I am thinking about getting the Garrett chip with the new ECU for $689. However, I have a few questions:

1. What are the issues with voiding the warranty with this chip since I have a new ECU?

2. I called AWE to find out which version ECU it comes with. He said it's a new 97-98 model year ECU. I Have a 99.5 1.8T. But he also said the only differene in the 97 and 99 ECUs is the programming chip which they replace anyway. Is this true? Will the Garrett ECU be the same as my current one?

3. Are there any issues with chipping my tiptronic? Whats the deal with the Garrett tiptronic enhancements? Worth it?

4. Is there anyone in the Stanford (Palo Alto area) with a chipped 1.8 I can take a look at? I'm really confused about what to get.

Thanks a lot.

Sachin

Short answer: If the chip is the cause of a problem, the dealer and AoA aren't going to honor the warranty (read: void). If the dealer or AoA want to take the position that the chip is the cause of the a problem, whether or not it really is, then at a minimum you've got a fight on your hands. That's why there are spare ECUs.

Rick

Say you blow your turbo. You put the stock ECU in before you take it to the dealer. By using the diagnostic tool, they realize that this ECU wasn't in when the turbo failed. Now instead of it just being a warranty issue, you have committed fraud and it's a criminal issue.

nt

b

They have the option to grant or deny your warranty coverage. You don't have the option to pay them or not.

All the ECU will record is a power off fault. They have no way of telling when it happened, or what caused it. It could be something as simple as disconnecting the battery to install the remote module for a Valentine 1. The fault is automatically reset after 30 cold starts.

Chris

By swapping the ECU before service visits, you never tip off the dealer that you're chipped and he suspects nothing when a problem is reported. That's good -- no preconceived notion of the cause of the problem. If you chip without a spare ECU, they KNOW it when they do the regular service and they're thus armed with that info if you ever make a warranty claim. They can use it against you even if the chip isn't to blame for the problem in question. Big risk there.

As for it being a "criminal" issue: ROFL. Name one person in the world who has been charged with, let alone convicted of, criminal fraud or attempted fraud for using a spare ECU to chip his or her car. I'll stick my neck out here and say it has never happened, and never will. If you want me to explain why I will, but I think it's pretty obvious.

Now, which do you really suppose is the greater risk -- getting screwed by the dealer who wants to weasle out of doing warranty work, or getting charged with a crime for secretly increasing your turbo boost? This really is too much.
Rick