Frequently asked Questions

jm897

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2003
TDI
Passat, 96, Green
Easy mods for a 96 tdi

Hi i have a 96 passat tdi and im hoping someone can give me some info on performance mods for it. i already have a wett chip, but am not sure where to go from there. was thinking about 520 injectors but im wondering how much smoke that is going to make. also was wondering what a boost controller might do for me? if anyone has any advice on any other mods i would really appreciate it.
 

Olli_from_Ger

New member
Joined
Mar 17, 2004
Location
Rendsburg, Germany
TDI
Golf 3, ~125 hp, black
Easy mods for a 96 tdi

An Air-Filter can´t give you more Power. If you use the normal Filter, you can change it but it wont bring you more Power. DON´T USE an "open Air-Filter" like K&N performance kit or something. These things are Bullsh***. the only thing you can get from "open Air-Folters" is a better sound. But not really more Power. I changed my normal Filter (in the filter-case) with the K&N Filter and that it is.

Olli
 

jmcrrr

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Location
Oregon, USA
TDI
Jetta 2000 Black
Easy mods for a 96 tdi

[ QUOTE ]
Hi i have a 96 passat tdi and im hoping someone can give me some info on performance mods for it. i already have a wett chip, but am not sure where to go from there. was thinking about 520 injectors but im wondering how much smoke that is going to make. also was wondering what a boost controller might do for me? if anyone has any advice on any other mods i would really appreciate it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'd like some information on this subject, too? How about helping some newbies with their B4's? /images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 

TribalMinds

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2003
Location
SW
TDI
Passat, 1996, White
Easy mods for a 96 tdi

You will be told to read, read, read. . . I have no major mods but I bet you would enjoy an injector upgrade and if that doesn't do the trick for you, add a suitable chip to compliment the injectors. . . From there you enter the danger zone as far as I see it. . . Use the best diesel you can find with the highest cetane rating and make sure with whatever fuel you use that there is adequate lubrication properties otherwise get a high quality additive. . . . /images/graemlins/grin.gif
 

2RENU

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Location
Los Angeles, CA
TDI
2011 Sportwagen
Easy mods for a 96 tdi

SO sorry to do this guys but i can not find any info on physically removing my ECU.

I dont have the Bently manual and need to find out if my 1996 Passat is a GQ or a MK obviously i am hoping she is a GQ


under the hood ? passenger side ? any info would be great... point me to a thread with pictures and that would rock. Thanks.
 

dieseldorf

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 11, 2000
Location
MA
TDI
ex- 1996 wagon, ex-2000 Jetta
Easy mods for a 96 tdi

It sits at the base of the windshield (near the center) adjacent to the pollen filter. It's a little tricky to remove if you have never done it before. you've got to remove the pollen filter and the entire frame that filter sits on.
 

2RENU

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 7, 2003
Location
Los Angeles, CA
TDI
2011 Sportwagen
Easy mods for a 96 tdi

Hey thanks for the info... I needed to replace my Cabin airfilter anyway! do you know of a thread that has pictures of this process ?
 

cglasel

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2001
Location
Tempe, AZ
Before asking a question, please check out the TDIFAQ (TDI Frequently Asked Questions). Often you'll find your answers quicker than waiting for someone else to reply to your Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ).


Of course if you can't find them in there, feel free to post.
I'm new to TDIs and to TDIClub. I've got an 05 Passat Vaviant TDI. I'm wondering if the TDIFAQ will be updated. As far as I can tell the 2.0 PD isn't referenced in the FAQ, am I right? What is the engine type in my car, ie A4, B5 ????

I am enjoying the car, but think some minor power enhancments are in it's future ......


By the way: Great site! I'm not being critical in asking about an update, just wondering.
 

GetMore

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2003
Location
Patterson, New York
TDI
1997 Passat TDI, 2010 Jetta Sportwagen
cglasel, your car is a B5.5 and in time I am sure the FAQs will be updated or re-written by someone here. However there is a lot of info that still relates to your car. Injection pump info is irrelevant, but the A4 turbo info should still be correct. Injector and chip info will give you something to start from even though it does not apply directly.
 

tdi_sport

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 2, 2004
Location
vancouver canada
TDI
2004 pd tdi sport (limited edition) platinum grey and a 1996 dodge cummins diesel 4x4 5sp lots of mods and a 335d stock for now.
i too am new to the tdiclub. and i am definatly wanting to enhance the performance of my jetta pd tdi. what options do i have?
 

Puebla

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2003
Location
NATIONAL CITY, CA.
TDI
MK4 TDI GT25, PP520'S, FMIC, STAGE 5 SOFTWARE
Really TDI people, seek and thou shall find!

I have found every possible Q. on this site. If you have dialup and don't want to spend all day looking and searching. Search at wee odd hours and you'll be amazed at the difference. Without endorsing any other website, search for your questions/concerns here first, then check on the web.

There are various TDI members that have info on the web. However, the most complete and uncluttered information source is tdiclub, by far.
 

vincenzotdi90

Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
TDI
ibiza 1.9 tdi agr
chip tuning or obd tuning???

Hi, i've a problem i've already posted a question in this formum but i don't have reply.
Pheraps someone can help me....
I've an ibiza tdi 90 AGR motor i would chip it, but on ebay i've found another ecu ecm with same number but last 2 letter are different:
code 038 906 018 EC (mine eprom) and 038 906 018 L the other eprom.
I would buy this ecu and then remap it, but someone know if 038 906 018 L for ALH motor is compatible with my car???
I've another question i've VAG-COM software ,i've already close egr valve :), but in ross tech page i've found that is possible boost the engine changing injiction timing in advance.What is better OBD tuning or chip tuning?
I have had powerbox but i don't like it too problem!!
 

VelvetFoot

Top Post Dawg
Joined
May 17, 2001
Location
Sand Lake, NY
TDI
NB, 2000, Yellow
Re: chip tuning or obd tuning???

OBD changes timing equally over entire range - it shifts the curve. Tuning changes the curve.
 

Kabin

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2004
Location
Valley of the sun
TDI
Jetta '04 PD TDI/Tip
Re: chip tuning or obd tuning???

True TDI OBD tuning is available abroad (not in the states yet) and has the same potential as chip tuning since it potentially accesses the same areas of program space. In the end, each solution is based on the tuner's ability.
 

vincenzotdi90

Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2005
TDI
ibiza 1.9 tdi agr
Re: chip tuning or obd tuning???

On ebay i've found obd tuning for my car but is expensive, in ross tech page i've found that with vag-com software is possible change injiction timing and shift the curve, but is very dangerous and i don't know the exact procedure....
I've tryd to change fuel injectdet parameter but i don't see the difference..
 

daggychap

Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2005
Location
CA, USA
TDI
1989 MKII GTD Golf red (England), 2002 Golf Tdi here
upsolute chips

How much of a dent does a chip put into the fuel economy of a Tdi? Afterall it seems you cannot get something for nothing, and you would have to credit the engineers at VW with having gone through this pretty thoroughly.
 

BleachedBora

Vendor , w/Business number
Joined
Oct 16, 2003
Location
Gresham, Oregon
TDI
'81 DMC-12, '15 GL350 CDI 275 hp/448 tq - '81 Caddy CJAA, '05 E320 CDI 250hp/450 tq, '23 ID4 AWD Pro S Plus
Re: upsolute chips

If you use the chip, more fuel = less economy. If you don't use the chip and baby the car you will get better economy.
It's that simple!
-BB

PS I do have an Upsolute stage II chip for sale--contact me if interested. It has 2 Months and ~$10,000 miles of use on it.
 

JAVORB

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2004
TDI
SEAT ALHAMBRA,1.9TDI 110HP
Re: upsolute chips

i have a seat alhambra 1.9tdi 110hp ,i purchased a tuning box and have had it for 2 years ,in april this year i started selling them on ebay please take a look-http://stores.ebay.co.uk/DIESEL-TUNING-UNITS_W0QQsspagenameZMEQ3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm
 

PoorMan

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2005
Location
Albuquerque, NM
TDI
05 shadow blue Jetta wagon
ECU Hunt

Hi everyone, I hope this post is in the right place, and it hasn't been covered before. I've searched for about 30 minutes and haven't found anything too similar: I've got an 05 Jetta wagon (not the 05 1/2) and am very interested in chipping it. Unfortunately, that means removing the ECU and shipping it out. Could someone tell me where this beast lives, what it looks like, and how to remove it; or direct me to an existing thread that covers this? Thanks very much!
 

Bigjim138

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2005
Location
Tennessee
TDI
2000 VW Jetta
Thanks 4vdubs, now I know how to remove my ECU when I am ready for the RC stage 3/4!!! not as hard as I thought.
 

4vdubs

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2005
Location
Western, NC
TDI
Jetta TDI, 2003, Silver
The hardest part is getting the windshield wiper arm off, a puller helps. I only had to remove one of the arms to get to the ecu.
 

superqwik

Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2006
Location
Florida
TDI
2005 Passat GLS TDI 2.0
man it seems like me and about a hundred other people have purchased a new tdi this month!! anyway here goes first and foremost a big thanks to fred for this site!! I recently purchased a 2005 passat sedan gls loaded.TDI 2.0 11,000 old lady miles on it. looking to chip and add the provent system alchemy posted to it. do you think the provent is a must? not looking to pull my intake, ever. can i chip the PD motor? thanks for the help
seizure,
superqwik
2005 passat 2.0 tdi (mine)
2003 mercedes benz slk 230 kompressor hardtop conv. (hers)
 

gardentender

RIP, Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
Feb 17, 2000
Location
Dullest Texxus
TDI
Jetta GL 5 spd, 2001, Galactic Blue
considering the difficulties (described above) in removing the ECU to install a chip,
i am wondering if it would be simpler just to put in better fuel injectors.
maybe cheaper, too?

looking for a modest power increase in the 60-90 mph range. not too big an MPG hit if driven moderately.
i have a 2001 Jetta GL 1.9T, with manual transmission, and approaching 200K miles, 47-50 MPG consistently.

i put a Pierburg MAF in it at about 100K, works like a charm, and seems to have pushed the peak torque about 250-300 rpm to the right.

basic question: chip or injectors, cost/ease?
 
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Mike_M

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2003
Location
Phoenix, AZ
TDI
Black 2002 Jetta GLS
gardentender said:
considering the difficulties (described above) in removing the ECU to install a chip,
i am wondering if it would be simpler just to put in better fuel injectors.
maybe cheaper, too?
Simpler, and in the short term, just about as effective as a stage 1 chip. However, modding is an addiction. Shortly, you'll need both. :D (Or, more likely, injectors and a Stage 2 or 3 chip.)

looking for a modest power increase in the 60-90 mph range. not too big an MPG hit if driven moderately.
I recommend Kerma PowerPlus 520s. I have them (no other mods of note, see my signature) and the thing pulls like a freight train from 60-90. No driveability problems, a small amount of smoke on cold-start (only because my intake is clogged pretty badly), and no hit on MPGs...I actually expect to net a GAIN in fuel economy.

i have a 2001 Jetta GL 1.9T, with manual transmission, and approaching 200K miles, 47-50 MPG consistently.

i put a Pierburg MAF in it at about 100K, works like a charm, and seems to have pushed the peak torque about 250-300 rpm to the right.

basic question: chip or injectors, cost/ease?
For ease, injectors are a no-brainer. I wouldn't try putting in the nozzles myself, but rather I had Lubrication Specialists put the nozzles into good injector bodies and send them to you for installation, then you send your old injectors back. Very simple operation.

As far as chipping, if you have an Upsolute dealer nearby, or are anywhere near PA (and therefore RocketChip), having it done "in person" is very easy, even easier than injectors. However, taking it out and sending it in to be done...only you can decide where that rates on the difficulty scale. I won't do it. But, hopefully there will be more RocketChip dealers very soon, and I won't have to. ;)

Another option, if you want more power with simplicity, is a tuning box. Although you won't quite get performance equal to a "chipping", you'll see a gain. The Diesel Power box seems to be favored around here, and JoeHafner sounds like a quality guy and overall good vendor to deal with. Check out his product.

Mike
 
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