would I get busted? Can I keep the original chip and swap it in for service/lease-end? I don't know ****T about chipping but I want to learn.

I am leasing a 180 Roadster (US).

Thanks in advance

...and from what I understood a few had the spare ecu to indeed drop it in for service / lease-end.

-Jeff<p><img src="http://www.geocities.com/druidwillow/images/MVC-877X_glow_mod.jpg">

Engine Control Unit, I think (*waits for someone to show my ignorance*). Basically, when you chip a car you are reprogramming the ECU. In some cars, the ECU IS reprogrammable...and all the tuner will do is take your ECU, hook it to their computers, and download the new settings (the TT is like this, I believe. The A4 certainly is). In some cars, you have to get an entirely new ECU.

So, to have a spare ECU just means that you keep the stock version lying around in its little static-proof baggie. When you want to take it in to the shop (or give it back at the end of the lease), you do some minor mechanical fiddling to put the stock ECU back in and take your 'chipped' ECU out.

Did that help, or just confuse things more? I think its a little hard to explain unless you have pics...and I don't, though I have seen it in person.

-Jeff<p><img src="http://www.geocities.com/druidwillow/images/MVC-877X_glow_mod.jpg">

On the A4, its a few nuts and a pair of spring clips I believe (going from memory). I'd assume its similar in difficulty on the TT, but for all I know they put the ECU somewhere in the dash just to be difficult. =P

-Jeff<p><img src="http://www.geocities.com/druidwillow/images/MVC-877X_glow_mod.jpg">

It's not a lot of fun. You have to go to the left side of the engine up by the firewall. You lift up the rubber lining and remove a plastic tab by the pollen filter. Then you have to look underneath where the windshield meets the car, and you'll see your ECU (it's a silver box). You have to unclip the left wire harness, and pry a steel tab to the left to start sliding out the ECU. Not so bad so far; however, now you have to slide the ECU out underneath the plastic shield (where your VIN is) to remove the right wire harness, without damaging any plastic parts. This is very tough if you don't have small hands and a lot of patience. You cannot rush this part, and take it from me, do not attempt this in cold weather!! Putting it back in is the reverse process. It took me 1/2 hour to take it out the first time, and since I got an idea of what to do, it only took me 10 minutes to get it back in. Hope this helps.

The "chip" is actually part of the ECU. If the "chip" is an EPROM(Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) it can be erased and reprogrammed. A lot of chips are not erasable so they are removed and replaced by the tuner. Some ECUs even have an easily removable socket for the chip, so no soldering is required.

<p><img src="http://www.geocities.com/druidwillow/images/MVC-877X_glow_mod.jpg">

i bought a spare ECU not for the end of lease, but for service! i plan on keeping my car.<p><a href="http://registry.audiworld.com/audi/registry/details.asp?car=3285"><img SRC="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/ttsig.jpg" BORDER=0 alt="Click for Mods"></a>
<a HREF="http://larrytt.tripod.com">Larry's TTQ WebSite

Hi Larry,

Did you have any engine problems after switching from stock ECU-to-Spare, and vice-versa?

I'm an A31.8TS driver in the UK, and I have been told by Garrett at GIAC that there is an issue in swapping ECU's in my car because it is fitted with an engine immobilisr alarm system. Something about the dealer would have to "realign" it after change over - obviously a no-no if one wants to keep ones warranty! ;)

Have any of you TT'ers been told a similar thing? Is there a solution or have I been misinformed?

Thanks for any help.

Regards,

Alan (UK)
'99.5 A3 1.8TS Silver