Have you ever wondered what the benefits are of remapping your vehicle? Or maybe you want to know if your car has been remapped in the past? Below, is an explanation of what remapping is, the advantages and how to tell if your vehicle has previously been remapped.
What is remapping?
Remapping is the modification of your vehicle’s engine computer, better known as the ECU or engine control unit. The ECU has the responsibility of managing functions such as sensors and fuel injection. Upgrading this system with new software allows for customisation and improvement of your car’s performance.
What are the benefits of remapping?
It is common knowledge that car manufacturers are prone to programming their vehicles’ ECUs to not perform at peak capabilities. This allows them to release newer and sportier models with minimal changes; it is simply a case of reprogramming the ECU or making tiny design alterations.
Remapping your car grants you to get the most out of your engine, as well as improving performance, fuel efficiency and responsiveness.
Improved engine performance will lead to increased speed and power. The amount of horsepower you get depends on the type of engine you own. For instance, in a turbo engine, you can expect at least 40-50 brake horsepower more than other engines, which may be a considerable amount lower.
Furthermore, it can also boost your torque amount to 80-newton metres, making the vehicle feel much quicker.
On the other hand, improved fuel efficiency depends on your driving style. Your fuel consumption can be increased by up to 40% by just making these few simple mistakes:
Rushing through gears
Sudden and fast acceleration
Sudden breaking
Speeding
A mix of remapping and smooth driving will provide better fuel efficiency than good driving alone.
How do I know if my car has been remapped?
It is easy to have suspicions about whether or not a second-hand car has been remapped. Unfortunately, it is difficult to know for sure.
Here at OPA Wheel Repair Centre we can access the ECU and review what map is on the car if you are unsure. We will check your vehicle for free and offer advice on how it could be improved using additional remapping services.
