ABT power output.

[pauly1299]

Apparently the ABT module reduces power when it senses higher temperatures. Anyone know if this is only occurs on dynos, and is it intake, oil or water temperature triggered?

 

[black_sheep]

Have you seen this thread?

Cupra R ABT issues

well yes, a lower quality fuel than what they recommend would obviously impact performance... it is people’s choice what grade fuel they use.... a £500 option that only works properly in certain conditions is slightly different. The ABT module it seems has issues, which are far deeper than...

www.seatcupra.net

@Slickric21 may be able to add more from his experience.

Also, speak to the UK reseller/distributor.

Sports vehicle modifications | Richter Automotive

Richter specialise in sports vehicle modification, performance and styling upgrades for Volkswagen and Audi vehicles. Custom design your own vehicle specification and build it with us. Sole importers of Abt sportline. Bodykits, Alloys, Performance exhausts and suspension

www.richterautomotive.co.uk

When I first got my Cupra is was quoted £2k+ for fitment; was seriously tempted due to the benefits (affiliation with SEAT/VAG), until I read about reviews with the performance issues.

 

[pauly1299]

Thanks for the links, I had seen the thread a while back. I didn't read it all again, but I don't think it got to the bottom of how/why the ABT module pulled the power. There must be a way of updating whatever is causing the heat build up? while staying with the ABT setup.

 

[SuperV8]

Thanks for the links, I had seen the thread a while back. I didn't read it all again, but I don't think it got to the bottom of how/why the ABT module pulled the power. There must be a way of updating whatever is causing the heat build up? while staying with the ABT setup.

Duty cycle and heat are critical when you're talking engine power numbers.
It looks to me like ABT's tuning is more cautious (probably due to actually having a warranty?) than other tuners by pulling power when it measures elevated intake air temperatures. For me this would be a positive.
To determine what's elevated and what's normal IAT would take loads of testing over loads of varying duty cycles. this will be what you are paying for - rather than some tuner's 'rule of thumb'

I would imagine upgrading the intercooler would enable cooler IAT's and limit the times when the ECU pulls power due to elevated temps.

 

[pauly1299]

I could understand extended periods of high boost having an effect. But it seems SEAT were only allowing 350 bhp in very favorable conditions.

 

[Slickric21]

When I had mine installed I was very interested in how it worked and what caused it to reduce power.

Details in the thread linked already, but in a nutshell after contacting both Richter and ABT directly (who just ignored several emails), no decent information was given.
In fact Richter said it was coolant temps that dictated engine power, but I think this is rubbish, as discussed in that thread.

I had a Revo intercooler (as well as MST elbow/hose) installed when I had my ABT module, but never dyno’d it. Never did any Dragy runs before and after the Intercooler sadly, so hard to say how effective it was in helping the ABT module maintain power.

All I do know is that when removing the ABT module and having Revo Stg1 ECU, hardware the same, significant gains were had in 0-60, 100-200 & 1/4 mile times.

The below link has some pretty good info on how it works though.

Performance and Tuning - ABT - autofidelity

Why use ABT Advanced Technology No matter if petrol or diesel engines, the performance increase via the ABT Power software does make the difference. Electronic Engine Control Units (ECUs) are the control centre of modern vehicles, all functions gather here. With the ABT Engine Control Unit...

autofidelity.com.au

 

[Slickric21]

Thanks for the links, I had seen the thread a while back. I didn't read it all again, but I don't think it got to the bottom of how/why the ABT module pulled the power. There must be a way of updating whatever is causing the heat build up? while staying with the ABT setup.

Basically it’s fair to assume it pulls power when either Oil, Intake or Coolant temps get to certain temps, but no one knows what and neither Richter or ABT will tell you.

 

[SuperV8]

I could understand extended periods of high boost having an effect. But it seems SEAT were only allowing 350 bhp in very favorable conditions.

I'm not sure I see a problem with this!
Allowing 350bhp in 'un-favorable' conditions (i.e. with high incoming air temperature) would results in reduced reliability.

 

[SuperV8]

Basically it’s fair to assume it pulls power when either Oil, Intake or Coolant temps get to certain temps, but no one knows what and neither Richter or ABT will tell you.

It will be mainly in relation to IAT's. These are critical to how the engine operates - safely.
Oil and coolant will probably be some limits (min & max) to make sure the engine is not in cold start fulling - or over heating (unlikely) - like BMW do, restrict revs until warmed up.

 

[pauly1299]

Appreciate all the opinions, but the reliability reports from owners of Revo etc mapped cars, seem to suggest ABT/SEAT were being over cautious. I've only had my ABT for 4 months, It will be interesting to find out what difference winter temps make to the way it drives.

 

[Slickric21]

Revo software has similar engine temperature and cold start protection as the ABT module, and is still relatively mild in comparison to custom tunes, but it is for sure more powerful that the ABT piggyback module.

You won’t notice any difference to how the car drives in winter vs summer I’d imagine, I didn’t in mine over winter when it had ABT.

The only people I know who complained about the ABT were those that took the car on track (so it pulled power due to sustained high temps - be it oil, IAT’s whatever)
Or those that had poor dyno results (probably due to lack of cooling/airflow)

Just enjoy the car and the ABT module.
It is great for what it is/was… a safe £500 warrantied little performance boost.

 

[pauly1299]

I bought my ABT from a SEAT dealer, to get the 2 year warranty. So I'm not changing anything on it for at least 18 months. In my fairly extensive experience, turbo engines always feel stronger in cold air. So it will be interesting to see how my car responds in the next few months.

 

[Slickric21]

Did you only get 2 year warranty?
Thought 3 was the standard ?

Oh I see where you’re coming from re turbo cars and cold air.
But by that logic it’s the same for the non ABT cars also then.

 

[pauly1299]

Did you only get 2 year warranty?
Thought 3 was the standard ?

Oh I see where you’re coming from re turbo cars and cold air.
But by that logic it’s the same for the non ABT cars also then.

I have a 2 year SEAT warranty because I bought the car when it was around 2.5 years old. It is the same for non ABT cars, but AFAIK non ABT cars don't pull power anywhere near as much, on dynos for example.

 

[pauly1299]

Our old 2014 Fiesta ST had over boost, where you got time limited extra power on full throttle in each gear. So effectively it had 180 bhp all the time, and 200 bhp for a few seconds. In normal driving the power was only really pulled in top gear, probably to protect the fairly small turbo. It seems the opposite is going on with the ABT, it has 350 bhp for a limited time before it pulls power. I'd be interested whether the ABT pulls boost/timing or both. I reckon SEAT/ABT knew exactly what was going on, and were economical with the facts concerning the advertised output.

 

[pauly1299]

I wonder if SEAT fitting the GPF late in the game, is a factor on the power being pulled. Seeing as SEAT originally claimed 370 bhp, without the GPF, and when the ABT parameters had already been determined? If the car originally made 370bhp, 350 should have been well within safety limits.