High mileage for a chip?
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: High mileage for a chip?
If you're a real novice when it comes to cars, then I would start reading up on all the info re: chips and familiarize yourself with the terms, advantages, disadvantages, and maintenance issues. A search of the archives will give you all you need.
Once the car gets chipped, the maintenance issues increase and you have to be more disciplined about it, too. Furthermore, you will be foolish if you don't add the support mods (like DV's and boost gauges) and these will require a bit of knowhow. All in all, it's not as intimidating as it sounds. It's just that you can't be like a housewife who drives a Ford Explorer and waits until an "idiot" light comes on.
Your maintenance will be to change the oil to synthetic (if it hasn't already) and change it often with a new filter. You will need to learn to cool down the engine after a spirited drive. You will need to keep a watchfull eye on your boost/vacuum. And you will need to repair/replace anything that needs it as soon as it comes due - you can't procrastinate or you will be faced with bigger problems later.
Once the car gets chipped, the maintenance issues increase and you have to be more disciplined about it, too. Furthermore, you will be foolish if you don't add the support mods (like DV's and boost gauges) and these will require a bit of knowhow. All in all, it's not as intimidating as it sounds. It's just that you can't be like a housewife who drives a Ford Explorer and waits until an "idiot" light comes on.
Your maintenance will be to change the oil to synthetic (if it hasn't already) and change it often with a new filter. You will need to learn to cool down the engine after a spirited drive. You will need to keep a watchfull eye on your boost/vacuum. And you will need to repair/replace anything that needs it as soon as it comes due - you can't procrastinate or you will be faced with bigger problems later.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19
From: Bay Area, CAlifornia
RE: High mileage for a chip?
Thank you for the quick answers:
I am reading up here and there, looking and searching on forums...so far this one is the most "reactive" one.
I think I am being fairly disciplined with the car, I do my own oil/filters changes, and basic checks, I'm learning as I go, since before this one I never did maintenance by myself ( was living in an apartment with no garage)
I do use sint. oil already Mobil SAW30 with a new (standard) filter.
I am trying to understand how tricky it is to change the AIR FILTER, I read somewhere that is not as easy as it seems.
For the chip I am aware of the pros (more speed), as for the cons, I was asking you guys...
I am planning to go at http://www.dynospotracing.com/ to do all the work, they are pretty close, and I asked them a quote for:
Replacing the 4 suspensions (Bilsteins or H&R)
check/change :
Timing belt, water pump, fuel pump, fuel filter, transmission fluid. and any other part that might need tuning/replacement.
"GIAC" chip.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for your replies...really appreciated. I'm learning how satisfying it is to take care of your own 4weels
It would be really nice to have a link directory divided by state ( in US) so that if I'm looking for a CHIP installer in the bay area I would know where to look.
Thanks!
Paolo
I am reading up here and there, looking and searching on forums...so far this one is the most "reactive" one.
I think I am being fairly disciplined with the car, I do my own oil/filters changes, and basic checks, I'm learning as I go, since before this one I never did maintenance by myself ( was living in an apartment with no garage)
I do use sint. oil already Mobil SAW30 with a new (standard) filter.
I am trying to understand how tricky it is to change the AIR FILTER, I read somewhere that is not as easy as it seems.
For the chip I am aware of the pros (more speed), as for the cons, I was asking you guys...
I am planning to go at http://www.dynospotracing.com/ to do all the work, they are pretty close, and I asked them a quote for:
Replacing the 4 suspensions (Bilsteins or H&R)
check/change :
Timing belt, water pump, fuel pump, fuel filter, transmission fluid. and any other part that might need tuning/replacement.
"GIAC" chip.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for your replies...really appreciated. I'm learning how satisfying it is to take care of your own 4weels
It would be really nice to have a link directory divided by state ( in US) so that if I'm looking for a CHIP installer in the bay area I would know where to look.
Thanks!
Paolo
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: High mileage for a chip?
Your oil choice could be a better sae, but we can talk about this later.
Air filter shouldn't be too much trouble; what are you reading?
Good choice on the chip! I have the X-chip from GIAC.
Your timing belt, water pump, fuel pump, fuel filter, transmission fluid will be costly to do, but it is necessary and you will have worry free miles for quite some time.
Air filter shouldn't be too much trouble; what are you reading?
Good choice on the chip! I have the X-chip from GIAC.
Your timing belt, water pump, fuel pump, fuel filter, transmission fluid will be costly to do, but it is necessary and you will have worry free miles for quite some time.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19
From: Bay Area, CAlifornia
RE: High mileage for a chip?
there you go...
www.dynospotracing.com
$230 H&R Springs
$575 NS Bilsteins
$300 install
$100 Alignment
$44 Thermostat
$130 Water pump
$10 O-Rings
$37 2 X access belts
$272 Timing belt kit
$115 Access roller/tens
$22 Audi coolant
$380 labor for above.
add around 500 for the GIAC chip.
Tot $2306 (Yeow)
www.dynospotracing.com
$230 H&R Springs
$575 NS Bilsteins
$300 install
$100 Alignment
$44 Thermostat
$130 Water pump
$10 O-Rings
$37 2 X access belts
$272 Timing belt kit
$115 Access roller/tens
$22 Audi coolant
$380 labor for above.
add around 500 for the GIAC chip.
Tot $2306 (Yeow)
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 18
RE: High mileage for a chip?
$230 H&R Springs
$575 NS Bilsteins
$300 install
$100 Alignment
$575 NS Bilsteins
$300 install
$100 Alignment
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: High mileage for a chip?
ORIGINAL: Cirek
........the install for Bilsteins and Eibachs cost me $80, and the alignment was $40. But this was in LA.
........the install for Bilsteins and Eibachs cost me $80, and the alignment was $40. But this was in LA.
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19
From: Bay Area, CAlifornia
RE: High mileage for a chip?
How hard is it installing the suspensions myself? Well with a friend that knows how to do it at least, and has the tools (got one).
Wife is not exactly as happy as I am about it
Wife is not exactly as happy as I am about it
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,659
From: United States
RE: High mileage for a chip?
You will have more difficulty with the front end than the rear, but many of us have done these swaps. I'd block off the whole day, even if you have all the right tools. Two people can do it - one person would be extremely frustrating. Three people make some things move along quickly. There are plenty of tech articles on the subject that help with the install - the tips are very useful.
For example: My S4 was a b!tch up front when removing the shock. We found out that it was best to turn the steering wheel one way until we could begin to free the lower mount, then slowly turn the wheel the other way while the mount was coaxed away from th arm. Without that trick we would have torn the boot severely.
For example: My S4 was a b!tch up front when removing the shock. We found out that it was best to turn the steering wheel one way until we could begin to free the lower mount, then slowly turn the wheel the other way while the mount was coaxed away from th arm. Without that trick we would have torn the boot severely.