GIAC trouble w/ 180Q w/ ATC engine
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1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 15
GIAC trouble w/ 180Q w/ ATC engine
I've recently had my 2001 Audi TT 180Q chipped.
It seems to be a 2001 car with a 2000 motor, because my engine code is ATC. I had the car chipped by a local GIAC/Unitronic retailer with GIAC software via the OBD2 port.
I know from your TT 1.8T FAQ page that the ATC engine supposedly has the smaller ECU and that means chips are usually soldered on. 1st question - can the ATC ECU be flash-loaded with new software via the OBD2 port?
The issue I'm having is that sometimes, in a 2nd-gear - mid throttle pull - the engine will stall/throttle closes and the EPC light comes on (no CEL).
I was on the highway about 2 days after chipping the car, with the cruise control set to 75 mph or so. The car just stalled on me on the highway (I don't recall seeing an EPC light or not - I focused on seeing if the car would restart). I killed the ignition and the car started up again on the first try. I haven't used cruise control since.
The second time I had an issue, I was coming out of a round about in 2nd gear and gave it some mid-throttle/partial boost and the EPC light came on, but the engine didn't turn off entirely - it just stopped taking input from my throttle pedal and the engine began to decelerate/engine brake on its own. Killed the ignition again and the car started up right away on the first try again.
The car drove just fine without incident after that, but I was aprehensive.
I looked some stuff up about GIAC and some people with that software seemed to have had issues with something called the "Torque Limit Exceeded" code (or something like that).
The forums said a number of things could cause it, including a vacuum leak, the older black top coolant sensor, or a failing MAF. Others believe it is an issue with the GIAC software itself (but that was supposed to be with older, soldered-on chips). Others even said that the problem just 'went away' with them and claimed it was a 'software adapting' issue (but my GIAC retailer says it shouldn't take more than a day or two for the car to adapt to the new software, tops).
I've recently replaced the black-top coolant sensor with the green one, while I was there - at another shop that was installing this for me - they said my primary O2 sensor was bad - and I had that replaced as well. On VAGCOM, both the bad O2 sensor code and the Torque Limit Exceeded code showed up.
Car drove fine for a while and then yesterday, the engine turned off completely (no engine braking with the throttle pedal having no effect, completely stalled) with the EPC light - 3 times: all in 2nd gear.
Always mid throttle (light throttle or the full-beans doesn't do it). It never happened so frequently ever before. Twice one after the other - and then another time later that day to see if it would happen again.
I wanted to pick your brain because of your familiarity with the TT motors.
I'm going to try replacing the MAF next (and with the ATC engine code, it's the most expensive of the TT 1.8T MAFs at ECS Tuning). I know I have to use the ATC MAF with an ATC stampped engine.
I wanted to ask if you thought replacing the MAF was a likely solution (I read increased airflow - maybe like from chipping a car? - can burn the MAF - and maybe it happened more frequently again because the MAF's on its way out), or if to you - it sounds as if the problem's else where - like a vacuum leak(stock I/C, Forge 007 Diverter Valve, that's it), or if you think I may have even got the wrong software for my car since it's an ATC motor - obviously with an ATC ECU (so does that mean I should've gotten my chip soldered, not flashed on?)
If it is the MAF, could it only operate poorly under partial throttle (in 2nd gear no less) while still not going wacko-jack-o when being given full throttle?
If you've read this far, I very much would appreciate your insight and thank you for your time.
It seems to be a 2001 car with a 2000 motor, because my engine code is ATC. I had the car chipped by a local GIAC/Unitronic retailer with GIAC software via the OBD2 port.
I know from your TT 1.8T FAQ page that the ATC engine supposedly has the smaller ECU and that means chips are usually soldered on. 1st question - can the ATC ECU be flash-loaded with new software via the OBD2 port?
The issue I'm having is that sometimes, in a 2nd-gear - mid throttle pull - the engine will stall/throttle closes and the EPC light comes on (no CEL).
I was on the highway about 2 days after chipping the car, with the cruise control set to 75 mph or so. The car just stalled on me on the highway (I don't recall seeing an EPC light or not - I focused on seeing if the car would restart). I killed the ignition and the car started up again on the first try. I haven't used cruise control since.
The second time I had an issue, I was coming out of a round about in 2nd gear and gave it some mid-throttle/partial boost and the EPC light came on, but the engine didn't turn off entirely - it just stopped taking input from my throttle pedal and the engine began to decelerate/engine brake on its own. Killed the ignition again and the car started up right away on the first try again.
The car drove just fine without incident after that, but I was aprehensive.
I looked some stuff up about GIAC and some people with that software seemed to have had issues with something called the "Torque Limit Exceeded" code (or something like that).
The forums said a number of things could cause it, including a vacuum leak, the older black top coolant sensor, or a failing MAF. Others believe it is an issue with the GIAC software itself (but that was supposed to be with older, soldered-on chips). Others even said that the problem just 'went away' with them and claimed it was a 'software adapting' issue (but my GIAC retailer says it shouldn't take more than a day or two for the car to adapt to the new software, tops).
I've recently replaced the black-top coolant sensor with the green one, while I was there - at another shop that was installing this for me - they said my primary O2 sensor was bad - and I had that replaced as well. On VAGCOM, both the bad O2 sensor code and the Torque Limit Exceeded code showed up.
Car drove fine for a while and then yesterday, the engine turned off completely (no engine braking with the throttle pedal having no effect, completely stalled) with the EPC light - 3 times: all in 2nd gear.
Always mid throttle (light throttle or the full-beans doesn't do it). It never happened so frequently ever before. Twice one after the other - and then another time later that day to see if it would happen again.
I wanted to pick your brain because of your familiarity with the TT motors.
I'm going to try replacing the MAF next (and with the ATC engine code, it's the most expensive of the TT 1.8T MAFs at ECS Tuning). I know I have to use the ATC MAF with an ATC stampped engine.
I wanted to ask if you thought replacing the MAF was a likely solution (I read increased airflow - maybe like from chipping a car? - can burn the MAF - and maybe it happened more frequently again because the MAF's on its way out), or if to you - it sounds as if the problem's else where - like a vacuum leak(stock I/C, Forge 007 Diverter Valve, that's it), or if you think I may have even got the wrong software for my car since it's an ATC motor - obviously with an ATC ECU (so does that mean I should've gotten my chip soldered, not flashed on?)
If it is the MAF, could it only operate poorly under partial throttle (in 2nd gear no less) while still not going wacko-jack-o when being given full throttle?
If you've read this far, I very much would appreciate your insight and thank you for your time.
1st Gear
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 143
From: Jupiter,FL
Well mine just did the same thing yesterday, I pulled over shut it off and it started right up. I have had the GIAC 93+ for like 4yrs now and every so often this happens, not sure what it is, I run Maf-less! If that helps. Pretty scary though when you go take someone your **** just stops giving power,just bogs down, PITA if you ask me. Don't think its a boost leak becuase you would feel and hear that all-day at least I can feel it. I'm thinkin maybe its my MBC, I may go back to the N75 and leave it.
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