Tuning my GT Blackline 1.9 JTD

Hi there

This is my first post so be gentle!...

I've just taken delivery of my gleaming 1.9 JTD Blackline. The performance is better than I expected (and certainly better than the one I test-drove).

I am keen to get the engine chipped and am looking for some advice.

Obviously it will affect my insurance but, most importantly, is there any way of getting it done that WON'T invalidate my 3 year warranty?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Get yourself a club membership here then call red dot in Watford to arrange a remap. Red Dot Racing -- Braking Products OBD tuning Rolling Road. Speak to Augusto and ask him what he can do for you.

You'll get an extra 10% off with our membership and their services are excellent. Despite their prices being the best in the country!!

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/tunin...r-red-dot.html (Angel or Red Dot???)

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...rformance.html

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...un-begins.html


It is adviseable that you speak with your dealer about it first. Just ask them that it will be ok. Alternatively, you can choose not to tell them. Chances are they won't find out anyway in my opinion. Most people don't even tell their insurance company.

ps. If you don't want to travel then contact Chip Tuning VW, BMW, Audi and Alfa Romeo - Angel Tuning

OA

Talk to your dealer if there is any chance they allow you to install a FMIC and a BMC-CDA.

About the remap... Red Dot, celtictuning.co.uk or angeltuning.co.uk...

And read the above threads...you will find some interesting information there.

Thanks a lot guys.

I'll speak to my dealer. I am worried about invalidating the warranty but I'll see what they say.

Cheers

Originally Posted by kopacabana

Thanks a lot guys.

I'll speak to my dealer. I am worried about invalidating the warranty but I'll see what they say.

Cheers

HOLD ON! I hear from good source (Alfa Dealer Engineer) that a remap will no way be seen or detected so it wont invalidate your warranty. I would certainly advise getting it done. I had a GT JTD remapped by Celtic. Although I hear Angel are good too.

Dont fret about your warranty though.... at the end of the day the remap thing is so common now. People are buying new diesels and getting them done straight away. But I would say that getting up to 210 bhp from the 1.9 150 is not always the best as it would put a strain on your clutch and god knows what else. I would 189-190 is about enough....

There's a lot of info on the forum here about engine remapping. Every man and dog are getting a remap and 99% are happy with them - have a search.

Angel, Red Dot and Celtic are the 3 main people who know what they're doing on Alfas but watch out, every company has employees masquerading as punters here. Before long there will be a billy-big-balls competition of "My remapper's better than yours". Make sure you make your own mind up who you get it done by, there's a lot of hearsay and rumour on any internet forum. Search on google for those 3 companies, talk to them about what you're looking for whether it be ultimate power, economy, driveability and what mix you're looking for and see what they can do.

I've had my JTD remapped and I'm chuffed to bits with it. There's a lot more torque and my 50,000 mile clutch does slip a bit now. I'm getting more economy and a big bag more power


.... it's entirely up to you and your conscience whether you tell the insurance and the warranty about it!

I must say i would ONLY EVER get a remap done by someone with a rolling road. i dont know if celtic has one but IMO rolling roads are essential for ensuring safe and proven tuning levels.

And i dont work for any of them

Agreed.

I've got no problem with not using a rolling road if it's a tried and tested map that's been performed on hundreds of cars before. For a custom map I would go for a rolling road but as long as the engine's in good nick I don't see any reason for a standard map to be done with a rolling road.

It's the best way of checking to make sure the car is performing as it should. It's not just about figures.

For example last time I was at the RR some guys turned up in an astra that was kicking out 30 BHP less than it should of. The cat had blocked up.

2 weekd later they return with a new cat and then kick out 60BHP more than what they originally had (this is since he bought the car)

A perfect example of why.

What are these little black boxes like? You know the ones you can stick on the engine somewhere. I think you only get around 30 bhp more compared to a remap. My 156 is 140 bhp standard. An increase to 170 ish might be quite safe??

sorry but even well proven maps arnt for your exact engine... then as stated above there are other factors to consider, a decent rolling road session is likely to pull things up you would never know before hand.

each individual engine is unique and things like air filters exhausts etc can vary its needs from its ecu. as i said, IMO, if you dont have a rolling road your not touching my ecu.

Just my oppinion. i have seen too many cars blow up with generic maps to ignore it.

However, saying that, even with a rolling road it comes down to the technician. So i would have to go somewhere that knows my model of car well. the more i talk the more it seems i am saying red dot, but i have never been there nor do i know anyone there. although when i finally get my gt i will probably be taking it there.

I am still waiting to see someone with an blown up JTD engine...

If Re-Mapping is so good why don't Alfa Map it like that in the factory? I mean is there a reason why they don't? I assume they produce 1.9 JTD's to fall into a particular tax threshold, Is it the same for Mapping?

I suppose it's to fit in with tax rules and emission laws for new cars.
Alfa are releasing a JTD engine with 170bhp soon which is the same engine as the 150 with a different map.

Mapping (as I understand it) is about finding a balance in increasing power and economy but not shortening service intervals or putting the engine under too much stress. I heard somewhere the JTD engine and gearbox can take 250bhp if you wind the turbo up enough but over 200bhp you'll probably end up breaking something so most mapping companies stop at 190-ish for standard engines.

You shoul realise that having a remap can be detected and will be detected if there is a major engine fault - that requires major warranty work.

I know this from an Alfa inside source - so as long as the car is going to the dealer for service and minor repair then it won't be detected. Blow your engine and it needs to be replaced under warranty - they will be checking the ECU.

Chris

Originally Posted by chrisd_b

You shoul realise that having a remap can be detected and will be detected if there is a major engine fault - that requires major warranty work.

I know this from an Alfa inside source - so as long as the car is going to the dealer for service and minor repair then it won't be detected. Blow your engine and it needs to be replaced under warranty - they will be checking the ECU.

Chris

With Chris,

look at your ecu using kwp2000 and it will show you the date it was last flashed (chipped ecu file loaded)
very easy to see, even if you loaded back the original file they would see the date you did that!

Rather than raise a new thread....

I too am thinking of tuning my 159 1.9 JTDM. I came here to see what opinions were. Of course I will read the mentioned threads above but I wanted to add something.

The decent brands of plug and play tuning boxes are pretty good. The likes of TDI tuning and Dragon performance (I work for neither BTW). I fitted one to my last car a Seat leaon 1.9 TDI Fr 150BHP and ran it for two nd a half years. Loads more power, no problems what so ever. It fitted in 10 mins and now the car is gone i just took itoff and shoved it on ebay. The only issue I ever had was the clutch, my one had 50K on it and slipped a bit from previous wear. I replaced teh clutch and boy, what a quick diesel I had. Mid range it stuffed a Civic Typer R.

What about a Steinbauer P-Box? It comes with a 3year warranty on the box and engine/transmisson/gearbox apparently.

Anyone tried one?

Originally Posted by StevieM

What about a Steinbauer P-Box? It comes with a 3year warranty on the box and engine/transmisson/gearbox apparently.

Anyone tried one?

Is the extra £300 over the remap from red dot to cover the warranty then?

Originally Posted by captainsensible

Is the extra £300 over the remap from red dot to cover the warranty then?

Most dealers are fine with a Remap. My GTA has been remapped since it was born and the dealers are fine with it.

Yeah, I know that. Which is why the quite significant difference in price between a red-dot remap and a pbox is bit odd. Although there are dealers on Ebay selling the Pbox for ~£280 or so.

Remap - £200....especially with Red Dot. I wouldn't go anywhere else. (I bought the GTA with the remap)