What is ECU Remapping?

ECU Remapping (or chip tuning as its otherwise known) is the process of changing engine or gearbox calibration data within the software on a vehicle's engine control unit (ECU) in order to change the behaviour of the vehicle under different driving conditions.

What is the purpose of ECU Remapping?

For most people, the purpose of an ECU remap is to increase the performance of their vehicle to above its factory specification, though for some they prefer remapping to increase fuel economy.

Doesn't the vehicle manufacturer already optimise the parameters from the factory?

The vehicle manufacturer will to some degree optimise the configuration of the ECU software, however they have to produce generic configurations that apply to a broad number of conditions such as environmental factors, fuel quality, climate as well as things like de-tuning models in the lower halves of their vehicle ranges in order to sell multiple variants of the same vehicle - in many cases manufacturers actually use the same engine and drivetrain in a considerable portion of their range offering and just offer them in differing levels of tune.

These factors offer tuning companies the opportunity to implement impressive levels of performance or fuel economy increases simply by tuning parameters to specific environmental conditions and fuel in the country that the vehicle resides.

What are the benefits of ECU Remapping?

ECU Remapping on standard vehicles can unlock up to a 40% increase in performance with no change of hardware.

ECU Remapping on standard vehicles can unlock roughly a 10% increase in fuel economy with a remap specifically targeting fuel economy.

A balanced remap is also usually available from reputable tuning companies whereby a small performance increase and a marginal economy increase is introduced via the remap.

For vehicles with engine modifications, a bespoke ECU remap is usually required to ensure correct running and to maximise performance.

ECU Remapping provides better drivability and power delivery by optimising throttle and engine response to driver inputs - this can usually be customised to your preference.

What are the disadvantages of ECU Remapping?

We suggest that you check with your insurer prior to remap installation as some companies are fine with remap installation but others may expect a higher premium, and some may even invalidate your policy.

Only forced induction engines such as those with turbochargers or superchargers will fully benefit from an ECU remap, naturally aspirated engines can see modest gains, but they are nowhere near as significant as their forced induction counterparts.

If you have your vehicle remapped by a company that is not approved by your vehicle manufacturer, the remap may invalidate your warranty.

We recommend that you only consider qualified specialists to perform remapping on your vehicle, poorly configured remaps can cause costly damage to your engine in a very short space of time.

How much does it cost?

Each tuning company will have their own pricing structure based on the work to be performed.

Hakosuka Technology Standard Remaps start at £200+VAT and are backed with a 30 day money back guarantee.

Hakosuka Technology is a leading provider of Mobile ECU remapping in Essex.