Since I'm replacing the turbo, I was wondering if the car would still run OK if I replace the stock K03 with a K04 and the stock chip? It's a 97 A4 2wd.... Any suggestions and help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Joe

 

CAr will run like crap, to much boost not enough gas, more lag etc etc.

 

It is supposed to work fine, although you wont see any power increase untill you get the proper programming for it, as well as any supporting mods you are doing.

 

it will be fine, the smoothness and power won't quite be there until you chip it.

 

Two diff. answers......who do I believe??? It's my girlfriend's car so she wont be racing it or going WOT all the time. I've done this with Buick Grand Nationals and all I would think would happen is a little lag. Anyone else want to chime in? Also, how much is it to chip it?

 

Im basing my answer off of other users who have done this, and reported normal operation of the car with a k04 swap and no programming, for what its worth.
Try a search on the subject.

 

acetrebo speaks the truth.

 

BUT....Long term use of a K04 on stock/k03chiped program might have an adverse reaction to other components like the CAT, Turbo itself. If you not planning on doing it right (now or in the near future) then just get your K03 rebuilt or buy a used one.

 

Long term use of a K04 on stock tuning should not have any adverse effects. The turbo is just a dumb piece of hardware that compresses air. If it compresses the air more than the ECU wants it will open the wastegate. The only difference would be how soon the turbo spools and how long it will stay spooled. But even if it spooled quicker and longer than the stock it's not going to damage anything by giving the max stock boost throughout more revs unless the engine can't handle that much power (which it can.)

So unless the wastegate doesn't open like a stock K03 or you up the boost some other way it's going to run just fine with stock tuning.

Please correct me if I'm wrong... but this is basic turbo tech.

 

The k04 flows more volume at say 15psi than the k03 does at 15psi though. If anything youll run a tad lean compared to what the stock/k03 chip fuel mapping is preset for.But it shouldnt be anything to cause detonation or any short/long term affects. Thats how I understand it.
And, if the theory on how adaptive 00+ ecu's are, the fuel mapping will correct itself as long as the difference isnt toogreat.