Well from all the positive talk on here I'm seriously considering getting the remap done - only had the GP a week! It has to go back to the garage to get the fan fixed (v-noisy) so I think I'll get them to do an oil change too (next service is due in about 4 months) so the 17k engine should be in good nick. Warranty will be up at the same time as the service anyway!

So with that in mind -

1. Are there any mods that need to be done in addition to the Remap? I'm not going to be driving like a lunatic but will be nice the have the overtaking power and effortless cruising on the M-ways. I think it may also help with MPG as I'm normally sitting at 80-85mph when cruising so more power should equal less strain? (I'm not the most mechanically minded person in the world!)

2. Has anyone had any probs with their car after the Red Dot remap (warning lights etc as well as the more obvious turbo/clutch/gearbox issues!)

3. Is the car still as drivable in busy town traffic? (i.e. is it twitchy, get hot etc)

4. How badly was insurance effected? Do you have to go through specialist companies now?

5. How long does the remap take? (it's done in Enfield as far as I can see, a fair trip from Swindon so handy to know!)

6. Anything else I've forgotten that might be important?


I don't think my engine is one of the better ones from the economy figures and probably had a hard daily commute life so I'm not sure if there's anything else I might need to get looked at!

I know these things have been answered in part in other threads but using the search there's info all over the place, hard to get all the specifics!

Cheers for any help!

Jimrod said:

6. Anything else I've forgotten that might be important?

Click to expand...

Which engine?

Oldschool said:

Which engine?

Click to expand...

Sorry! 1.9 Multijet Sporting 130hp jobbie

1. No, the remap is all thats needed. You can go down the route of a bigger turbo or intercooler, but its not needed.

2. I personally have had no problems, although there have been reports of turbo failures after remaps. I beleive this can be avoided by making sure the engine has good quality oil and is looked after properly.

3. The car is great in traffic, no problems at all. Its just a lot more driveable as the power is lower down

4. Insurance can be affected but its up to the owner to decide on that one

5. Remap took about 10 mins. Including rolling road runs you shouldnt be there for more than an hour.

6. Not that I can think of

To be honest, the remap does make the car completely different. It surprises a lot of people

The only reason the turbos have failed is because of a dodgy batch that garrett sent out.

punto_matt said:

The only reason the turbos have failed is because of a dodgy batch that garrett sent out.

Click to expand...

:yeahthat: Turbos have failed on none-remapped cars too, other makes with Garrett fitted not just Fiats.

I have no issues related to my re-map whatsoever (other than the stupid permanent grin) and I have covered 12,000 miles since mine was done.

Agreed, but it cant hurt to keep it well looked after

adamcot said:

Agreed, but it cant hurt to keep it well looked after

Click to expand...

Natch!

Well, booked in for tomorrow morning, fingers crossed!

Ooh, and just checked me oil - is on min I have no idea what's in there so would it be safe just to add 1/2 a litre of 5w/40 synthetic as per then handbook? Is going back to dealer next week to fix the internal fan so will get them to do a full oilchange...

Jimrod said:

Ooh, and just checked me oil - is on min I have no idea what's in there so would it be safe just to add 1/2 a litre of 5w/40 synthetic as per then handbook? Is going back to dealer next week to fix the internal fan so will get them to do a full oilchange...

Click to expand...

Yes, Id use whats in the handbook. Its best to make sure the oil is topped up before any work is done, its important

Let us know how you like it when its done, you will be surprised of what its capable of

All done!

Much smoother to drive and hugely quick compared to what it was before, economy looks the same on the 2hr motorway trip back but as this route is more uphill than on the way there this is probably slightly better too!

The smoothness is actually surprising, I was expecting more jerkiness in 1st/2nd but the opposite is actually the case.

My only noticeable prob is the turbo itself which the guys warned me may be one of the duffers - definitely seeping oil as I wiped it down at the first service station and there's fresh in its place - 3 months left on Warranty so off to Fiat it goes...

I noticed under hard acceleration there was definite mix of blue/black smoke come out of the exhaust at 4000rpm, not vast amounts by any means and nothing is visible when cruising or at lower revs, if you hold at 4k it clears almost instantly. Could be turbo related, or "normal" diesel characteristics, never looked out the back much when accelerating!


Anyhoo, base figures are now -

184 bhp, up from 133.9.

246.3 ft-lb of torque (wheels), up from 176.5.

Happy enough with that, fingers crossed my turbo doesn't explode any time soon!

Jimrod said:

All done!

Much smoother to drive and hugely quick compared to what it was before, economy looks the same on the 2hr motorway trip back but as this route is more uphill than on the way there this is probably slightly better too!

The smoothness is actually surprising, I was expecting more jerkiness in 1st/2nd but the opposite is actually the case.

My only noticeable prob is the turbo itself which the guys warned me may be one of the duffers - definitely seeping oil as I wiped it down at the first service station and there's fresh in its place - 3 months left on Warranty so off to Fiat it goes...

I noticed under hard acceleration there was definite mix of blue/black smoke come out of the exhaust at 4000rpm, not vast amounts by any means and nothing is visible when cruising or at lower revs, if you hold at 4k it clears almost instantly. Could be turbo related, or "normal" diesel characteristics, never looked out the back much when accelerating!


Anyhoo, base figures are now -

184 bhp, up from 133.9.

246.3 ft-lb of torque (wheels), up from 176.5.

Happy enough with that, fingers crossed my turbo doesn't explode any time soon!

Click to expand...

Enjoy Jimrod, hope the dealer doesnt get too interested in your re-map with a potential Warranty claim though. Glad you are pleased.

Ffoxy said:

Enjoy Jimrod, hope the dealer doesnt get too interested in your re-map with a potential Warranty claim though. Glad you are pleased.

Click to expand...

Aye, very pleased! Hope it proves reliable still! The Red Dot guys did say that nothing would show to Fiat using their method, depends how deep they dig I'm sure - if they drove it they may well notice something amiss!

Jimrod said:

Aye, very pleased! Hope it proves reliable still! The Red Dot guys did say that nothing would show to Fiat using their method, depends how deep they dig I'm sure - if they drove it they may well notice something amiss!

Click to expand...

DET noticed mine "wasnt standard" when he drove it after my rear wheelbearing was replaced under 3rd year Warranty lol.... it is pretty obvious after all, I think you will agree!

Just be manic about checking oil and coolant now, and have a little empathy for the standard bits now connecting non-standard ooomph to the road!

Spoke to Fiat (Fish Brothers) Swindon - They said it's only covered by Dealer Warranty as it's in its 3rd year, not Manufacturers so I'm liable for cost if no problem found etc etc. Of course they deny all knowledge of a "dodgy batch" of Garrett turbo's and say it's normal for there to be oil "sweating" from the pipework. There is enough that it's over the top of the gearbox too so I'm not so sure... Anyway it's back to Black & White in Newbury before it's due with Fiat so I'll get them to have a look at the turbo too... The saga continues!

So annoying as it's running fine, just worrying the turbo may have a prob and it could be costly if it goes out of warranty... Joy!

Jimrod said:

Spoke to Fiat (Fish Brothers) Swindon - They said it's only covered by Dealer Warranty as it's in its 3rd year, not Manufacturers so I'm liable for cost if no problem found etc etc. Of course they deny all knowledge of a "dodgy batch" of Garrett turbo's and say it's normal for there to be oil "sweating" from the pipework. There is enough that it's over the top of the gearbox too so I'm not so sure... Anyway it's back to Black & White in Newbury before it's due with Fiat so I'll get them to have a look at the turbo too... The saga continues!

So annoying as it's running fine, just worrying the turbo may have a prob and it could be costly if it goes out of warranty... Joy!

Click to expand...

Well if it comes to it, as long as it doesnt fail completely beforehand, a turbo overhaul can be done for £400 - £600 I believe.....

Well that's not too disastrous, can cope with that if need be!

Fingers crossed it's nothing major anyway, I'm sure Fiat will charge me an arm and a leg just to look but as the Red Dot guys said - if they say it's fine, get it in writing then you have comeback! Not sure if that will count for much if the warranty's up but hopefully will never have to find out!

what part of the turbo is the oil seeping out? Is it near the air intake? (top part) apparhetently the seals are prown to go? Having mine replaced but does seep that many oil deposits quite like uve described also heard other people mention the clip going aswell leading to pipe coming loose leaving oil deposits around the turbo! So hopefully shouldnt be to expensive for you... am sure you can get a turbo overhaul for cheaper than that, but then i suppose it depends of the reputation of the company - you takes your money and makes your choices, same as you pay for what you get, buy cheap, buy twice and all that LOL!

Out of intrest how much did they charge you for the map, PM me if you dont wish to enclose in thread.

If its there usual price then £200