In an age of increasingly sophisticated and technology-driven cars, a remap of the engine control unit can unlock a world of potential for your car.
From improving performance, increasing fuel economy or altering the driving feel to suit your preferences, engine remaps can radically transform your car when done right and undertaken by an engineer who specialises in your car’s particular model.
When done wrong, however, it can cause a world of problems that can have very tangible consequences, which could potentially permanently damage your engine.
With that in mind, here are some telltale signs that usually signify a poorly executed ECU remap.
Warning Lights
If you have an engine warning light that either stays on or appears to light up frequently whilst driving normally, it could potentially signpost an issue with the tuning process and how the car manages the engine.
Do not ignore this light; it could be a sign that the remap is causing damage to the engine, and it is important to take it to a specialist to see what went wrong and to tweak the settings to avoid further warnings.
Increased Or Inconsistent Fuel Consumption
Some remaps will increase fuel consumption in order to improve performance, but this effect will be made clear by your engineer ahead of time.
Unexpected fuel consumption, especially if it does not coincide with more aggressive driving or improved performance, could be a sign that the engine is not managing fuel consumption properly or has resorted to a fail-safe setting.
Slow Performance
Whilst not every remap is done in the name of improved car performance, significant drops in performance, an inconsistent driving feel or an inability to accelerate with the urgency the car previously had could be a sign that the ECU has not been properly calibrated.
If the engine misfires, is difficult to start, or commonly stalls, this is a clear indicator that the remapping process was not executed correctly.