I've searched the forums but can't seem to find an answer: Has anyone with a chipped ECU serviced their car at an Atlanta dealer (esp. Jim Ellis)? The asst. service manager (VW) there scared me into believing they can easily tell whether you're chipped when they hook up the VAG engine diagnostic computer up to the ECU, but many on this forum and others claim that's a bunch of crap; that the re-programmed ECU is damn-near impossible to tell the difference from the factory original, and other than the power-disconnect flag it'll set (since it was removed), they'll have no clue about the chipping.<br>My questions, I guess, are, first, were they able to tell? And second, if they were, did they do anything about it? Thanks in advance.

I was at Audi North Atlanta this weekend and the salesman I talked to implied that the service guys have ways of "knowing" if you've done it. And if you do, it voids everything. <p>I thought if you just re-socket the old chip for service, they can't tell. True?<p>Mark Collett

Obviously, if you have an entirely separate ECU which you modify and use day-to-day, placing the virgin original when going in for service won't reveal squat (other than, again, the ECU setting a flag that its power has been cut off, but that proves nothing).<br>I know the salesmen give this line--it's their job, and they don't know any different. Like I said, I got the same line from the service manager. I want to see if they can, in fact, tell the difference on a factory hardware-stock ECU that's been re-programmed (as many of the chippers do), other than the casual observation of additional power when driving it in to the garage. Thanks.

From what I've heard, it depends on the chip. Some chips say whose they are right at the top of the screen when the diagnostic tool is connected, others don't. I got this info. from Rich Quinlan. I can't remember which chips do and which don't, if you drop him a line, he can give you more info.<p>Regards,<br>Rodney<p>'99 A4 1.8tqms

Wether your chpped or not they can only nail you if the chip caused the problem (turbo or engine related)any other repairs SHOULD be done without problems. My car is wett chpped and I've been in to the dealer 3 times and left it in. They have never said a word conserning warranty work, though the mechanic loved the test drive. Don't let the dealers scare you off chipping. It's the best money you'll ever spend on a 1.8T. 6cyl don't bother you can get almost as much HP with a K&N aircharger.