Hey there fellow Fiaters.

I have a Fiat Grande Punto 1.9JTD. Have had it for a year ow. Love it. I have a few dollars to spend, so am just wondering what should I spend it on to make it more powerful? I am not good at tuning, and I dont know anything about tuning other than what one can learn playing the Gran Turismo games relgiously. I have been told the best thing to do would be to replace the ECU. Which i still gotta learn how that works. Anyway, do the pros here recommend doing anything else in addition or instead of the ECU such as larger turbo, pod filter, larger exhaust. etc etc.? I look forward to your comments.

Remap is the way forward. Not had my M-Jet done but alot have on here. No need to replace the ECU, the remap simply changes the 'software' on it. Prices start around £200. Post remap you can expect 170bhp and 250ft lbs.

From what people have said on here it makes a massive difference.

PietroNZ said:

Hey there fellow Fiaters.

I have a Fiat Grande Punto 1.9JTD. Have had it for a year ow. Love it. I have a few dollars to spend, so am just wondering what should I spend it on to make it more powerful? I am not good at tuning, and I dont know anything about tuning other than what one can learn playing the Gran Turismo games relgiously. I have been told the best thing to do would be to replace the ECU. Which i still gotta learn how that works. Anyway, do the pros here recommend doing anything else in addition or instead of the ECU such as larger turbo, pod filter, larger exhaust. etc etc.? I look forward to your comments.

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Assume you are in New Zealand? If so then a Remap may be difficult to obtain? Don't even consider messing with the turbo - megabucks if you get it wrong! A freeflow exhaust will give minimal gains for the cost outlay & probably bugger up the engine management sensors to the detriment of performance AND economy.

AlanHod is right. Consider a re-map. Much has been said on here about the pros & cons of re-maps vs "tuning boxes" - which "piggy back" between the common fuel rail & the ECU - fooling the ECU to deliver more fuel at low revs.

Here's my view based on experience of both: Once you have paid for an ECU re-map (flash of the ECU software) you are stuck with it & when you sell the car you have lost your money. You also take the risk that a visit to the dealer will result in the "tuned" map being overwritten by a Fiat technician writing the latest Fiat software to the ECU. - Not a happy scenario if you have paid £350! You are also stuck with the ONE ECU map.

There are several very reputable "tuning box" manufacturers in the UK, Germany & Sweden who can post you the equipment for the same price as a re-map. The (reputable) boxes come with a USB pen drive carrying the software for the specific model that you ordered for. You simply unplug the (Bosche) connection between the common fuel rail & ECU & connect the box to both elements. The better quality products also require connection direct to the battery terminals & can be programmed to allow a 10 min "warm up" period when starting a cold engine before they operate. One or two also have "dipswitch" settings so that you have the choice between "power & economy - typically 160-170bhp & 46mpg" or approx 190bhp & to hell with mpg...

However, if you go the box route, when you sell the car you just remove the box & buy a new USB pen map (typically £50) for your new car. You don't lose any money!

I have ONE tuning box & 3 USB maps for my 3 Turbo Diesel cars. Within 5 minutes I can swap the box between cars & re-programme it (flash it) depending on what car takes my fancy.

Thanks for your informative reply Telstar. I read your reply a couple times just to get it into my head. It sounds like the tuning box is the way to go, and I will follow this up. If there are any downfalls about tuning boxes please let me know. I got a couple of questions for starters (excuse the lamens terms in quotations):

1) For "power performance" should I be looking at BHP (HP?) or Torque?
2) Following BHP... from the factory 130, is there a noticeable difference when I am driving round once it is "tuned" to 160/170/190HP?
3)I like the sound of the tuning box where I can switch between the different powers. I do a lot of open road travelling, so I care bout mpg then (or kilometres per litre here ), but when Im in town, I want 190HP all the way! Is it possible to get a switch installed somewhere by the steering wheel so I can flick between powers at will.

Ill leave it at that for now, thanks for ya advice

This is a pic of the back of my punto by there way. Yes I am in NZ.

PietroNZ said:

1) For "power performance" should I be looking at BHP (HP?) or Torque?
2) Following BHP... from the factory 130, is there a noticeable difference when I am driving round once it is "tuned" to 160/170/190HP?
3)I like the sound of the tuning box where I can switch between the different powers. I do a lot of open road travelling, so I care bout mpg then (or kilometres per litre here ), but when Im in town, I want 190HP all the way! Is it possible to get a switch installed somewhere by the steering wheel so I can flick between powers at will.

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Tuning boxes have had a lot of bad rep over the years as they are a bit false. They are designed to purposely over fuel and trick the car whereas a new map is more balanced. In fairness the boxes do appear to be getting better but i personally would still stick to a re-map. It wouldnt bother me losing a couple of hundred pounds when i sell up because i think its great value over 2 or 3 years and if it does get wiped most places will put it straight back on for you.

With regards to your questions:

1. Torque is the turning force that generates BHP in very simple terms. In essence torque gives you the pull and BHP gives you the power. If someone cares to expand be my guest.

2.The difference is massive

3. Couldnt tell you as ive never had one.

Rich

Ok so a ReMap could b better then, but how much HP can u get outa remapping it? any more than 170?

PietroNZ said:

Ok so a ReMap could b better then, but how much HP can u get outa remapping it? any more than 170?

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Depends how u use it, reputable tuners wont go over or promise more as it can affect the clutch if driven enthusiastically by boy racer types doing drag starts.

Oh I wont thrash It like that, or do any weird double clutch action, I just wanna get as much power out of it as I can, for higher acceleration (not for the purpose of wheel spins) and higher speeds in 4th 5th and 6th gears.

How do I go about remapping my GP?

PietroNZ said:

Oh I wont thrash It like that, or do any weird double clutch action, I just wanna get as much power out of it as I can, for higher acceleration (not for the purpose of wheel spins) and higher speeds in 4th 5th and 6th gears.

How do I go about remapping my GP?

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Easy here in UK, not sure about NZ.... U tried a Google search for re-mapping in NZ?

Ffoxy said:

Depends how u use it, reputable tuners wont go over or promise more as it can affect the clutch if driven enthusiastically by boy racer types doing drag starts.

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True, although it is more the torque you need to worry about. After talking to OldSchool i want to now try and get a new map that has higher BHP but with the torque limited a bit so it is more useable.

Rich

http://www.superchips.co.nz/models.php is the NZ website. Costs NZ$1800 which is almost 600 pounds. what will this do to my car in terms of output?

PietroNZ said:

http://www.superchips.co.nz/models.php is the NZ website. Costs NZ$1800 which is almost 600 pounds. what will this do to my car in terms of output?

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Its BHP u want and not a big increase in Torque, torque is the clutch killer and theres plenty in an MJet 1.9 as is. Re-maps are £200 Sterling in UK, but more can be paid if required at some places. £600 sounds EXPENSIVE!

looking at this website http://dragonperformanceuk.com/store/home.php?cat=348, does this mean for my punto I get a max BHP of 157? or ami misreading it and somewhere it says I can get way more which is what I want.... more BHP and not so much more torque Im told.. how does he tuner box deal with that tall order?

Ffoxy said:

Dont do the box is my advice

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Is that cos you think they are too torquey?

Before you commit... try sending a Private message to Oldschool he is a top bloke and extremely knowledgeable on tuning.

PietroNZ said:

Is that cos you think they are too torquey?

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The support that goes with a re-map here in the UK (from the right companies) is key for me, plus the research and "personal touch" that is available. All cars are different, tuning boxes are made as if all engines are the same, Oldschool will check a motor out and tailor the work they do, even to the point of saying "No" if there is something wrong with the motor.

PM Oldschool.

K i PMd him. Now what do you believe a ECU remap can do (or wont break/do) that a tuner box cant do (or will break/do)? put aside service, price etc etc, on the actual car, why wud a remap, from what i gather gives out less hp than a box, be better than a box?

PietroNZ said:

K i PMd him. Now what do you believe a ECU remap can do (or wont break/do) that a tuner box cant do (or will break/do)? put aside service, price etc etc, on the actual car, why wud a remap, from what i gather gives out less hp than a box, be better than a box?

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A box fools the motor into doing its stuff, higher fuel line pressures which can split the line, Oldschool can elaborate, although some may call his views biased, they are based on technical knowledge and experience. Both boxes and remaps give a similar overll effect, just the re-map is more scientific, and much more in-line with what the manufacturers do with their own power upgrades, for example the 1.9 MJet motor in the GPS is essentially similar to the motor in the 1.9 engined Alfas just with a different map set up. Its your car, do what floats your boat, but do it armed with "the knowledge".

PietroNZ said:

didnt get your PM til after I posted here, and had already replied before yo posted here. hehe.

I like what I hear, Ill contact them str8 away. Rich etc have quietened... hmmm

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Easy now, lol.

The thing with the boxes is they are generally universal and that cant be good for the car. If you go with something that was designed and tested specifically for a particular car you have got a better chance of getting what you want iin my opinion.

The only thing i will say is some people dont really have a choice but to go for the boxes because re-mapping is difficult in some countries.

Rich