changing the ecu

[denzelburner]

Does anyone know if it is possible to change the ecu on a 2000 2.5 tdi 150bhp engine for the 2.5 180bhp engines ecu? or is it a completely different layout for the different engines. I ask this as a mate of mine has just bought an allroad 2.5tdi 180, and the engine looks exactly the same, and thought this would be an easy upgrade.

 

[VRStu]

Sadly I don't think it would be as simple as that.

 

[dunk]

there are several issues with changing the ecu

1) may not be physically/electrically the same connectors / same ecu model
2) the immobilizer would need recoding using the secret pin code to get the immobilizer and ecu to work together
3) the 180hp mapping is probably wrong for a 150hp engine, although it would probably work if 1) and 2) were sorted it wouldnt be the best
4) if your ecu is fine/working then just get a remap/tuning box for your 150

 

[denzelburner]

thanks for both of those. It's a shame, as re-mapping the 150 I think gets up to 176, whereas the 180 would be near on 200.
How easy is it to re-code the immobiliser to match the ecu?

 

[VRStu]

It's not a big job as long as you have the SKC's of both vehicles.

 

[denzelburner]

SKC's?

 

[VRStu]

Secret Key Code

 

[denzelburner]

Ah ha. Is there anyway of getting them, or is it a secret, lol. Surely the ecu coding wouldn't be too different to make it run that much worse would it?

 

[devonmikeyboy]

thanks for both of those. It's a shame, as re-mapping the 150 I think gets up to 176, whereas the 180 would be near on 200.
How easy is it to re-code the immobiliser to match the ecu?

Both engines use a GT2052V turbo BUT there must be some limiting factor as to why it isn`t safe to remap your engine to 180 bhp+ otherwise every company would sale a remap to that power. Your engine might have smaller injectors/clutch etc or a different cam profile. If companies remap your engine to 176bhp there is a very good reason for it.

 

[denzelburner]

Fair enough

 

[adamss24]

Both engines use a GT2052V turbo BUT there must be some limiting factor as to why it isn`t safe to remap your engine to 180 bhp+ otherwise every company would sale a remap to that power. Your engine might have smaller injectors/clutch etc or a different cam profile. If companies remap your engine to 176bhp there is a very good reason for it.

The engine block is identical, but the heads are different, the compression ratios are lower on the AKE, the turbocharger has a bigger compressor wheel altough the housing is identical but will stay on boost longer, the head is better designed- they have cam rollers as opposeed with cam followers, the injectors have higher opening pressures and 7 pin holes(6 on the 150Bhp), and the ECU map is more agressive. The MAP(Boost)sensor is also different-3Bar-and the injector pump is different. The intercoolers are stronger full alloy jobbies like the ones on rs4, slightly thicker than the 150Bhp model. The clutch is identical but the pressure plate has stronger fingers to prevent slipping. Also, they were fitted on 4WD models as the engine is too torquey for FWD...

 

[devonmikeyboy]

I take it you know the engine then .

 

[fjtwelve]

I was going to say that the 2 engines are very different so don't, but Mr Adamss24 has beaten me to it. I think Audi upgraded the 150 engine to 163 without too much trouble, but when they went to the 180 (well 177 really) they carried out a major redesign. Don't know why they didn't then produce a 195 version or similar based on the 180, maybe the 2.7 and 3 litre engines were well on the way.

 

[dunk]

as regards the skc, yes there is a software /hardware package that can read it from the obd port without needing any info from audi, but it costs about 5500euros and i dont know anyone in the uk with a full version.

it can read/write the dash/immobilzer data as well as the ecu data as well as program new keys without the skc/pin - its a lot cheaper to get a custom remap though!

 

[adamss24]

I take it you know the engine then .

Yeah, i am a vw specialist and love working on the 2.5 tdi engine. I had an 98 audi a4 2.5tdi quattro on wich i had fitted a 3.0 bottom end mated to AKE cylinder heads, it was pushing about 240Bhp with just a PSI Box and brand new 180Bhp turbocharger. Sold it to a friend and he crashed it in Europe...Its mainly cosmetic: lights, radiators, front bumper, bonnet,lock carrier, etc. no chassis dammage. I am thinking to buy it back from him though ! The fastest accelerating diesel i have been into ! Propper fast but, would only average 27Mpg if pushed. It was also fully loaded: sport recaro leather, bose, leccy windows all round, rebuilt box and diffs, oettinger/votex bodykit, rial daytona race alloys, FK headlights with HID's, etc. Now i am driving an c5 a6 v6 tdi fully loaded: memory recaro heated leccy seats, folding mirrors, bose, upgraded Eibach sport suspenssion, but its only FWD and nearly 188Bhp is too much for the front wheels !

 

[fjtwelve]

If you love working on the 2.5TDI engine it sounds like we should have been speaking before i got mine rebuilt - twice. Whereabouts are you?