DTUK Box - low battery charge

[RGS3]

Hi - has anyone else experienced any issues with the DTUK box (1st gen) when the car battery charge is low ?

I spent some time working at home and wasnt using the car much - I was getting battery charge warnings shortly after, even after charging the battery it seemed that maybe the battery needed changing. My local performance garage noted that the box was pulling power constantly (whilst ignition was off) so I guess the lack of driving and the box were draining the battery.

New battery on car but still not using it much - on two occasions the car went into a limp mode whilst driving, I cant remember the exact error code but it was related to boost pressure. On the 2nd occasion I went straight home and removed the box - no problems since, but I am missing the extra power and would like to put the box back on but dont want these issues again.

Anyone had any similar experiences ? I hadn't realised the box pulls power even when ignition is off. Is it possible the lack of power may have been affecting the box ?

 

[jungle650]

Cant comment about original DTUK box... But I remember reading several threads about how the current generation of start stop cars and especially ours are sensitive to low batteries. You havent mentoned how long you have left the car between use and how long each time the car is used for. Short trips and only used at weekends or wider apart will eventually mean that the battery will start to suffer. Couple that with the drain you mention from the original / old DTUK box and its not going to help.

The boost issue from the box - have you had the box updated to the latest maps? Or have you changed programs on the box recently? Try turning the program down ( using the jumpers on the old box) and the power setting down. With the newer box people have also commented about limp mode etc. Each car is slightly different and not all will tolerate prolonged full power runs on higher settings. So changing the setting down might help.

Have a look at a CTEK charger MX5 or something along those lines. If using another charger / brand ensure that battery chargers are appropriate for start stop tech battery. That will ensure the battery is in tip top condition.

I use one and dont have any issues.

Jungle

 

[RGS3]

Hi Jungle - thanks.... I am actually using the car regularly again now, and on fairly long runs too, so the battery should be keeping charged. Actually, I had noticed the Start/Stop function had stopped working just before all this started so I think the battery was suffering, The new battery seems better but was still getting discharged with the short trips and weekend only use.

I had the box updated once but there has been another update made available since then I think. My settings were quite low as my manual clutch was starting to slip on higher settings. My thinking was that the box may not have been functioning correctly if the batter was low, unless the box had become faulty, hence my hesitation to putting it back on the car.

 

[jungle650]

Hi Jungle - thanks.... I am actually using the car regularly again now, and on fairly long runs too, so the battery should be keeping charged. Actually, I had noticed the Start/Stop function had stopped working just before all this started so I think the battery was suffering, The new battery seems better but was still getting discharged with the short trips and weekend only use.

I had the box updated once but there has been another update made available since then I think. My settings were quite low as my manual clutch was starting to slip on higher settings. My thinking was that the box may not have been functioning correctly if the batter was low, unless the box had become faulty, hence my hesitation to putting it back on the car.

No worries. I guess the only people who can truly answer re the potential faulty box or battery issue would be the boys at DTUK. You should give them a buzz before reinstallng. There might be a quick easy test on the box that can see if its draining more than it should, either on or off the car.

Jungle

 

[H17YD L]

I used to have one on my golf R and continually drained the battery, once I couldn't even get in the car, had to open the door with the key and stick the battery on charge.
I have a JB1 on my S3 an don't have any problems

 

[cuke2u]

My dtuk tuning box doesnt have any battery connections and it only fires up via the engine sensors when the ignition is turned on. Hence no battery drain...

 

[RGS3]

I used to have one on my golf R and continually drained the battery, once I couldn't even get in the car, had to open the door with the key and stick the battery on charge.
I have a JB1 on my S3 an don't have any problems

Thanks H17YD L- that confirms my suspicion that the box was probably causing the problems - and probably draining the battery to the extent that it was malfunctioning, I think I may also look for an alternative

 

[cuke2u]

If it still has a warrenty then I'd ask if it can be replaced by the more recent version, I still go for it if the box hasn't..