Turbodiesel chips/remaps

[ChrisCurvyS]

Anyone have any experience of the above?

I've just inherited a little Fiat Doblo van from my dad (no more riding in the snow thank feck!). I'm not after any more power as it's never going to win any drag races, but if the claims of 10/20% increased mpg remapping/chipping companies make are true, and it doesn't knacker the engine or turbo, it would be worth spending a couple of hundred quid getting it done.

Trouble is there's so many companies doing it they dominate the search results and I can't seem to find any genuine reviews.

Don't be tempted to get one of those cheapo ones that bridge the AIT sensor. They claim miracles but do nothing. All it is is a variable resistor in a fancy box. Same resistor can be had from Maplins for about £2.50.

[ChrisCurvyS]

Yeah I was aware of that issue - eBay is awash with them and some traders exploit people's ignorance and charge £100 for them.

[the_lone_wolf]

Find the "UK Fiat Doblo Enthusiast Forum" - I'm sure there is one, and read there...

Get info from the people who actually use the thing...

[Mr Speirs]

Originally Posted by the_lone_wolf

Find the "UK Fiat Doblo Enthusiast Forum" - I'm sure there is one, and read there...

Get info from the people who actually use the thing...

I think his name is Peter.

I had a tuning box on my astra 1.9. Went like stink and the torque increase was amazing! My MPG went up by between 5-10mpg!

My box was from DTUK.

By adding a box or remap, you'll increase the stresses on the gearbox, clutch & flywheel. Normally, even with a higher bhp/torque, this should be well below the tolerances of the box, clutch or flywheel. You need to be aware, that if your gearbox, clutch or flywheel is on its way out it will accelerate the process.

On the astra the egr valve constantly gets blocked, the tuning box would amplify the issue by dumping more than average spoke out of the back (cleaning the egr rectified the issue though).

It might be worth jumping on the fiat forums and look for common issue/ failures for that particular engine.

[ChrisCurvyS]

Ta guys - I did have a look and found a general Fiat forum but very little specific stuff on Doblo tuning.

To be expected I suppose - most people get remaps cos they want performance and so aren't likely to be driving a Doblo in the first place...

Glad to hear the mpg claims can be verified and good point re the increased stresses. It's only done 17k though and TBH don't think I'd want to use any extra performance - would be too frightening with the channel ferry body roll, massive blind spots and brakes that feel like they've been taken off a 1980s Panda.

Go get a remap, find one that will stick it on and give you a period to make your mind up then if it's not what you think it is you can take it back and have it stuck back to factory settings. And at least if you get it done by a reputable place they set it up for what you want. More mpg or a bit more poke.

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by ChrisCurvyS

Ta guys - I did have a look and found a general Fiat forum but very little specific stuff on Doblo tuning.

Fiat is a big company, they won't only fit the engine in your car to that model, must be plenty of other models whose owners are keener on the performance aspect, most likely the Punto crowd, innit?...

[DJ123]

The best way to get more MPG is your driving style.