So I've been searching on the forums and reading on the tuner sites about the GIAC chip. One thing I'm not sure on is how it's installed. On the GIAC website they say they are soldered in and you have to send in the ECU. But from what I've gathered on here its a chip that just plugs into a socket. Then I read another post saying the shop hooked up a laptop to the port and programmed it (not touching the ECU at all). So which is it? I'm confused [&:]

I know this has been asked before but does anyone have experience with getting warranty work done with a chip? I'm guessing if you switch it to stock settings they have no idea it's there?

What's the most miles someone has put on their 1.8t with the GIAC chip? I'm wondering if the added boost would cause premature turbo failure (and yes, I've already read that there have been no reports of the chip killing a turbo, just wondering whats the longest they have gone on the stock turbo).

If there's a FAQ somewhere I missed with all this info please feel free to flame away and tell me how stupid I am [8D]

 

u have a B5 a4 which is 1996-2001 you have to send in ur ECU and have them soder it
i have a B6 i just find a dealer and they reflash my ecu about 10 minutes, real plug and play

each company has its way to hide the programmin from the audi dealers but you gonna have to pay a lil more for that

ive met people who chipped their cars after like 1000 miles, i dont kno if thats safe but since u have B5 im sure you engine is well broken in, the chip stays in the limit of your engine so dont worry about it
but u still gotta give it regular cool downs and proper warm ups, the basic turbo care stuff blah blah

 

So whats the difference between the 2000 and 2001 ECU? I was hoping since the 2001 was able to use the flashloader it would also be like the later models that don't have to be soldered.

 

I have the GIAC '01 chip. The tuner will solder on a new socket and then plug in the new chip. The new socket allows them or you to replace the GIAC chip with the stock chip or easily upgrade to another GIAC chip. You can buy the chip and socket from GIAC and solder it on yourself but, I would not recommend it.

 

I chipped my car at almost 100,000 miles and it is holding strong if your worried about high mileage. The pre 2000 models are no-drive by wire or cable driven, and the newer models are drive by wire. Yes you would have to send your ECU out to them, or find the closest dealer to your house and take the drive if you can.

 

How much of a diffrence in horsepower will the GIAC chip give

 

The GIAC chip raises the output to 1 bar giving you about 50 hp. It is well worth the investment.