBC? Everything to date has been shrouded in the usual "It's euro, it's not like those Jap cars with parts you an just ..... fit!"

Hopefully tomorrow as I've had a customer postpone a job. I have a Mk6 going on the dyno in the afternoon but I think the Beast might just slip in there mid morning
The Dumpvalve/BOV is just a stock TurboXS item with 25mm inlet and outlet ports as per the factory valve. Its a piston and spring arrangement and you just pack out the spring with spacers to set you preload - if you have some particular requirement for extra load of course. I think they actually made this one for the 1.8Ts. An ebay clone would be fine too
I have the Blitz DSBC in there but only to log and graph boost, I can quite easily swap it back in place of the factory 3 port N75 if need be but I'll wait till I can see my AFRs up top. The modified map winds back boost deliberately so running an external controller to keep the boost flat can be dangerous if the fuel system can't cut it or the maps don't. I'll have a look at this though. I'm regretting not having a socket in the ECU already

[parso_rex]

Had the 'animal' on the dyno and managed a whopping 106.something kW at the front wheels. I've left all the plots back on the Dyno PC but will post them up next week. This is still with the stock rear muffler too. So a 25kW at the wheels gain so far
I'm now regretting not putting in a socket for the eeprom as I'd like to alter a few parameters - bugger.
Still the tune is very good and certainly safe with the stock fuel arrangement, pump,injectors and AFRS are all fine.
Certainly it makes my other 360kW car quite enjoyable too.

[cpitts]

So +33% (and a smidge) for peak power.
How about torque and it's delivery?
What params you wanting to filddle? Advance and valve timing?

[parso_rex]

Everything has been modified, this is just a stage 1 shelf tune that I'm evaluating for Mk1v GTIs and the A3's an A4's that require a chip swap. I can modify anything within that of course and make it a ermm 1.x tune or for that matter a 2.x tune. So yes ignition timing, fueling and boost have been modified.
Thats putting it pretty simply. I'm very happy with it as far as a stage 1 tune goes.

[HOTHATCH]

106.?Kw is a massive difference from when you first dyno'd the car. I bet the Kaiser Kenda radial's are struggling to cope now. :) Have you let Mrs Parso loose behind the wheel yet ?

[parso_rex]

106.?Kw is a massive difference from when you first dyno'd the car. I bet the Kaiser Kenda radial's are struggling to cope now. :) Have you let Mrs Parso loose behind the wheel yet ?

Shes driving it to work as its better on fuel than the other two cars. The suspension needs looking at as it has a mysterious clunk in the front left. My mate with the Exige call the tyres Kenda Surprise's

[HOTHATCH]

Shes driving it to work as its better on fuel than the other two cars. The suspension needs looking at as it has a mysterious clunk in the front left. My mate with the Exige call the tyres Kenda Surprise's

Aptly named because you will be surprised if you can wear them out. Hard as nails those Kenda Surprise's. Next time get Cheng Shin Hardly Hang On's.

[cpitts]

I think te surprise is if you can get any traction when you go to turn the corner. So in reality it's the Understeer surprises. :(

How's the torque steer going?
You must also be at the limit of the standard crap brakes by now too? I know our A4 is horrendously underbraked for the car, even when compared to a basic WRX brake package!

Any chance of the 106kW run graphs? (would make nice back to back compare)

[parso_rex]

Torque steer isn't an issue at all I imagine it might be with an additional 30 kW's or so .
Brakes a ****-fully small items especially the rear but its not going on any track

I've got all the graphs and I even logged manifold pressure as well plus have the X axis in RPM BUT i ran out of time and had to leaver as the lights were going out as we had all sort of issues with a Mk6 GTI that lost a chunk of power after the fitment of an APR turbo back system with another providers tune. Thats another story (The exhaust is very good I might add perhaps a bit free flowing but ideal for some mamoth turbo LOL)

Everything is still on the dyno computer and with the mrs in the UK for work the next week or so I'm a mr Mum so I won't be back to the workshop till Thursday. I might be able to sneak down if the weather is crap though
I really want to modify the beejesus out of this thing but I think I should concentrate on one of the newer TFSI/TSI's

[cpitts]

<snip>I've got all the graphs and I even logged manifold pressure as well plus have the X axis in RPM BUT i ran out of time and had to leaver as the lights were going out as we had all sort of issues with a Mk6 GTI that lost a chunk of power after the fitment of an APR turbo back system with another providers tune. Thats another story (The exhaust is very good I might add perhaps a bit free flowing but ideal for some mamoth turbo LOL)<snip>
Kewl. Will wait with baited breath. Can understand your desire to get into the TFSI are though, clearly there's more targets out there of interest. But from firsthand experience, there seems more modders in the pre-FSI area.... perhaps this will change soon though as these models get into the hands of 2nd hand turbo modders. Only thing you'll have to deal with is the massive carbon buidup issues these engines have. I'm sure you've done the searches, if not, google FSI Carbon buid up.

As for massive drainpipes for OEM turbos..... yeah.... you've heard my views on that many times before. :lol:

[parso_rex]

I might still do say a garrett 28 job but not a 3071/3076 like I wish to do on the later ones. I'll concentrate on getting rid of the STI first - sadly I might add


Re the TFSI's Yes a PCV location upstream of the valves with big boost and no means of washing the residue away - not a good idea at all. water/meth injection & catch can = solved

[cpitts]

*cheeky bump* Any news?

[parso_rex]

*cheeky bump* Any news?

Nope no updates for this beast, I've been too busy sorting out R32 immobiliser swaps and remapping 16L turbo Volvo trucks. Lack of time is driving me nuts. Before I touch anything here I have to finish of the STI so it can be sold off with its new 2L motor but for the next couple of weeks I'm a bit swamped with customer work. I shouldn't complain though. The BDM gear is getting a workout this week

I'll post up some maps soon though I meant to do that before

oh fuel economy is pretty good. I get 9.9L/100km with a mix of Sydney heavy peak-hour and weekend work. It's really very good. I thought things would be a fair bit worse for sure

Mark

[parso_rex]

OK not as exciting as Alex's thread :) but I decided that the Audi Concert Stereo needed some love, its demented processor had rendered the volume control useless and I could only trick the thing into 1 volume level via the TP settings.
I took the car along to Strathfield car radios at Taren Point to borrow their keys to remove the damned thing but the install wanker there wanted me to book the car in at a later date and pay some ridiculous price for the pleasure, all for 4.6 seconds of his precious time FFS. I would have paid $20. Needless to say I didn't end up buying my wifes new GPS from there so a big lose. I actually drove elsewhere and probably paid more.
I ordered a set off Ebay $5 delivered. Anyone need them just let me know I probably don't need them anymore..... enough ranting.


Out with the soldering iron and hot air gun....
This is the concert with the tape deck section removed, the processor is underneath it, wave soldered to the board.
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Radio/IMG_3510.jpg



Heres the dying processor. It turns out you have to remove the whole circuit board from the assembly otherwise you can't get it the pins, bugger.
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Radio/IMG_3509.jpg

New processor ready to go in
I should have taken a few more shots but you get the idea
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Radio/IMG_3507.jpg


Yay I can now listen to my favourite Justin Bieber tracks at full noize :banana:

[cpitts]

Yay I can now listen to my favourite Justin Bieber tracks at full noize :banana:FTW!!!!!!!!!!
btw, you've got some serious soldering skills there. Peeling off SMD chips, that must take some practice and steady hand. :o

[parso_rex]

FTW!!!!!!!!!!
btw, you've got some serious soldering skills there. Peeling off SMD chips, that must take some practice and steady hand. :o

pfft this is nothing try the immobiliser chips that need work after a reflash by one of the other big names, they don't only modify the map area on the external flash chip, they modify the immobiliser serial eeprom as well FFS - How kind :)
http://www.recode.net.au/images/VW/R32immo/IMG_3491.jpg


This is with the chip removed, you can see the two drops of adhesive that holds the SMD chip on the mainboard. You have to heat this up a bit to get it to come free. Not too much of course or its dead !
http://www.recode.net.au/images/VW/R32immo/IMG_3489.jpg
http://www.recode.net.au/images/VW/R32immo/IMG_3488.jpg

a tiny beast indeed
http://home.iprimus.com.au/surfleague/Files/ecudumps/img_3486.jpg


The thing on the left is a bic pen tip, this is using a 60x scope camera that I use to check the soldering afterwards.(different ECU here so a different chip here but its the same size)
http://www.recode.net.au/images/VW/R32immo/Picture%20010.jpg

This is just so I can get the chip out in order to view and modify the data with an eeprom programmer, its then gets soldered back on. Thankfully some of the older cars can be done with some OBD tools, not all though

[DubSteve]

Great stuff, love the work!

[parso_rex]

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/guage/IMG_3519.jpg

New toys for me. Some say I get a bit too excited about this stuff :banana:

EGT
Wideband Analyser
Boost
4 digit display and external logging via USB + Software

[DubSteve]

Iphone 4 sigh :(

[parso_rex]

Iphone 4 sigh :(

I had to slip it in to make all the Gen Y's jealous. I was using it to to prop up the bag in an earlier shot and no I didn't queue for it. I've actually always been very anti Apple products as they mainly only cater for those who are only doing basic data entry style tasks but I think they have got it right this time, the mail feature works very well, the display is very useable and the camera actually takes reasonable pics for a phone oh and most importantly call quaility is good unlike previous attempts LOL.
The antenna issue isn't an issue for me it would seem but i can make it drop a little. I'm left handed too, so it should be worse as I bridge the tiny gap more often than right handers. I drop my phones a bit too so I need it regardless and the rubber cover that I need to use will fix that.
Android next time round
I hate everything else apple still :mad:

[DubSteve]

I'm not convinced with the 4 at all, I still have the 3gs and up until actually looking at it I didn't like the feel really. Will wait till next year till they bring out the next version.

[alex g]

EGT
Wideband Analyser
Boost
4 digit display and external logging via USB + Software

can we have an explanation on what all those funny green and silver things actually do??for the tech fools like myself??

great work

love the radio fix( i have one laying around if anyone wants to fix it)

[cpitts]

New toys for me. Some say I get a bit too excited about this stuff :banana:

EGT
Wideband Analyser
Boost
4 digit display and external logging via USB + Software

Oooohhhh, 4 x 7 seg displays and mounting sockets!! Do they mount onto the PCB or do you have a dash location for them? Or is this a handheld/partner device while you're in the tuning process?

[parso_rex]

Oooohhhh, 4 x 7 seg displays and mounting sockets!! Do they mount onto the PCB or do you have a dash location for them? Or is this a handheld/partner device while you're in the tuning process?

well it is a very handy tuning tool and I did have an earlier version of this minus boost and EGT in the STI's centre dash thingo where the clock is located but then I blew that up during some swine flu induced moment when i had the power swapped around (i was quite unwell LOL) . This one is better but i have to test it a bit before it gets the nod. The display is really only a secondary indicator as there is only so much use in digital form. The software running on a laptop is where it really at and it has analog guages and csv output etc plus a whole lot of other analog inputs. I'll put it in the A3 to test but it will go into the next car.You could extend the display a bit but its all in one case not unlike some of techedges older offerings.
I'm building it right now actually :) theres one spare bung in the Ebay dump and i just have to find a place for the EGT probe

[cpitts]

Did you design the PCB and get it printed up or is it a kit solution that you just add the inputs you want?

[parso_rex]

Did you design the PCB and get it printed up or is it a kit solution that you just add the inputs you want?

Its part of a kit solution & not my doing but I'm talking to the guy atm and we have to test things to make sure it works properly. This will be pretty useful for the older cars without proper wideband and EGT sensors although I think mainly it will suit alot of the other makes that we see

A few updates today, I got bored and put in a chip socket, to be more precise its a PSOP-44 socket which allows me to use any number of the same chips when I'm testing. I can simply swap out the current chip for another. I have a heap of these chips spare now too. There are about 3 different PSOP-44 chips used in the VAG stuff and you can use the later/larger eeproms in place of the earlier smaller and slower ones.
http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Chip/IMG_3522.jpg

I need some nice coloured stickers to put the tune revisions on. On this one that I've been running today I've smoothed out all the nasty transitons in the timing advance tables and its made the whole feel of things much better, no more weirdness that the car seemed to have in even stock form. I'm not sure why some of values in adjacent cells were so different but anyway its much better. possibly pollution control ... I'm not sure

http://www.recode.net.au/images/A3/Chip/IMG_3526.jpg

With these ECUs, some of them can have their external flash rom over-written but you can't read them and some of the cars just won't let you overwrite at all. I've recently made up a cable to suit the Genius SPI and Trasdata BDM that we use so I should be able to write to most of them now but I just haven't got around to testing it yet. A chip swap works everytime and if you have the right gear and SW you can read the current maps saving you time if its already been done before.
I'm sort of doing a Mk4 GTI with K04 big maf and so on and its already been remapped by another vendor so it will be interesting to see if the same sort of smoothing will result in a better drive. It certainly looks like things can be improved upon I'll say that much
:cool:

[cpitts]

<snip>I'm sort of doing a Mk4 GTI with K04 big maf and so on <snip>
Bigger MAF is certainly something I'm interested in! I believe the stock one hit's its limit reasonably early on. If you have a scale map and a preferred bigger MAF, do advise and it'll go on the shopping list. :lol: Out of interest, have you seen factory MAF's running out of scale on something as small as a K04?

[parso_rex]

I was missing one component off the board, a lone SMD resistor. It arrived today along with an EGT sensor thrown in as a freebie

oh joy :banana:
http://recode.net.au/images/A3/guage/IMG_3539.jpg
http://recode.net.au/images/A3/guage/IMG_3540.jpg
http://recode.net.au/images/A3/guage/IMG_3543.jpg
2mm long
http://recode.net.au/images/A3/guage/scopecam_028.jpg

A few components to solder on, now I know why it pays to order the prebuilt units.Its quite a few hours work if done properly but I guess you then know its done correctly.
Hmm Resistor colour code.... I know it backwards and its totally useless nowdays of course as its all in labelled bags
http://recode.net.au/images/A3/guage/IMG_0050.jpg

Whitebalance on the iPhone is not that great is it
http://recode.net.au/images/A3/guage/IMG_0051.jpg

[Water Boy]

Any updates?