DIY Chip Tuning: Is It Worth Doing and What are the Risks

If you doubt whether you can do high-quality chip tuning with your own hands, we assure you – it is real. Let’s not say that it’s easy and immediately clear, that it will take little time to learn the theory and preparation, that everything is guaranteed to work out. But if you approach the question seriously and responsibly, study the topic carefully, find good equipment, the right program and accurately, step by step, perform tuning, your reward will be a reconfigured control unit for your needs. And you won’t have to pay for a 10 minute procedure. Plus, in the future you’ll be able to do the chip tuning yourself whenever you want.

These were the advantages of flashing the car with your own hands, now let’s briefly discuss what this procedure is all about and why it is needed.

Essentially, chip tuning is a hacking of the factory settings of the electronic control unit of the car (ECU), reprogramming the ECU in order to improve its operation.

What role does ECU play in the car? 

It coordinates all the electronic processes, collecting data from at least two dozen sensors and transmitting commands to the actuators. The ECU controls the automatic transmission, gearbox, cooling system (air conditioning, climate control), controls the mode of petrol feeding into the engine, regulates the ignition system, checks the gas distribution components (determines the toxicity level of the exhaust), controls the engine temperature, processes information about ABS, crankshaft, optimizes speed, voltage and other parameters of the car. Read here about best tuners for 5.7 Hemi Ram.

This is the main component of the car’s onboard network, its electronic brains. Their initial chip tuning is performed by the manufacturer, and to optimize the wear and tear of the car’s internal systems, the ECU’s capabilities are tuned to average values. At that, the power suffers and the engine potential decreases considerably, but for domestic driving these parameters are quite enough.

With time, the electronics may start to lag behind. Drivers complain about engine performance, air conditioning system, increased fuel consumption etc.

It is obvious that ECU needs readjustment from time to time. So, why not perform it with your own hands, setting the values of parameters to the maximum, what will it give? Well, here’s what:

– The conditioner will work better;

– The car’s speed characteristics and acceleration dynamics will be optimized (from 0-100 km/h);

– The fuel consumption will be reduced;

– Toxicity of exhaust gases will also decrease;

– All on-board computer systems will work at full capacity;

– Transmission will be faster;

– The car will become sharper, sportier, more powerful.

Is it worth to chip the engine with your own hands?

It is possible to chip the ECU yourself, but, again, you need to act competently. First of all, thoroughly understand the question. Gather the necessary equipment, adapters, choose the software suitable for your car. In principle, if you act methodically and clearly according to the instructions, the chip tuning with your own hands will pass perfectly.

If you are not confident in your abilities, contact a special tuning workshop. Of course, you will have to spend a little money, but the specialists will do everything in the right way – they will diagnose the ECU, replace problematic elements if necessary, check the transmission.

What are the risks?

First of all, an unsuccessfully chosen program or badly executed hack can worsen ECU’s work. And even ruin it – you will have to go to professionals. Plus, self chip tuning, bypassing official DC, deprives the car owner of the right to turn to service under warranty. Well, too aggressive settings of chip tuning can shorten control unit service life. It’s not for nothing that the manufacturer, in order to prolong its operation time, sets average values, isn’t it? Read more here.

So, as you understand, we will not give an unambiguous answer to the question, what’s better – to do the car brain flashing with your own hands or address to the masters of chip tuning. Weigh all the pros and cons and make a decision yourself.

Conclusion

Before you yourself flash the car, carefully study the instructions and the sequence of actions. When everything will work out, you can be congratulated on successfully mastering a new science. You will definitely better understand the “brains” of your car, and who knows, maybe in the future you will turn into a professional chip tuning specialist?