I posted last week that a I had some pinging with my 1 bar APR chip. I could hear pinging from 2500-3000 rpm at WOT. This is my second customization of the software. The 1st time I had a mild stuttering feel at full boost 4000-5000rpm. I talked to Brett at APR and had a new ECU a day later. The stuttering is gone, replaced with smooth power. I called Brett again with the new pinging problem. We talked at length on the phone about the problem and possible solutions. He is again sending a customized ECU. I'm writting this to demonstrate the total commitment to customer service APR has. I now have 3 of their ECUs. Of course I will be sending them back, yet Brett/Steve never hesitated to send another without the first 2 ECUs being returned.

I'll keep everybody posted with the results of the new software mod.
Thanks again APR.

Pete
99 1.8qms APR/K&N

nt

I read alot of posts about "great customer service" from chip companies. I have had 4 reprogrammed chips so far from one company. All cheerfully sent free of charge. And ALL have failed to eliminate the pinging. In fact, every reprogram has been worse than the original version, which pings slightly passing through 3000 rpm. I even tried the latest fad 1.0 bar chip (based on A4.org testimonials) and it pinged worst of all and performed no better. Returned it for a cheerful refund... great customer service.

Sorry to be negative, but I am not convinced that ANY of these chip tuners (except Audi AG)can deliver a chip that reliably avoids pinging. The latest chiptuner excuse is that the chip would not ping if we didn't have so many deposits in our injectors.

Ok, I live in an RFG area, but I am barely above sea level and I get pinging at 60 F. And I've burned non-RFG fuel with the same result. No, I have not changed to cooler plugs, because I don't know the long term consequences. I trust that at higher elevation and a hotter climate, the pinging would be worse.

SO, my thought on customer service: If you get the product right in the first place, you don't need it!

Cougar
98 1.8tqms

Furthermore, a performance chip is a PERFORMANCE chip. It is designed to operate only with high octance fuel. Also, there is not as much leeway for manufacturing mistakes and poor maintainence. While it seems most people don't have many problems with pinging, some cars are more subject to pinging due to manufacturing deviations. Do you understand?

Obviously, you are not in tune with the performance industry and do not understand how to work with an aftermarket company. Many of these tuners have very fine product development divisions. I am sure Audi would be happy to have some of them on there own staff.

Also, the engine deposit issue is a real one. You seem too frustrated to understand any of this. Do some research before you make careless comments.

BTW, if AUDI had gotten it right in the first place, you probably wouldn't have these pinging issues.

ME

C'mon, you are pushing it here. He's just unfortunate in that he's got a 1.8T that is prone to pinging for whatever reason, and lives where he can't run the good stuff in his car. You have implied he maintains his car poorly as well. How do you know this?

He's just frustrated, letting off a little steam. Don't be an apologist for APR or any other tuning company. Their products are generally quite good but have have not delivered the goods for this particular customer, and he's mad about it. I would be, too

Makes me feel very fortunate that mine has never made so much as one ping. But don't begrudge this guy a chance to vent. If you had gone through what he has you would need to vent, too.

BDW
'99 1.8Tqms (Wett, 1.0 bar, K&N)

I can't resist running through "ME's" list of apologies for chips that ping:
- "You have a lemon": You have a bizarre definition. My car runs perfectly with stock chip. It pings only with "performance chip."
- "High octane": Is 93 not high octane? If the problem is RFG, why don't chip companies notify buyers in RFG regions of potential problem?
- "Poor maintenance." Irrelevant in this case.
- "Manufacturing mistake." Oh yeah right, the CHIP is perfect, its the CAR that's wrong.
- "Not in tune with the performance industry": if you mean I expect a product to perform as promised and not cause a damaging condition to my car, I guess I am not.
- "Do not know how to work with an aftermarket company": amazing how you could come to this conclusion with no evidence.
- "Very fine product development divisions": a chip that doesn't ping would be an excellent measure of how fine they are.
- "Too frustrated to understand all this": not at all. I have heard it, I understand it, I have been extremely patient, but no solution.
- "Do some research before you make careless comments": so that I would be an even more knowledgeable owner of a chip that pings.
- "If AUDI had gotten it right in the first place": Oh yeah, let's blame Audi. Gee, if they only would hire those aftermarket chip developers, it would have been right in the first place.

Cougar