Found a 2001 A4 1.8t manual trans in the junkyard. Knowing the 01 had 170hp, would I be able to swap my 2000 ATW ECU for the 01 AWM and gain that power? If everything is the same of course. (...Right?) Also, I don't know if that one is quattro yet and mine is. Would that matter?

 

I don't believe so, according to this post and page:

ECU/Engine Codes - our car's generation is broken up into two different ECU's and three different Engines for the 1.8T.
1.8T AEB = 1997-1999
1.8T ATW = 2000
1.8T AWM = 2001
AEB is DBC(drive by cable) or a.k.a. nDBW(non drive by wire) meaning that there is an actual cable conected to the throttlebody. which is more easily tuned
ATW and AWM is DBW(drive by wire) means that the ECU, the computer, controls the throttlebody. harder to custom tune and can have a mind of its own sometimes..
AEB has the larger port head and 20 mm wrist pins.
"ATW is the bastard engine w/ the AEB bottom end and the small port AWM head" 94jedi.
The AWM has 19mm wrist pins, small port head and internal waterpump

B5 A4 New Member Guide/FAQ! Answers to the most commonly asked questions!

 

Short answer is no.

Swimbikerun provided part of the answer, but the larger issue is in all the electronic differences between ATW and AWM motors. AWMs are wideband, have variable valve timing (VVT), have a MAP sensor, and run CANBUS (your ATW might be CANBUS, can't remember right now.)

If your only goal is to gain the 20hp, then just get your car chipped. It is vastly easier and will net more power anyways. There are tuning benefits to swapping to an AWM ECU thanks to the wideband control though, but if you're not trying to make big power and have custom tuning done then don't bother.

And yes, the ECU would need to be reprogrammed for Quattro, if you don't know how to do that you shouldn't be trying an ECU swap.

 

I just chipped my ATW ECU- APR stage 1. Very, very happy with it.

Not to hijack this thread, but how do you feel about your carbonio, BASEDRIFTER?

 

Fwiw recodeing an ecu is very easy if you have vag-com, but just chip your ecu and get quite a bit more than 20Hp. I ran a carbonio for about a year before I went frankenturbo, it doesn't add any power but it sounds very nice. It has a nice whistle and your diverter valve is more audible (I know you were asking Lukas but I decided to jump in lol)

 

Thanks for the replys. I only even considered this because I came across the car at the junkyard and could get the computer for like $20. I do plan on getting an APR tune at some point.

 

I knew you could recode it but I don't have vag-com. Wish I did...

 

I think the Carbonio is the best intake for non BAT cars. It looks the best and really cleans up the left side of the bay. The only downside is the price. I picked up mine used for less than $150 though.

When I swap my car back mostly to stock for SMOG in a few months I'll do some logging before and after installing the Carbonio to see if there is any difference in MAF readings.

 

ATW and AWM are 99% identical in terms of the ECU, I don't understand why so many people don't know this. They're both Bosch ME7.5, the only difference is the AWM has the circuitry and software for VVT and a wideband O2 sensor. That's it, no other internal differences. However you'll need to swap in the AWM MAF and injectors, you'll also either have to modify your engine harness or run an AWM harness with AWM crank sensor, knock sensors, and that solenoid on top of the airbox because the connectors are different. You should also install the AWM intake cam and chain tensioner, if you want to keep your non-VVT tensioner you'll need to modify the ECU software to prevent it from tripping the CEL and turning off long term fuel trims.

The AWM ECU also opens you up to so many tuning possibilities. You're not stuck with one size fits all tunes that cost way more than they should.