FR TDi Software

[Andy_FR]

Hi All,

I may be a bit late to this but after calling a tuning company in my area enquiring about a remap he told me that most of the older 170 TDi engines that have gone into SEAT dealers in the last six months are being de-tuned to 155 BHP by a new software update. My car has recently been in to get the engine cover repaired, is it likely that this software has been installed on it? Should the document that you get with warrenty work mention any updates installed? Has anyone else had any experience with this?

He went on to say that if this is the case, the remap will only take it to 190 BHP because the update did include necessary changes that shouldn't be reversed.

Has anyone else had any experience with this new update?

 

[wjohnson]

I've heard of seat doing this to pre fr tdi's but I dont see why it would restrict the remap if done properly? Im still amazed VAG are getting away with doing this to our cars. Presumably they are hoping people wont tell the difference on the old butt dyno between 170 and 155.

I'm now thinking not to bother with the remap and eventually (when i can afford it) de-dpf and remap it.

 

[robin cur]

would this be legal its called a leon tdi FR 170 not LEON TDI FR 155, if so we should have some paperwork to let the insurance com know, so we can get a small refund, charges more if you increase the BHP.

 

[wjohnson]

I must admit I think if anyone has done the following Seat would be in legal trouble :-

1.)2 Dyno readings from 2 independant companys before taking into Seat.
2.)Take into Seat who supposedly detune it.
3.)2 More Dyno readings from the same two companys.

Take results to court claiming the car is now not as advertised.

 

[n_d_fox]

Its been all over the forum for a little while... Seat are de-tuning the PD tdi's due to DPF issues...

From what i can work out the FL CR tdi's are ok as they are cleaner burning and dont clog the DPF so easily. They are 170ps engines (about 168bhp).

In theory though you are right, if they are de-tuning the engine then the car is then not delivering the advertised outputs. They should at least consult the owner of the car who can then make a choice of whether to have this lower power / dpf saving remap or not.

 

[AndyVTR]

Is this bollocks??

 

[James_R]

Is this bollocks??

Ha ha, sounds like it to me. Seat would be legally obliged to tell you if your vehicle were being altered in such a way that it would hinder the performance however if you sign the warrenty sheet you need to make sure you know what your signing for.

 

[robin cur]

Is this bollocks?? or this is bollocks?, mine went in last week for a air con prob and a month or so ago for a new sencor hope nothing has been changed on my car.

 

[AndrewJB]

I Spoke to the Vag-Com lad at my local dealer he told me there not De-tuning them

They have an update that turns Torque down in 1st gear tho as people have been destroying clutches


That's when i told him mine is 235bhp and 350 odd lb.ft

 

[m0rk]

I Spoke to the Vag-Com lad at my local dealer he told me there not De-tuning them

They have an update that turns Torque down in 1st gear tho as people have been destroying clutches


That's when i told him mine is 235bhp and 350 odd lb.ft

That would be bollocks also, you will damage your clutch in higher gears rather than lower

 

[Sooty torques]

I've also been wondering about this since it first popped up on these forums...

Had my DPF and sensors done under warranty last November - plus the stealers "up-graded the software"... Not really noticed any difference BUT the MPG I get has risen since the upgrade - maybe this is down to 'better' software or maybe this is down to a reduction in output which would of course mean more MPG...

Or is it just one big conspiracy theory...

 

[Andy_FR]

I gave seat uk a call and they are going to ring me back on monday so we shall see

 

[Sooty torques]

Good one. Keep us posted - providing of course they spill the truthful beans...

 

[shaunfriend]

I Spoke to the Vag-Com lad at my local dealer he told me there not De-tuning them

They have an update that turns Torque down in 1st gear tho as people have been destroying clutches

:

Audi are doing exactly this to TDI 140 A4s. My dad took his back last year due to clutch slip and it was replaced and new software loaded. Job sheet said new software loaded that limits revs in 1st gear to the 2K ish mark. He says its noticably down on power and makes pulling away quickly at lights and roundabouts a bit scary! I think he said Audi won't remove it as too many clutches are being destroyed....

 

[s15lvo]

Himm mine is getting software update as we speak, but this is meant to fix the connection to the torque sensor or something.

This is meant to fix my issue am having in higher gears.

 

[robin cur]

If this is the case, could the car still be remapped

 

[wjohnson]

Yep im 99% sure you can still remap it. Best way to go with this is Superchips bluefin. Remap it and if seat detune it next time it goes in just remap it again with the bluefin device

 

[Sooty torques]

Remapping still doesn't alter the fact that you have paid £XK for a 170BHP TDI and you have ended up with a product that doesn't do what it says on the tin... If you have a pre-owned car, maybe, but I am not happy about spending £19K on a car fron new *if* it has been de-tuned by SEAT / VW to put right a fault which should never have existed in the first place, ie: crappy and under-thought / under-developed DPF.

And I'll be bu&&ered if I'm going to splash out more shekels on having it re-mapped back to the 170 BHP it was supposed to have according to the spec sheet!

 

[Andy_FR]

The fella I spoke to said that had the software been installed he could only map to 190bhp without me having any issues.

 

[AndyVTR]

Limit at idle exists, apparently. Never felt the need personally.