Chipping a CVT?
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1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
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Chipping a CVT?
Hi, I have a 2004 1.8t tiptronic and i beleive it is CVT. Which first of all, i think is stupid lol going forward, if i chip a CVT... will it make any difference? Because all my tac does is climb to almost redline and stay there. It's confusing....
Let me know any suggestions
Let me know any suggestions
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 298
RE: Chipping a CVT?
I have no idea how VAG has their CVTs set up. But in an ideal world it would keep the engine speed at the max efficiency or power throughout your acceleration. I'd really like to drive a CVT to see how well it works. But it sounds like it's keeping it at max HP. It's better than a normal transmission because it keeps it in the powerband MUCH longer.
Does your CVT shift at all...or do you notice it shift?
Does your CVT shift at all...or do you notice it shift?
1st Gear
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 298
RE: Chipping a CVT?
Just found this...
And this:
After doing some reading it appears that Audi's CVT is a pretty nice setup. It adjusts the speed of the engine for fuel efficiency when cruising and horsepower when accelerating. A 170HP car with a CVT should smoke the same car with a manual or automatic. That's because the car with a normal transmission is only outputting it's peak HP for a short time while the CVT is constantly putting the same power down.
But as far as chipping it, I guess it's possible. There are 2 things I could see being done with it. First, you can change the ratios for the "manual" shift mode. And second, you can change the engine speed it chooses for accelerating (if your engine is modded your max HP might not be happening at the same RPM.)
But you say you "think" your tranny is a CVT...when it gets to redline is it stil accelerating or does the speed remain the same? If it's the former it's a CVT, if it's the latter...well you probably have a problem.
Until Audi refined the concept, however, CVTs were limited mainly to small, low-powered cars. That's because the belts and pulleys couldn't handle the power output of larger engines.
Audi solved that by substituting a special chain for the belt and figuring out a way to make it ride reliably on the split pulleys, which Audi calls variators.
Ordinarily, there are no shift points whatsoever in a CVT.
The power surge is smooth and steady, as with an electric motor.
But the Audi engineers thought some customers might find that a bit spooky, so they used computer programming to introduce slight hiccups as the gear ratios change, so the feeling would mimic a standard automatic transmission.
However, the transitions are so muted that most drivers likely will think the multitronic transmission - Audi's name for its CVT - is simply the smoothest automatic they've ever driven.
But for the sports among us, the Audi engineers also included a manual shift mode, and that's where the fun starts.
The base 2002 Audi A4 comes with a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a robust 170 horsepower.
It's a fun sports sedan with its standard five-speed manual transmission. But it's even more fun with the multitronic.
That's because the manual shift mode is a six-speed. That's at a time when only a few cars even offer five-speed automatics; most still make do with four.
Shift the A4's multitronic into "drive" and it acts like an ordinary automatic transmission, a tad sluggish but smooth as olive oil on pita bread.
Pop it over into the manual shift mode and you can flip it through the six speeds like a grand prix race driver.
You control it either with the shift lever or buttons on each side of the steering wheel.
Simply wind it up to the red line on the tachometer and touch a button or the shifter.
Bingo!
The gear ratio changes, but with no hesitation or loss of power. It's amazing. And you can't screw up. If you forget to shift, the computer takes over and does it for you.
Audi solved that by substituting a special chain for the belt and figuring out a way to make it ride reliably on the split pulleys, which Audi calls variators.
Ordinarily, there are no shift points whatsoever in a CVT.
The power surge is smooth and steady, as with an electric motor.
But the Audi engineers thought some customers might find that a bit spooky, so they used computer programming to introduce slight hiccups as the gear ratios change, so the feeling would mimic a standard automatic transmission.
However, the transitions are so muted that most drivers likely will think the multitronic transmission - Audi's name for its CVT - is simply the smoothest automatic they've ever driven.
But for the sports among us, the Audi engineers also included a manual shift mode, and that's where the fun starts.
The base 2002 Audi A4 comes with a turbocharged 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that delivers a robust 170 horsepower.
It's a fun sports sedan with its standard five-speed manual transmission. But it's even more fun with the multitronic.
That's because the manual shift mode is a six-speed. That's at a time when only a few cars even offer five-speed automatics; most still make do with four.
Shift the A4's multitronic into "drive" and it acts like an ordinary automatic transmission, a tad sluggish but smooth as olive oil on pita bread.
Pop it over into the manual shift mode and you can flip it through the six speeds like a grand prix race driver.
You control it either with the shift lever or buttons on each side of the steering wheel.
Simply wind it up to the red line on the tachometer and touch a button or the shifter.
Bingo!
The gear ratio changes, but with no hesitation or loss of power. It's amazing. And you can't screw up. If you forget to shift, the computer takes over and does it for you.
When you step on the accelerator, the engine races as it would with a slipping clutch or a failing automatic transmission. This is normal -- the CVT is adjusting the engine speed to provide optimal power for acceleration.
But as far as chipping it, I guess it's possible. There are 2 things I could see being done with it. First, you can change the ratios for the "manual" shift mode. And second, you can change the engine speed it chooses for accelerating (if your engine is modded your max HP might not be happening at the same RPM.)
But you say you "think" your tranny is a CVT...when it gets to redline is it stil accelerating or does the speed remain the same? If it's the former it's a CVT, if it's the latter...well you probably have a problem.
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