What is chip tuning for a car engine (flashing, chiptuning, reflash, firmware, chip, chipset, ECU reprogramming)?

From the English. the words "Chip" - microcircuit and "Tuning" - tuning, adjustment. Chip tuning the engine is the best available way to increase power, improve the dynamics of the car without altering the engine, by changing the parameters of the program (firmware, software - software) in electronic "brains" (ECU - electronic engine control unit, English ECU - Engine Control Unit).
The serial firmware of the "brains" of the injector is strongly clamped within the limits of toxicity standards (Euro 2, 3, 4) and has a certain reserve for optimizing engine operation, increasing power and torque, maximum revs and speed. Using this reserve to improve dynamics, reduce vehicle fuel consumption by changing the ECU software is called chip tuning.

Why do you need to rewrite car "brains"?

Factory firmware of domestic (and many foreign) cars is often very far from perfect, and sometimes there is an outright marriage: sluggish dynamics, failures, unexpected engine stops in different modes, floating speed, uncertain start at low temperatures. If this is a consequence of an error in the program, it is possible to eliminate the malfunction only by programming the ECU (flashing, chipping, chipping). If the catalyst, oxygen sensor, EGR system or particulate filter fail, the cost of repairs and spare parts exceeds the price of firmware (chip tuning) several times. In addition, the Euro 3, Euro 4 systems installed on most cars are not designed for low-quality domestic fuel, and this problem can be solved only with the help of firmware.

Who makes these firmwares? Which manufacturers can you trust?

Initially, firmware manufacturers appeared where a model of a particular car was geographically produced. With the spread of information about ECU programming, a market for firmware adjustments has emerged. The most famous foreign software manufacturers are Chiptuning.com, Upsolute.com, Chip-tuning.de.
In the CIS and Russia, the ECU reprogramming service appeared very soon after the appearance injection cars under the control of a computer, creating devices for flashing brains and programs for changing calibration data. Initially, they were quite affordable and they began to calibrate firmware in every garage, but as programming and calibration technologies became more complex and more expensive, the number of such chiptuners decreased.
To date, there are several manufacturers of high-quality and well-proven software for car ECUs in the CIS: Pauluschip.ru, ADACT.ru, SMS Software, Chipsoft.ru, Chiptuner.ru.

What's changing?
how many Horse power will be added by chip tuning?

How many horses will be added after chip tuning? This is the most common question asked by motorists. The exact answer to it can only be given by measuring on a power roller stand, provided that the measurement is made BEFORE and AFTER the brain is flashed. The cost of one such power measurement is more than 3000 rubles and there are very few places where it can be done due to the high cost of the equipment for measurement.
Many tuning companies make programs specifically for the power stand and the maximum increase in horsepower. But such tuning often does not add comfort in driving. And the race for power turns into jerks and jerks in various driving modes.
Our programs are not for sports cars. They are focused specifically on the comfort in driving: elimination of factory software errors, elasticity, confident start at any temperatures, absence of dips and twitching, sluggish acceleration and thoughts of automatic transmission, excessive fuel consumption due to non-optimal compositions of the fuel-air mixture.
In addition to getting rid of the glitches of the factory firmware, depending on the tasks set, chiptuning can achieve:

• elasticity of the engine, smooth and smooth traction, comfortable driving;
• increase in power and torque from 7 to 15%;
• improving the dynamics of acceleration of the car;
• increasing the maximum speed;
• shutdown of additional lambda probes, catalyst, adsorber, get rid of Euro3 or Euro4;
• elimination of "thoughtfulness" of automatic transmission (automatic transmission), jerks when shifting gears;
• on especially "gluttonous" engines, some reduction in fuel consumption.

What changes in the program itself (in the chip)?

Depending on the car brand, the firmware changes from 50 to 1000 calibrations that affect engine operation. The main differences are in the calibrations of the ignition timing, the composition of the fuel-air mixture, the parameters of the winter engine start, and others. The microcircuit itself in the ECU is programmed through the diagnostic connector without soldering.

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How does chip tuning affect engine life?

Chip tuning is able to increase the resource power unit by optimizing engine operation, eliminating factory program errors, eliminating excessive depletion of the fuel-air mixture in power modes on Euro 3 and Euro 4 systems, more accurate calculation of the required ignition timing. In addition, the firmware was run on Russian fuel, the quality of which is often not taken into account by foreign automakers.

How much will the fuel consumption increase?

Fuel consumption during firmware usually decreases or remains at the same level or increases slightly. This is achieved by changing the UOZ calibrations, avoiding stoichiometric compositions of Euro 3, Euro 4. Dynamic acceleration will no longer require trampling on the gas pedal, thereby also reducing the load on the engine.

How long does it take and how much does chip tuning cost?

Chip tuning usually takes about 30 minutes. Domestic cars from 4,000 rubles, foreign cars of the middle class from 6,000 rubles, diesel cars from 10,000 rubles.

my car is under warranty, during the passage of this and in other cases, can they notice a flashing?

The firmware identifiers that are visible from the diagnostic equipment are not specifically changed in the tuning firmware. In the event of any disputable questions, the guarantors will be obliged to prove the impossible - that it was you who changed the program.

The operation of the Lada-Kalina engine is controlled by an on-board computer (in common parlance - "brains"). Depending on the software (which is on-board computer) the engine is operating in one mode or another. The software (firmware) is developed by specialists and is "poured" into the "brains" that are installed at the vehicle manufacturer.

In the case of Lada-Kalina, this, until recently, was the second factory version of the "brains" firmware. Now the third factory version has already been released, which significantly added dynamics to the car and smoothed out the loss of engine power when the air conditioner was running.

However, many car enthusiasts prefer the so-called tuning firmware... This is software developed by third parties. The characteristic difference tuning firmware from Paulus for Lada-Kalina is an even more significant (compared to the factory firmware) increase in the dynamics of the car on the "bottom", while gas consumption (especially on the highway) is reduced due to more optimal engine operating modes in high gears.

Personally, my subjective feelings after pouring the tuning firmware from Paulus on my Lada-Kalina 1.4 liters (16 valves):

• The car picks up more confidently at the bottom, instantly reacting to pressing the gas pedal;
• You can easily accelerate "through gear", for example, 1-3-5 gears;
• You can drive around the city in 3rd or 4th gear (depending on the traffic flow) almost like on "automatic" (i.e., without switching), since the third gear confidently pulls from 25-30 km / h, and the fourth from 40 -45 km / h + these transmissions for Lada-Kalina are long, so the range of their operation after the tuning firmware of the brains has increased significantly;
• The same can be said about fifth gear when driving on the highway (for example, I was quietly driving in fifth gear uphill with the air conditioner on, maintaining a speed of 80 km / h, while the computer showed an instantaneous gas consumption in the region of 9 liters);
• Turning on the air conditioner has almost no effect on the drop in engine power. No, of course, there is certainly a drop (you should not expect a miracle from 1.4 liters), but it is much less noticeable than in the second factory firmware (at least now you can confidently drive with the air conditioner turned on in city mode without fear stall at the intersection);
• It is difficult to say that the operation of the engine has become quieter or smoother, since this is a purely subjective sensation. Well maybe on idle engine began to work a little "quieter", but when driving in low gear, its sound became more aggressive, IMHO.

As a result, spending 10 minutes of time and a symbolic amount of $ 40, I got, one might say, a different car - more dynamic, economical, confidently working with the air conditioner on.

Changing or not changing the firmware is a purely personal matter. It should be noted right away that if the car is under warranty, then when the tuning firmware is filled in, it is automatically removed from the warranty, since in this case the manufacturer does not guarantee the correct operation of the engine.

Well, and, of course, “brain filling” should be done only by knowledgeable qualified specialists. It will be even better if they are the official representatives of the tuning firmware manufacturers.

The first signal that a new VAZ 2114 firmware will be required by its own efforts is the increased fuel consumption with rather poor dynamics. Moreover, when conducting a computer study of the engine, such malfunctions are found.

1. The operation of the power unit shows a fuel pressure above 3 atm.
2. The DMRV is completely broken.
3. Poor car finishing with a special chip.
4. Scanner refuses to display RCO digital readings.
5. There is no way to adjust CO-CH.

What is the firmware for?

The faulty condition of the fuel pressure regulator is confirmed by a strong grease on the spark plugs. If the replacement does not give a positive result, check the contamination of the drain line with various debris, rust, remnants of sealing rubber. Remove the fuel pump and blow it out using compressed air.

Put on a new mesh for the fuel pump and reassemble the structure. To make a new firmware, replace the mass air flow sensor, flush the injector and install new plugs. Starting the engine should activate the 2.4 atm indicators, therefore, the system is functioning normally. You can start launching new "brains" on the VAZ 2114.

The engine can be hard to start, stopping constantly. It is imperative to check that the wires are connected correctly. If the operation is normal, the problem may be with the anti-theft system installed. To find out, check the oscillogram of the electrical part of the machine, the phases located in the timing.

If a spark appears not in front of TDC, but immediately after it, then the car has an anti-theft system aimed at denying access to illegal change of the standard ECU. Consequently, the process of theft, in which the replacement of the ECU or the firmware of the VAZ 2114 car with our own hands will be made, will disrupt the order of the stable functioning of the cylinders, and the engine will completely stop working.

Why is it better to turn to professionals

Today, a large number of automotive services have been opened, where, if necessary, they can produce renovation work on a VAZ 2114. Of course, if you are well versed in the design, it will not be difficult for you to complete DIY repair car. However, in some cases it will be completely impossible to do without maintenance.

As a rule, specialists are fully versed in issues of malfunctions that could occur during the operation of the machine. They can give you advice on how best to make the repairs. Thanks to the large number of installed electronics, diagnosing problems with the VAZ 2114 will become much easier and more functional.

Just like in previous models produced by AvtoVAZ, your car may have certain difficulties that are associated with the synchronization of settings in the gearbox. Of course, an experienced owner will fix this problem quickly. However, there are cases when the manual transmission requires serious repairs, which can only be carried out in a car service.

Due to the fact that the number of car services is increasing all the time and, therefore, the competition is constantly growing, large companies manage to gather experienced professionals in their staff who will quickly and efficiently perform diagnostics and install new firmware for the "brains" on the VAZ 2114.

In some parts of the car, parts are attached in such a way that only a specialist who fully understands this issue can remove them without damaging any adjacent components. The same applies to performing a new car firmware using a special chip. Having knocked down its settings, you will spend much more effort and money than if you immediately turned to the master.

Disadvantages of the new firmware

The new firmware of the "brains" on the VAZ 2114 allows increasing the engine power without a lengthy repair process. However, this method cannot be implemented if you do not have special equipment, the role of which is played by computer software. Basically, it is necessary to remake the electronic control unit installed at the factory for a new one, thereby replacing the "brains" of the car.

Most owners try to tune the ECU so that it works at its maximum allowable power, so that the car starts to accelerate much faster. However, do not forget that when carrying out such a "brain" firmware on the VAZ 2114, the car will start functioning with increased toxicity of the exhaust of processed gases. In addition, fuel consumption will increase by more than 8%.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to immediately remake a car using a computer program in such a way that it not only functions better, but also consumes less fuel. Therefore, when deciding on a new firmware, you should take into account that you will have to sacrifice one thing.

The main advantages of the new "brains"

Each firmware allows you to achieve higher performance from the car in a certain type of work. Therefore, if you cannot perform such a process with high quality, it is better not to start installing a special chip and equipment on your own. If experienced people take on the work, you will get extremely positive properties from the firmware of your VAZ 2114.

In this case, fuel consumption will be increased very slightly. At the same time, the dynamics of operation will become much more stable, the engine will run smoother, and the loss of power in the air conditioner will practically not be felt. Before choosing a company where the "brains" on the VAZ 2114 will be flashed, collect the maximum amount of information about it and read reviews on the Internet.

If they are missing, you run the risk of stumbling upon scammers who founded a fly-by-night firm. You will indeed be supplied with a new firmware, but the car's performance may be completely ruined. For this reason, in the future you will have to pay a much larger amount of funds to identify the causes of the breakdown and carry out a new firmware on the car.

Of course, do not forget that high-quality work on the implementation of the new firmware will make sense with a comprehensive revision of the engine and transmission. This is due to the fact that initially the VAZ 2114 was completely adjusted to the standard firmware and will junk when installing a new one.