One of the inevitable questions for car enthusiasts is whether or not ECU reprogramming is worth it.
If you want to optimise your car, regardless of the reason why, ECU reprogramming may have crossed your mind or been suggested to you. But is it legal?
Whether you want to optimise your car or simply find out more about the subject, continue reading the article.
Nowadays, cars have a wide range of electronic components, especially compared to twentieth-century vehicles.
As such, keeping on top of automotive industry trends is important to improve your vehicle’s performance. One of these trends includes ECU reprogramming.
Almost all vehicles nowadays have a central computer that controls all the electronic components connected to the engine, called the Engine Control Unit (ECU).
What is an electronic control unit?
In short, an electronic control unit is responsible for storing the operating vehicle parameters and the way in which a car engine responds to particular circumstances. However, these parameters differ from manufacturer to manufacturer, car model to model, and country to country.
As each country has different regulations and needs, a need is faced to reprogram engine control unit software, that is, to reprogram the ECU.
It is therefore possible to change the information within the computer that controls vehicle’s electronic components.
Why reprogram your ECU?
Rather than altering your car engine, reprogramming modifies a chip called the “Flash Eprom”, which stores the files required to reprogram the ECU, that is, the location where the information transmitted to the engine is kept.
How can you reprogram your ECU?
As reprogramming alters the software parameters of your car’s Engine Control Unit, the best place to reprogram an ECU is undoubtedly a specialised car garage.
ECU reprogramming is done electronically, starting with a vehicle reading and diagnosis that takes into account fuel injection or turbo boost pressure mapping.
Once this analysis has been carried out, maps are drafted based on the desired results. How? By means of ECU reprogramming programs.
How much does ECU reprogramming cost?
When it comes to ECU reprogramming, prices vary depending on the manufacturer, model, and condition of the ECU. However, prices can start at 250 euros.
What are the advantages of ECU reprogramming?
A recent study suggests that ECU software updates improve car performance and bug fixing. As such, by reprogramming your ECU, you will benefit from:
- Full reversibility in the event that you do not like the changes made;
- 30% more power when compared to car factory settings;
- Your car adapts to your driving style as the engine responds to your specific driving needs;
- Fuel savings, as your average fuel consumption decreases due to lower dependence on the gearbox.
In addition, it is currently possible to reprogram your ECU so that it complies with the essential requirements of your car’s Mandatory Periodic Inspection.
What are the disadvantages of ECU reprogramming?
ECU reprogramming can, however, have some disadvantages, such as:
- Loss of car warranty;
- Risk of failing your car’s mandatory periodic inspection (MOT);
- Some car parts malfunctioning, such as the turbo, engine, clutch, exhaust system, transmission, or cooling system.
ECU reprogramming: Yes or no?
Firstly, you should consider all the abovementioned issues, specifically the prices, advantages and disadvantages of ECU reprogramming.
That said, the most important step will be to find out whether doing so will benefit you personally. In other words, it is important to evaluate what is motivating you to reprogram your car’s ECU.
Sometimes preventive maintenance can help optimise your car’s performance while also increasing your driving safety.
If you choose to go ahead with the process, make sure you take your car to a specialised, reliable car garage. Doing so prevents any undesirable circumstances arising from the poor reprogramming of this component.
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