What is Remapping?

Vehicle remapping is something that is becoming very popular since the introduction on ECU’s (or Engine Control Unit) and electronic fuel injection but many people are still unsure what it is, what it does, and why they should be looking into it.

Firstly, we need to look at the engine when the car is sold. Manufacturers de-tune the engine before they send it out, meaning that it is on a default setting. The reason that they do this is because they have to sell their cars all over the world, and the settings are going to be different in different countries because of climate and weather differences, as well as certain laws and restrictions. They also have to take into account varying quality of fuel in the countries and indeed continents. What this means is that your car may not be performing at its best unless you have had it remapped.

What are the effects of ECU remapping?
Well, let’s take a look. Well, let’s take a look. Firstly, many people say that ECU remapping doesn’t affect fuel usage. However, this is not technically true. Because of the process involved in ECU remapping more fuel is going to be consumed in order to produce the increase in power. If the car is driven in an enthusiastic way after the remap has been carried out then the fuel economy will not increase (and in some cases may decreases). If, however, the driver modifies their driving style to make the most of the increased power and torque throughout the rev range then fuel economy can increase. A good example of this could be that the improvement in torque produced by the engine after remapping means the driver no longer has to drop down a gear to maintain speed on an incline or may not have to change gear as frequently in traffic. All these little things add up to an improvement in economy.  

What remapping actually is
Basically, it is the process of overwriting the software which is built into the ECU. The new software is modified, meaning that it is programmed to optimize the cars overall performance throughout the rev range. It is known as remapping because the ECU is essentially a program that controls how the engine works. When your car is remapped, the tuned software is plugged into your cars serial port (or OBD port) which then overwrites the engine map with the new version to enhance engine performance. The ability to flash directly through the OBD has brought the tuning industry on leaps and bounds, with constant development on the engine now being much quicker via the flash process, it has enabled Celtic Tuning to develop some of the best software in the world.

What are the benefits of having your car remapped?
There are actually a lot of them. Firstly, you will notice that your engine responds better when the accelerator is pressed. The overall torque and power will be noticeably increased. Power delivery will be smoother making for a much safer driving experience, which in turn also makes it easier and safer to overtake. During normal driving you will notice that your MPG is better which not only decreases the cost of fuel that you will have to pay, but it also minimizes your carbon foot print. Throttle response will be improved and the rev range will be enhanced. As you can see, there are numerous benefits.

Are there any disadvantages?
Some people have reported engine damage from ECU remapping, but this is exceptionally rare. In order to offer our customers total peace of mind Celtic Tuning offer a lifetime warranty on the software itself as well as a full 12 month or 30000 mile mechanical breakdown package for vehicles with fewer than 60000 miles or 3 years old.